[nrv-hams] ARRL November Sweepstakes Bulletin

[Russ Abbey]

ARRL Affiliated Clubs****

Sweepstakes Bulletin – 2011****

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Larry Hammel, K5OT – Sweepstakes Contest Manager****

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Clubs are always looking for operating events and opportunities that excite
and motivate their members to be active, especially on HF.  This year’s ARRL
November Sweepstakes <http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes> certainly fits the
bill and – for the first time in years – the bands will have plenty to offer
Technician license-holders, too!  Sweepstakes – or “Sweeps” among friends –
is a contest in which modest stations can do very, very well.  There’s no
need for giant towers and antennas or legal-limit amplifiers – a backyard
dipole or vertical and a “barefoot” HF rig will do just fine.  In fact, SS
is one contest in which antennas can be too high!****

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Because Sweepstakes brings out so many US and Canadian operators, it is very
popular for friendly “contests within a contest” between clubs and between
club members.  A club contest to work the most sections, make Worked All
States, or ring up the highest score is a nice way to wrap up the season
with awards being presented at the year-end meeting.  Many clubs have a
friendly competition with other nearby clubs for local bragging rights.
Even small clubs can get into the action on a national scale in the Local
category of the ARRL Affiliated Club
Completion<http://www.arrl.org/general-contest-information>
.****

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College clubs <http://collegearc.org/> can participate in two ways.  The
first is to submit a score in the School Club category of the main
competition.  With its 30-hour time limit, the shared-operating nature of
the category fits right in with the busy fall semester.  Give the Phone
weekend (Nov 19-20) a try before heading home for Thanksgiving break!   The
second is to participate in the Collegiate
Championship<http://www.collegiatechampionship.org/>,
sponsored by Ken Harker, WM5R.  Ken has compiled a long list of yearly
winners <http://www.collegiatechampionship.org/conferences/> for each of the
NCAA Division I Conferences – has your school’s club participated?  The
website is currently being updated with  the 2010 scores and we need some
help sorting out the current conference assignment for the record-holders -
any volunteers?  Finally, for a relaxed “practice” opportunity, try the
ARRL’s School Club Roundup <http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup> from
Oct 17-21.****

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Did we mention the opportunities for Technician licensees?  Techs have a
large chunk of 10 meters available to them on both Phone (28.3-28.5 MHz) and
CW (28.0-28.2) but in recent years, there hasn’t been much activity due to
quiet solar conditions.  Lately, the solar flux has been kicking up to 120
and higher, meaning that 10 meters opens up coast-to-coast and beyond!  If
your club’s Techs have been wondering what all the fuss is about 10 meters,
be sure to encourage their activity during Sweeps.  Perhaps one of those
intra-club challenges we were talking about?****

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If you’d like to know more about Sweepstakes, download the Sweepstakes
Operating Guide <http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes> – there are simple
explanations of the rules and a list of resource articles and websites to
help you get the most from your Sweepstakes weekend.  Maybe you’ll even
bring home the coveted “Clean Sweep” coffee mug!****

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CQ Sweeps!  ****

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73, Larry Hammel K5OT****

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-- 
Russ Abbey, KG4MAV
Secretary: Floyd Amateur Radio Society

Making new friends on Amateur Radio