[SFDXA] The ARRL Contest Update for February 12, 2014

Wed Feb 12 06:22:30 EST 2014

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The ARRL Contest Update

February 12, 2014
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/>
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IN THIS ISSUE

  * DX Calling You - ARRL DX CW Contest <#Contests>
  * Really Lower Sideband - CQ WW 160 SSB <#Contests>
  * ARRL Contest Branch Turnaround <#News>
  * Band Charts by G3NRW <#Newsweek>
  * Rovin' with the Grid Pirates <#Sights>
  * ARRL September VHF Results by K1TEO <#Results>
  * Wintertime and the Climbin's Not Easy <#Tech>
  * Folding Up Antennas <#Techweek>
  * The Boundary Problem, Part One <#Conversation>

NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

If you like CW DX, the ARRL's International DX CW Contest keeps the DX 
aiming in your direction. With propagation so good lately, this might be 
a good weekend to spend on the radio. I never fail to recommend the 
North American QSO Party events and there's a good one for new RTTY 
operators next weekend.

BULLETINS

The ARRL Field Day rules and information packet is now available online 
<http://arrl.org/field-day>. (Thanks, Dan N1ND)

BUSTED QSOS

No errors to report in the previous issue.

CONTEST SUMMARY

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

*February 15-16*

  * */ARRL International CW DX Contest/*
  * NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW (Feb 12)
  * CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Tests (Feb 12)
  * PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint (Feb 14)
  * Russian WW PSK Contest (Feb 14)
  * Feld-Hell Bingo Sprint
  * Maine 2m FM Simplex Challenge
  * Run For the Bacon--CW (Feb 17)
  * Semi-Automatic Key Evening (Feb 19)

*February 22-23*

  * */North American QSO Party RTTY/*
  * CQ WW 160 Meter SSB (Feb 21)
  * REF Contest--Phone
  * SARL Youth Day Sprint--Phone
  * UBA Contest--CW
  * North Carolina QSO Party
  * CQC Winter QSO Party

NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

There have been some changes in the ARRL Contest Branch following the 
January 23^rd resignation of Mike DeChristopher, N1TA, as ARRL Contest 
Manager. Former Contest Branch Manager, Sean Kutzko, KX9X, catches us up 
on the situation. "Since Mike's resignation, a team of ARRL staffers, 
including former Contest Managers Dan Henderson, N1ND and myself, have 
come together to address the needs of the Contest Branch until a 
replacement is found. Dave Patton, NN1N, is managing this team.

"Our efforts are directed as follows:
1) Eliminate the backlog of overdue awards certificates and plaques;
2) Keep normal day-to-day Contest Branch functions running on schedule;
3) Restore the "customer service" side of the Contest Branch to superior 
levels.

"With the help of several ARRL staffers in the Awards Branch, we have 
sent out over 5,000 awards certificates in the last two weeks, including 
the 2012 CW and Phone Sweepstakes, the 2012 September VHF Contest, the 
2012 August UHF Contest, the 2013 RTTY Roundup. 1,100 certificates for 
the 2012 10 Meter Contest were just sent to the ARRL mail room and 
should go out by the middle of the week. In addition, plaques for the 
2012 CW Sweepstakes and 2013 RTTY Roundup were shipped. 2012 Phone 
Sweepstakes plaques were ordered last week and will be shipped within 
three weeks. We will continue to aggressively work on the backlog of 
overdue awards and hope to be caught up soon. You are welcome to monitor 
our awards progress at www.arrl.org/plaques-and-certificates 
<http://www.arrl.org/plaques-and-certificates> which is updated regularly.

"We do not foresee any delays in publication of contest results online 
or in QST. In addition, several results tables, log checking reports and 
databases have been uploaded to www.arrl.org/contest-results-articles 
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-results-articles> in the last two weeks.

"Finally, we are working together to take care of customer service 
inquiries to the Contest Branch and reply as rapidly as possible. We are 
disappointed with the delays in communications and awards fulfillment 
that contesters have experienced. The past few months have not been up 
to ARRL standards; we apologize for this and are working hard to correct it.

"If you have any specific questions or inquiries of the ARRL Contest 
Branch, feel free to contact either Dave Patton, NN1N at nn1n at arrl.org 
<mailto:nn1n at arrl.org> or Sean Kutzko, KX9X at kx9x at arrl.org 
<mailto:kx9x at arrl.org> at any time. We thank you for your continued 
patience while we address these issues." (ARRL Media and Public 
Relations Manager, Sean Kutzko, KX9X)

Updated rules for the 2014 CQ WPX Contests 
<http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm> have been posted, including a new 
category - Multioperator, Single-Transmitter, Low Power. The rules have 
also been reformatted in a similar fashion to what was done for the CQ 
World Wide Contest <http://www.cqww.com/> rules last fall. The intent is 
to clarifying long-standing positions for the contest. (Thanks, CQ WPX 
Contest Director, Terry N4TZ)

The WRTC-2014 <http://wrtc2014.org> committee has announced three of the 
four sponsored teams for this coming July's competition:

  * The "Latitude 13" team of Tom Georgens, W2SC/8P1A/8P5A and Dave
    Mueller, N2NL/NH2T. So named because the locations from which the
    two operators usually compete are both at 13 degrees latitude.
  * "RadioTeam Azores" sponsored by the Azores Tourism Association
    <http://www.visitazores.com/> consists of contesting legends Martti
    Lane, OH2BH, and Ville Hiilesmaa, OH2MM, both frequent operators
    from the Azores.
  * The "Brazil-Bulgaria Friendship Team" is sponsored by a consortium
    that includes The Araucaria DX Group, Triumph IESA Infrastructure
    AS, the Sao Paulo section of LABRE, K1LZ, and the Bulgarian
    Federation of Radio Amateurs (BFRA). They have appointed Soni Leite,
    PY1NX, and Atasnas "Nasko" Koitchev, LZ3YY/LZ9R, as their team.

The fourth and final Team Sponsorship will be made available through an 
auction to be conducted March 8, 2014. Anyone interested in 
participating in the auction should contact WRTC Chairman, Doug Grant, 
K1DG, <mailto:k1dg at wrtc2014.org> as quickly as possible to register.

This is not a pretty sight - S57DX's antennas after the recent 
devastating ice storm in Slovenia. Many S5 stations suffered severe 
damage. (Photo courtesy of S57DX)

DX Engineering <http://dxengineering.com/> is now the exclusive source 
for KD9SV Products Low Band receive transformers, preamplifiers, antenna 
switching units and other products. KD9SV Products for Low Band 
receiving antenna systems are well-known and have been used by DXers and 
contesters for over 25 years.

JVC Kenwood has purchased 
<http://www.efjohnsontechnologies.com/news_room/viewer?article_id=80633> 
the E.F. Johnson Company. EFJ has been manufacturing radios for a long 
time and you'll see the hamfest vintage equipment tables loaded with 
Johnson Rangers and Vikings and Thunderbolts while their Matchbox 
antenna tuners are still doing the job in antenna systems across the 
land. Lately, EFJ has been better known for its P25 VHF/UHF equipment 
used in public safety communication systems.

Those of us who attended WRTC-2000 in Bled, Slovenia remember well the 
forests of that mountainous and beautiful country - much of the forests 
were heavily damaged in the recent storm. (Photo courtesy of S57DX)

Bill K3WA found this interesting QSOMap web site <http://qsomap.org/> in 
development that will take ADIF or LoTW logs and create a world map with 
pins. You apply various filters such as band, mode, and so forth. Bill 
used it to map out his QRP DXCC contacts, for example.

To celebrate 35 years of the founding of the Cayman Amateur Radio 
Society, its members have been authorized by the ICTA to use ZF35 
prefixes through January 19, 2015. Make sure your CTY files 
<http://www.country-files.com/contest/> are updated to handle the new 
prefixes!

Tom K1KI discovered this article 
<http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-02-brain-scanner-youre-overload.html> about 
scanning your brain on overload. Does this count as a decoder?

If you have an old URL for the AMSAT website, you may find incomplete 
website and broken links. Following a hacking incident some time ago, 
the new site (www.amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org>) was rebuilt and is 
operating properly. Refresh your bookmarks, if necessary. (Thanks, AMSAT 
VP of Operations, Drew KO4MA)

*Web Site of the Week* - Ian G3NRW has updated the Band Utilization 
Charts for 30 meters 
<http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wadei/121122_30m_Band_Utilization_Chart.pdf>, 
60 meter UK allocations 
<http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wadei/130222_UK_60m_Band_Utilization.pdf>, 
and 160 meters 
<http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wadei/121122_160m_Band_Utilization_Chart.pdf>. 
He asks to be notified by email <mailto:g3nrw-radio at ntlworld.com> if you 
know of anything that needs updating. He reminds us that these charts 
are not band plans, they are just indicators of actual band utilization.

WORD TO THE WISE

*/Jump ball/* - what happens when a North American Sprint 
<http://ncjweb.com/> QSO ends and several stations call to make the QSO 
and acquire the frequency. See the Operating Tip section for more about 
Sprint-style operation.

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Andy K1RA snapped this photo of the N3UW rover that he and Terry W8ZN 
borrowed for their Grid Pirates rove in January. (Photo by K1RA)

Terry W8ZN and Andy K1RA activated the Grid Pirates Contest Group call 
sign K8GP as a rover in the ARRL January VHF Contest and put together a 
musical video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOljqg4-MBs> exploration 
of the highways and byways on their route. The full story 
<http://www.k1ra.us/roving/k1ra-k8gp-rover-arrl-jan-vhf-ss-2014> is 
online, too.

The rarely seen Beamed Phantasatron 
<http://www.tubecollectors.org/archives/606.pdf> tube would certainly 
have made a nice final amplifier in the shack. Very final. (Thanks, Bob 
N6TV)

Speaking of tubes, the Los Boludos website 
<http://www.losboludos.com/gallery> shows a whole family of uses for 
vacuum tubes! (Thanks, George K5TR)

RESULTS AND RECORDS

The extended writeup by Jeff K1TEO for the ARRL September VHF Contest 
has been published on the Contest Results Articles 
<http://arrl.org/contest-results-page> page. Part of the catching up 
process noted above, Log Checking Reports 
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-log-checking-reports> are now available for 
the 2013 ARRL June VHF and August UHF contests.

While some ARRL RTTY Roundup log submitters received "late" notices from 
the email log-handling robot software on the final day before the 
deadline, all RTTY Roundup logs were accepted through Friday, February 
7^th . If you have any question about whether your log was accepted, 
check the ARRL's Logs Received page <http://www.arrl.org/logs-received> 
to be sure your log is listed there.

Ray ND8L <mailto:ND8L at arrl.net> reminds us that many sponsorship 
opportunities remain for 2013-2014 CQ WW RTTY plaques 
<http://www.cqwwrtty.com/plaques.htm> and 2014 CQ WW WPX 
<http://www.cqwpxrtty.com/plaques.htm> plaques. The cost for these 
attractive plaques for US categories is $65.00. For the plaques that 
must be shipped internationally the cost increases to $75.00.

OPERATING TIP

The North American Sprint <http://ncjweb.com/> contests are different 
than the usual contests and take a little getting used to for new 
sprinters. Here are a few tips:

  * Call CQ! If the action is just too fast and furious, find a clear
    spot and call CQ. Somebody will find you! Don't forget that after
    calling CQ results in a QSO you have to move 5 kHz before you can CQ
    again or 1 kHz to call someone else.
  * At the end of a CQ, follow your call with "NA" on CW or "Sprint" on
    phone so other sprinters don't assume you're calling some other station.
  * If you can set up your logging software this way or just remember to
    do it, follow the sprint conventions sending your call sign in the
    exchange: If you called CQ and are responding to a caller, send
    their call followed by your call, number, name, and QTH. If you are
    responding to a CQ'ers exchange, send your call at the end of your
    exchange. Doing so alerts the other sprinters that you will be
    inheriting the frequency and...jump ball <#WordWise>!
  * Don't forget to acknowledge that you received the information in the
    exchange. On CW, send "R" or something long enough to be heard
    through the din. On phone, "Thanks" will do. If you don't
    acknowledge or send something too short (like a single "dit") the
    other station may not log your QSO, resulting in a Not-In-the-Log
    (NIL) for you!

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2014-02-12&p=1>
TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

Double-up on tower safety in the winter! Faults and failures don't wait 
for good weather and sometimes you just have to climb in the cold. If 
you do, Kelly Hill from RCR Wireless <http://www.rcrwireless.com> wrote 
up this helpful article 
<http://www.rcrwireless.com/celltowernews/2014/01/14/winter-climbing-101-top-5-tips-for-cold-conditions/> 
about cold weather tower work. (Thanks, Eric W3DQ)

How much air flow is enough through an amplifier tube or tube chimney? 
Roger K8RI suggests just start by measuring pressure drop across the 
tube using the simple manometer design in the /ARRL Handbook/. If the 
pressure drop is right, then by definition you have the right amount of 
air flow. You might not want to run a blower at full throttle all the 
time since they can be pretty noisy. Roger's solution is to use a 
temperature sensor in the exhaust air to control a high/low setting for 
the blower. A switch to put the blower on HIGH will be helpful during 
digital operation.

These crossed dipoles make up the business end of a multi-megawatt 
ionospheric heating experiment (no, not CQ WW!) being conducted at the 
Arecibo Observatory on 5.1 and 8.175 MHz. (Photo by NØAX)

John G4ATA's nice web page <http://www.4-square.co.uk/> on low-band 
4-squares and other arrays has been updated after a period of 
inactivity. He has plans for a new 4-square on 40 meters for a portable 
operation in the CQ WPX Phone contest and will be testing it during the 
preceding Russian DX Contest.

During my recent visit to the Arecibo Observatory, I noticed some new 
antennas at the bottom of the big dish shown in the photo at right. I 
dropped an email to Dr. Jim Breakall, better known as WA3FET, who 
explained his latest project. "There are 3 crossed-dipoles for 5.1 MHz 
and another 3 for 8.175 MHz forming an array that will beam energy up to 
a net mesh reflector that will hang from the 3 big towers. This 
"cassegrain" reflector will then reflect energy back down to the 
1000-foot dish and beam 100s of megawatts up to the ionosphere to modify 
it. Each of the dipoles is fed from a 100 kW transmitter giving a total 
transmitted power of 600 kW. With the gain of the dish even at HF, that 
produces 100s of megawatts." I wonder if he could split the difference 
and get on 40 meters during Sweepstakes!

Three projects caught my eye in recent emails from the Instructables 
website. The first is a Foot-Operated Hold-Down Tool 
<http://www.instructables.com/id/Foot-Operated-Hold-Down-Tool/> that I 
can easily see being used in the antenna shop. Anyone who has hauled a 
big piece of equipment in the trunk will get some ideas from the article 
on Configurable Cargo Blocks 
<http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Configurable-Cargo-Blocks-for-Your-Car-Trunk>. 
And if you really want to protect your bike-mounted radio, our favorite 
Pelican case makes an appearance in this handlebar-mounted basket 
<http://www.instructables.com/id/Pelican-Case-Bike-Basket/> for radio 
geeks! (Thanks, Frank KR1ZAN)

Any teachers of analog circuit design reading this issue? I know you're 
out there...I have been such an instructor and enjoyed this flyer 
<http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/overviews/Revolutionizing_How_Engineering_Students_Learn_Analog_CircuitDesign.pdf> 
from Analog Devices features their tools for helping students 
effectively learn analog design. Whether you use the Analog Devices gear 
or not, there is plenty to consider about the types of tools to use.

For /HFTA /users who haven't dealt with /MicroDEM /in a while, /HFTA/'s 
author, Dean N6BV observes that USGS changes the data access websites 
for terrain data fairly frequently. This causes /MicroDEM /to fail or 
get the wrong stuff. Dean suggests "that you do a complete re-install of 
/MicroDEM /-- I suggest that you first uninstall the version you have on 
your computer now. Then go to 
www.usna.edu/Users/oceano/pguth/website/microdem/microdemdown.htm 
<http://www.usna.edu/Users/oceano/pguth/website/microdem/microdemdown.htm> 
and download the "Complete /MICRODEM /Install". Run it, followed by 
downloading the latest executable /microdem.exe/. This should properly 
install all the various files that /MicroDEM /needs to function 
properly." John VA7JW has written an impressive how-to guide 
<http://www.nsarc.ca/tech_archive/Articles/hfta.pdf> for /HFTA /and 
/MicroDEM /beginners that is worth reviewing. There is also a Potomac 
Valley Radio Club webinar on the process that has been archived 
<http://wwrof.org/category/webinar-archive> by the World Wide Radio 
Operators Foundation. USGS has confirmed that they have discontinued the 
GeoTIFF data format that contained the needed .GIF file, as a 
cost-cutting measure. For the moment, at least, you can still get 
un-updated GeoTIFF <http://www.mrlc.gov/viewerjs>. The default format is 
ArcGrid, just as it used to be direct from USGS, but you can modify your 
data request to change to GeoTIFF. (Thanks, Pete N4ZR)

*Technical Web Site of the Week* - This /Microwaves & RF/ magazine 
article 
<http://mwrf.com/passive-components/teams-apply-paper-folding-techniques-next-generation-antennas> 
on using origami paper-folding techniques to compress antennas is a 
great example of innovative thinking.

CONVERSATION

The Boundary Problem, Part One

As technology continues to drive widespread change throughout ham radio, 
radiosport is by no means immune. In fact, radiosport is on the 
"bleeding edge" of those changes in many instances. While adopting and 
inventing new technology is an important aspect of radiosport -- and of 
ham radio, generally -- it also presents continual challenges to our 
assumptions about how competitions are defined and organized.

A lot has changed since the early days of contesting when the edgy 
technology discussions were about 2 meter AM alerting channels and 
learning to hold the logging pencil while you sent code with a 
Hallicrafters HA-1 electronic keyer 
<http://www.ae5d.com/pdf/ha1.pdf%E2%80%8E> and single-lever paddle. Yet 
by and large, our categories are still more or less as they were a 
half-century ago with the sometimes-grudging addition of "assisted" 
classifications that create more confusion than clarity.

Not bad for those "line of sight" bands! These are the grids worked by 
the K8GP multioperator team in the ARRL September VHF Contest. (Map 
supplied by Google Maps)

Onward into the 21^st century -- do the new technologies of ubiquitous 
data and computer-controlled multi-radio shacks require a completely new 
game? Certainly, novel types of contests can and will be created but 
it's still necessary to agree on the basic definitions and 
relationships. That's usually where the trouble, er, fun begins. 
Addressing these questions is the topic of this multi-part series with 
the intent of encouraging discussions of where and how we go forward 
from here.

The basic architecture of radiosport contesting is defined by the 
following things; /boundaries/, the /information/ that crosses them, the 
/equipment/ within those boundaries, and the /operation/ of that equipment.

*/Boundaries/ *are the standard lines-on-a-map that have been around a 
long time. For instance, the CQ World Wide Contest rules 
<http://www.cqww.com/rules.htm> require all of the equipment to be 
within a 500-meter diameter circle and the ARRL's Affiliated Club 
Competition rules 
<http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-all-arrl-contests> specify a 
175-mile diameter circle for Unlimited and Medium clubs. Circles seem 
popular! We understand physical boundaries but what about other types? 
Abstract sorts of boundaries might also apply to off-site computing 
services or data-sharing in cyberspace somehow. Future contests will 
have to address these and similar issues.

*/Information/ *means any data or signals pertaining to other stations 
participating in the contest. This is a more inclusive way of referring 
to all of the radio signals, spotting information, Internet messages, 
telephone calls, etc that relate to what a station is doing, on or off 
the air. Contest rules can limit what information can be produced (power 
limits, bands of operation), what information can be received (limits on 
spots and non-radio communications like telephone calls), and specify 
what information must be exchanged and recorded. Contest rules can 
restrict the information allowed to cross boundaries, as well, and in 
either direction -- either incoming or outgoing.

*/Equipment/ *is any device or program used to generate, process, 
transmit, or receive information. Another broad group, this includes 
everything from the antenna to the software used to log contacts. Some 
contests place no restrictions on equipment -- use whatever you have. 
Other contests restrict the use of certain types of equipment, such as 
automated decoders or lockout devices. */Stations/* consist of equipment 
within a boundary defined by the contest sponsor.

*/Operation /*is the exercise of a control function on any of the 
equipment or use of information to affect a submitted log or score. In 
other words, how the equipment and information are used in order to 
produce the contest entry. */Operators /*are the entities (human or 
otherwise) that engage in operation. Well, duh! Why that fine 
distinction? Some contests might restrict the use of automated devices 
that perform control functions, such as spotting other stations. Or 
perhaps the rules specify whether the operator must be physically 
located within the station boundary.

That's plenty to get us started. It seems awfully basic but so are 
bricks and that's what buildings are made of. Creating a sturdy building 
requires good bricks and a plan for using them. And that's where we will 
pick up the thread next time!

73, Ward NØAX

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CONTESTS

*12 February through 25 February*

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*

*/ARRL International CW DX Contest/*--CW, from Feb 15, 0000Z to Feb 16, 
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, state/province or power. Logs 
due: Mar 18. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>

*North American QSO Party RTTY*--Digital, from Feb 22, 1800Z to Feb 23, 
0600Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: Name and S/P/C. Logs due: 7 days. 
Rules <http://www.ncjweb.com/>

NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW, from Feb 12, 0130Z to Feb 12, 0330Z. Bands 
(MHz): 3.5-14. Monthly on 2nd Tuesday or 3rd Wednesday local time 
(alternating). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC mbr nr or power. Logs 
due: 4 days. Rules <http://naqcc.info/>

CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Tests--CW, from Feb 12, 1300Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Twice monthly on 2nd and 4th 
Wed, 28 to 38 kHz above band edge. Exchange: Name and member number or 
S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules <http://www.cwops.org/cwt.html>

PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint--Digital, from Feb 14, 8 PM to Feb 15, 2 
AM. Bands (MHz): 1.8-7. 1.807, 3.580, 7.070/7.035 EU/7.028 JA (MHz). 
Exchange: Name, OM or YL, S/P/C. Logs due: Feb 28. Rules 
<http://www.podxs070.com/>

Russian WW PSK Contest--Digital, from Feb 14, 2100Z to Feb 15, 2100Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and oblast code or serial. Logs due: 
15 days. Rules <http://www.qrz.ru/contest/detail/384.html>

Feld-Hell Bingo Sprint--Digital, from Feb 15, 2000Z to Feb 15, 2200Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, 
Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days. Rules <http://www.feldhellclub.org/>

Run For the Bacon--CW, from Feb 17, 0200Z to Feb 17, 0400Z. Bands (MHz): 
1.8-28. Monthly on 3rd Sunday night (local). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, 
Flying Pig nr or power. Rules <http://www.fpqrp.org/>

Semi-Automatic Key Evening--CW, from Feb 19, 1900Z to Feb 19, 2030Z. 
Bands (MHz): 3.5. Exchange: RST, serial, first year of bug use. Logs 
due: Mar 15. Rules <http://www.agcw.de/>

CQ WW 160 Meter SSB--Phone, from Feb 21, 2200Z to Feb 23, 2200Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RST and state/province or CQ zone. Logs due: 5 
days. Rules <http://www.cq160.com/>

REF Contest--Phone, from Feb 22, 0600Z to Feb 23, 1800Z. Bands (MHz): 
3.5-28. Exchange: RS and French dept or serial. Logs due: 15 days. Rules 
<http://concours.ref-union.org/contest>

SARL Youth Day Sprint--Phone, from Feb 22, 0800Z to Feb 22, 1000Z. Bands 
(MHz): 7. Exchange: RS and age. Logs due: 7 days. Rules 
<http://www.sarl.org.za/>

UBA Contest--CW, from Feb 22, 1300Z to Feb 23, 1300Z. Bands (MHz): 
3.5-28. Exchange: RS, serial, and ON province. Logs due: 2 weeks. Rules 
<http://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules>

North Carolina QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 23, 1500Z to Feb 
24, 0059Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, 50, 144, CW 3.54, 7.04, 7.14, 14.04, 
21.04, 28.04, 50.04, 144.04; Phone 3.86, 7.26, 14.26, 21.36, 28.36, 
50.16, 52.04(FM), 144.26, 146.58(FM) MHz. Exchange: NC county or S/P/C, 
RS(T) optional. Logs due: 15 days. Rules <http://rars.org/ncqsoparty>

CQC Winter QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Feb 24, 0100Z to Feb 24, 0259Z. 
Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. 3.560, 7.040, 14.060 MHz. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C, 
name, CQC nr or power. Logs due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.cqc.org/>

*VHF+ CONTESTS*

Feld-Hell Bingo Sprint--Digital, from Feb 15, 2000Z to Feb 15, 2200Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, 
Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days. Rules <http://www.feldhellclub.org/>

Maine 2m FM Simplex Challenge--Phone, from Feb 16, 1700Z to Feb 16, 
2100Z. Bands (MHz): 144, FM simplex frequencies only. Exchange: Call 
sign, power, city name. Logs due: 15 days. Rules 
<http://www.qsl.net/ws1sm/contest.html>

North Carolina QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 23, 1500Z to Feb 
24, 0059Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, 50, 144, CW 3.54, 7.04, 7.14, 14.04, 
21.04, 28.04, 50.04, 144.04; Phone 3.86, 7.26, 14.26, 21.36, 28.36, 
50.16, 52.04(FM), 144.26, 146.58(FM) MHz. Exchange: NC county or S/P/C, 
RS(T) optional. Logs due: 15 days. Rules <http://rars.org/ncqsoparty>

LOG DUE DATES

*12 February through 25 February*

  * February 13 - QRP Fox Hunt <http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm>
  * February 14 - CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest
    <http://www.cqwpxrtty.com/rules.htm>
  * February 15 - Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint, CW
    <http://jsfc.org/apsprint/aprule.txt>
  * February 15 - WAB 1.8 MHz Phone
    <http://wab.intermip.net/Contest%20Rules.php#OtherRules>
  * February 15 - QRP Fox Hunt <http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm>
  * February 15 - CWops Mini-CWT Test <http://www.cwops.org/onair.html>
  * February 15 - NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
    <http://naqcc.info/sprint201402.html>
  * February 16 - NCCC Sprint Ladder <http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.html>
  * February 16 - SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
    <http://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekend_sprintathon/>
  * February 17 - 10-10 Int. Winter Contest, SSB
    <http://www.ten-ten.org/Forms/QSO%20Party%20Rules.pdf>
  * February 17 - SARL Field Day Contest
    <http://www.sarl.org.za/Document_Store/CONT_20140101_SARL_Contest_Manual_2014.pdf>
  * February 18 - AWA Linc Cundall Memorial CW Contest
    <http://www.antiquewireless.org/uploads/1/6/1/2/16129770/2014_linc_cundall_rules.pdf>
  * February 18 - Hungarian DX Contest
    <http://www.ha-dx.com/HADX/html/rules_en.html>
  * February 19 - ARRL January VHF Contest <http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf>
  * February 19 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data
    <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2014/r80mcc.shtml>
  * February 20 - Russian PSK WW Contest
    <http://www.epc-ru.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=562&Itemid=192>
  * February 22 - Feld Hell Sprint
    <https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprints/low-down-sprint>
  * February 22 - SARL Youth Day Sprint
    <http://www.sarl.org.za/Documents/SARL_Contest_Manual_2013_Issue_11.pdf>
  * February 23 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest <http://fpqrp.org/pigrun/>
  * February 25 - RSGB 1st 1.8 MHz Contest
    <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2014/r1st-160m-2014.shtml>

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's 
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