[TAC] Fw: ARRL Contest Rate Sheet for April 05, 2006

[Ian Hill]

----- Original Message -----
From: ARRL Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <ihk8mm at chartermi.net>
Cc: <Subscribed ARRL Members:;>
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 12:40 AM
Subject: ARRL Contest Rate Sheet for April 05, 2006


> ********************************************
>   CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET
>       5 April 2006
>
> Edited by Ward Silver N0AX
>
> Published by the American Radio Relay League
>    Free to ARRL members!
> (Subscription info at the end of newsletter)
> ********************************************
>
> SUMMARY
> o Beams Northwest, please - Japan International DX Contest
> o MT, GA, MI, VE3 QSO Parties & QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party
> o The Shacktopus and a Very Bon Voyager
> o Towers Up and Down
> o OH QSO Party, WAE, and FISTS Results
> o En-Lightning Articles
> o Transmit-capable Band Pass Filters by W3NQN
> o Deflating The Baloney Trolls
>
> BULLETINS
> o At two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning on April
> 5th, the time and date will be (or will have been) 01:02:03:04:05:06.
> This won't happen again for a thousand years. (Thanks, Tom N0SS)
>
> BUSTED QSOS
> o A golden issue last time!
>
> -oo  --- -o - -- oo ooo ooo -o-- --- oo- o-o
> LOG DUE DATES - 5 APRIL TO 18 APRIL 2006
> o-oo  ---  --o    -oo o o- -oo o-oo oo -o o ooo
>
> April 6 - Open Ukraine RTTY Championship, email logs to:
> krs at model.poltava.ua, paper logs and diskettes to: George Ignatov
> (UT1HT), PO Box 87, Kremenchug-21 39621, Ukraine. Find rules at:
> http://www.ucc.zp.ua/rtty2006rules_eng.htm.
>
> April 8 - Pesky Texan Armadillo Chase, email logs to: n1ln at arrl.net,
> paper logs and diskettes to: Bruce Meier, N1LN, 15283 Runnymede St,
> Conroe, TX 77384, USA. Find rules at:
> http://www.w5nc.org/ptac/CONTEST_DETAILS_2006.htm.
>
> April 8 - Low Power Sprint, email logs to: lpsprint at gmail.com, paper
> logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
> http://www.pvrc.org/lpsprint_2006/rules.htm.
>
> April 9 - High Speed Club CW Contest, email logs to:
> hsc-contest at dl3bzz.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Lutz Schroer,
> DL3BZZ, HSC Contest Manager, Am Niederfeld 6, 35066 Frankenberg,
> Germany. Find rules at: http://www.qsl.net/dl0hsc/en/contests.html.
>
> April 9 - UBA Spring Contest, 6m, email logs to: ubaspring at uba.be,
> paper logs and diskettes to: Lode Kenens ON6KL, Oudestraat 8, B-3560
> Lummen, Belgium. Find rules at:
> http://www.uba.be/hf_contests/rules/uba_spring_en_2006.rtf.
>
> April 11 - Idaho QSO Party, email logs to:
> qsoparty at idahohamradio.net, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find
> rules at: http://voiceofidaho.org. (See "Documents")
>
> April 12 - NSARA Contest, email logs to: mthomas at bwr.eastlink.ca,
> paper logs and diskettes to: Martin Thomas, VE1AUZ, RR#1 Bridgewater,
> Lun.Co.,Nova Scotia, Canada. Find rules at:
> http://www.auracom.com/nsara/nsaracst.htm.
>
> April 12 - Wisconsin QSO Party, email logs to: k9kr at powercom.net,
> paper logs and diskettes to: Wisconsin QSO Party, West Allis Radio
> Amateur Club, PO Box 1072, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. Find rules at:
> http://www.warac.org/wqp/2006/06rules.htm.
>
> April 12 - EA PSK31 Contest, email logs to: psk31 at ure.es, paper logs
> and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
> http://www.ure.es/hf/concursos/eapsk31/baseseapsk31ingles.pdf.
>
> April 15 - Virginia QSO Party, email logs to: nq4k at arrl.net, paper
> logs and diskettes to: VA QSO Party, Call Box 599, Sterling, VA
> 20167, USA. Find rules at:
> http://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2006_VQP_Rules.html.
>
> April 16 - UBA Spring Contest, 2m, email logs to: ubaspring at uba.be,
> paper logs and diskettes to: Lode Kenens ON6KL, Oudestraat 8, B-3560
> Lummen, Belgium. Find rules at:
> http://www.uba.be/hf_contests/rules/uba_spring_en_2006.rtf.
>
> April 18 - 9K 15-Meter Contest, email logs to: 9k2rr at 9kcc.com, paper
> logs and diskettes to: Faisal N. Al-Ajmi, 9K2RR, PO Box 1124,
> Alfarwanya 80000, Kuwait. Find rules at:
> http://www.qsl.net/9kcc/9KCCRule.htm .
>
> April 18 - RSGB RoPoCo 1, email logs to: ropoco1.logs at rsgbhfcc.org,
> paper logs and diskettes to: RSGB G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Road,
> Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7AF, England. Find rules at:
> http://www.contesting.co.uk/hfcc/rules/rropoco.shtml
>
> -o-o  - o-   - o ooo - -o-o  - o-   - o ooo -
> CONTESTS - 5 APRIL TO 18 APRIL 2006
> -o-o  - o-   - o ooo - -o-o  - o-   - o ooo -
>
> Note that the following abbreviations are used to condense the
> contest rules summaries: SO - Single-Op; M2 - Multi-Op - 2
> Transmitters; MO - Multi-Op; MS - Multi-Op, Single Transmitter; MM -
> Multi-Op, Multiple Transmitters; AB - All Band; SB - Single Band;
> S/P/C - State/Province/DXCC Entity; HP - High Power (>100 W); LP -
> Low Power; QRP (5W or less)
>
> HF CONTESTS
>
> QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party - CW, sponsored by the QRP ARCI, from 1200Z
> Apr 9 - 2400Z Apr 10. Frequencies (MHz): 1.810, 3.560, 3.710, 7.040,
> 14.060, 21.060, 28.060. Categories: SOAB, SO-High Band (20-6), SO-Low
> Band (160-40). QSO Points: member QSOs - 5 pts, non-member on same
> cont - 2 pts, non-members on diff cont - 4 pts. Score: QSO points x
> S/P/C x Power Multiplier (< 55 mW x 20, <250 mW ×15, <1 W ×10, <5 W
> output ×7, >5 W ×1). For more information and log submission address:
> http://www.qrparci.org/contest.htm. Logs due 30 days after contest.
>
> Montana QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital--sponsored by the Flathead Valley
> Amateur Radio Club from 2300Z Apr 8 through 2300Z Apr 9. Frequencies:
> 160 meters-70 cm, no categories, repeaters and IRLP are permitted.
> Exchange: RST and S/P/C or MT county. Work mobiles in each county.
> Score: QSOs × S/P/C + MT counties (counted only once). For more
> information: k7ncr at arrl.net. Logs due May 31 to
> normsclassicradio at yahoo.com or Norm Palin K7NCR, 68 Silver Leaf Dr,
> Kalispell, MT 59901.
>
> EU Spring Sprints--CW, Apr 8--managed by G4BUO (SSB, Apr 15--managed
> by 9A6XX) from 1600Z - 1959Z. Frequencies (MHz): SSB--3.730, 7.050,
> 14.250; CW--3.550, 7.025, 14.040. SO category only (results list LP
> with *), EU stations work everyone, non-EU stations work EU only.
> Exchange: your call, the other station's call, serial number starting
> at 001, your name--both stations must repeat both callsigns. If any
> station initiates a call (CQ, QRZ, etc.) he is permitted to work only
> one station on the same frequency and must move at least 2 kHz before
> he may call another station or before he may call CQ again. Score is
> the total QSOs (1 point/QSO). For more information or contest
> software: http://www.eusprint.com. Logs due 15 days after the contest
> to eusprint at kkn.net (ASCII format) or (CW) Dave Lawley G4BUO,
> Carramore, Coldharbour Road, Penshurst, Kent, TN11 8EX, England, UK
> or (SSB) Hrvoje Horvat 9A6XX, 25 Rujan 4, HR-52000 Pazin, Croatia.
>
> Japan International DX Contest (JIDX)--CW, sponsored by Five-Nine
> Magazine from 0700Z Apr 8 -- 1300Z Apr 9. (Phone--Nov 11-12)
> Frequencies: 80 -- 10 meters. Categories: SOAB and SOSB (HP, LP), MO,
> Maritime Mobile. Exchange: RST + JA prefecture number or CQ Zone. QSO
> Points: 80 or 10-meters--2 pts, otherwise 1 pt. Score: QSO Points x
> JA prefectures + JD1 provinces (JA stations use DXCC entities). For
> more information: http://jidx.org. Logs due May 31 to
> jidx-cw at jidx.org or JIDX "PHONE/CW" Contest, c/o Five-Nine Magazine,
> PO Box 59, Kamata, Tokyo, 144-8691 Japan.
>
> Georgia QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by SECC and SEDXC from 1800Z Apr
> 8 - 0359Z Apr 9 and 1400Z - 2359Z Apr 9. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters.
> Categories: SOAB, MS, MM, Rover, Novice/Tech; HP, LP (<150 W), QRP;
> CW/SSB/Mixed. Rovers must activate at least two GA counties, no
> county line QSOs. Exchange RST and GA county or S/P/C. QSO Points:
> SSB--1 pt, CW--2 pts. Score: QSO Points x GA counties (GA station use
> states and provinces) counted only once per band and mode. For more
> information: http://gqp.contesting.com. Logs due May 10 to
> gqp at iham.us or mail to John Laney K4BAI, PO Box 421, Columbus, GA,
> 31902-0421.
>
> Yuri Gagarin DX Contest--CW, sponsored by Patriot magazine from 2100Z
> Apr 8 - 2100Z Apr 9. Frequencies: 160-10 meters and Amateur
> Satellites. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MO (10 minute rule), SWL.
> Exchange: RST + ITU Zone. QSO Points: own country--1 pt, same
> continent--2 pts, diff cont--3 pts. Score: QSO Points x ITU zones
> from all bands. For more information:
> http://www.srr.su/contest/GC/gc2006re.htm. Logs due May 9 to
> gc at qst.ru or GC Contest Committee, PO Box 2020, Moscow, 101000,
> Russia.
>
> DX YL to North American YL Contest--Phone, sponsored by YLRL from
> 1400Z Apr 11 - 0200Z Apr 13, work 24 hours max. Frequencies: all HF
> bands. Exchange: RST, serial number and ARRL Section, province, or
> DXCC entity. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO Points x S/P/C counted
> only once x 1.5 (<100 W CW, 200 W SSB) For more information:
> http://www.ylrl.org. Logs due 30 days after the contest to
> kc4iyd at yahoo.com or Nancy Rabel Hall KC4IYD, PO Box 775, North
> Olmsted, OH 44070.
>
> YU DX Contest--CW, sponsored by the Amateur Radio Union of Serbia and
> Montenegro (SCG) from 2100Z Apr 15 - 0500Z Apr 16 and 0900Z - 1700Z
> Apr 16. Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters. Categories: Low Band (1.8, 3.5,
> 7 MHz), Upper Band (14, 21, 28 MHz), QRP/LP/HP for both. Exchange:
> RST + ITU Zone. QSO Points: with YU stations--1 pt, same continent--2
> pts, diff cont--4 pts. Score: QSO points x ITU zones + YU prefixes
> (counted once per band). For more information: http://yudx.net. Logs
> due 30 days after the contest to logs at yudx.net or Savez radio-amatera
> Jugoslavije, YU DX Contest, PO Box 48, 11001 Beograd, Serbia and
> Montenegro.
>
> Michigan QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Mad River Radio Club,
> from 1600Z Apr 15 - 0400Z Apr 16. Bands: 80-10 meters. Frequencies:
> CW--45 kHz from band edge, Phone (MHz)--3.850, 7.225, 14.250, 21.300,
> 28.450. Work stations once per band and mode, MI-to-MI QSOs allowed,
> mobiles and portables can be worked from each county. Categories: SO,
> MS, MM, Mobile SO, Mobile MO. Exchange: serial number and MI county
> or S/P/C. QSO Points: CW--2 pts, Phone--1 pt. Multipliers for MI
> stations are states, provinces and MI counties; multipliers for
> non-MI stations are MI counties. Multipliers count once per mode.
> Score: QSO points x multipliers. For more information:
> http://www.miqp.org. Logs due 30 days after the contest to
> logs at miqp.org or Mad River Radio Club, c/o Dave Pruett, 2727 Harris
> Rd. Ypsilanti, MI 48198.
>
> Ontario QSO Party--CW/Phone, sponsored by Contest Club Ontario and
> the Ontario DX Association from 1800Z Apr 15 - 1800Z Apr 16.
> Frequencies (MHz): SSB--1.870, 3.735, 3.860, 7.070, 7.260, 14.130,
> 14.265, 21.260, 28.360; CW--30 kHz above band edges; VHF-SSB: 50.130,
> 144.205, 432.105; VHF-FM 52.540, 146.550, 446.1, no repeater QSOs.
> Categories: SOAB and SOSB (HP, LP <150W HF & 50W VHF, QRP) in CW,
> Phone, and Mixed Modes, SO VHF FM QRP, MS, SWL, Mobile, Rover.
> Exchange: RS(T) and S/P/C or Ontario QTH. QSO Points: HF SSB--1 pt,
> HF CW--2 pts, VHF--5 pts (work stations once per VHF band), 10 pts
> for each QSO with VA3CCO, VE3ODX and VA3RAC. No county line QSOs.
> Score is QSO Points x Ontario QTHs (non-VE3 stations) or S/P/C +
> Ontario QTHs (mults count once per band). For more information:
> http://cco.ve3xd.com/oqp. Logs due May 31 to ve3agc at rac.ca or Ontario
> QSO Party, Ontario DX Association, PO Box 161, Station "A",
> Willowdale, Ontario, M2N 5S8 Canada.
>
> TARA Skirmish--Digital Prefix Contest, sponsored by Troy ARA, 0000z -
> 2400z Apr 15. Frequencies: 160 - 6 meters, work stations once per
> band. Categories: High, Low (<100W), Great (<20W), QRP (<5W), SWL.
> Exchange: Name and Prefix. Score: QSO's x WPX prefixes x power
> multiplier. (High x0.5, Low x1, Great x2, QRP x3) Multipliers count
> once per band. For more information:
> http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_dpx_rules.html or
> skirmish-manager at n2ty.org. Logs due May 15 via the contest score
> entry form at n2ty.org/seasons/tara_dpx_score.html.
>
> Holyland DX Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Israel Amateur Radio
> Club from 0000Z - 2359Z Apr 15. Frequencies: 160 -- 10 meters
> according to IARU Region I band plan, work Israeli stations once per
> band and mode. Categories: SO (Mixed Mode, CW, SSB, QRP), MS, MM,
> SWL. Exchange RST and serial number or Israel district. QSO Points:
> 1.8 or 3.5 MHz--2 pts; other bands 1 pt. Score: QSO Points x
> districts counted once per band. For more information:
> http://www.iarc.org. Logs due 31 May to 4z4kx at iarc.org or Contest
> Manager 4Z4KX, Israel Amateur Radio Club, Box 17600, Tel Aviv, 61176,
> Israel.
>
> Lighthouse Spring Lites QSO Party--all modes, sponsored by the
> Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society from 0001Z Apr 15 - 2359Z Apr 23.
> Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.830, 3.530, 7.030, 14.030, 21.030, 28.030;
> SSB--1.970, 3.970, 7.270, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370. Exchange: ARLHS
> member/lighthouse number or serial number, name, and S/P/C. Score: 1
> pt/QSO, plus 2 pts for ARLHS member, plus 3 pts for lighthouse. For
> more information: http://arlhs.com/SL-2006-guidelines.html. Logs due
> May 31 to Dave Ruch, NF0J, PO Box 20696, Bloomington, MN 55420-0696.
>
> ES Open HF Championship--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Estonian Radio
> Amateurs Union from 0500Z - 0859Z Apr 15. Frequencies: 80 and 40
> meters. Categories: SO (SSB, CW, Mixed), MS, SWL. Exchange: RST and
> serial numbers, Duplicate QSOs allowed once per hour (see Web site).
> QSO Points: SSB--1 pt, CW--2 pts. Score: QSO Points x ES prefixes
> counted once per band and mode. For more information:
> http://www.erau.ee/index.php?newlang=eng.  Logs due May 20 to
> esopen at erau.ee or Toomas Soomets ES5RY, PO Box 177, Tartu, 50002
> Estonia.
>
> EU Spring Sprint--SSB, from 1600Z - 1959Z Apr 15, see Apr 8.
>
> EA QRP Contest--CW, sponsored by the EA QRP Club. From 1700Z Apr 15 -
> 1300Z Apr 16 in four parts (see Web site). Frequencies: 80 -
> 10-meters. Categories: QRP and QRPp (<1 W). Exchange: RST+"A" (QRP)
> or "B" (QRPp) + M (Member EA QRP). QSO points: same country--1 pt,
> same continent--2 pts, diff cont--4 pts, all QRPp--5 pts. For more
> information: http://www.eaqrp.com. Logs due 30 days after the contest
> to ea1bp at yahoo.es or Vocalia de concursos (Concurso CW), PO Box
> 48021, E-28043, Madrid, Spain.
>
> VHF+ CONTESTS
>
> EU EME Contest--CW/SSB, from 0000Z Apr 8 - 2400Z Apr 9. Frequencies:
> 144 MHz, 2.3 & 3.4 GHz. Categories: Single and Multi-band, QRP and
> QRO--based on EIRP, Pro, CW, Digital, Mixed, Assisted. Exchange:
> callsigns TMO/RST and "R". QSO Points: 144--100 pts for random, 10
> pts for scheduled QSO, 2.3 GHz and higher--100 pts/QSO. Score: QSO
> Points (x2 for QSOs at 2.3 GHz and above) x S/P/C from random QSOs
> (or any QSOs at 2.3 GHz and above). For more information:
> http://www.dubus.org or info at dubus.de. Logs due Jun 7 for CW/SSB to
> f6hye at ref-union.org or Patrick Magnin, F6HYE, Marcorens, F-74140
> Ballaison, France.
>
> --o- ooo -   --o- ooo -   --o- ooo -  -oo o
> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
> - oooo o   o-o o- - o ooo oooo o o - -o-
>
> ARRL CONTEST NEWS
>
> Early delivery of January VHF Sweepstakes log-checking data means
> that publication of these results can be moved up to the July issue
> of QST, with a Web release in May. Certificates for the 2005
> September VHF QSO Party are hitting the mail now. (Thanks, Dan N1ND)
> - - - - -
>
> Jim AD1C, Keeper of the Country Files has a new URL for them where
> they're east to find: http://www.contest-country-files.com. (Thanks,
> Jim AD1C)
>
> The RAC Contest Management Team of Bart VE5CPU, Sam VE5SF, and Bruce
> VE5RC announce the addition of two new categories for the RAC Canada
> Day Contest and the RAC Winter Contest: SOAB-CW and SOAB-PH. These
> are in effect with July's RAC Canada Day Contest.
>
> Hal N4GG reminds state QSO party enthusiasts that a proper CQ tells
> people where you are.  For example, if you are in-state, such as
> Georgia, the CQ is: CQ GQP.  If you are out-of-state, such as calling
> Georgia, the proper CQ is: CQ GA.  Who knows, you might be missing
> some QSOs!
>
> Are you one that puts the pedal to the metal?  Then check out the
> latest incarnation of Steve Robert's Web site -
> http://shacktopus.com. The project has some interesting history -
> Steve began with a 580lb mobile platform that was bicycle powered in
> the 70s/80s. Things are a little bit different today! (Thanks, Jeff
> VE6GQ)
>
> The 2nd Annual Northern California Contest Club "Thursday NCCC Sprint
> Ladder" begins April 20 with an exciting new format combining Sprint
> QSY rules with NAQP band-multipliers. Look for full rules at
> http://www.nccc.cc. (Thanks, Bill N6ZFO)
>
> Speaking of weak ones, from the 1 April edition of AMSAT Weekly
> Bulletin (http://www.amsat.org - ANS-092) On March 31 - an
> AMSAT-DL/IUZ team received the American space probe VOYAGER 1 with
> the 20m antenna in Bochum. The distance was 14.7 billion km. This is
> a new record for AMSAT-DL and IUZ Bochum. The received signal was
> clearly identified through means of Doppler shift and position in the
> sky.  This distance equals approximately 98 times the distance
> between Earth and Sun. VOYAGER 1 is the most distant object ever
> built by mankind. More information is available at
> http://www.amsat-dl.org/cms under "News."
>
> Eugeni EA3QP contributes the URL for SH5 post-contest analysis
> software that runs under Windows OS (http://rescab.nm.ru/). It's a
> freeware software with a lot of useful options to give the contester
> an objective view of their results.  Your editor wishes to remind the
> reader that in his view the contest is over when the operator stops
> making contacts.  Changing the log afterwards based on analysis
> software is a very questionable practice.  That said, using this
> software to evaluate your performance for improvement in the NEXT
> contest is a good thing - go for it!
>
> Last week a tower came down. This week a super big one goes up at
> http://www.physorg.com/news12124.html. (Thanks, Tom K1KI)
>
> Rusty Epps W6OAT will be the featured speaker at the 2006 Dayton
> Contest Dinner. Rusty, inducted into the Contest Hall of Fame last
> year, has been a very enjoyable speaker whenever I've had the
> pleasure of being in the audience. All Contest dinner ticket orders
> are handled exclusively by Craig Clark K1QX at
> http://www.radio-ware.com. (Thanks, Tim K3LR)
>
> The Remote Amateur Radio Stations group is hosting their "Backyard
> Bonanza" Challenge through Apr 7 and invite any interested parties to
> participate.  The challenge is open to all amateurs and all bands
> including VHF / UHF (no WARC). For more information, please visit
> http://rarsgroup.com. (Thanks Terry KI4KQQ)
>
> Here's a Dayton "Sneak Peek" - The microHAM DIGI KEYER
> (http://www.microham-USA.com/Products/dk.html) is truly "plug and
> play" with either Windows XP or Apple OS 10. It supports dual receive
> radios and has the lowest noise floor of any device tested other than
> "professional" sound cards. (Thanks, Joe N4TV)
>
> And another set of towers bites the dust! (http://tinyurl.com/pzwz7)
>
> For those wishing to submit operation announcements for the Fall
> 2006 CQWW DX contests, Bill NG3K has added the option for each on the
>
> drop-down list on the submission page at
> http://www.ng3k.com/Contest/consub.html.
>
> Where does the "Gin" in "Gin Pole" come from? "GIN as in enGINe comes
> from Middle English and refers to any mechanical device that
> transfers energy into movement.  The term "gin pole" refers to a
> device used to lift or hoist heavy loads, derived mostly from those
> used in mining. (Thanks, Bill K4XS)
>
> Randy K5ZD reports "I only need 3 states to have 5BWAS confirmed: ND
> on 40m and ND+WY on 80m. Others have also reported these as being the
> difficult ones in LOTW.  I know I have worked plenty of contesters
> from those states on those bands.  Please update your LOTW logs, even
> for domestic contests! It doesn't cost anything and it would enable
> lots of guys to finish their WAS awards without having to send you a
> card."
>
> The Georgia QSO Party (http://gqp.contesting.com) currently has 21
> sponsored plaques and more possible by contest time.  New to the
> contest this year are CW and SSB-only modes and the qualification to
> be a rover has been reduced to only two counties. (Thanks, Hal N4GG)
>
> Ken K6TA gives credit to Kip W6SZN for finding this Web site for low
> cost headphones that fit in the ear and are great for Field Day
> environments - http://www.scantracker.com/dictationheadsets.htm.
>
> Back to Portugese vocabulary lessons this week.  I am giving the
> on-line Babel Fish translator at Alta Vista a try -
> http://babelfish.altavista.com/:
>   Which way to the WRTC hotel? - Que maneira ao hotel de WRTC?
>   I've lost my soldering iron! - Eu perdi meu ferro de solda!
>   Please stop transmitting. - Pare de por favor transmitir.
>   Have you seen my WRTC partner? - Você viu meu sócio de WRTC?
>   This QTH is very noisy! - Este QTH é muito ruidoso!
>
> URL OF THE WEEK - There is a very active HFPack group on the air with
> their "shacks in a pack". Learn more about these innovative amateurs
> at http://hflink.com/hfpack/index.html.
>
> oo-o oo -o -oo -o-- --- oo- -o-
> RESULTS AND RECORDS
> -o-o o- o-oo o-oo    oooo o o-o o
>
> ARRL CONTEST RESULTS NEWS
>
> Updated records for the June VHF QSO Party were received from the
> volunteer who maintains the list (thanks K9AKS) and posted to the
> Web. The combined list of electronic and paper Logs Received for the
> 2006 ARRL International DX CW Contest has been posted at
> http://www.arrl.org/contests/claimed (look at the second set of lists
> - the top is automated from the robot and does not include any paper
> additions.) If you find an error in your listing or it is not shown
> please contact N1ND at n1nd at arrl.org or by phone at 860-594-0232. If
> you submitted electronically, please have your receipt available.
> This is the earliest that the combined list for the DX CW contest has
> ever been posted. (Thanks, Dan N1ND)
> - - - - -
>
> 2005 RAC Canada Day results are posted on RAC Web site at
> http://www.rac.ca/downloads/canadaday2005res.pdf.  This includes a
> complete summary for all entries. Past results are available here:
> http://www.rac.ca/service/infocont.htm. (Thanks, Bart VE5CPU)
>
> The results of the 2005 Ohio QSO Party are available at the Ohio QSO
> Party Web site - http://www.oqp.us (Thanks, Jim K8MR)
>
> The results of the Worked All Europe DX Contest RTTY 2005 are out
> and published at http://www.waedc.de.  The UBN report for each
> participant is also available from the site or send an email request
> to wae at dl6rai.muc.de. (Thanks, Ben DL6RAI)
>
> Results and wrap up comments for the 2005 FISTS "Coast to Coast"
> contest are available at
> http://www.tomochka.com/k7fff/fnw_c2c05.html. (Thanks, Paul NG7Z)
>
> oo oo-o    oo - ooo    -o --- -  -ooo o-o --- -o- o
> TECHNICAL TIPS AND INFORMATION
> -o-- --- oo- o-o o   -o --- -  - o-o -o-- oo -o --o
>
> When selecting a relay for RF applications, the contact material can
> make a big difference. For information on contact materials see
> http://relays.tycoelectronics.com/app_pdfs/13c3236.pdf.  For example,
> in a receiving application, gold contacts are the preferred material.
> (Thanks, Roger N1RJ)
>
> What if your old logs are on paper and a pain to computerize? Craig
> W8TN has an answer for you: "One way to ease the pain a bit is to use
> my BasicLog spreadsheet system which makes the entries of old QSO
> data go very fast.  It requires Excel but produces an ADIF log that
> you can import into your own logging program or upload directly to
> LoTW.  Using this application I can enter up to 25 QSO's in less than
> 5 minutes and faster if the date, band or mode doesn't change often.
> Check it out here: http://www.w8tn.com/software.htm."
>
> Summer thunderstorms are on the way so you might find Stan WA1LOU's
> latest ARRL Web column "en-lightning" -
> http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2006/03/24/1/?nc=1.
>
> And while we're on the subject, Jim W6RMK weighs in on spark gaps,
> with some condensation by yr obdt editor. "The breakdown of air at
> sea level in a uniform field gap is about 70 kV/inch (or 30kV/cm).
> Almost any practical gap will breakdown at a lower voltage, depending
> on field uniformity, surface roughness and other factors. A sphere
> gap (two smooth spheres separated by much less than the diameter of
> the spheres) will have a breakdown slightly lower.  Design and rating
> tables are available at
> http://home.earthlink.net/~jimux/hv/sphgap.htm and
> http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlux/hv/spherev.htm, respectively.
> Needle gaps break down at about 1/3rd of the uniform gap breakdown
> voltage. Gap breakdown won't occur below 350 V. Breakdown voltage is
> reduced proportionally with air density - at 5000 ft breakdown
> voltage fall to about 80% of the sea level value. The challenge in RF
> applications is getting a gap that has a close enough spacing to
> breakdown at a low enough voltage, but that doesn't have significant
> L or C, so that your circuit isn't perturbed. A couple bolts with the
> right spacing works fairly well, and is reasonably adjustable." Red
> WO0W also suggests Gas Discharge Tubes, such as those sold by Mouser
> Electronics, available to 20,000 A current carrying capacity...once.
> Gene AD3F recommends the technical documents available on the ICE Web
> site - http://www.iceradioproducts.com.
>
> If you would like to build your own set of transmit-capable band-pass
> filter, look no farther than Ed W3NQN's, article in the May 1997
> issue of QST, "Clean Up Your Signals with Band-Pass Filters". They
> are also commercially available from Array Solutions.
> (http://www.arraysolutions.com)(Thanks, Mike K4GMH)
>
> And for information on homebrewing the PCBs for those filters, browse
> on over to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/ (Thanks, Leon
> G1HSM)
>
> Stan AK0B contributes a URL of a short paper on receiving the low
> power markers that operate below the AM broadcast band and are
> located around the USA airports:
> http://lwca.org/library/articles/kh6sr/index.htm. It is excellent
> reading for anyone who wants to improve their skills on digging out
> the very weak ones.
>
> TECHNICAL LINK OF THE WEEK - The Radio Jove NASA project -
> http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/help/help.htm#setup. Just right for a
> student project!
>
> oo-o o o   oo-o oo o   oo-o --- o    oo-o oo- --
> CONVERSATION
> -o- --- -o o-o o -oo   - oooo o   --o oo o- -o -
>
> Deflating the Baloney Trolls
>
> Surely you all remember the tale of the Billy Goats Gruff?
>
>   "Trip, trap, trip, trap!" went the bridge.
>   "Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll.
>   "Oh, it is only I, the Littlest Billy Goat,"
>      said the billy goat, in a small voice.
>   "Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the troll!
>
> Only a fairy tale, of course, but we do have our own trolls. They
> live out of sight on the reflectors and Web sites.  They lurk on
> repeaters and on their "very own" frequencies. They lie in wait for
> someone to cross their bridge and then spring to life.
>
> No, they don't gobble up billy goats, but they roar into action
> nonetheless.  The are the keepers of the sacred, but unwritten,
> protocols and the mystical, but mostly mythical, traditions and
> legends.  They are the protectors of their frequencies and channels.
> They challenge all that dare traverse their domain - for they are the
> Baloney Trolls.
>
> Woe to the newcomer that strays the least bit from the Pure Ways of
> Radio as known to the Baloney Troll!  The troll's day is made if he
> (and trolls are nearly always male) can cast newcomers off the
> bridge, hopefully never to be seen again.  The troll's weapons are
> the sneer and pointed remark against which the exposed and tender
> flesh of a newly minted licensee has no defense.  The troll cares not
> that his Ways are often bogus and of no particular Merit, even to
> himself.
>
> Pity the questioning innocent that inquires for directions or
> instruction! This is truly a troll's delight, as he lives to dispense
> the True Baloney. "Why, didn't you know...?" says the troll, followed
> by a cornucopia of drivel delivered with an all-knowing and unctuous
> demeanor.  The Littlest Billy Goat replies, "Really?" in a
> high-pitched voice and alas, he has swallowed the baloney and is
> surely led into the thicket of Baloney Briars from which making an
> escape is painful and laborious.
>
>   "And then the Big Billy Goat flew at the troll,
>    and poked his eyes out with his horns,
>    and crushed him to bits, body and bones,
>    and tossed him out into the cascade,
>    and after that he went up to the hillside."
>
> What to do about the Baloney Trolls?  They are seemingly everywhere,
> poisoning every discussion and making life difficult for newcomers.
> It falls to us, the Big Billy Goats, to deflate the Baloney Trolls,
> for they are mostly made of hot air and have no real substance, only
> the sound of their own exhalations to sustain them.
>
> First, be not a Baloney Troll yourself!  Be wise and patient when the
> microphone button is pushed or when the characters leap from your
> fingertips. Speak not in anger and eschew obfuscation. Be not afraid
> of the magic words, "I Don't Know" for they lead to additional wisdom
> for all.  Give freely of the milk of human kindness. Above all,
> remember what it was like to be the Littlest Billy Goat.
>
> Engaging a troll in battle merely encourages them, so direct
> deflation may not work very well.  Big Billy to Little Billy, we must
> speak to them in quiet ways and places not known to the trolls - by
> letter and phone call, at meetings, and by email.  Let the troll
> deflate himself by his response to reasoned and clever questions and
> examples.  Call the troll by his true name so that the Little Billy
> Goats are inoculated against them.  Without someone to eat up their
> baloney, a troll soon withers and finds another bridge to haunt.
>
> Help the Little Billies to leave the Baloney Trolls behind in their
> uncomfortable places.  There are really very few of them and it is
> only the sound of their roaring that makes them seem important and
> fearsome. By sticking together, Big Billy and Little Billy, we can
> all proceed up to the hillside and grow fat together.
>
>   "Snip, snap, snout.
>    This tale's told out."
>
> 73, Ward N0AX
>
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>
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>
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> times each year), by the American Radio Relay League--The National
> Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel
> 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX.
>
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