[HCRA] 10 Meter ARRL Contest

[Matt Wilhelm (W1MSW)]

Howdy Fellow HCRA Members,

We are only about 5 weeks away from the ARRL 10 meter contest and as many of
you know, it’s an HCRA tradition to participate as a club.  I’ve (been)
volunteered this year to organize the club’s participation. Please, right
now, mark the dates below on your calendars and let’s all try to put some
operating time in that weekend.

Here’s the nitty-gritty:

Objective:

For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many stations as
possible on the 10-meter band.

Dates:

Starts 0000 UTC Saturday December 11th  (8:00 PM, Friday, December 10th) and
runs through 2359 UTC Sunday December 12th (8:00 PM, Sunday, December 12th).

Some Facts:

The 10 meter contest is more laid back than most contests and is a great
opportunity for new operators or those who would like to try “contesting”
for the first time.  Last year (2009) the contest was my first opportunity
to operate an HF radio.  It was hook, line and sinker from then on.

All license classes can participate in this contest.  Technicians have voice
and CW privileges in the 10 meter band so no excuses for not participating.
It’s going to be cold outside and the weather is going to be cruddy so get
on the air and operate!  If you don’t have a 10 meter capable station at
home, let me know and I will see if we can find a station where you can put
some time in. If there are some Elmers out there who have been participating
in the contest for a while and would like to open their station up for
newcomers who don't have a 10 meter capable station, please let me know. As
I mentioned above, this was my first experience on HF and it made a big
impression. So far KK1W and KB1NWH have volunteered to open their homes to
guest operators. Watch the HCRA website for more as we get closer to the
contest.

Propagation has been getting better over the last 6 months and we have some
potential to really improve our scores this year.  During the CQ Worldwide
SSB contest, weekend before last, I worked 38 DX 10 meter contacts mostly to
the Caribbean, South America and Central America.   That’s pretty good
compared to last year and to be honest I could have spent more time on the
band.

I know there are a few members out there (like myself) who have been
learning CW.  I’d like to carry on a tradition that Jim, K1JAW (SK),
started.  At a pre-determined time and on a predetermined frequency, Jim
would send out a nice and slow VVV CQ TEST DE K1JAW K calling for those of
us who were a little intimidated by the faster code used during a contest,
but who also wanted the CW endorsement on our HCRA 10 Meter Contest
Certificate.  I thought it was a great idea and I’ll do my best to take on
Jim’s role this year.  Let’s celebrate what Jim did for the club by making
some slow contacts during those scheduled times even if you can copy and
send 30wpm. More details on that as the contest date gets closer.

OK that’s all for now, but expect more reminders in the near future as the
date gets closer and please please please put a big “BUSY” on the calendar
that weekend right now (if you didn’t do it when I asked you earlier in the
email)!

For more information on the contest and results from years past, please go
to HCRA.org and click on the “ARRL 10 Meter” button at the top of the page.

Thanks & 73,

Matt – W1MSW