[SFDXA] The ARRL Contest Update for September 25, 2013

Wed Sep 25 09:25:24 EDT 2013

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The ARRL Contest Update

September 25, 2013
Editor: Ward Silver, NØAX <mailto:rate-sheet at arrl.org>
/Contest Update/ Archive <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/>
Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contests/calendar.html>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2013-09-25&t=t>
IN THIS ISSUE

  * Round the World RTTY - CQ WW RTTY <#Contests>
  * Three Corner Contest - ME, TX, CA QSO Parties <#Contests>
  * Sweepstakes Specials <#News>
  * Join the Pileup! <#Newsweek>
  * Ask One Who Knows <#Sights>
  * CW NAQP and NA Sprint Scores <#Results>
  * Catch a DesignSpark <#Tech>
  * A Whole Box of Matches <#Techweek>
  * The Map Is Not The Territory <#Conversation>

NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

If you want to hear how big a state QSO party can be, try the California 
and Texas contests, with a bit of Maine's QSO party sprinkled in for 
good measure. All 58 California counties 
<http://www.cqp.org/Counties-Plan-2013.html> (says N6TV) and all 254 
Texas counties <http://txqp.net/%E2%80%8E> (K5IID claims) will be 
active. Try to work those rare ones - it may be a while before you get 
another chance!

BULLETINS

There are no bulletins in this issue

BUSTED QSOS

Their where know misteaks lassed thyme.

CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information <#Contests> for all contests follows the 
Conversation <#Conversation> section

*September 28-29*

  * */ARRL EME Contest /*
  * SKCC Straight Key Sprint (Sep 25)
  * CQ WW RTTY Contest
  * Texas QSO Party
  * Maine QSO Party
  * 222 MHz Fall VHF Sprint (Oct 1)

*October 5-6*

  * NS Weekly Sprint--CW (Oct 4)
  * DX/NA YLRL Anniversary Party (Oct 4)
  * TARA PSK Rumble
  * EPC Russia DX Contest--Digital
  * Oceania DX Phone Contest
  * Worked All Britain HF Contest--Phone
  * California QSO Party
  * EU Autumn Phone Sprint
  * RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest
  * OK1WC Memorial Contest (Oct 7)
  * ARS Spartan Sprint--CW (Oct 8)

NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

Ready for Sweeps? Lots of fun stuff is in the works to make the 80th a 
memorable contest!

Sweepstakes is approaching and this year is special - the 80^th running 
of this oldest of all domestic contests! Now is the time to start 
planning because there will be a few new corners to "Sweep" this year:

  * A new web-based log submission page
  * Individual operating achievement awards
  * Special club participation awards
  * Commemorative 80^th Running Sweepstakes tee-shirts
  * Clean Sweep mugs and participation pins with SS80 logo

Are you or do you know an operator 80 years old or older? There will be 
special recognition of our "four-score" operators this year! Watch the 
Sweepstakes web page <http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes> for updates, 
announcements, and more information about this special running of the 
contest.

WRTC-2014 <http://wrtc2014.org> Team Leader applications have been 
closed after 121 applied to be a Team Leader. 54 Team Leaders will be 
announced -- 51 who qualified by scoring highest in their Selection Area 
plus 2 Wild Cards and 1 Youth. Six of the top qualifiers were unable to 
apply for Team Leader status for various reasons so Selection Manager, 
Dan Street K1TO says, "...there may be a few surprises ahead!"

How come the NA Sprint <http://ncjweb.com> operators send their call 
signs in different orders from QSO to QSO? This is always confusing at 
first to casual participants. Because of the Sprint's QSY rule (the 
search-and-pounce station gets the frequency after the QSO, basically) 
it's very helpful for potential callers to be able to tell who is 
staying around and who will disappear. Thus, the station who will tune 
away after the QSO begins the exchange with both call signs. The station 
that will be inheriting the frequency ends the exchange with their call 
sign. In a contest as fast-paced and short as NA Sprint, this saves a 
lot of time. (Don't forget to let the receiving station acknowledge they 
copied everything!)

If this screen looks familiar to CT logging software fans, it should. 
DXLog <http://www.dxlog.net> emulates a great deal of CT - you'll feel 
right at home!

Dave W9PA writes with news of /DXLog/ <http://www.dxlog.net>, a free 
contest logging program being developed by Chris 9A5K. "Like /Win-Test/ 
<http://www.win-test.com/%E2%80%8E>, /DXLog /supports the /CT/ command 
set. In fact /DXLog/ looks and feels a LOT like /Win-Test/! Some 
features are identical." A list of currently supported contests 
<http://dxlog.net/docs/index.php/Features#Supported_contests> can be 
found on the website. For defining contests, rule sets are defined in 
plain text files. Along with CW and phone support, /DXLog /also supports 
/MMTTY /for use with RTTY.

Exposing the maker-hacker community to ham radio is a good thing, such 
as the "Guest Rant 
<http://hackaday.com/2013/09/23/guest-rant-ham-radio-hackers-paradise/>" 
column on the Hackaday website for 23 September. Of course, as with most 
things on the Internet, the comments immediately devolve into obscure 
squabbles about call signs. Perhaps we could be a little less tribal in 
our responses to non-hams?

While I'm not sure if it's Amateur (Radio Astronomers) or (Amateur 
Radio) Astronomers, their society is making a call for papers 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/society-of-amateur-radio-astronomers-issues-call-for-conference-papers>. 
If your antenna is often pointed overhead, this may be a conference you 
don't want to miss!

Digitize the entire HF spectrum? Sure, why not? Having more data is 
great but as this EDN article 
<http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/test-voices/4421043/Broadband-signal-capture-is-big-data> 
on SDRs explains, "On the other hand, "sometimes enough is too much," a 
quote variously attributed in different contexts to Mark Twain and 
Groucho Marx, is equally fitting today, especially in some of the more 
obscure areas of test and measurement, and especially as it applies to 
bandwidth."

AMSAT-SM has published a comparison of the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ 
<http://www.FUNcubeDongle.com/> and the RTL TV 
<http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/realtek-sdr-pc-dongle-for-under-20-pounds.html> 
dongle-based software defined radio. While the FCD Pro+ has a far wider 
frequency coverage enabling reception of LF, MF and HF, it costs about 
10 times more than the RTL TV unit. What other differences are there? 
You can find out in the AMSAT comparison 
<http://tinyurl.com/FUNcubeDongle-RTL-Comparison>. The SDRs work with 
popular SDR programs such as:
• SDR Sharp <http://sdrsharp.com/%20> (SDR#)
• SDR-Radio <http://www.sdr-radio.com/%20>
• HDSDR <http://www.hdsdr.de/>
(From AMSAT-UK and AMSAT <http://amsat.org> bulletin AMS-265)

*Web Site of the Week* - The Scandinavian Activity Contest - CQ World 
Wide issue of Contest Club Finland's PileUP! 
<http://contestclubfinland.com/documents/PileUP2_13.pdf> is ready for 
you to download. The issue opens with a nice photo of ES5TV's enormous 
15 meter H-frame array and other "big boys". (Thanks, Timo OH1NOA)

WORD TO THE WISE

Why are the traditional amateur HF bands harmonically related? K.B. 
Warner W1EH answers the question in the December 1924 issue of /QST/. 
Page 17 explains, "The Washington Radio Conferences (of the early 
1920s), encouraged by the interest of Herbert Hoover, gradually aligned 
the amateur frequencies to a series of harmonically related bands, so 
that harmonic interference from the amateur service would fall on other 
members of the same service ("each service should be charged with the 
duty of consuming its own harmonic excrescences" Kennelley, pg. 18) or 
more colloquially "Everybody must eat his own mush."

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2013-09-25&p=0>
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation <http://wwrof.org> (WWROF) is 
pleased to present Randy Thompson K5ZD, Director of the CQWW DX Contest 
for a review of the 2013 contest rules on Sunday, October 6 at 1900 UTC. 
Questions will be taken from the audience following the presentation. 
Register <https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/123442226> now (it's 
free as always) and use this opportunity to get prepared for the world's 
biggest DX contest. (Thanks, Ken K4ZW)

Jeff K8ND has recorded a short (90 second) video 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZarmnghuQK8> of /CW Skimmer/ operation 
during the 2009 CQWW 160 CW Contest at PJ2T (#3 that year), as a 
demonstration of the value of /CW Skimmer/ to the Multi-Op or Single-Op 
Assisted contester. Viewing in 'Fullscreen' is strongly recommended! The 
90-second segment was recorded on January 24 starting at 0514Z, as 
sunrise was moving across Central Europe. For more on PJ2T's top band 
capabilities, check out Jeff's planning document 
<http://www.k8nd.com/Radio/Planning/CQWW160/PJ2T_CW_Skimmer_CQWW160CW_2013.pdf>. 

How about those merit badges? Adafruit 
<http://www.adafruit.com/category/70%20> has a whole series of them to 
encourage beginners to try new things. Sometimes, when even a veteran 
lets the fabled blue smoke out of a component (or two), when something 
goes "Bang!" or "Fisst!" or even "Wheeeeee..." there's a badge to let 
the discouraged builder know we've all done it and to get back on that 
workbench and ride on!

Randy K5ZD says, "This is the way to work on 80 meter beams. If only you 
could do this much work in 5 minutes!" He's referring to this video 
<http://youtu.be/l2EQ-GFz_jU> of the SKØUX antenna farm as a crane makes 
short work of a big project.

Have you ever looked wistfully at the light standards in a parking lot 
and thought, "If I could only climb up there..." Getting an antenna "up 
there" turned out to be a great application 
<http://wc2fd.com/index.php?title=Emergency_Antenna_Platform_System> for 
robotics!

David VK2DMH and QRZ.com relayed a website illustrating ham radio in 
China 
<http://www.walkietalkietwowayradios.com/2057/an-intimate-look-at-ham-radio-in-china/> 
- the BY hams seem to be a lot like hams everywhere!

JC N4IS sends a link to a video 
<http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?398944-K7AGE-posts-video-of-WLW-s-1932-500-000-Watt-AM-transmitter> 
of WLW's 1932 500,000-watt AM transmitter posted by K7AGE. Just remember 
that as loud as it was, the station couldn't hear squat!

RESULTS AND RECORDS

The August NAQP CW Preliminary Results 
<http://www.ncjweb.com/naqpcwprelim.php> are now available. If you have 
any questions, please contact the contest manager, Chris KL9A. 
Preliminary results from the September CW Sprint 
<http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintcwprelim.php> are now available, too, says 
contest manager Tree, N6TR.

The Maritime QSO Party results 
<http://maritimecontestclub.com/maritimeqsoparty.htm> have also been 
published. Mike VE9AA wishes to thank Bruce VE1NB for compiling all of 
the scores.

The results of the 2013 UBA DX Contest CW 
<http://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-results> have been published on the UBA 
website. For 2014 there is only one change: Croatia, 9A entered the 
European Union so 9A will be an extra multiplier and more points for 
foreign stations. (Thanks, Marc ON7SS/OO9O)

Final results of 2013 SP DX Contest 
<http://www.spdxcontest.pzk.org.pl/res/2013/index.php> are now 
available, including updated statistics and all-time records 
<http://spdxcontest.pzk.org.pl/res/records/index.php>. (Thanks, Tom SP7UWL)

The results from the Spring EU Sprint <http://rk3awl.ru/eusprint/> 
contests are now online. Contest managers are looking for a volunteer to 
create a permanent website for the contest, as well. (Thanks, Dave G4BUO 
and Dima RW3FO)

Bob N6TV checks in to let us know there is a small "Search" box in the 
upper left corner of the new 3830 score reporting page 
<http://www.3830scores.com/>. You can enter any call sign and quickly 
find every score that's ever been posted to 3830 going back to 2002, by 
year, in alphabetical order. "Very impressive work by WA7BNM!" says Bob.

OPERATING TIP

At the end of the contest, when you've gotten the pre-programmed 
messages set just the way you want, the windows are all arranged 
properly, and the configuration settings all "just-so", that is the time 
to save the program configuration. Many programs store the settings and 
other information in a single file - look for it in the folder from 
which your logger runs. For example, /N1MM Logger/ users can save the 
"N1MM Logger.ini" file. To restore the configuration, copy the saved 
file into the program directory. No reason not to have several of them! 
(Thanks, Bob KØRC)

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2013-09-25&p=1>
TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

/DesignSpark PCB/ is a free printed-circuit board layout software 
package that now has a mechanical drawing sibling,/DesignSpark 
Mechanical/. Learn more about the growing popularity of these two 
toolsets and the /ModelSource /online library of electrical and 
mechanical models in this online EDN article 
<http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-reviews/other/4421141/2/Allied-Who--RS-Who--DesignSpark-What->.

Scott N7SS notes that, "The new EZ style [RJ-45 network] connectors 
allow you to strip the network cable long and unevenly and push the wire 
all the way through the connector. If you use the cool crimper with the 
proper cutter, it will crimp and flush cut the wires at the same time. 
If not, you just crimp and flush-cut with a utility knife."

Here's a very interesting Q-meter design 
<http://www.edn.com/design/analog/4420157/Novel-Q-meter> from EDN that 
is purely analog - except for the digital voltmeter readout! Elsewhere 
on the EDN site is a web page 
<http://www.edn.com/design/components-and-packaging/4421194/Resistor-combinations--How-many-values-using-1kohm-resistors--> 
that answers the question, "How many different values of resistance can 
I create using only 1 kohm resistors?"

WØBTU's omega match fits very nicely in this weatherproof ammunition 
carrier. These make great outdoor-proof enclosures and are for sale at 
your nearby camping and hunting supplier. (Photo from WØBTU)

Mike WØBTU <http://www.w0btu.com/> reminds us that there is a good 
alternative to using a matching coil across a ground-plane vertical's 
feed point. For his 160 meter inverted-L (155' long with a pair of 
¼-wavelength long elevated radials 10 feet off the ground), he matches 
the feed point impedance with a variable capacitor in series with the 
coax center conductor to the feed point and a second variable across the 
feed point from the antenna to the radials and coax shield. This is 
called an omega match <http://www.w8ji.com/omega_and_gama_matching.htm>, 
a type of L-network. Mike's method of building and housing the network 
is shown in the photo.

This interesting article 
<http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/Glimpse-of-Suns-Interior-Befuddles-Theorists-223291961.html> 
on the Sky & Telescope website suggests issues with current models that 
predict sunspot cycles. And we all know this cycle has been strange from 
the git-go. From the article, "David Hathaway (Marshall Space Flight 
Center), who has done extensive research on the meridional flow and its 
role in predicting the solar cycle, says the results are "catastrophic" 
for current theory. "It indicates the need for revolutionary changes in 
our dynamo models for the sunspot cycle." At any rate, our Sun's current 
"slacker star 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/science/space/the-sun-that-did-not-roar.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1&>" 
status certainly has confused the scientists. (Thanks, Tom N5EG and Doug 
KR2Q)

Instructables offers a practical way to mount LCD monitors 
<http://www.instructables.com/id/Inexpensive-PVC-ABS-Monitor-Arm/> over 
your operating desk without using a pivoting flex arm. I particularly 
liked the description of "wandering around a home improvement store" 
during the design phase of the project - been there, done that!

Those pesky local noise sources can drive a ham batty! To help his 
friends find them, Jim K9YC gave this recent presentation 
<http://www.nccc.cc/pdf/CQP-RFI2013-2.pdf> on the subject to the 
Northern California Contest Club. Jim recommends the Tecsun PL-380 
<http://www.amazon.com/TECSUN-stereo-Receiver-Display-Function/dp/B004H912FC> 
or PL-660 
<http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL-660-Portable-Shortwave-Single/dp/B004H9C4JK> 
portable HF receivers to track down the noise. As Bob N6TV observes, 
"/Now/ I know what those strange fuzzy lines on my P3 (K3 panadaptor) 
represent." The growing amount of e-smog seems to be catching the 
attention of professionals 
<http://mwrf.com/commercial/manage-growing-em-radiation-levels> on both 
sides of the issue.

Veteran broadcast band DXer, Mark WA1ION, offers the following "magic 
bullets" for good reception when hunting BC DX and that also apply to 
receiving on the low bands:

(a) Select a site with salt water and a clear horizon view towards what 
you want to hear. Poor ground (rocks, sand, hills/mountains, tall 
buildings/vegetation) towards side and rear interference directions can 
help too.

(b) Stay away from power lines.

(c) Do most listening to the east at sunset before interference from the 
west builds up.

(d) Look at the weather maps to make sure any lightning is a long way off.

He has been using a Perseus SDR receiver 
<http://microtelecom.it/perseus/> on his seaside listening sessions and 
reports that the ability to store spectrum for later playback 
<http://www.qsl.net/wa1ion/dx_audio.htm> is an obvious killer-app. His 
latest car roof receiving antenna might inspire Top Band mobilers and 
portable operators. Mark notes that on 160, "I would advise a larger 
size antenna than the 2m by 2m square one I use on the car. You're 
dealing with smaller signals: sub-100 watt up to 1.5 kW stations instead 
of multi-kilowatt up to megawatt-plus ones you'd find on the AM 
broadcast band. Even if you have little interest in broadcast-band DX as 
a standalone hobby, checking that frequency range does offer 
propagational clues that can help coordinating 160 meter operation, 
antenna design, location evaluation, and so on.

Spotted on the ARI website by K8VK, a ham's son, Davide, was asked about 
his drawing by his teacher, "What was that thing in the middle of the 
garden?" and he answered, "My daddy's antenna (l'antenna di papà)!" One, 
two, three... "Awwww...!" (Thanks, Eric W3DQ)

Version 2 of AC6LA's /EZNEC/ automation program /AutoEZ 
<http://ac6la.com/autoez.html>/ is now available, including an 
optimizer, new dialog windows for building common antenna 
configurations, and it's faster. Note that the program requires Excel 
with up-to-date service packs installed - no substitutes or older 
versions will work.

Remember the carrier pigeon hauling a thumb drive that transferred data 
faster than a British telecomm link? Here's an updated story about 
bandwidth 
<http://tidbitsfortechs.blogspot.com/2013/09/never-underestimate-bandwidth-of.html> 
to surprise you!

*Technical Web Site of the Week* - Tom G3OLB refers us to an excellent 
web site for calculating matching network values 
<http://home.sandiego.edu/%7Eekim/e194rfs01/jwmatcher/matcher2.html>. 
Enter your source and load impedances, enter Q, pick a frequency, and 16 
different matching networks are designed on the spot! Note that some 
network configurations won't be able to match your entered data - those 
component values will show "NaN", meaning "Not A Number" which is a 
standard math routine response that means "You've Got To Be Kidding!"

CONVERSATION

The Map Is Not The Territory

There are many references to that quote but few include the entire quote 
by Alfred Korzybski, a Polish scientist from the first half of the 20^th 
century, "Two important characteristics of maps should be noticed. A map 
is not the territory it represents, but, if correct, it has a similar 
structure to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness." More 
succinctly, "Having a map beats not having a map," assuming the map is 
reasonably accurate. That is true both for those on the ground and those 
trying to figure out what's happening on the ground, whether spectator 
or general.

This live grey-line map is available on the QSL.net 
<http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/greyline.html> website and updates every 
5 minutes.

/*Information */- Ham generally and practitioners of radiosport 
specifically depend greatly on maps. In the simplest case, a map is used 
in place of a table - of prefixes, abbreviations, zones, continents, 
etc. By presenting information on a map, the connection between place 
and data is reinforced and eventually committed to memory.

/*Tactics*/ - The next step is as an operating aid that is used in 
support of tactics during the event (whether contest or conflict). An 
azimuthal equidistant map is used to figure out where to point a beam 
(or not point it as the case may be). A gray-line map showing day and 
night tiptoeing across the planet helps an operator think about band 
strategies. And who among us has not colored or placed pins in states or 
counties or countries or zones in pursuit of an award?

Where does an antenna put your signal? VOACAP <http://www.voacap.com>and 
VOAAREA <http://www.voacap.com/voaarea.html%E2%80%8E> can give you a 
pretty good idea! Both are favorites of propagation and antenna guru, 
Dean Straw N6BV.

*/Strategy /*- Maps are also of great value in devising strategies, 
particularly in support of antenna selection, installation, and 
selection. The radiation patterns of an antenna generated by a modeling 
program are useful, certainly, but they only imply what the antenna will 
accomplish. The designer has to know other things that affect what is 
desired of the model - such as probable angles of arrival from the 
target region, likely sources of interference, the effects of local 
terrain, variations with time of day and time of year, the state of the 
solar cycle, and more.

Given that radiosport is not a visual "action" activity in the sense of 
athletics or racing, maps are key to explaining the game. What are we 
doing? Who are we calling? Why are we pointing our beams in that 
direction? Where are the other competitors? What was neat about that 
last contact and why did we ring the bell afterwards, not once but 
twice? At first, a map explains. When understanding becomes deep enough, 
the map becomes an integral part of the contest.

Where is everybody? DXLabs <http://www.dxlabsuite.com/%E2%80%8E> by 
AA6YQ can show you on an as-spotted basis all of the active stations 
around the world.

Certainly, I've emphasized the geography of radiosport because so much 
of what we do is related to or depends on where we are located and the 
geophysical world in which radio exists. A lot of radiosport's structure 
is predicated on geography. But "map" has a broader meaning - to 
establish a correspondence between one set of information and another. 
For example, a scatter chart showing latitude versus score might 
identify high-performing high-latitude stations otherwise unnoticed 
among their lower-latitude competitors. A graphic of volume and 
direction of contacts over time might be a good way to visualize and 
compare strategies. We have not yet begun to scratch the surface of the 
visual relationships that are inherent in radiosport. We know them - 
that's what makes good operators and stations - but we don't know yet 
how to share them.

Once a spectator understands what the game is - knock the ball from here 
to that hole in the ground over there in the minimum number of attempts 
- then they can participate. More important to contesters since the 
quality of the game depends on participation, the spectators might then 
want to join the fun and play! Why? Because the map helped them 
understand why this is a neat and challenging activity! Logs and scoring 
tables and write-ups just won't get the job done. They have to see it to 
believe it.

Next time - what happens when visualization creates abstractions? Can 
the map become the game? Well, you got to know the territory!

73, Ward NØAX

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2013-09-25&p=2>
CONTESTS

*25 September through 8 October*

An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format 
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> is available. Check the sponsor's 
Web site for information on operating time restrictions and other 
instructions.

*HF CONTESTS*

SKCC Straight Key Sprint--CW, from Sep 25, 0000Z to Sep 25, 0200Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on the 4th Wednesday UTC. Exchange: RST, QTH, 
name, SKCC nr or power. Logs due: 5 days. Rules 
<http://www.skccgroup.com/sprint/sks/>

CQ WW RTTY Contest--Digital, from Sep 28, 0000Z to Sep 29, 2359Z. Bands 
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, CQ zone and State/VE area (US/VE). Logs 
due: Nov 1. Rules <http://www.cqwwrtty.com>

Texas QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Sep 28, 1400Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW--20 to 50 kHz 
above band edge; Phone--25 kHz above edge of General segment. Exchange: 
RS(T), county or S/P/C. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules <http://www.txqp.net>

Maine QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Sep 29, 0000Z to Sep 29, 2359Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), county or "DX". Logs due: Oct 15. Rules 
<http://www.maineqsoparty.com>

NS Weekly Sprint--CW, from Oct 4, 0230Z to Oct 4, 0300Z. Bands (MHz): 
1.8-14. Weekly on Thursday evenings local time. Exchange: Serial, name, 
and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules <http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.html>

DX/NA YLRL Anniversary Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Oct 4, 1400Z to Oct 
6, 0200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Serial, RST, and 
section/province/country. Logs due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.ylrl.org>

TARA PSK Rumble--Digital, from Oct 5, 0000Z to Oct 5, 2400Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and call area (see website). Logs due: 
Oct 31. Rules <http://www.n2ty.org>

EPC Russia DX Contest--Digital, from Oct 5, 0400Z to Oct 6, 0359Z . 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: EPC member nr or serial and grid square. 
Logs due: Oct 22. Rules <http://www.epc-ru.ru>

Oceania DX Phone Contest--Phone, from Oct 5, 0800Z to Oct 6, 0800Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS and serial. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules 
<http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com>

Worked All Britain HF Contest--Phone, from Oct 5, 1200Z to Oct 6, 1200Z. 
Bands (MHz): 14-28. Exchange: RS, serial, DXCC entity or WAB area. Logs 
due: Oct 28. Rules <http://www.worked-all-britain.co.uk>

California QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Oct 5, 1600Z to Oct 6, 2200Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial and state/prov/"DX" or CA 
county. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules <http://www.cqp.org>

EU Autumn Phone Sprint--Phone, from Oct 5, 1600Z to Oct 5, 1959Z. Bands 
(MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: Both call signs, serial, name. Logs due: 15 
days. Rules <http://www.eu-sprint.com>

RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest--Phone,CW, from Oct 6, 0700Z to Oct 6, 1900Z. 
Bands (MHz): 21,28. Exchange: Serial and UK district. Logs due: 16 days. 
Rules <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2013/rsprint.shtml>

OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Oct 7, 1600Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, First through fourth 
Monday of each month; see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. 
Logs due: 7 days. Rules <http://www.hamradio.cz/ok1wc>

ARS Spartan Sprint--CW, from Oct 8, 0200Z to Oct 8, 0400Z. Bands (MHz): 
3.5-28. Monthly on the first Monday evening local time. Exchange: RST, 
S/P/C, and power. Logs due: 2 days. Rules <http://www.arsqrp.blogspot.com>

*VHF+ CONTESTS*

ARRL EME Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Sep 28, 0000Z to Sep 29, 2359Z. 
Bands (MHz): 2.3G+. Exchange: Call signs, sig rpt, acknowledgement. Logs 
due: Jan 1. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>

222 MHz Fall VHF Sprint--Phone,CW,Digital, from Oct 1, 7 PM to Oct 1, 11 
PM. Bands (MHz): 222. Exchange: 4-character grid square. Logs due: 4 
weeks. Rules <http://www.svhfs.org>

Texas QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Sep 28, 1400Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW--20 to 50 kHz 
above band edge; Phone--25 kHz above edge of General segment. Exchange: 
RS(T), county or S/P/C. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules <http://www.txqp.net>

TARA PSK Rumble--Digital, from Oct 5, 0000Z to Oct 5, 2400Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and call area (see website). Logs due: 
Oct 31. Rules <http://www.n2ty.org>

California QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Oct 5, 1600Z to Oct 6, 2200Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial and state/prov/"DX" or CA 
county. Logs due: Oct 31. Rules <http://www.cqp.org>

OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Oct 7, 1600Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, First through fourth 
Monday of each month; see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. 
Logs due: 7 days. Rules <http://www.hamradio.cz/ok1wc>

LOG DUE DATES

*25 September through 8 October*

  * September 28 - Feld Hell Sprint
    <https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprint-rules>
  * September 28 - FOC QSO Party
    <http://g4foc.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1143601>
  * September 28 - CWops Mini-CWT Test <http://www.cwops.org/onair.html>
  * September 29 - NCCC RTTY Sprint Ladder
    <http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.html>
  * September 29 - Kulikovo Polye Contest
    <http://www.kpctest.ru/?pg=content/ruleen>
  * September 29 - NCCC Sprint <http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.html>
  * September 29 - SKCC Sprint <http://www.skccgroup.com/sprint/sks/>
  * September 30 - Hawaii QSO Party
    <http://www.earchi.org/qsoparty/Rules/2013/HIQSOPartyRules-2013.html>
  * September 30 - WAE DX Contest, SSB
    <http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/contest/waedc/en/rules/>
  * October 1 - Colorado QSO Party
    <http://ppraa.org/downloads/coqp/2013%20COQP%20Rules%2013-1.pdf>
  * October 1 - Kansas QSO Party <http://www.ksqsoparty.org/rules/>
  * October 2 - Tennessee QSO Party <http://tnqsoparty.wordpress.com/rules/>
  * October 3 - MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint
    <http://www.qsl.net/miqrpclub/contest.html>
  * October 3 - RSGB 80m Club Sprint, CW
    <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2013/rsprint.shtml>
  * October 4 - CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY
    <http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_contests/cq_ww_rtty_dx_contest/cq_ww_rtty_dx_contest_rules/2013_cq_ww_rtty_dx_contest_rules.pdf>
  * October 6 - WAB 144 MHz QRO Phone
    <http://wab.intermip.net/Contest%20Rules.php#OtherRules>
  * October 6 - Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW
    <http://www.sactest.net/blog/rules/>
  * October 6 - Washington State Salmon Run
    <http://www.wwdxc.org/images/stories/SalmonRun/2013rules.pdf>
  * October 7 - SARL VHF/UHF Analogue/Digital Contest
    <http://www.sarl.org.za/Documents/SARL_Contest_Manual_2013_Issue_11.pdf>
  * October 7 - Russian RTTY WW Contest
    <http://www.qrz.ru/contest/detail/93>
  * October 8 - QCWA Fall QSO Party <http://www.qcwa.org/2013qso-party.htm>
  * October 8 - G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest
    <http://www.fists.org/operating.html>

ARRL Information

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's 
Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal> and SM3CER's 
Contest Calendar <http://www.sk3bg.se/contest>.

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