[GVARC] ARRL DX PHONE Contest this Weekend

Wed, 27 Feb 2002 10:17:02 -0800

2/27/02
Folks,

N6IJ is activated for the ARRL WORLD DX Phone Contest this weekend.

See us on the web:
http://www.polkinghorn.org/N6IJ

(maps to the site....)

http://communities.msn.com/N6IJ, click on pictures

We are especially encouraging new folks, young folks and even the Press to 
come out.  Anyone who wants to, can operate, even the press, if they wish.  
Control Ops will always be overseeing operating....
We have a head set with boom microphone, and a foot switch to transmit, so 
it works really well....Scouts are especially encouraged to particpate, we 
can even take your picture at the controls....

This contest is relatively easy, you will use a PC keyboard to fill in the 
call sign of the station worked, and type in a signal report, and then send 
one out to the station contacted.  All you need to send out is "59 
California, and copy (probably) "59, 1000" [or Power used by the other 
staion] and log it.

Some subtleties are a little more fun, and tricky...what frequency (band) to 
use, Great Circle charts, where to point the beam, What country is that 
station HC8 from? (Galapagos)  Or...where is the sun, what parts of the 
earth are in darkness, and which are in sunlight....where is, and why is it 
special to radio operators, the twilight zone (aka grayline)?

In the process, you will learn ionospheric physics, sunspots, use of 
antennas, World Geography,  How to control Radios and antennas by computers, 
  How to set up stations,  World time Zones, etc...

The hard part is to do this extremely accurately, and very fast, and for 48 
hours.  We have several seasoned ops already signed, and with a little luck 
will exchange messages with as many as 1500 other stations, from probably in 
excess of 100 countries...
So, would you like to take the Operators Chair, and the controls?  Try it, 
you might like it...

yours truly...

Pat Barthelow, AA6EG/N6IJ
Marina Amateur Radio Contest Station
[email protected]

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