[LeArc] Contest Rate Sheet 24 April 2002
Joseph L. Rossmiller
[email protected]
Wed, 24 Apr 2002 14:59:03 +0000
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Contest Rate Sheet
24 April 2002
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Edited by Ward Silver, N0AX
SUMMARY
o 2001 CW Sweepstakes Results on the Web -- Major New Coverage
o New England QSO Party makes its debut on May 4-5
o Visalia (Apr 26) and Dayton (May 18) Contest Dinner reservations going
fast!
o Free log analysis utilities
BULLETINS
o The email address listed for the CQ-M contest in May QST has proven to
be unreliable. The contest sponsors would prefer that you email logs to
the new log robot address of [email protected]. (Thanks, Dmitri RW3FO)
o An SWL category has been added to the Florida QSO Party which runs
this coming weekend -- April 27th and 28th. See the announcement
elsewhere in this newsletter. (thanks K4OJ)
BUSTED QSOS -- A golden log last issue!
ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICES FOR 24 APRIL TO 7 MAY
Logs are due for the following contests:
o April 28, 2002 EU Spring SSB Sprint -- email to: [email protected],
paper logs to: Dave Lawley, G4BUO, Carramore, Coldharbour Road,
Penshurst, Kent, TN11 8EX, England, UK
o April 29, 2002 144 MHz Spring Sprint -- email to:
[email protected], paper logs to: 144 MHz Spring Sprint,
ETDXA/KG4ENR, Jeff J. Baker, 8218 Foxworth Trail, Powell, TN 37849 USA
o April 30, 2002 YL-ISSB QSO Party -- email to: [email protected], paper
logs to: N4KNF/N4ZGH, 2160 Ivy Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33952, USA
o April 30, 2002 Oklahoma QSO Party -- email to: [email protected], paper
logs to: OKDX Association, c/o David Ratliff, W5ATV, 3215 W. 40th,
Tulsa, OK 74107 USA
o April 30, 2002 SP DX Contest -- email to: [email protected], paper
logs to: Polski Zwiazek Krotkofalowcow, SPDX Contest Committee, P.O. Box
32000-950 Warszawa, Poland
o May 1, 2002 BARTG Spring RTTY Contest -- email to:
[email protected], paper logs to: John Barber, GW4SKA, PO Box 611,
Cardiff CF2 4UN, Wales
o May 1, 2002 Russian DX Contest -- email to: [email protected],
paper logs to: Russian DX Contest, PO Box 88, 123459 Moscow, Russia
o May 1, 2002 CQWW SSB WPX Contest -- email to: [email protected],
non-Cabrillo to: [email protected], no paper logs
o May 5, 2002 UBA Spring SSB Contest -- email to: [email protected], paper
logs to: Lode Kenens, ON6KL, Oudestraat 8, B-3560 Lummen, Belgium
o May 7, 2002 Missouri QSO Party -- email to [email protected], paper
logs to: James I. Kinser, N0AJ, 2147 Encino Drive, Florissant, MO
63031-7627, USA
o May 7, 2002 QCWA QSO Party, paper logs only to: Dick Newsome, W0HXL
2924 North 48th Street, Omaha, NE 68104-3726 USA
o May 7, 2002 222 MHz Spring Sprint -- email to:
[email protected], paper logs to: 222 MHz Spring Sprint,
ETDXA/KG4ENR, Jeff J. Baker, 8218 Foxworth Trail, Powell, TN 37849 USA
The following contests are scheduled:
Florida QSO Party -- sponsored by the Florida Contest Group from 1600Z
April 27 - 0159Z April 28 and 1200Z - 2159Z April 28, no time limit,
work FL stations. Frequencies: CW - 35 kHz from band edges
(Novices/Technicians -- 10 kHz from segment edge), Phone - 7.260,
14.260, 21.335, and 28.485 MHz, no 160, 80, VHF/UHF. Categories: SO,
MS, MM (one signal per band), Mobile, Novice/Technician, School Club,
SWL, all categories can enter as HP/LP(150W)/QRP (5W) and Mixed
Mode/CW/SSB. Exchange: RST and FL county or SPC. QSO Points: CW -- 2
pts., SSB -- 1 pt. Score: FL stations -- QSO points x SPC (W/VE/KH6/KL7
do not count as DXCC entities) x power multiplier; non-FL stations --
QSO points x FL counties x power multiplier. All multipliers count once
per mode. Power multiplier -- HP x 1, LP x 2, QRP x 3. For more
information -- http://www.qsl.net/fqp. Logs must be sent by 28 May as
email to [email protected] in ASCII text or in Cabrillo format or by
post to Florida QSO Party, c/o Ron Wetjen, WD4AHZ, 5362 Castleman Dr.,
Sarasota, FL 34232.
Nebraska QSO Party -- CW/SSB -- sponsored by the Heartland DX
Association 1700Z Apr 27 through 1700Z Apr 28. Frequencies: 160, 80,
40, 20, 15, 10, 6 and 2 meters; CW - 1.805 MHz and 35 kHz up from band
edge; Phone - 1.915, 3.865, 7.265, 14.265, 21.365, 28.465, 146.460 MHz;
Novices/Technicians - 10 kHz from band edge and 28.465 MHz. Categories:
SO, MS, Mobile. Work stations once per band/mode and NE mobile stations
can be worked again in each county. County lines count as one QSO.
Exchange: RST and NE county or SPC. QSO Points: CW -- 2 pts, Phone -- 1
pt. Score is QSO Points x SPC for NE stations or NE counties
(multipliers count once only) x Power Multiplier (QRP x 3, 150W x 2, HP
x 1). For more information - http://www.qsl.net/hdxa. Logs must be
emailed or postmarked by 31 May to [email protected] as ASCII text or to
Nebraska QSO Party, PO Box 375, Elkhorn, NE 68022-0375.
IPA Contest sponsored by the International Police Association, CW 0000Z
to 2359Z May 4, SSB 0000Z to 2359Z May 5 (each mode is considered a
separate contest). Frequencies: 80 -- 10 meters. Categories: SOAB, MS,
SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number, IPA stations add "IPA". QSO
Points: Non-IPA -- 1 pt, Non-US IPA -- 2 pts, US IPA -- 5 pts, IPA club
-- 10 pts, US stations with 1x1 call -- 20 pts. Score is QSO points x
US states + IPA stations + 1x1 calls counted only once. For more
information - http://www.iparc.org. Logs should be emailed or
postmarked to [email protected] or to Alex Dutkewych N2PIG, PO Box 211,
Pulteney NY 14874-0211.
MARAC County Hunters Contest, CW sponsored by the Mobile Amateur Radio
Awards Club from 0000Z, May 4 to 2400Z, May 5. Frequencies: 3.575,
7.040, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050 MHz, work fixed stations once/band and
mobiles once for each county and band. Exchange: RST and county or SPC.
County line QSOs count as one QSO but separate multipliers. QSO Points:
Fixed stations in NA -- 1 point, Mobile/Portable -- 15 points, DX -- 5
pts, one station must be in a U.S. county. Score is QSO Points x U.S.
counties (count only once). Mobile/Portables sum score from each
state. For more information - http://www.countyhunter.com. Logs must
be postmarked by 7 June to (U.S. Logs) Duane Traver, WV2B, 99 Oregon
Hill Rd, Lisle, NY 13797-1002 or (Non U.S. Logs) Scott Nichols, VE1OP,
387 Rudderham Rd., Point Edward, NS B2A 4V6, Canada.
10-10 International Spring Contest, CW - sponsored by Ten-Ten
International, from 0001Z May 4 - 2400Z May 5, 10 meters only. Exchange
call/name/state and 10-10 number (if a member). QSO Points: nonmembers
-- 1 pt, members -- 2 pts. Score is total points. Send logs by May 20
to Gateway Chapter c/o Don Ward, W0RTV, 4514 Ferrer Dr., St. Louis, MO
63129-3741
Microwave Spring Sprint - CW/SSB -- sponsored by the Eastern Tennessee
DX Association from 0600-1300 local, May 4. Frequencies: 902 MHz and
higher. Fixed and Rover categories. Exchange is Grid Square only,
count 1 pt per QSO. Score is QSO Points x Grid Squares, score each
sprint separately. Rovers and Microwave sprints total all points and
all grids worked from each grid. For more information --
http://www.etdxa.org/vhf.htm. Logs must be emailed or postmarked within
4 weeks of the contest to [email protected] or Jeff J Baker, 8218
Foxworth Trail, Powell, TN 37849 USA.
Indiana QSO Party, CW/SSB, sponsored by the Hoosier DX and Contest Club
from 1300Z, May 4 to 0500Z, May 5, SO operate a maximum of 12 hours.
Frequencies: CW -1.805 MHz and 40 kHz up from the band edge on 80-10
meters, SSB - 1.845, 3.850, 7.230, 14.250, 21.300, 28.450 MHz, try 160
at 0200 and 0400Z, no repeater or crossband QSOs. Categories: SOAB (HP,
LP < 100W, QRP < 5W), MS (incl. use of spotting assistance), Mobile (SO
and MO). Exchange: RS(T) + S/P or IN county (DX stations send RS(T)
only). QSO Points: SSB -- 1 pt, CW -- 2 pts, contact stations once per
band/mode and once per county. Score is QSO Points x IN counties or
S/P/C counted only once. For more information -
http://www.hdxcc.org/inqso. Logs must be emailed (Cabrillo format
preferred) or postmarked by June 14 to [email protected] or to HDXCC, c/o
Mike Goode N9NS, 10340 Broadway, Indianapolis, IN 46280-1344.
ARI International DX Contest, CW/SSB/Digital, sponsored by the ARI from
2000Z, May 4 to 1959Z, May 5. Frequencies: CW/SSB -- 160 through 10
meters; Digital -- 80 through 10 meters, change bands once per 10 min.
Categories: SOCW, SOSSB, SODigital, SO Mixed, MS Mixed, SO SWL Mixed.
Exchange -- RST and Italian Province or serial number. QSO Points: own
country -- 0 pts (but OK for mult), own continent -- 1 pt, different
cont. -- 3 pts, Italian stations -- 10 pts. Each station can be a mult
only once per band. Score is total QSO points x Italian Provinces +
DXCC entity (except I, IS0, IT9, IG9/IH9) counted once per band. For
more information, send email to [email protected]. Logs (Cabrillo format
is encouraged) should be emailed or postmarked by June 5 to
[email protected] or to ARI Contest Manager, I4UFH Fabio Schettino, PO
Box 1677, 40100 Bologna, Italy
New England QSO Party --CW/Phone - 2000Z, May 4 to 0300Z, May 5 and
1100Z - 2400Z, May 5. All 1st-district states (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, and
RI) are considered New England. Frequencies: CW -- 40 kHz from band
edge; Novice/Tech -- 3705, 7130, 21130, 28130 kHz; SSB -- 3880, 7280,
14280, 21380, 28380 kHz; VHF - 50.150, 144.205, 146.55, 223.5, 432.150,
446.0 MHz; no crossmode, crossband or repeater QSOs, all CW QSOs in CW
band segments. Categories: SOAB (HP, LP, and QRP), MS (includes
stations using any kind of spotting assistance), mobiles use same
categories. Exchange: RS(T) and S/P (non-US/VE sends "DX") or NE
county/state. Work stations once per band/mode and mobiles in each
county. County lines should be logged as two QSOs. QSO Points: phone
-- 1 pt, CW (includes digital modes) -- 2 pts. Score: Non-NE stations
-- QSO points x NE counties; NE stations -- QSO points x S/P/C (20 max
countries); mobiles total QSO points from all counties and count
multipliers only once. For more information - http://www.neqp.org.
Logs should be emailed (Cabrillo format preferred) or postmarked within
30 days of the contest to [email protected] or NEQP, PO Box 3005, Framingham
MA 01705-3005.
May 5 - 11
Danish SSTV Contest, sponsored by the Danish SSTV Group, from 0000Z, May
5 to 2400Z, May 11 (note one week duration). Frequencies: 80-10, 6, 2
meters. Categories: SO and SWL. Exchange an image to complete a QSO.
QSO Points: 2 points for 1st QSO with a country, 1 point thereafter, 1
point bonus for Danish stations, contact stations once per band. For
more information -- http://home5.inet.tele.dk/carle. Logs must be
postmarked by June 6 to Carl Emkjer, Soborghus Park 8, DK 2860, Soborg,
Denmark.
NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
Your editor considered making this a bulletin, but thought that would be
a little over-the-top. At any rate, the new web coverage of the 2001 CW
Sweepstakes is definitely a quantum leap over anything that has been
available to date. K5ZD's writeup is detailed and entertaining, but the
real stars of the show are the sortable line score database (just like
you'd always dreamt of), the accuracy reports, and the records. K1DG
contributes a nice historical piece, as well. Not to be missed -- even
if you didn't operate SS -- are to be found at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/results/. Click on "Web Report". Well
done, N1ND, K5ZD, N5KO, N6TR, K1DG, K5KA, K1VUT and the ARRL Staff.
The 2001 CQ WW SSB UBN and NIL reports are now available for you at the
contest web site - http://www.cqww.com. Click on your call and enter
your password - everyone who submitted an email log received one. If you
submitted only a paper log your call will not appear on the list. In a
few weeks, an announcement will be made that a list of calls +
categories + clubs has been placed on the web site for you to check. CQ
WW will require the Cabrillo format for submissions starting with the
2002 contest. (Thanks, Bob Cox K3EST, CQ WW Director)
Visalia, CA - The Northern California Contest Club presents the 4th
Annual International DX Convention Contest Dinner on Friday, April 26,
2002 with lots of contesters, DX-ers, and door prizes. The evening
presentation will be "Dr. Beldar's Contest Emporium - Products You Might
Not See at HRO"...Full details are available on the International DX
Convention web site at http://www.qsl.net/visalia2002/events.html
(Thanks, K2KW)
Dayton Hamvention - The North Coast Contesters are pleased to announce
the 10th Annual Dayton Contest Dinner on Saturday night, May 18, 2002 at
6:30 PM. Master of Ceremonies is CQ Magazine Contest Editor and CQ
Contest Hall of Fame member, John Dorr, K1AR. Joe Taylor, K1JT is the
featured dinner speaker this year. Joe was awarded the Nobel Prize for
Physics in 1993 and is also a noted VHF Contest enthusiast. The 2002
Contest Hall of Fame Inductions will be formally announced by CQ
WorldWide Contest Director and CQ Contest Hall of Fame member, Bob Cox,
K3EST. Several WRTC 2002 activities are planned. Tickets are on sale
now and the event is usually sold out, so contact The Radio Bookstore at
http://www.radio-ware.com or 1-800-457-7373 Monday through Friday from
10 AM to 6 PM eastern USA time.
If you are considering a contest expedition or vacation, check out the
just-updated DX Holiday web site - http://www.dxholiday.com, by K2KW.
It's a great source of information for DXpedition information on
Rent-a-QTHs, Ham Friendly Locations, and Club stations. (Thanks, K2KW)
TECHNICAL & TECHNIQUE
A very useful post-contest utility that operates on Cabrillo files is
CBS.exe by Ken Adams K5KA. It parses your file and outputs a host of
useful statistics on rate, six-band QSOs, call areas worked, multiplier
summaries, and so forth. This neat program is free and can be
downloaded from http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr/software/Cbs.exe. Thanks to
K5KA! (Also thanks to K5TR for the tip.)
Another utility that analyzes log files finds your top rate for any
continuous hour is the free MS-DOS(tm) utility called RATE.EXE that you
can download from http://www.k1ea.com/utilities/index.htm or
http://www.benlo.com/ham.html#software. RATE will parse any ASCII log
that has its data in fixed columns and a four-digit time (no colon) --
this works for Cabrillo, as well. Run the program without specifying an
input or output log (enter "RATE" at the DOS prompt) and a list of
commands will follow. You will also have to specify the column in which
the first digit of the time appears -- for Cabrillo, that's 25.
Unfortunately, the program also tells you your Minimum and Average
rates. No author is listed on the web site -- can anyone relay his or
her identity for full credit?
CONVERSATION
There was a great article by Jim K8MR on mobile contesting in the
March/April 2002 issue of NCJ. Jim pointed out the similarity between
the mobile category in state QSO parties and the WRTC - operators in
both events compete from very similar stations and under very similar
conditions. Several major QSO parties -- excellent for mobile
contesting -- and the County Hunter's CW Contest are coming up over the
next few weeks and more in the summer months. You will have ample
opportunity coming up to experience this brand of contesting activity,
either from your home QTH or from your own vehicle. (Thanks, Hal Offutt
W1NN)
Marginal Ham Radio Witticism:
Q: How many DX-ers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: All of them -- one to change it and the rest to argue about
whether it counts as a light bulb!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from
thefollowing 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/
MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
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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
your address for e-mail delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site,
http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the ARRL Contest Rate
Sheet, W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to
the ARRL Contest Rate Sheet by going to the Member Data Page at:
http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1 Note that you
must be logged in to the site to access this page. Scroll down to the
section "Which of the following would you like to receive automatically
via email from ARRL?" Check the box for "ARRL Contest Rate Sheet
(biweekly contest newsletter)" and you're all set. Past issues of the
ARRL Contest Rate Sheet are available at
http://www.arrl.org/rate-sheet/. Issues are posted to this page after
publication.
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