[GCARC] CQ WPX CW Contest

[Tony Starr]

Greetings GCARC!

As chairman of the GCARC Contest committee, I would like to take a moment
to notify you of a great contest coming up next weekend, the CQ WPX CW
contest. While the WPX has been a favorite of mine for the past few years,
I don't normally get the opportunity to operate the CW weekend much, if at
all, because most of the time, the CW weekend falls on Memorial Day
weekend, and I usually have three or four backyard BBQ type of events to
attend. This year, thanks to some calendar oddities, the WPX CW will be
held on the weekend AFTER Memorial Day, so I am really looking forward to
operating in it!

The rules of this contest are a bit different than the DX contests, but
just as much fun, maybe even more. Basically, anyone can work anyone, but
more points are awarded for contacts in different countries or on different
continents than are contacts with others in your own country. Also, the
lower frequency bands (40, 80, and 160) are worth DOUBLE the points as on
the higher bands. This is a great advantage during periods of low sunspot
activity, and for operators who prefer to operate during the evening and
late night hours. The multipliers are based on call sign prefixes, rather
than state or country, so a K2, N2, W2, WA2, or KA2 call would all be
separate multipliers, although not on a per band basis. (Each multiplier
counts once)

Since this is a serial number contest, it may be necessary for those who
are a bit rusty to dust off their CW copying prior to the contest. I
recommend that you download Morse Runner at no cost, as not only is it an
excellent CW contest practice program, but the default exchange of RST and
serial number is identical to the real WPX contest exchange. There are many
call signs pre-loaded into Morse Runner, both DX and domestic, so you will
get a "real-feal" contest experience. Download it today, and practice twice
a day for 20 to 30 minutes every day this week, and chances are you will be
in much better shape to start the contest on Friday night.

The CQ WPX contest is based around the WPX award that CW offers, and I
guarantee that if you operate this contest even a few times, you will
probably have enough prefixes worked to qualify for the award. If you like
to collect wallpaper, this is an easy one to get. So, if your favorite
park, campground or pub is still closed next weekend, and you are looking
for something to do, why not blow the dust off your old paddles or key and
get in on the fun in the CQ WPX CW contest! I look forward to working many
of my GCARC friends in the WPX CW!

Tony WA2FZB