[SFDXA] The ARRL Contest Update for June 18, 2014

Wed Jun 18 08:07:10 EDT 2014

Preview

If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2014-06-18

The ARRL Contest Update

June 18, 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/>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2014-06-18&t=t>
IN THIS ISSUE

  * ARRL Field Day - Contest, Picnic, or Open House? <#Contests>
  * Join the Sporadic E Parade of Six Meter Contests <#Contests>
  * W1MSW - ARRL Contest Branch Manager <#News>
  * The First Byte of Apple <#Newsweek>
  * Dayton CTU Videos Online <#Sights>
  * New CQ and ARRL VHF Records <#Results>
  * Propagation Course by NW7US <#Tech>
  * Think Like a Microwave <#Techweek>
  * Won't You Come In? <#Conversation>

NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

More mid-week contesting <http://www.socalcontestclub.org/tips.php> is 
offered by the CWops Tests <http://www.cwops.org/cwt.html> - three 
separate one-hour contests every Wednesday (in North America). These 
events have something to offer everyone, from slow-speeds through 
blazing fast fists. (Thanks, Hank W6SX)

BULLETINS

With nearly 500 logs submitted less than two days after the ARRL June 
VHF Contest ended, a few common issues have been noticed. For example, 
some participants are entering a grid square for the Cabrillo header's 
LOCATION: when an ARRL Section is required instead. There have also been 
a few logs with five-digit frequencies in the QSO: lines instead of the 
BAND as is specified for VHF QSOs. Make sure you review your 
Cabrillo-formatted log file before emailing it to the robot. Then check 
to be sure your log is shown properly in the Logs Received 
<http://www.arrl.org/logs-received> page for the contest.

BUSTED QSOS

Ed N1UR reports that the Orange Drop line of film capacitors is alive 
and well! Ed's company, SBE Inc., sold the product line to CDE a couple 
of years ago. There may be some confusion in the distribution change due 
to the change in manufacturers, but Ed says, "Buy in confidence. The 
parts are being made on the same equipment and with the same designs."

CONTEST SUMMARY

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

*June 21-22*

  * */Kid's Day--Phone/*
  * CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests (Jun 18)
  * NAQCC Milliwatt Sprint--CW (Jun 19)
  * All-Asian DX Contest--CW
  * SMIRK QSO Party
  * Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon
  * IARU 50 MHz Contest
  * Stew Perry Warmup Contest--CW
  * Feld-Hell Field Day Sprint
  * WAB 50 MHz Phone,
  * Run For the Bacon--CW (Jun 23)

*June 28-29*

  * */ARRL Field Day/*
  * SARL Top Band QSO Party (Jun 26)
  * His Majesty King of Spain--Phone
  * Marconi Memorial HF Contest--CW
  * Ten-Ten Spirit of 76 QSO Party
  * Canada Day Contest (Jul 1)

NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

Here's your new ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Matt Wilhelm W1MSW. An 
active contester, Matt starts on July 3rd just before the IARU HF 
Championship.

Matt Wilhelm W1MSW will become the ARRL Contest Branch Manager beginning 
on July 3rd. An Extra Class license holder, active contester, and a 
member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club, Wilhelm has been licensed 
since 2009. Matt became hooked on contesting after the first ARRL Rookie 
Roundup in April 2010. His expertise - and contest scores - have been 
increasing ever since. "I cannot tell you how happy I am to be the next 
ARRL Contest Branch Manager," Wilhelm said. "I'll be working hard to 
provide the high-quality support that contest participants have come to 
expect from the Contest Branch." A native of eastern Texas, Wilhelm has 
an IT background in Help Desk operations and network security systems 
management. Wilhelm lives in Williamsburg, Massachusetts with his wife, 
Elizabeth, and their two-year-old daughter, Ruby. When not making 
contest QSOs, Matt enjoys mountain biking, home projects and enjoying 
time with his family.

Recalling WRTC-1996 in which 1x 1 call signs were used for the first 
time in the United States, WRTC2014 <http://www.wrtc2014.org> teams will 
all use 1x1 calls from the USA first call area. Sixteen of the available 
75 call signs will not be used, including the longest and shortest CW 
suffixes (J, Q, Y, and E) and H, a suffix frequently miscopied on CW. 
Note that the X suffixes are not available in this call sign series. 
Using this set of consistent call signs will make it easier for stations 
to find and work all of the WRTC stations. Following the tradition of 
previous WRTC events, teams will not know the call sign they will use 
until the referee hands them a sealed envelope just 15 minutes before 
the contest begins. This puts all teams at an equal starting point and 
helps maintain the anonymity of the teams.

If you've seen any of the photos or videos of the WRTC2014 preparation - 
the event is only three weeks away! - you know there is a lot to manage. 
Who are the people in charge?

  * Site selection, testing, permitting, site team recruitment and
    training - /Tom Frenaye, K1KI/
  * Design of antenna system, Beam Team recruiting and training - /Mark
    Pride, K1RX/
  * Rules, judging, station approval, everything in the tent - /Andy
    Blank, N2NT/
  * Lodging for teams/referees, meals, transportation, opening/closing
    ceremonies - /John Dorr, K1AR/
  * Internet service, communications, scoreboard, video, club
    presentations - /Dave Pascoe, KM3T/
  * Webmaster, Social Media, Publicity, Internal/external communications
    -/Randy Thompson, K5ZD/
  * Team qualification and Referee Selection - /Dan Street, K1TO/
  * Log checking and review, final scoring - /Tree Tyree, N6TR/
  * Budgeting, purchasing, asset tracking - /Dick Green, WC1M/
  * Planning, scheduling, fundraising - /Doug Grant, K1DG/

AD1C has released version 2.0 of a program to convert your W1AW 
Centennial Award QSOs <http://software.ad1c.us/W1AW> into a spreadsheet. 
The new version features "a real Windows GUI program and a real Windows 
installer. There have been no functional changes." Support for W1AW/3 
planned for Washington, D.C. in October still needs to be added. Jim 
says, "That will go into the next version." (Thanks, Daily DX 
<http://dailydx.com>)

A busy guy lately, AD1C has also updated the Country (CTY) Files 
<http://www.country-files.com/>, effective June 4^th . For installation 
instructions, hover your mouse cursor over the word Contest in the menu, 
then select then software you are using. To install the file, follow the 
link to your software at the top of the page. A bigger CTY.DAT file 
<http://www.country-files.com/bigcty/> for everyday logging is also 
available.

The blog of K1DG on the EDN website, "A Ham's Eye View 
<http://edn.com/electronics-blogs/a-ham-s-eye-view/4430537/Dayton-Hamvention-2014>," 
explains the Dayton Hamvention to an engineering audience. Attendance at 
Dayton was up a bit this year, despite predictions of bad weather, 
reaching nearly 25,000. The Hamvention has been held every year since 1952!

This plasma jet was photographed on May 27th. Even though the jet wasn't 
strong enough to escape the Sun's gravity, that's still a pretty 
impressive eruption! (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

A NOAA video 
<http://www.space.com/26190-solar-max-has-arrived-nasa-and-noaa-says-video.html> 
presents the case that the peak of solar Cycle 24 has, in fact, arrived. 
This has been a challenging cycle for prognosticators, but it does look 
like the cycle is beginning to wind down, the latest active sunspot 
notwithstanding. As with other cycles, we can expect bigger flares and 
magnetic storms as the cycle says farewell. (Thanks, Bob N6TV)

The HAARP array in Alaska, subject of many speculative flights of fancy, 
is closing down in response to budget reductions. As one last hurrah, 
described in a recent NPR program 
<http://www.npr.org/2014/06/10/319539712/bye-bye-to-the-home-of-a-favorite-internet-conspiracy-theory>, 
a researcher beamed some music skyward, creating a new composition of 
the spheres through nonlinear mixing, a subject hams should understand 
well. (Thanks, Paul KØJPL)

Todd KC9BQA reports, "I've made a number of updates to www.kc9bqa.com 
<http://www.kc9bqa.com> over the past week. The new updates start on 
June 7th, and they are all on the "front page"." Todd's goal for the 
website is to help get more VHF'ers on the air.

Pelican prevails again! According to the /Popular Mechanics/ June 2014 
issue's "Abusive Lab Test" for Pelican, Yeti, and Yukon coolers, the 
popular Pelicans proved particularly potent in protecting precious 
potations. Not only will they carry your radio, they can keep it cool, too!

A happy fifth birthday to the Arizona Outlaws Contest Club 
<http://www.arizonaoutlaws.net/>! At the same time, a new contest club 
is hatched - the Wild Screaming Frogs Contesting Group, WB8WSF. 
"Composed of various nut cases around EN82 ± 1 grid square, our goal is 
to have fun, welcome all to VHF contesting, and to eventually become 
competent." I can't wait to see their logo. (Thanks, Bob K8IA and 
founding frog, Steve Andre)

*Web Site of the Week* - While the IBM PC kicked the personal computing 
revolution into high gear, it was the Apple II 
<http://edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4374613/Apple-II-goes-on-sale--June-5--1977> 
that launched it. The Apple II went on sale on June 5, 1977, and things 
were never the same again.

WORD TO THE WISE

Looking for a local Field Day or maybe you're traveling and would like 
to stop in and meet some local hams? Check out the ARRL Field Day 
Locator <http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator> website where clubs or 
individuals provide their locations.

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2014-06-18&p=0>
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Selected videos <http://www.contestuniversity.com/main/page_videos.html> 
from the 2014 Dayton Contest University are now online. Tim, K3LR 
reports that for the first time in the last eight years there will be a 
second Contest University in the US during the year - the "CTU 
Centennial," July 17, 2014, in Hartford, Connecticut, as part of the 
ARRL Centennial 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-national-centennial-convention-contest-university-dx-university-speakers-set> 
celebration. The "professors" include K1DG on "ergonomics for contest 
stations," W3LPL on low band receive antennas on smaller lots, K3LR on 
multi-op contest planning, K5ZD on single op tips, and W1UE on 
"essentials of RTTY contesting." (Thanks, Daily DX <http://dailydx.com>)

While the HamCom hamfesters shopped till they dropped, W1ØØAW was 
pounding out the QSOs just yards away in air-conditioned comfort! (Photo 
by NØAX)

The K8CX Dayton 2014 Gallery <http://hamgallery.com/dayton2014/> is now 
up with close to 4,100 Dayton photos, making this the 18th year that Tom 
has taken the photos. The site has Dayton photos in The Gallery back to 
1971. If you have any old photos from Dayton, please send them to K8CX.

Here's the exact same program 
<http://contestdinner.com/page_past_programs.html> that was handed out 
at the 22nd Annual Dayton Contest Dinner! Big thanks to Lee K7NM and his 
wife Judy of Photo QSLs <http://photoqsls.com/> for donating the 
printing of the dinner program. (Thanks, Tim K3LR)

ARRL Field Day 2011 in South Louisiana is well-presented in this snazzy 
video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj99ey69U1I> with great credits! 
How about making one of your club's adventures this year?

RESULTS AND RECORDS

The ARRL January VHF Contest results 
<http://arrl.org/contest-results-articles> have been posted with RTTY 
Roundup and ARRL DX CW to follow soon. Catching up a bit, records for 
the August UHF Contest <http://www.arrl.org/contest-records> have also 
been uploaded. And for those of you who think ahead, the July CQ VHF 
Contest <http://www.cqww-vhf.com/records.htm> lists of high scores by 
category and by area are posted. If you want to know whether your ARRL 
June VHF Contest scores are record setting, those records 
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-records> have been updated through 2013. 
(Thanks, Curt K9AKS)

Here are a couple of the founding Murphy's Marauders - Ellen W1YL and 
Rich N1CC - holding the original artwork of Murphy himself and a copy of 
the very first club newsletter! (Photo by NØAX)

The raw claimed scores for the 2014 WPX CW Contest 
<http://www.cqwpx.com/claimed.htm?mode=cw> are now available online, 
showing raw scores as calculated by the WPX log checking software prior 
to any checking. This should give participants a good indication of 
their category placement at the World, Continent, or Country level. 
Please check that your entry is in the correct category. Report any 
errors or questions to director at cqwpx.com <mailto:director at cqwpx.com>. 
Do NOT resubmit your log to 'fix' any problems! It's not too late to 
send pictures or stories to be including in the final writeup. (Thanks, 
CQ WPX Contest Director, Terry N4TZ)

The results of the 2013 WWSA CW Contest <http://www.wwsatest.org> are 
now published. (Thanks, GACW Directors LU6UO, LU7DSU, and LU8DQ )

The SAC 2013 Result Booklet 
<http://www.sactest.net/blog/sac-2013-result-booklet/> is now available, 
stuffed with all results and interesting stories about SAC 2013. The 
results include contest statistics; SAC analysis by OH2BH; CW Stories by 
VK8AV, DF6JC, OH1F, PJ4/G3TXF, and PY2ZEA; SSB Stories by LA3S and 
PA6SAC; and CW and SSB soapbox comments. Thanks especially to editor 
Flemming OZ8XW! (Thanks,SAC Contest Committee LB1GB, OH6KZP, OZ3ABE and 
SM5AJV)

The 2014 Mexico RTTY Contest Results 
<http://www.rtty.fmre.mx/english/2014-contest.html> have been announced:

  * First Place World/First Place NA - W9ILY
  * Second Place World/First Place AK - AL9A
  * Third Place World/Second Place NA -N2BJ

(Thanks, Gary AL9A )

The 2013 Triathlon DX Contest Results 
<http://triathlon-dx-contest.gr/contest/index.php/component/content/article/8-triathlon-dx-contest-en/35-results2014> 
are online. Thanks to all for participation and congratulations to the 
winners. (Thanks, Kostas SV1DPI)

For all bands and modes, the total CW Skimmer spot volume year-over-year 
is up 33% for the CQ WPX CW Contest as shown below:

  * 2013 WPX CW: 3,359,395
  * 2014 WPX CW: 4,478,929

That's an average of 33,001 spots per CW Skimmer receiver! (Thanks, Bob 
N6TV)

OPERATING TIP

Summertime propagation (or wintertime, if you are south of the Equator) 
has a variety of unique qualities. That band plan you made for CQ WW 
last fall - start over for the IARU HF Championship! This would be a 
good time to talk to veteran contesters in your club about the primary 
DX openings in your area. You may be surprised but better /before/ the 
contest than afterward.

TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

It looks like there is a little life yet left in Cycle 24 so don't miss 
out during the upcoming HF contest season! (Photo courtesy NASA)

Cycle 24's progress and future are of considerable interest lately. Ted 
K8HI sent a fascinating video and article 
<http://earthsky.org/space/solar-maximum-is-back> about renewed activity 
at the peak of the current solar cycle. If you are interested in 
learning the details of radio propagation, space weather, and solar 
phenomena, one of ham radio's propagation gurus, Tomas NW7US, is 
offering a self-paced course <http://nw7us.us/swc> that is bundled with 
the ray-tracing PropLab Pro software at a bundled discount. This is a 
good summertime project to ramp up your propagation know-how for less 
than the cost of a new beam!

An app for calculating guy line lengths 
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sk.pltechnology.antennaguying&hl=en> 
and other requirements has been developed by the Mastrant rope company. 
Using a specialized calculator is a good way to avoid those hasty 
last-minute runs to the hardware store on the Saturday morning of Field 
Day. (Thanks, Tim K3LR)

Do-It-Yourself satellites - an amazing concept? Not to radio amateurs 
who have been launching DIY birds since OSCAR 1 in 1961! Nevertheless, 
the Ardusats 
<http://edn.com/electronics-blogs/diy-zone/4430467/Science-project-phones-home-> 
make a fascinating story and highlights ham radio, perhaps introducing a 
new generation of builders and makers to our fascinating realm.

Aside from a few cookbook-style articles in handbooks and circuit 
manuals, voltage multipliers are usually just an afterthought in the 
power supply assembly. /EDN/ ran a recent story detailing the 
interesting Cockroft-Walton voltage multiplying ladder 
<http://edn.com/electronics-blogs/other/4396853/Voltage-Multipliers>. 
These are used not only to get a little more oomph for vacuum tube 
amplifiers but to produce the super-high voltages needed to generate 
beams of ionized material for particle accelerators.

It turns out that not only can meteors create trails that reflect radio 
waves - they can emit radio waves, too! This Slashdot discussion 
<http://science.slashdot.org/story/14/06/07/0146234/astronomers-solve-puzzle-of-mysterious-streaks-in-radio-images-of-the-sky> 
links to the original article as well as offering up the usual potpourri 
of insight, explanation, and snarky techno humor.

Here's a peek under the hood of Communication Amplifiers, LLC's 
<http://www.commamps.com/> CAP1000-2M 1000-watt amplifier. It uses a 
pair of the new amplifier modules you've seen online. The amp was 
pumping out watts continuously at the recent HamCom convention. (Photo 
by NØAX)

The Mt Airy VHF Radio Club <http://www.packratvhf.com/>, aka "The 
Packrats", published their June 2014 newsletter, "Cheese Bits" with a 
nice article by NE3I about building small antennas for restricted 
housing. Good ideas for portable and temporary stations, too!

New RF instrumentation is moving beyond the traditional 
button-and-dial-laden front panel to rely more on a companion PC for 
control and data storage. Learn about the latest gadgets (that will 
eventually become surplus and show up on /our/ workbenches) in this 
/EDN/ story 
<http://edn.com/design/test-and-measurement/4430558/IMS2014--RF-Instruments-go-faceless>.

Tower maven, Don K4ZA, wrote in with an alternate method to the previous 
issue's description of lifting a tower's top section with mast included 
as a single assembly with a low center of gravity (CG). This doesn't 
suit every installation but might work for you - practice these more 
sophisticated "lifts" near the ground to see and to learn the technique 
before you're aloft! "Secure the mast in the tower section, using the 
rotator if the mast is short (only one antenna goes on). If it's a long 
mast, then leave the rotator out, slide the mast inside the tower 
section so that its top (where the top-most antenna of your stack will 
be mounted) extends just above the tower top. Whether short or long, 
insert a suitably-sized lift rope THROUGH the mast to haul up the load. 
Tie a knot in the rope's lower end with a large washer above that knot, 
resting against the lower mast end. If you are using the rotator to hold 
the mast, you'll have to leave room for the knot between the mast and 
rotator housing. Without the rotator, secure the mast by muffler clamps 
inside the tower section. This will keep the CG low and the load riding 
plumb while hauling everything up. Use a come-along to maneuver a long 
mast up and through the top of the tower section. Once supported by the 
come-along, untie the knot, and lift out the rope before lifting the 
mast into its final position and you won't have to climb the mast."

I particularly enjoyed the /Popular Mechanics/ June issue's article, 
"Why We Fix 
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/skills/auto-home-improvement-diy/why-we-fix-a-diy-manifesto-16846653>" 
by Kyle Wiens. As the author says, "Making something whole again 
expresses what it means to be human: a demonstration of our capacity to 
be resourceful, meet challenges, and solve problems." Game on!

The new book /Ten Essential Skills for Electrical Engineers/ 
<http://electronicdesign.com/blog/10-essential-skills-ees> by Barry Dorr 
is a good guide for ham radio operators, too. Even if we don't dive 
quite as deep as the EE folks do, having a rudimentary knowledge of 
these subjects makes for a more well-rounded ham.

*Technical Web Site of the Week* - Hams and students often balk at 
hands-on experiences with microwave technology. It looks, feels, and 
behaves quite differently than RF at longer wavelengths. But with the 
right equipment and the right instructions, it's not so hard after all! 
You can begin to learn to think like a microwave by performing 
experiments with pre-packaged pieces and elements such as these kits 
being developed by Eductika 
<http://edn.com/electronics-blogs/rowe-s-and-columns/4430578/IMS2014--Learn-those-puzzling-microwaves> 
that were featured at the recent IEEE International Microwave Symposium. 
While these kits assume a certain amount of technical infrastructure 
common at the university level, it's easy to see how hams could share 
expertise and equipment to create something similar. How about it 
microwave mavens?

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2014-06-18&p=1>
CONVERSATION

Won't You Come In?

I recently received a forwarded email adapting into ham-speak the famous 
"Specialization is for insects 
<http://classiclit.about.com/od/heinleinrobert/a/aa_rheinleinqu.htm>" 
quote from Robert Heinlein's /Time Enough for Love/. Like the famous 
Lazarus Long, hams have long exhibited a certain flexibility and 
practicality at all levels of license. Of course, the goal of such lists 
should be to encourage the acquisition of these many skills and not be 
just another way of looking down our collective noses in order to feel 
superior. But I digress.

Here's some can-do spirit! The HSØAC club members and other Thai hams 
are busy rebuilding the club station which was destroyed by floods in 
2011. We'll be sure to post some photos of the finished station when it 
is ready for use! (Photo by E21EIC)

What developing this useful and effective can-do attitude does 
accomplish is take the beginner on a life-long journey through many 
different environments in the biosphere of Amateur Radio. We may enter 
through a particular door but the party inside is enormous! Frequency 
ranges that cover six orders of magnitude. Propagation that involves 
everything from dirt to extraterrestrial objects. Means of communication 
by modes Faraday would recognize as well as sophisticated codes that 
cleanly retrieve information buried tens of decibels below the noise. 
Technologies ranging from the inclined plane to quantum mechanics. All 
free for the taking. How do we tell this story?

One opportunity is nearly upon us - Field Day! There is no other event 
quite like it where everybody brings their "piece" to assemble into the 
group station. Not only new hams learn about ham radio but so does the 
public - if we let them. This is one reason for so many Field Day bonus 
points that involve publicity and public access.

With the potential of such a Field Day publicity bonanza, it's worth a 
little extra effort to make the most of our availability. Start by 
looking at your public notices. First, be sure to register your club's 
activities on the ARRL Field Day Locator 
<http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator> service. You never know who will 
take an interest after a little Internet searching. They won't come if 
they don't know where you are!

Next, what kind of encouragement are you giving for a non-ham to 
overcome their natural reluctance to pester strangers? It's not enough 
to put up a sandwich sign that says, "Ham Radio Field Day". Remember, 
they have no idea what a "Field Day" is! (Hard to imagine, I know...) 
How about instead, we capitalize on our many-faceted world and call it 
instead, "Ham Radio Open House"? Most folks understand that on two 
levels: first, you're inviting them in, and second, there is something 
to see. It might also help to advertise "Free Cookies" or the like - 
you'll have kids dragging their parents in by the heels to see the show.

Here's Minnesota Wireless Association President, Bill ACØW having a 
great time operating as W1AW/Ø in Minnesota from the station of KØMD. 
Looks like fun, by golly! W1AW moves to Alaska and Montana this week. 
(Photo by KØMD)

And folks, try to look like you're glad to see visitors! Have a 
"greeter" assigned to show visitors around and explain what's going on. 
Strangers will rarely walk up and stick their noses into another group's 
activities - reach out to them and bring them in. Don't set up what 
looks like a "defensive perimeter" of fencing and canvas and cars. Sure, 
rope off the antennas and generators, but set up camp so that it looks 
like an open house and not a fortress to keep people out. How can you 
avoid this type of turn-off? Ask a non-ham for their objective opinion 
about it. Then listen - you might be surprised!

Once a year, we all put on our show at the same time. There's no reason 
to wait for Field Day, though. Take the opportunity to put up a portable 
station at the mall, at playfields, at local festivals, wherever the 
public will be. Welcome them in - our people are out there!

73, Ward NØAX

CONTESTS

*June 18 through July 1*

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 Field Day/*--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jun 28, 1800Z to Jun 29, 
2100Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: Category, ARRL/RAC section or 
DX. Logs due: Jul 24. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>

*/Kid's Day/*--Phone, from Jun 21, 1800Z to Jun 21, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 
3.5-28. Exchange: Name, age, location, favorite color. Rules 
<http://www.arrl.org/kids-day>

CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests--CW, from Jun 18, 1300Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Weekly on Wednesday, 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>

NAQCC Milliwatt Sprint--CW, from Jun 19, 0030Z to Jun 19, 0230Z. Bands 
(MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC mbr nr or power. Logs 
due: 4 days. Rules <http://naqcc.info>

All-Asian DX Contest--CW, from Jun 21, 0000Z to Jun 22, 2400Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, operator age (YL may send 00). Logs due: 
Jul 31. Rules <http://www.jarl.or.jp/English>

Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Jun 21, 1200Z to Jun 22, 
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if 
member. Logs due: 5 days. Rules <http://www.skccgroup.com>

Stew Perry Warmup Contest--CW, from Jun 21, 1500Z to Jun 22, 1500Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: 4-char grid square. Logs due: 30 days. Rules 
<http://www.kkn.net/stew>

Feld-Hell Field Day Sprint--Digital, from Jun 21, 2000Z to Jun 21, 
2200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. 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 Jun 23, 0100Z to Jun 23, 0300Z. 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>

SARL Top Band QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Jun 26, 0000Z to Jun 30, 0000Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RS(T) and province or country. Logs due: 7 
days. Rules <http://www.sarl.org.za>

His Majesty King of Spain--Phone, from Jun 28, 1200Z to Jun 28, 1200Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS, serial or EA province. Logs due: 15 
days. Rules <http://www.ure.es>

Marconi Memorial HF Contest--CW, from Jun 28, 1400Z to Jun 30, 1400Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and serial number. Logs due: 30 days. 
Rules <http://www.arifano.it/contest_marconi.htm>

Ten-Ten Spirit of 76 QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jun 30, 0000Z to 
Jul 6, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call, name, member number, 
S/P/C. Logs due: 15 days. Rules <http://www.ten-ten.org>

Canada Day Contest--Phone,CW, from Jul 1, 0000Z to Jul 1, 2359Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50-144. Exchange: RS(T), Province/Territory or serial. 
Logs due: Jul 31. Rules <http://www.rac.ca/service/contesting>

*VHF+ CONTESTS*

*/ARRL Field Day/*--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jun 28, 1800Z to Jun 29, 
2100Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: Category, ARRL/RAC section or 
DX. Logs due: Jul 24. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>

SMIRK QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Jun 21, 0000Z to Jun 22, 2359Z. Bands 
(MHz): 50. Exchange: 4-char grid square and member number. Logs due: Aug 
16. Rules <http://www.smirk.org>

Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Jun 21, 1200Z to Jun 22, 
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if 
member. Logs due: 5 days. Rules <http://www.skccgroup.com>

IARU 50 MHz Contest--Phone,CW, from Jun 21, 1400Z to Jun 22, 1400Z. 
Bands (MHz): 50. Exchange: RS(T), serial, 6-char grid locator. Logs due: 
16 days. Rules <http://www.iaru-r1.org>

WAB 50 MHz Phone--Phone, from Jun 22, 0900Z to Jun 22, 1500Z. Bands 
(MHz): 50. Exchange: RS, serial, WAB square or DXCC entity. Logs due: 
Jul 13. Rules <http://wab.intermip.net>

Canada Day Contest--Phone,CW, from Jul 1, 0000Z to Jul 1, 2359Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28, 50-144. Exchange: RS(T), Province/Territory or serial. 
Logs due: Jul 31. Rules <http://www.rac.ca/service/contesting>

LOG DUE DATES

*June 18 through July 1*

  * June 18 - UA2 QSO Party <http://www.qrz.ru/contest/detail/382.html>
  * June 18 - UN DX Contest <http://kfrr.kz/?id_1=815&id_2=825&id_3=827>
  * June 18 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW
    <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2014/r80mcc.shtml>
  * June 19 - NRAU 10m Activity Contest
    <http://www.nrau.net/activity-contests/below-30mhz.html>
  * June 21 - Asia-Pacific Sprint, SSB <http://jsfc.org/apsprint/aprule.txt>
  * June 21 - HA3NS Sprint Memorial Contest
    <http://radioamator.honlapepites.hu/?p=1280>
  * June 21 - ADRAD Kayldall DMR Contest
    <http://www.adrad-kayldall.lu/activities/dmr-contest/dmr-contest.html>
  * June 21 - CWops Mini-CWT Test <http://www.cwops.org/cwt.html>
  * June 22 - DRCG WW RTTY Contest
    <http://www.drcg.de/index.php/en/drcg-ww-rtty-contest/81-sonstiges/94-drcg-ww-rtty-rules>
  * June 22 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest <http://fpqrp.org/pigrun/>
  * June 22 - NCCC Sprint <http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.html>
  * June 22 - NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
    <http://naqcc.info/sprint201406mw.html>
  * June 23 - 10-10 Int. Open Season PSK Contest
    <http://www.ten-ten.org/index.php/activity/2013-07-22-20-26-48/qso-party-schedule/2-uncategorised/51-open-season-rules>
  * June 24 - RSGB National Field Day
    <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2014/rnfd.shtml>
  * June 26 - The Day of YLs <http://www.qrz.com/db/F5ISY>
  * June 26 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB
    <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2014/r80mcc.shtml>
  * June 28 - Feld Hell Sprint
    <https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprints/field-day-sprint>
  * June 30 - IARU Region 1 Field Day, CW
  * July 1 - SEANET Contest <http://www.seanet2014.com/#%21contest/clvj>
  * July 1 - UKSMG Summer Contest <http://uksmg.org/contest/rules.php>
  * July 1 - QRP ARCI QRP Shootout
    <http://www.qrparci.org/contests/qrp-arci-contests/127-qrp-shoot-out>
  * July 1 - VK Shires Contest
    <http://vkshires.vk2bo.com/vk-shires-contest-rules.html>

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2014-06-18&p=2>
ARRL Information

Click here <mailto:ads at arrl.org> to advertise in this newsletter, space 
subject to availability.

Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

*Join or Renew Today!* <http://www.arrl.org/join>**

ARRL membership includes /QST/ <http://www.arrl.org/qst>, Amateur 
Radio's most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox 
each month.

Subscribe to /NCJ/ - the National Contest Journal 
<http://www.arrl.org/ncj>. Published bimonthly, features articles by top 
contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties.

Subscribe to /QEX/ - A Forum for Communications Experimenters 
<http://www.arrl.org/qex>. Published bimonthly, features technical 
articles, construction projects, columns and other items of interest to 
radio amateurs and communications professionals.

/Free of charge to ARRL members:/ Subscribe 
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl-account-management#%21/edit-info-email_subscriptions> 
to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest of news and information), the ARES 
E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), 
Division and Section news -- and much more!

/ARRL offers a wide array of //products/ 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-store>//to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur 
Radio. Visit the site often for new publications, specials and sales.

Donate <https://www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-form> to the fund of your 
choice -- /support programs not funded by member dues!/

Reprint permission can be obtained by sending email to 
permission at arrl.org <mailto:permission at arrl.org> with a description of 
the material and the reprint publication.

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>.

	Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2014-06-18&t=r&p=0>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2014-06-18&t=r&p=1>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2014-06-18&t=r&p=2>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2014-06-18&t=r&p=3>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&i=2014-06-18&t=r&p=4>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times 
each year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by 
editing their Member Data Page as described at 
http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/.

www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/>