[Fists] WARC Band Challenge

[Stan Reas]

Fellow FISTS Members:

The 2006 WARC Band Challenge is now history.  I really enjoyed operating the WARC bands this past 
year.  My log shows a total of 1014 QSO's of which 462 QSO's were with FISTS members and 15 QSO's 
with FISTS Clubs during the year.

These FISTS contacts were with members in 186 different grid squares throughout the world.

I was continually surprised with the propagation on the 30 Meter and 17 Meter bands.  And then on   
December 23 even 12 Meters really surprised me when I had a QSO with Alex, 3XD2Z in Boke, Guinea 
on 24.095 MHz at 1700 UTC.  I had worked him on October 22 on 17 Meters, but it was a real thrill to 
do it again on 12 Meters.

Rob, M0BPT has announced that there will be a WARC Band Challenge this year - 2007.
Information is available on his website <http://www.m0bpt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/> 

	Click on <FISTS ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR 2007>

The Challenge is designed to increase activity on the WARC bands.  The challenge began January 1, 2007 
and involves contacts only on the WARC bands.  You get 2 points for each FISTS member you work and 
1 point for each non-member. You get a multiplier for each unique grid square of FISTS member contacts.  
No multiplier for grid squares of non-members.

The log for the challenge needs to indicate: QRG  -  Date  -  Call  -  FISTS #  -  IARU Grid  -  Points.  

Most folks don't know their IARU Grid, but usually you can find it on http://www.qrz.com/ by typing 
in the callsign and then clicking on "Detailed Information"

If it's not there, you can use http://www.amsat.org/cgi-bin/gridconv where you put in the Latitude and 
Longitude and it determines the grid square. 

You don't need "fancy" antennas for the WARC bands, any wire in a tree seems to work just fine.  And 
you don't need a powerful rig.  Most of my QSO's were made with a K2 or a Ten-Tec Scout while mobile.

So if you want a real fun challenge get on the WARC bands.  

And do send your report monthly to Rob <m0bpt at blueyonder.co.uk> who will list your score in his monthly 
Newsletter.  He prefers an Excel file.  I'll be happy to send my Excel file format to you so you can report your 
activity to Rob.

73, Stan - K4UK