[nrv-hams] Fun on 10 meters this weekend

[Kay Craigie]

Ten meters has been active this fall, and we hope there will be good
propagation for the ARRL 10 Meter Contest this weekend. When this band is
open, you can work the world on a simple antenna and 100 watts. Lots of
states, lots of countries. I know some guys who have gone to Barbados just
to operate this contest.  They are operating out on the porch wearing
shorts. Am I jealous? You bet.

The event begins at 0000 UTC on December 14 - that's 7 pm local time Friday
night - and ends at 2400 UTC on December 15. That's 7 PM local time Sunday
night. Both phone and CW can be used. If you work a station on phone, you
can work the same station again on CW.

The exchange (what we send and receive) is not complicated. Stations in the
USA, Canada, and Mexico send a signal report (always 59 or 599) and our
state or province. Stations elsewhere send a signal report and a serial
number.  The serial number is a sequential number for the QSO, not just
something they pick at random.

For example, on CW I would send 599 VA to my friend Katie out west, who
would reply with 599 WY. If I have a phone contact with Ramon XE1KK, who
lives in Mexico City, he will send me 59 DF. If I work Seppo OH1VR, who
lives in Finland, he might send me 59 123.

On CW, use the standard 2-letter abbreviation for Virginia. On phone I say
"Virginia" rather than the letters  "V A." If I'm working a station outside
North America who doesn't seem to get that, then I'll say "Victor Alpha."
Why not say "V A"?  On HF there's often enough noise so that someone could
mis-hear the "V" for something else. I'd rather make it clear right off the
bat.

Don't hesitate to ask someone to repeat if you didn't get something the
first time. Contest sponsors penalize logging mistakes, so serious
contesters are accustomed to asking for and giving repeats. If an operator
is gargling his callsign, I have no problem whatsoever with asking him to
give it in phonetics. If I think he has my callsign wrong, I will not send
my exchange until I am sure he has my call correct.

Of course I make sure to say my own callsign clearly using standard
phonetics!

If you have privileges on 10 meters, give it a try! It will be fun, even
though we are not in Barbados. Darn it.

73 - Kay N3KN