[SFDXA] The ARRL Contest Update for January 14, 2015

Wed Jan 14 18:20:13 EST 2015

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The ARRL Contest Update

January 14, 2015
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

  * Top Band Takes Center Stage - CQ WW 160 CW <#Contests>
  * Winter At VHF and Beyond - ARRL January VHF <#Contests>
  * CQ Hall of Fame Nominations Open <#News>
  * VE3NEA Releases RTTY Skimmer <#Newsweek>
  * The Sounds of DX <#Sights>
  * WAG and ARI - Final Results <#Results>
  * Spaceweather Smörgåsbord <#Tech>
  * Comings and Goings In the Sky <#Techweek>
  * Come On In! <#Conversation>

NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

Are you wondering what to do now that the ARRL's Centennial QSO Party is 
over? Try the NCJ's small-station-friendly North American QSO Party this 
coming Saturday. Operate on phone with 100 watts or less for 10 hours 
out of the 12-hour period starting at 1800Z, exchanging your name and 
state or country. It's big fun and you won't miss a single down of the 
football playoffs!

BULLETINS

If you are planning on operating in the ARRL January VHF Contest, be 
aware of the new Single-Op Unlimited categories that are available in 
ARRL VHF contests. For more information about the category, see the 
contest web page's <http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf> Overview section 
"Unlimited Categories and Spotting Assistance FAQ".

BUSTED QSOS

The NS RTTY Sprint (Thursday evenings in the U.S.) was omitted from the 
contest listings in the previous issue. This short event precedes the 
usual NS Ladder sprints. (Thanks, Ken K6MR)

CONTEST SUMMARY

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

*Jan 17-18*

  * */North American QSO Party--Phone/*
  * Linc Cundall Memorial CW Contest (Jan 14)
  * NAQCC Special 160M Sprint--CW (Jan 16)
  * YLISSB QSO Party--Phone
  * LZ Open Contest--CW
  * International United Teenager Contest
  * HA DX Contest
  * Feld-Hell Low-Down Sprint
  * Classic Exchange--CW
  * Run For the Bacon--CW (Jan 19)

*Jan 24-25*

  * */ARRL January VHF Contest /*
  * Locust QSO Party--CW (Jan 21)
  * NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW (Jan 22)
  * CQ WW 160 Meter Contest--CW (Jan 23)
  * REF French Contest--CW
  * BARTG RTTY Sprint
  * Winter Field Day
  * WAB Top Band Phone Contest
  * QRP Winter Fireside SSB Sprint

NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

Do you have any nominations for the CQ Hall of Fame? CQ WW Director, 
Randy K5ZD notes that nominations must be in by March 1 and be made by a 
contest or DX club or a national ham radio organization. The full 
procedure for all of the CQ Hall of Fame awards 
<http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_awards/cq_hall_of_fame_awards/cq_hall_of_fame_awards.html> 
is online. Nominations from earlier years are not held for future 
consideration so renomination is required. Two people are inducted into 
each Hall of Fame every year.

If you are interested in microphones, Shure has put together a nice 
history 
<http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/classic/5575le-unidyne-limited-edition-75th-anniversary-vocal-microphone#downloads> 
of the classic Shure 55 Unidyne. The microphone has been around for 75 
years, used by countless hams, broadcasters, and musicians, as you can 
see in this pair of commemorative USPS postage stamps. (Thanks, Rick W5RH)

The North Coast Contesters 23rd Annual Dayton Contest Dinner 
<http://contestdinner.com/> is now available for ticket sales via the 
website (no at-the-door sales) which has been provided by KA9FOX and 
QTH.com <http://qth.com>. The featured speaker this year is ARRL 
President, Kay Craigie N3KN. 2015 Contest Hall of Fame inductees will be 
announced and Icom America <http://icomamerica.com> has donated an 
IC-7600 transceiver as the main door prize. The dinner is held on 
Saturday night of the Hamvention - May 16^th in 2015 - at the Crowne 
Plaza Hotel. While you're at the Crowne Plaza, take in the Contest 
SuperSuite <http://contestsupersuite.com/> and all the other 
contest-related goings-on! (Thanks, Tim K3LR)

Four years ago, Bryce K7UA wrote a series of short articles for his 
local DX club called the "New DXer's Handbook." Bryce tells us "The 
original has become outdated and wasn't written for a broad audience in 
the first place" but a revised second edition is now available 
<http://www.k7ua.com/> free of charge. (Thanks, Daily DX 
<http://dailydx.com>)

Simone MØBOX, new Contest Manager for the British Amateur Radio Teledata 
Group <http://www.bartg.org.uk> (BARTG), reports that an email robot log 
submission system has been put in place. "From the March HF Contest 
onwards, the entry window for all BARTG contests will be reduced from 30 
days to 7 days. There will be a period of 21 days in which I will run 
the logs through adjudication and email entrants with any queries that 
are raised. Final adjudication will then take place after the expiration 
of the 21 days query window. Logs submitted after entries close may be 
accepted, but the entrant will need to email me to advise me of their 
late submission as I will not otherwise redownload logs from the robot 
after the 7 day period has elapsed."

Bob N6TV has published a number of very interesting presentations on the 
use of SDR and other tools in your favorite radiosport events. This is a 
great way to get up to speed - thanks, Bob!

  * Using Waterfall Displays as a Contesting Advantage
    <http://bit.ly/UsingWaterfall2014>, presented at 2014 Dayton Contest
    University (CTU)
  * CW Skimmers, DX Clusters, and The Reverse Beacon Network
    <http://bit.ly/UsingRBN2014>, presented at 2014 Dayton CTU
  * CW Skimmers, DX Clusters, and The Reverse Beacon Network
    <http://bit.ly/UsingRBN2013>, presented at 2013 Dayton CTU
  * Using The Reverse Beacon Network as a Contesting Advantage
    <http://bit.ly/UsingRBNPDF>, presented at 2012 Dayton Hamvention,
    Contest Forum
  * Using Waterfall Displays as a Contesting Advantage
    <http://bit.ly/WaterfallDisplaysPDF>, presented at the 2011 Visalia
    DX Convention, NCCC Contest Academy
  * Adding a Software Defined Radio (SDR) to an SO2R station
    <http://tinyurl.com/4zama4>

Japan has a new band plan 
<http://jarl.org/English/6_Band_Plan/JapaneseAmateurBandplans20150105.pdf>, 
published by the Japanese Amateur Radio League (JARL). The JA 
allocations on 160 and 80/75 meters are somewhat fragmented so it is 
important for DX contesters to have the latest information! (Thanks, 
Daily DX <http://dailydx.com>)

The group sponsoring the non-NCJ SSB Sprint <http://ssbsprint.com/> 
contest has their website up and running. The next edition of the 
contest will start at 0000Z on Feb 1^st . Rules for the 2015 NCJ NAQP 
<http://ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf> and Sprint 
<http://ncjweb.com/Sprint-Rules.pdf> contests are now available online, 
as well. (Thanks, Mike W9RE and Kirk K4RO)

Did you know that there were originally 20 of Maxwell's equations? True! 
Jim AJ3K has written a wonderful article in the December 2014 issue of 
/IEEE Spectrum/, "The Long Road to Maxwell's Equations 
<http://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom/wireless/the-long-road-to-maxwells-equations>" 
explaining how they came to be and then took their final form as the 
four we use today.

Al K2UYH publishes a monthly EME newsletter, /432 and Above 
<http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm.html>/, which is available online 
and free, including archived back copies. You can also subscribe to 
receive a copy by email each month. If you are interested in moonbounce 
at UHF and microwave, this is a must-read publication. Weak-signal VHF+ 
DXers and contesters will find a lot of useful material, too.

The first big flare of the year 
<http://www.nasa.gov/content/first-notable-solar-flare-of-2015/> came 
earlier this week. The Sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 
11:24 p.m. EST on Jan. 12, 2015. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, 
which watches the sun constantly, captured this image of the event.

*Web Site of the Week* - If your computer is powerful enough and you 
have a QS1R SDR, you can now auto-spot both RTTY and CW stations on 
multiple bands using Alex VE3NEA's latest software creation, /RTTY 
Skimmer Server <http://dxatlas.com/RttySkimServ/>./ (Thanks, Bob N6TV)

WORD TO THE WISE

Bob K2DRH, has written an excellent FAQ on VHF+ contesting 
<http://www.w9smc.com/faq> with plenty to offer any VHF+ operator. It's 
published by the Society of Midwest Contesters along with lots of other 
useful how-to information, such as the FAQs for Getting Started in 
Contesting, Antennas, and RTTY, among others. (Thanks, Chad WE9V)

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2015-01-14&p=0>
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

What does rare DX sound like? Tom K8CX has posted 152 MP3 sound clips 
<http://hamgallery.com/dx2014/> of various rare DX stations at his Ohio 
station during the past year. Tom is also looking for pre-1998 sound 
clips to add to the site. If you have some old recordings of "the 
greats,", operators and expeditions alike, putting them online would be 
a great way to preserve these sounds for everyone to hear into the 
future. (From Daily DX <http://dailydx.com>)

Here's a short highlight of the great 10 Meter Contest from an 
Australian perspective! Peter VK2PV recorded this video 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG2sC__WEro> from the VK2GGC station. 
When we're in the next solar minimum, it will be fun to pull this up and 
listen to what will then be the "good old days!"

David WA1OUI found a video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l_KNWqQhPw> 
showing how the explosive splicing technique featured in the previous 
issue actually works. This takes the concept of "crimp connector" to an 
entirely new level!

If it startles you to hear a mobile phone ringing like an old desk model 
from Ma Bell, you'll probably enjoy visiting the Museum of Endangered 
Sounds <http://savethesounds.info/>. There's a related thread on the 
Slashdot website, "Sounds We Don't Hear Any More 
<http://ask.slashdot.org/story/15/01/10/2244248/ask-slashdot-sounds-we-dont-hear-any-more>" 
that is full of interesting comments, as well.

RESULTS AND RECORDS

The results of 2014 Worked All Germany Contest 
<http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/contest/wag/en/> are final. Besides the 
scores there is a detailed web report with pictures and audio clips, 
along with activity overviews and band-by-band breakdowns. (Thanks, WAG 
Manager, Chris DL8MBS)

DX results of the 2014 ARI International DX Contest 
<http://www.ari.it/images/stories/ContestHF/ARIDX-2014-DX-RESULTS.pdf?> 
have been published. Participants will also receive an email with a UBN 
file (log checking report) attached. (Thanks, ARI Manager, Bob I2WIJ)

OPERATING TIP

*/Call CQ/* - They can't work you if they can't hear you! Classic and 
timeless advice from the Mt Airy VHF Club /Cheese Bits. 
<http://www.packratvhf.com/Cheese%20Bits/cheesebits.html>/

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TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

HO, HO, HO from OH, OH, OH! With Rami OH2BCI filling in for St Nicholas 
on the key, 23,000 QSOs were made from Santa's offices at the Finnish 
Arctic Circle. The OF9X effort included more than twenty OH operators 
and their families. High-tech remote was used to capture the Polar Path 
on 20 meters from Lapland. Santa was often the only signal audible on 20 
meters from Europe as hundreds of children around the world were able to 
greet Santa directly thru video/audio streaming. (Thanks, Martti OH2BH)

Have you been watching NOAA's new five-graph solar weather chart 
<http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/satellites>? Mike WØBTU is a big 
fan, "I'm beginning to realize that chart was a real stroke of 
genius...you have to watch and study it for a few weeks and you'll see 
what I mean. When that "fuzz" (all those dots) turned into almost a 
straight line the other day, the conditions on 80 meters really 
improved! Same for 20 meters." Mike also recommends the Space Weather 
Enthusiasts 
<http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/space-weather-enthusiasts> page 
which includes radio blackout information. Victor US5WE notes that a 
similar site <http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/forecast_activity.html> from 
Russia is available, too. We should tip our caps to pages by NW7US 
<http://hfradio.org> and CT1BOH 
<http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/propagation.htm> which have supplied similar 
material to hams for quite some time.

Just the right thing for your portable toolkit and a use for that 
finger-friendly old mechanical pencil, too - a solder-filled dispensing 
pen <http://www.instructables.com/id/Mechanical-Pencil-Solder-Loader/>!

Note this important precaution from Roger K8RI about working on metal 
with rotating tools: When the shavings start peeling off never, ever try 
to brush them away by hand. They are sharp and if the bit (or whatever) 
grabs them at the same time you do, those shavings can remove finger(s) 
so quickly and cleanly you won't know it happened at the moment. Grant 
KZ1W provides a related warning: NEVER wear gloves! Glove material can 
catch on the drill bit, lathe chuck, mill chuck etc. The glove finger 
then grips the finger too tightly to get out of quickly and the 
resulting injury can be quite serious. The chips and swarf in drilling, 
milling, and turning operations should be managed with a chip hook about 
12 to 18" long, coolant flushing, or air blast. Better yet, "peck drill" 
so that short chips are made.

An interesting resolution for the New Year would be to cobble together a 
transmitter from a design published the year you were born. (Thanks to 
the QRP-L community <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qrp-l/> for 
the idea)

For many years a treadmill in Don WD8DSB's house caused strong 
interference on 160 meters when it was in use but he has been able to 
completely eliminate the RFI using a combination of two different 
filters (a commercial line filter that provides both common-mode and 
differential-mode filtering, and 14 turns of the power cord on a 2.4" OD 
Fair-Rite #31 mix toroid core. You can review 
<http://sites.google.com/site/treadmillrfi/> his tests and filters for 
your own problem RFI solutions, too.

A good source of practical information on how to select a station site 
can be found in NBS Technical Note 139, Siting Criteria for HF 
Communication Centers 
<https://archive.org/download/sitingcriteriafo139utla/sitingcriteriafo139utla.pdf> 
by William Utlat. Dating from 1962, it's still quite useful today. 
(Thanks, Sinisa, YT1NT/VE3EA)

 From the EDN "Design Ideas" column - the professional EE equivalent of 
/Hints and Kinks/ - comes this useful op-amp design for a notch filter 
<http://www.edn.com/design/analog/4437967/Three-op-amp-state-variable-filter-perfects-the-notch>. 
While you're looking at those miraculous triangles of gain, do you know 
how they achieve it? Similar to the kit showing how the 555 timer chip's 
internal electronics do what they do, the XL741 kit 
<http://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/762> does the same for 
the venerable 741 op-amp.

The NASA Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) 
<http://iris.lmsal.com/mission.html> satellite, launched in 2013, is 
starting to generate some amazing photographs as described in the 
February 2015 /Sky and Telescope/ <http://skyandtelescope.com> article 
"IRIS Finds Solar Tornadoes, Bombs." IRIS is important to hams because 
it observes the Sun in ultra-violet which dominates ionospheric 
characteristics at radio frequencies.

The screen capture at right is from a video showing NASA's Interface 
Region Imaging Spectrograph's (IRIS) view of an area of the Sun. 
Multiple images of this area were taken in different wavelengths. Each 
of the images carried information about how fast the solar material is 
moving, which has shown scientists that a series of loops are twisting 
in the sun's lower atmosphere, generating mini-tornadoes on the sun's 
surface. This result is from one of five papers in the Oct. 17, 2014, 
issue of /Science/ magazine based on IRIS data, highlighting different 
aspects of solar energy's journey from the Sun's surface through its 
atmosphere. (Thanks, NASA/IRIS/Pereira)

*Technical Web Site of the Week* - This fascinating video 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52-fyIu84Qk> shows the /SBSpectrum 
/software capturing the shifts in frequency for a signal propagating 
through the ionosphere. The time-lapse video compresses hours of 
recording time into a few minutes. You can see the ionosphere's 
individual layers come and go, rise and fall, and do all sorts of 
interesting things to the signal. This is a big part of why HF digital 
communication is so hard! (Thanks, Dennis N6KI and Bob W6VR)

CONVERSATION

Come On In!

At this weekend's memorial gathering for Carl AI6V, a common theme among 
the memories and stories shared by friends was his ability to reach out 
and instantly make someone new to ham radio (or auto racing, his other 
avocation) feel a part of the tribe. I can count such an experience with 
Carl in my history and I can tell you that it had a positive impact on me.

It doesn't matter whether we are talking about a contesting legend like 
Carl or a senior in a high-school club, having someone you respect make 
the effort to include you in a group is an important ingredient for 
success and enjoyment in ham radio. In an activity that by definition 
cannot be performed alone, being part of the team makes all the 
difference in the world.

Training and mentoring has been around a long time. I mean a /very/ long 
time as this advertisement painted on an old building shows! (Thanks, 
Paul AI6BB and Doug K1DG)

Professionals recognize that mentoring 
<http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/engineering-the-next-generation/4438224/Meet-a-mentor--be-a-mentor-in-5-minutes> 
is critical to success and provide training in doing just that. The ham 
community can take many cues from these programs. It is not enough to 
help a person pass their test then expect them to sink or swim on their 
own. Very few of us took the solo route - there was an Elmer or a peer 
group or a club to make us part of the ham family.

At your next club meeting or even a group hanging around a hamfest 
table, keep a watchful eye for the person who wants to join in but needs 
an invitation or might be waiting for the right moment. Take the 
initiative and extend that invitation or make that moment. That's /your/ 
job as someone in the group, to expand the group. What have you got to 
lose? Nothing - you'll gain a friend and maybe launch a lifetime ham.

Numbers of hams are at all-time highs here in the United States but 
there are an awful lot of tickets that won't be renewed, even after all 
that effort was made to pass the test. Will we be able to hold on to our 
newest members? Not if they don't feel like part of the grand family of 
hams! Without a personal connection, we will lose them forever. The most 
powerful words you may ever say to another ham are probably not 
technical advice or some secret operating tip, they are "Come on in!"

73, Ward NØAX

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=cu&t=i&i=2015-01-14&p=2>
CONTESTS

*14 January through 27 January*

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*

*/North American QSO Party--/*Phone, from Jan 17, 1800Z to Jan 18, 
0559Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Name and S/P/C. Logs due: 7 days. 
Rules <http://ncjweb.com/>

Linc Cundall Memorial CW Contest--CW, from Jan 14, 2300Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-7. Exchange: See website. Logs 
due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.antiquewireless.org/>

NAQCC Special 160M Sprint--CW, from Jan 16, 0130Z to Jan 16, 0330Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC mbr nr or power. Logs 
due: 4 days. Rules <http://naqcc.info/>

YLISSB QSO Party--Phone, from Jan 17, 0000Z to Jan 18, 2359Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Call sign, RS(T), ISSB number. Logs due: Mar 
20. Rules <http://www.ylsystem.org/>

LZ Open Contest--CW, from Jan 17, 0000Z to Jan 17, 0400Z. Bands (MHz): 
3.5, 7. Exchange: 6-digit serial and serial from previous QSO. Logs due: 
30 days. Rules <http://www.lzopen.com/>

International United Teenager Contest--Phone,CW, from Jan 17, 0600Z to 
Jan 17, 1400Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T) and age or "RT". 
Logs due: 30 days. Rules <http://uarl.com.ua/>

HA DX Contest--Phone,CW, from Jan 17, 1200Z to Jan 18, 1200Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T) and serial or HADXC member nr or HA 
county. Logs due: 30 days. Rules <http://www.ha-dx.com/>

Feld-Hell Low-Down Sprint--Digital, from Jan 17, 2000Z - See website. 
Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-7. Time period depends on 
location - see website. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Feld-Hell member nr. Logs 
due: 7 days. Rules <http://www.feldhellclub.org/>

Classic Exchange--CW, from Jan 18, 1400Z to Jan 19, 0800Z. Bands (MHz): 
1.8-28, 50, 144, CW 1.810, 3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.135, 28.050, 50.100, 
144.100 MHz. Exchange: RST, QTH, model of rcvr and xmtr. Logs due: 30 
days. Rules <http://www.classicexchange.org/>

Run For the Bacon--CW, from Jan 19, 0200Z to Jan 19, 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/>

Locust QSO Party--CW, from Jan 21, 0200Z to Jan 21, 0256Z. Bands (MHz): 
3.5-7. 3.550, 7.050 MHz. Exchange: Name, state or province or 'DX'. Logs 
due: Jan 31. Rules <http://www.k6vva.com/lqp>

NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW, from Jan 22, 0130Z to Jan 22, 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/>

CQ WW 160 Meter Contest--CW, from Jan 23, 2200Z to Jan 25, 2200Z. Bands 
(MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RST and S/P/C. Logs due: 5 days. Rules 
<http://www.cq160.com/>

REF French Contest--CW, from Jan 24, 0600Z to Jan 25, 1800Z. Bands 
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial or department ID. Logs due: 15 
days. Rules <http://concours.ref-union.org/contest>

BARTG RTTY Sprint--Digital, from Jan 24, 1200Z to Jan 25, 1200Z. Bands 
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: Serial. Logs due: Mar 1. Rules 
<http://www.bartg.org.uk/>

Winter Field Day--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jan 24, 1700Z to Jan 25, 1700Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: Category, ARRL section, local temp. 
Logs due: Feb 28. Rules <http://www.spar-hams.org/>

WAB Top Band Phone Contest--Phone, from Jan 24, 1900Z to Jan 24, 2300Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: See website. Logs due: 21 days. Rules 
<http://www.worked-all-britain.co.uk/contest>

QRP Winter Fireside SSB Sprint--Phone, from Jan 25, 2000Z to Jan 25, 
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. QRP calling frequencies. Exchange: RS, 
S/P/C, QRP ARCI number or power. Logs due: 14 days. Rules 
<http://www.qrparci.org/contests>

*VHF+ CONTESTS*

*/ARRL January VHF Contest/*--Phone,CW, from Jan 24, 1900Z to Jan 26, 
0359Z . Bands (MHz): 50+. Exchange: 4-char grid square. Logs due: Feb 
25. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>

Classic Exchange--CW, from Jan 18, 1400Z to Jan 19, 0800Z. Bands (MHz): 
1.8-28, 50, 144, CW 1.810, 3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.135, 28.050, 50.100, 
144.100 MHz. Exchange: RST, QTH, model of rcvr and xmtr. Logs due: 30 
days. Rules <http://www.classicexchange.org/>

Winter Field Day--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jan 24, 1700Z to Jan 25, 1700Z. 
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: Category, ARRL section, local temp. 
Logs due: Feb 28. Rules <http://www.spar-hams.org/>

LOG DUE DATES

*14 January through 27 January*

  * January 15 - AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party
    <http://www.antiquewireless.org/awa-on-the-air.html>
  * January 15 - NRAU 10m Activity Contest
    <http://www.nrau.net/activity-contests/below-30mhz.html>
  * January 15 - QRP Fox Hunt <http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm>
  * January 16 - AGB-Party Contest
    <http://www.ev5agb.com/contest/agb_party.htm>
  * January 17 - PODXS 070 Club PSKFest
    <http://www.podxs070.com/o7o-club-sponsored-contests/pskfest>
  * January 17 - QRP Fox Hunt <http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm>
  * January 17 - CWops Mini-CWT Test <http://www.cwops.org/cwt.html>
  * January 18 - NCCC Sprint Ladder <http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.html>
  * January 18 - NCCC RTTY Sprint <http://www.ncccsprint.com/rttyns.html>
  * January 18 - NRAU-Baltic Contest
    <http://www.nrau.net/nrau-baltic-contest/rules.html>
  * January 18 - SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
    <http://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekend_sprintathon/>
  * January 18 - UBA PSK63 Prefix Contest
    <http://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/uba-psk63-prefix-contest-rules>
  * January 18 - North American QSO Party, CW
    <http://www.ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf>
  * January 19 - NAQCC CW Sprint <http://naqcc.info/sprint201501_160.html>
  * January 20 - Croatian CW Contest
    <http://9acw.org/index.php/rules/english/99-rules-2014>
  * January 21 - AGCW VHF/UHF Contest
    <http://www.agcw.org/index.php/en/contests-and-cw-activities/vhf-uhf-contest>
  * January 22 - AGB New Year Snowball Contest
    <http://www.qsl.net/eu1eu/agb_nysb.htm>
  * January 24 - Feld Hell Sprint
    <https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprints/low-down-sprint>
  * January 25 - Old New Year Contest
    <http://www.radio.ru/cq/contest/rule-results/index7.shtml>
  * January 25 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest <http://fpqrp.org/pigrun/>
  * January 25 - North American QSO Party, SSB
    <http://www.ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf>
  * January 26 - DARC 10-Meter Contest
    <http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/contest/10m/en/rules/>
  * January 27 - RAEM Contest
    <http://raem.srr.ru/contest/raem_2014/rules_eng_2014.php>
  * January 27 - LZ Open Contest
    <http://www.lzopen.com/lz-open-contest/rules/rulesF.htm>

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's 
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