[SMCARA] Another Snowy Weekend

[Tom Shelton]

Hi All,

Well, it appears that this weekend will be another one consigned to staying 
indoors, darn darn darn...  Guess there's nothing to do but play with the 
radios...

Here's a few contests you might want to check out.

We'll start out with the QSO parties...

Vermont QSO Party
Feb 6 0000Z - Feb 7 2400Z  1.8-28 50+ Phone, CW and Digital
http://vtqsoparty.westriverradio.org/

Minnesota QSO Party
Feb 6 1400Z - Feb 6 2359Z 1.8-28 50+  Phone, CW and Digital
http://www.w0aa.org/mnqp.htm

Delaware QSO Party
Feb 6 1700Z - Feb 7 2359Z 1.8-28 50+  Phone, CW and Digital
http://www.fsarc.org/DEQSO.html

New Mexico QSO Party
Feb 7 1500Z - Feb 8 0300Z 1.8-28 50  Phone, CW and Digital
http://pages.swcp.com/~n5zgt/nmqsoparty/index.html

British Columbia QSO Party
Feb 6 1600Z - Feb 7 0759Z 1.8-28 50 Phone, CW and Digital
http://www.deltaamateurradio.com/bcqsoparty/Delta_Amateur_Radio/Home.html


Then we have a couple of DX contests happening (C'mon, you don't really 
consider BC to be DX, do you?)

Black Sea Cup International
Feb 6 1200Z - Feb 7 1200Z, Phone and CW, 1.8-28
www.bscc.ucoz.ru (just kidding - here's the translated page: 
http://tinyurl.com/yfuf4v9 )


XE Int'l RTTY Contest
Feb 6 1800Z - Feb 7 1759Z - Digital Modes - 3.5-28
http://tinyurl.com/ykv533a


And finally - If you don't have a lot of time to dedicate to radio...

North American Sprint
Feb 7 0000Z - Feb 7 0400Z CW only - 3.5-14
http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintrules.php

If you are new to contesting, here's a quick tip.  Listen to a couple of 
exchanges before attempting to make your first contact.  Get the feel for 
the exchange, when the station working the frequency is QRZ, and make sure 
you know which station you're working.  It can be a little confusing, but if 
you just listen to 2 or 3 exchanges before jumping into the fray, your zen 
will take over and karma will reward.  At least you'll be less likely to be 
pulling your hair out after just a few minutes.

Tom Shelton, AB3IC

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