[KCDXC] Fw: ARRL Contest Rate Sheet for September 25, 2002
T.M. Rose
[email protected]
Wed, 25 Sep 2002 05:45:48 -0500
----- Original Message -----
From: "ARRL Web site" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: <Subscribed ARRL Members:>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 11:10 PM
Subject: ARRL Contest Rate Sheet for September 25, 2002
> ***********************
> Contester's Rate Sheet
> 25 September 2002
> ***********************
>
> Edited by Ward Silver, N0AX
>
> SUMMARY
> o Two of the biggest states - CA and TX - and their QSO parties in
> back-to-back weekends! Check the referenced web sites for complete
> details and lists of county expeditions or mobile operations. The CA
> QSO Party has a new plaque for the highest scoring entry in "Top
> Club, non-California".
> o World ARDF Championships - a report
> o Last call for data for the Master Databases constructed by K9TM
> o Wire antenna ideas
> o When Is the Contest Over?
>
> BULLETINS
> o The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) on 14.325 MHz has been activated due
> to Hurricane Isidore. Please stay well clear of this and other
> emergency nets during your contest operations! While the HWN may be
> deactivated as Isidore dissipates, this is hurricane season and the
> net could be reactivated at any time.
>
> BUSTED QSOS
> o The Scandinavian Acivity Contest's SSB weekend was erroneously
> reported as coincident with the CW weekend of 21/22 September, but of
> course, the real weekend for SAC SSB is this coming weekend of 28/29
> September. (thanks, Ingo, SM5AJV / 8S5A)
>
> ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICES FOR 25 SEPTEMBER TO 8 OCTOBER 2002
>
> Logs are due for the following contests:
>
> o September 30, 2002 - Keyman's Club of Japan Contest - email to:
> [email protected], paper logs to: Yasuo Taneda, JA1DD, 279-233 Mori,
> Sambu-town, Sambu-gun, Chiba 289-1214, Japan
>
> o September 30, 2002 - SEANET Contest, CW/SSB/Digital - email to:
> [email protected], paper logs to: SEANET Contest 2001, Ray Gerrard,
> HS0/G3NOM, PO Box 69, Bangkok Airport Post Office 10212, Thailand
>
> o September 30, 2002 - Hawaii QSO Party - email to:
> [email protected], paper logs to: Hawaii QSO Party, PO Box 8960788,
> Wahiawa, HI 96786-0788, USA
>
> o October 3, 2002 - MI QRP Club Labor Day CW Sprint - email to:
> [email protected], paper logs to: L.T. Switzer, N8CQA, 427 Jeffrey
> Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48073-2521, USA
>
> o October 6, 2002 - DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest (September) - email
> to: [email protected], paper logs to: Werner Ludwig, DF5BX, PO Box 1270,
> 49110 Georgsmarienhuette, Germany
>
> o October 8, 2002 - North American Sprint, CW - email to:
> [email protected], paper logs to: Boring Amateur Radio Club, 15125
> Bartell Road, Boring, OR 97009, USA
>
> o October 8, 2002 - QRP ARCI End of Summer PSK31 Sprint - email to:
> [email protected], paper logs to: Randy Foltz, K7TQ, Attn: End of
> Summer PSK31 Sprint, 809 Leith St., Moscow, ID 83843, USA
>
> The following contests are scheduled:
>
> Note that the following abbreviations are used to condense the
> contest rules summaries:
> SO - Single-Op; M2 - Multiop - 2 Transmitters; MO - Multi-Op; MS -
> Multi-Op, Single Transmitter; MM - Multi-Op, Multiple Transmitters;
> AB - All Band; SB - Single Band; S/P/C - State/Province/DXCC Entity;
> HP - High Power; LP - Low Power; Entity - DXCC Entity
>
> CQ/RJ Worldwide RTTY DX Contest - sponsored by CQ Magazine and The
> New RTTY Journal, 0000Z Sep 28-2400Z Sep 29. Frequencies: 80-10
> meters. Categories: SOAB (LP, HP>150W), SOSB, Assisted (AB only), MS
> (LP, HP), M2, MM. Exchange: RST + CQ Zone (W/VE stations also send
> state/province). QSO Points: own country - 1 pt, different country,
> same continent - 2pts, diff. cont. - 3pts. Score: QSO points x SPC
> (incl. WAE countries) + CQ Zones counted once per band. For more
> information - http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/rtty.html or
> http://www.rttyjournal.com/rules/cqww.html. Logs due 31 Oct to
> [email protected] or to CQ/RJ RTTY DX Contest, 25 Newbridge Road,
> Hicksville, NY 11801 USA
>
> Scandinavian Activity Contest - SSB - sponsored by Experimenterende
> Danske Radioamatorer (EDR), 1200Z Sep 28-1200Z Sep 29. Frequencies:
> 80-10 meters. Categories: SOAB (QRP <5W, LP <100W, HP), MS, SWL.
> Exchange: RS(T) + serial number. QSO Points: EU stations - 1 pt,
> Non-EU - 1 pt on 20-10, 3 pts on 80-40. Finals score is QSO pts �
> Scandinavian call areas counted once per band. For more information -
> http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/text/sacnsc.txt. Logs due Oct 31 to
> [email protected] or EDR HF Contest Manager, Peter Vestergaard
> OZ5WQ, Vestervej 74, DK-4960 Holeby, Denmark
>
> Texas QSO Party - CW/Phone/Digital - sponsored by Northwest Amateur
> Radio Society (NARS), 1400Z Sep 28-0200Z Sep 29 and 1400Z-2000Z Sep
> 29. Frequencies: CW - 40 to 60 kHz above bottom of band, Phone - 25
> kHz above edge of General segments and 28.300 - 28.500, VHF - 50.2,
> 144.2 MHz. Categories: SO, SO-QRP (<5W CW, <10W Phone), SO-CW Only,
> MM, Texas stations only - SO, MO. Exchange: RST + SPC or MM region,
> TX stations send RST + TX county. QSO Points: Phone - 2 pts,
> CW/Digital - 3 pts. Score: non-TX stations - QSO points x TX
> counties, TX stations - QSO points x TX counties+SPC. Multipliers
> counted once only. For each TX Mobile worked in 5 counties, add 500
> points to final score plus 500 points for each 5 additional counties.
> TX Mobile stations add 5000 points for each 5 counties activated
> with 5 or more QSOs. For more information -
> http://www.k5vuu.com/tqp/rules.htm. Logs due 31 Oct to
> [email protected] or Texas QSO Party Committee, 17007 Hillview Lane,
> Spring, Texas 77379
>
> Louisiana QSO Party - CW/Phone - sponsored by the Twin City Ham Club,
> 1400Z Sep 28-0200Z Sep 29 and 1400Z-2000Z Sep 29. Frequencies: 80-2
> meters. Categories: SOAB (QRP <5W, LP <150W, HP, CW, Phone, Mixed
> Mode), MS (QRP, LP, HP, Mixed Mode only). Exchange: RST and SPC or
> LA parish. QSO Points: Phone - 2 pts, CW - 3 pts. Score: QSO points
> x LA counties (LA counties use SPC) counted once per band. For more
> information - http://www.tchams.org/users/contest/laqp. Logs due 31
> Oct to [email protected] or TCHC Contest Committee, PO Box 1871, West
> Monroe, LA 71294.
>
> Alabama QSO Party - CW/Phone - sponsored by the Central Alabama
> HF/VHF Contesting Club, 1800Z-2400Z Sep 28. Frequencies: 160-10
> meters, SSB, CW, and FM contacts count separately. Categories: SO,
> MS, Rover, QRP(< 5W), LP (< 200 W), HP. Exchange: RST and SPC. Work
> Rover stations in each county. QSO Points: AL stations count for 2
> pts, others 1 pt. Scoring: AL stations - QSO points x SPC counted
> once per band. Non-AL stations - QSO points x AL counties counted
> once per band. Rovers add 500 point bonus for each county activated
> with 10 QSOs or more. For more information -
> web.dbtech.net/~dxcc/rules1.htm. Logs due 30 days after the contest
> to [email protected] or Alabama QSO Party, 4525 Eastern Hills Lane,
> Cottondale, AL 35453.
>
> TARA PSK31 Rumble (Fall Classic), sponsored by Troy ARA, 0000Z-2400Z
> Oct 5. Frequencies: 80-6 meters, work stations once per band.
> Categories: Club Challenge (see web site), Normal (100W), Great
> (20W), Super (5W), Novice, SWL. Exchange: Name and SPC. Score:
> QSO's x (W + VE + JA + VK call areas + 1 point per entity).
> Multipliers count once per band. For more information -
> http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/rumble.html or http://www.n2ty.org. Logs
> must be received by 18 May via the contest web site or email to
> [email protected].
>
> Oceania DX Contest - Phone, supported by the Wireless Institute of
> Australia (WIA) and New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters
> (NZART), 0800Z Oct 5-0800Z Oct 6 (CW is 0800Z Oct 12-0800Z Oct 13).
> Frequencies: 160-10 meters, work VK/ZL/Oceania stations only.
> Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS, MM, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and serial
> number. QSO Points: 160 - 20 pts, 80 - 10 pts, 40 - 5 pts, 20 - 1 pt,
> 15 - 2 pts, 10 - 3 pts. Score: QSO points � WPX prefixes counted once
> per band. For more information -
> http://www.nzart.org.nz/nzart/update/contests/oceania/. Logs due Nov
> 25 in Cabrillo format to [email protected] (CW to
> [email protected]) or Oceania DX Contest, c/o Wellington Amateur
> Radio Club Inc., PO Box 6464, Wellington 6030, New Zealand
>
> EU Autumn Sprint - SSB, sponsored by the EU Sprint Gang, 1500Z-1859Z
> Oct 5 (CW is 1500Z-1859Z Oct 12). Frequencies: 80-20 meters, work EU
> stations only. SOAB category only. Exchange: your call, serial
> number, name, other station's call. Special QSY rule - see Web site.
> Score is number of QSOs. For more information - loja.kkn.net/~i2uiy/.
> Logs due 15 days after the contest to [email protected] or Paolo
> Cortese, I2UIY, PO Box 14, I-27043 Broni (PV), Italy (CW logs to
> Karel Karmasin, OK2FD, Gen Svobody 636, CZ-674 01 Trebic, Czech
> Republic).
>
> California QSO Party - CW/SSB, sponsored by the Northern California
> Contest Club, 1600Z Oct 5-2200Z Oct 6. Frequencies: 160-2 meters.
> Categories: SOAB (HP >100W, LP, QRP <5W), MS, MM, CA County
> Expedition, Mobile, Novice/Tech, Club, School. SO work 24 hours only.
> 10-minute rule for MS. CW QSOs in CW subbands, except 160. Work CA
> stations in each county. County lines count for 1 QSO but multiple
> counties. Exchange: serial number and SPC or CA county. QSO Points:
> CW - 3 pts, Phone - 2 pts. Score: QSO points � CA counties (max 58)
> or CA stations multiply by states and VE call areas (max 58). For
> more information - http://www.cqp.org. Logs due by Nov 15 to
> [email protected] or to Alan Maenchen, AD6E, 3330 Farthing Way, San
> Jose, CA 95132.
>
> QCWA QSO Party - CW/Phone - sponsored by the Quarter Century Wireless
> Association, 1800Z Oct 5 - 1800Z Oct 6. Frequencies: CW - 1.910,
> 3.540, 7.035, 14.040, 21.050, 28.050 MHz; Phone - 1.910, 3.890,
> 7.244, 14.262, 21.365, 28.325 MHz plus all VHF/UHF bands, no
> crossband or repeater QSOs. 15 QSOs with each station maximum and
> only one QSO with stations in home QCWA chapter. Exchange: Last two
> digits of year licensed and QCWA chapter or SPC. QSO Points: Phone
> -- 1 pt., CW/Digital -- 2 pts. Score: QSO Points x QCWA chapters +
> SPC counted once per band. W2MM counts as a 3-point multiplier on
> each band. For information and log sheets, send SASE to QCWA HQ, 159
> East 16th Ave., Eugene OR 97401-4017. Send logs to W0HXL, Dick
> Newsome, 2924 North 48th Street, OMAHA NE 68104-3726, U.S.A.
>
> RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest - SSB, sponsored by the RSGB, 0700Z-1900Z Oct
> 6 (CW is 0700Z-1900Z Oct 20). Frequencies: 15 and 10 meters (see Web
> site for band plan). Categories: UK and DX SO or MS (Open,
> Restricted, QRP <10W) and SWL (Open and Restricted). Exchange: serial
> number and UK district. QSO Points: 3 pts/QSO. Score QSO points x UK
> districts (UK stations use DXCC entities plus JA, W, VE, VK, ZL and
> ZS call areas) counted once per band. For more information -
> http://www.rsgbhfcc.org. Logs due Nov 20 to [email protected]
> or to RSGB-G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7
> 7AF, England
>
> Pro CW Contest - CW, sponsored by the Pro CW Club, 0400Z-0559Z and
> 0600-0800Z Oct 6. Frequencies: 7 MHz only, work stations once during
> each two hour period. Categories: SO, MS, Pro-CW member, SWL.
> Exchange RST + serial number (members send RST + PRO). QSO Points:
> same country - 1 pt, same continent, diff country - 2 pts, others - 3
> pts, QSOs with members count double. Score: QSO points x DXCC
> entities (count QSO points and mults separately from each two-hour
> period). Logs due 30 after the contest to Vasile Guirgui YO6EX, PO
> Box 168, RO-2400 Sibui-1, Romania.
>
> NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
>
> A lot of press has been dedicated to WRTC2002. Here's some
> interesting news about another, even larger radiosport event--the
> international Amateur Radio Direction-Finding Championships.
>
> "This year's team of eleven American on-foot foxhunting enthusiasts
> were up against more than 300 competitors from 28 other nations, and
> they came within two minutes of bringing home our first medal. Nadia
> Mayeva from Mooresville, North Carolina took fourth place in her age
> category by finding all her required transmitters in 109:02. She was
> edged out by a YL from China, who won the category bronze medal in
> 107:20.
>
> "Gyuri Nagi KF6YKN of Maspeth, New York placed fifth out of 50 in the
> hotly-contested M40 category. Tthat's males ages 40 through 49. He
> and his family put on a one-week training camp for members of Team
> USA near his native hometown in Hungary during the week before the
> championships.
>
> "This was USA's third trip to the World Championships, which are held
> in even-numbered years at locations chosen by the International
> Amateur Radio Union. Team members ranged in age from 33 to 60.
> Co-captains were Dick Arnett WB4SUV of Erlanger, Kentucky and Bob
> Frey WA6EZV of Cincinnati, Ohio. Karla Leach KC7BLA of Bozeman,
> Montana represented USA and IARU Region 2 on the International Jury
> overseeing the competitions. Her assignment was Course Marshal at one
> of the foxes.
>
> "Complete results for all ARDF Team USA members plus lots more
> information about the sport are now at Team USA's official Web site:
> http://www.homingin.com. That's homingin - one word - homingin.com."
> (thanks, ARNewsline (TM) - http://www.arnewsline.org - and John,
> K1AR)
>
> Look for big changes in the way contests are announced in QST as well
> as revisions to the contest rules posted on the ARRL Web site.
> Problems with the log handling robot for the September VHF QSO Party
> have been resolved. Plaques and certificates with the new layout
> (see http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/09/19/3/?nc=1) are ordered
> and it is expected that the backlog of shipments will begin soon. If
> you are interested in sponsoring a plaque for any ARRL contest,
> please contact Dan Henderson, N1ND, at [email protected]. (Thanks Dan,
> N1ND and the ARRL Contest Desk staff)
>
> WriteLog users take note - Steve, N9OH has developed a series of
> contest modules and plug-ins for WriteLog to add support for more
> contests. These include the WI, VA, MI, OK, IN, OH, GA, New England,
> TN, WA (Salmon Run), and IL state QSO parties, as well as the ARS
> Spartan Sprint. More are on the way as listed at
> http://www.xnet.com/~sjwoodr/ham/modules.
>
> Those of you that use callsign databases, Tim K9TM is trying to get
> the master database files for this year out by 1 Oct. Things are
> going well and we have received many many logs (thanks). However,
> this is one of those tasks where you just can't have too much data.
> This is a last call for any remaining logs to be included in this
> release of the database - send them ASAP! For details on what is
> needed please see my prior post at:
> http://lists.contesting.com/_cq-contest/2002-August/048923.html and
> http://lists.contesting.com/_cq-contest/2002-August/048929.html"
> (Thanks, Tim K9TM)
>
> TECHNICAL & TECHNIQUE
>
> Who says ham radio doesn't involve chemistry? Here's a handy tip on
> cleaning copper for soldering jobs. "I had a Copperweld dipole that
> was so oxidized it would not solder. I wanted to remove the oxide
> without damaging the copper cladding. If I only had some
> hydrochloric acid in the house! Looking in the cleaning closet the
> label on the Lysol toilet bowl cleaner looked promising. so I
> squirted some on the wire, left it a few minutes and washed it off.
> The surface was cleaner than new and gave a beautiful solder joint.
> The stuff is quite viscous so it clings to the wire. It worked much
> better than the flux I tried in the past. Of course, the viscosity
> that makes it cling to the wire would also make it cling to the
> surface of your eye so be careful and wear some glasses." (Thanks
> Wes, WZ7I)
>
> And after we've cleaned off our wires, how do we get them into the
> trees? A sampling of recent discussion on the subject from the QRP-L
> reflector (http://qrp.lehigh.edu/lists/qrp-l/) includes these good
> ideas. If you use a fishing reel, be sure to keep it away from
> yourself in case of back lash and wear goggles in all cases! Good
> types of weights include fishing sinkers, particularly conical ones
> 1.5-2 oz., painted bright colors, discarded tire balancing weights, a
> hockey puck (requires a 25-lb test line and a strong arm), spark plug
> sockets or just the spark plug, 20 oz. plastic soda bottles one-third
> filled with water, baseballs, tennis balls, golf balls with a
> screw-eye attached, locking sandwich or bean bags filled with sand,
> and fruit, like lemons or apples (if they get stuck, just pull the
> line through them). A good way to locate the weight after it's gone
> over the tree and into the bushes is to use a 20-feet orange fishing
> leader on the weight. My favorite idea was the K3TKS Antenna Arrow.
> "It is a 36" aluminum hunting arrow which is crowned with an empty
> 30.06 cartridge filled with molten lead. I put a small hole in the
> end of the shaft for the #12 mono-filament line. I use about 60 feet
> of it which is then tied to heavier Dacron(TM) line. I generally use
> an old #40 straight bow or compound bow for my antenna fishing."
> (Thanks George, K3TKS and all the QRP-L contributors)
>
> CONVERSATION
>
> When Is the Contest Over?
>
> Back in the old days of many No. 2 pencils, Operating Aid No. 6, and
> poor handwriting, contests activity went on much, much longer than
> the operating period. I'm not talking about making QSOs, of course.
> The activity involved the laborious counting, sorting, deciphering
> and copying of the logged data that took days and weeks to complete
> before finding a No. 9 business envelope and enough postage to hold
> the logs, dupe sheet, and summary. The time people spent on logs
> made the annual tax season look like a picnic by comparison. It
> could truly be said that the contest took 48 hours of yelling and
> four weeks of paperwork, with the final picture of one's contest only
> available when the mailman carted off your work to the sponsors.
>
> These days we have it so-o-o-o-o easy - just seconds after 0000Z, we
> type a few characters and almost instantly our entire log package is
> ready to go. So, without four weeks of poring over scribbles and
> scratchouts, when is the contest really over? With the greatly
> improved accuracy and speed of computer logging, how much
> post-processing is it ethical to perform after the clock ticks the
> final tick?
>
> What other sporting event allows post-event adjustment of the
> participant's recorded behavior? Except for disqualifications and
> rare protests, in all other sports the winners are determined at the
> conclusion of the event. The only parallel to log adjustment that I
> can think of is a golfer filling out his score card after the hole is
> completed. To be sure, there must be some accommodation of paper logs
> and the necessary delays. Perhaps there should be two deadlines -
> one for paper and one for electronic logs. Maybe there should be a
> stricter deadline that must be met in order to qualify for awards or
> certificates.
>
> The original log deadlines weeks after the contest were necessary to
> allow for the delays of manual work and the post office. With the
> technology available today - databases of calls, log manipulation
> toolsets, email and reflectors and Web pages - not only can we
> correct our typos, but we can "sanitize" our logs by cross-checking
> calls, exchanges, bands, and modes. But is "can" the same as
> "should"?
>
> (Before going further with the discussion, I should be clear that
> this subject is of concern primarily to those competing for awards or
> against other entrants. If you are a casual participant handing out
> a few QSOs, then this isn't such a Big Deal.)
>
> Except as based on notations made during the contest, there should be
> no substantive changes in log content once the contest period is
> over. Some examples are in order.
>
> o - Correcting the exchange for W1AW based on notes made in the
> contest - OK.
> o - Changing the exchange for W1AW based on what was received last
> year - NOT OK.
> o - Fixing an obvious typo during a post-contest review of the log -
> QUESTIONABLE.
> o - Changing a call based on a post-contest summary on the 3830
> reflector - NOT OK.
> o - Correcting a busted call during the contest based on a subsequent
> contest QSO - OK.
> o - Changing calls based on post-contest comparison against a
> database - NOT OK.
> o - Replaying contest audio to check calls and exchanges - NOT OK.
>
> When it's over, it's over. No correlation between Internet databases
> and your dupe sheet. No emails asking, "Am I in your 160-meter log
> at high noon?" No reviews of packet spotting logs. If you're
> computer logging, then typing is just as much part of the contest as
> keying or tuning. Mistakes in keying count as busted QSOs, why
> shouldn't typos made in receiving be the same?
>
> By all means, review your logs and recorded audio to improve your
> performance - in the next contest. It's clearly acceptable and
> desirable to be sure that your submitted package has the best
> possible description of every QSO you made during the contest. But
> not the ones you "think" you made, or "should" have made, or "must"
> have made
>
> ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
>
> The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from the
> following sources:
> WA7BNM's Contest Calendar Web page -
> http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/ ARRL Contest page -
> http://www.arrl.org/contests/
> SM3CER's Web site - http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/
>
> ======================================================================
> THE ARRL CONTEST RATE SHEET is published every other Wednesday (26
> times each year), by the American Radio Relay League--The National
> Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel
> 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX.
>
> The ARRL Contest Rate Sheet offers a useful source of timely
> information for both the active and casual contester. The Rate Sheet
> includes information about events during the following two-week period,
> time-sensitive news items, upcoming deadlines, and other news of
> interest to contesters.
>
> For permission to quote or reprint material from the ARRL Contest Rate
> Sheet, send a request including the issue date, a description of the
> material requested, and a description of where you intend to use the
> reprinted material to the ARRL Editorial & Production Department:
> [email protected].
>
> Editorial questions or comments: Ward Silver, N0AX, [email protected]
> Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
> [email protected]
>
> The ARRL Contest Rate Sheet is available to ARRL members via email free
> of charge directly from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change
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>
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> publication.
> ======================================================================