Contester's Rate Sheet for December 29, 2004
*********************** Contester's Rate Sheet 29 December 2004 *********************** Edited by Ward Silver N0AX SUMMARY o A Magnum of New Year's Eve Events o ARRL RTTY Roundup and North American QSO Party - CW o Good Viewing - ZL6QH, PJ2T, The Dish, JU1DX, KFI, o Good Reading - Commercial CW, Sleep o Waterproof & Ladder Line Connectors o Tactical Pants o Resolutions Three BULLETINS o Following the Dec 26th tsunamis, the DX-pedition in Port Blair, Andaman Islands has been doing yeoman service in support of emergency communications between VU4 and the Indian mainland. In addition, hams all over SE Asia are filling the communication gaps, primarily on VHF and 40-meters. Please be sure to give any possible emergency communications all the spectrum they need to cope with this unprecedented disaster. Today's ARRL Web site story on the situation - http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/12/28/100/?nc=1 - fills in a lot of information about the situation. o Last year at this time, the Rate Sheet was ringing the 10,000 subscriber bell. As we pass the torch to 2005, it's inspiring to note that an additional 2,000 readers have come on board during the year, topping the 12,000 mark. Thanks for your enthusiasm, recommendations and continued support! BUSTED QSOS o Ed K1EP reports that the Russian 160-Meter Contest Web site shows different times than reported in the Dec 15 issue. Correct times were Dec 17, 2100 - 2300Z in two rounds). Also, there are English links on the page now: http://www.radio.ru/cq/contest/rule-results/index.shtml. o Dave KG0US noted that Kid's Day was shown in QST as the right date, but in the Jan 8 - 9 group of events. Don't miss out! ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES FOR 29 DECEMBER 2004 TO 11 JANUARY 2005 Logs are due for the following contests: December 31 - IPARC Contest, email logs to: dl8kcg@darc.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Uwe Greggersen DL8KCG, Hurststr 9, D-51645 Gummersbach, Germany December 31 - JIDX Phone Contest, email logs to: jidx-ph@jidx.org, paper logs and diskettes to: JIDX Phone Contest, c/o Five-Nine Magazine, PO Box 59, Kamata, Tokyo 144-8691, Japan December 31 - All Austrian 160-Meter Contest, email logs to: hf-contest@oevsv.at, paper logs and diskettes to: OEVSV-HQ, HF-Contest Manager, Eisvogelgasse 4/1, A-1060 Vienna, Austria December 31 - EUCW Fraternizing CW QSO Party, email logs to: (none), paper logs and diskettes to: Gunther Nierbauer, DJ2XP, Illinger Strasse 74, D-66564 Ottweiler/Saar, Germany December 31 - TARA RTTY Melee, Post log summary at: http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_melee_score.html January 1 - ARCI Topband Sprint, email logs to: wb5khc@2hams.net or post log summary at: http://2hams.net/ARCI/Submit%20Introduction.htm, paper logs and diskettes to: Tom Owens, WB5KHC, Attn: Topband Sprint, 1916 Addington St, Irving, TX 75062-3505, USA January 4 - CIS DX Contest, CW, email logs to: srars@srars.org, paper logs and diskettes to: Scottish-Russian ARS, PO Box 7469, Glasgow, G42 0YD, Scotland, UK January 4 - ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint, email logs to: wb5khc@2hams.net or post log summary at: http://2hams.net/ARCI/Submit%20Introduction2.htm, paper logs and diskettes to: Tom Owens, WB5KHC, Attn: Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint, 1916 Addington St, Irving, TX 75062-3505, USA January 5 - ARRL 160-Meter Contest, email logs to: 160meter@arrl.org, paper logs and diskettes to: 160 Meter Contest, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA January 10 - MDXA PSK DeathMatch, post log summary at: http://pub1.bravenet.com/forum/add.php?usernum=30470248&cp= January 10 - RAEM Contest, email logs to: alo@udmurtneft.ru, paper logs and diskettes to: RAEM Contest, POBox 3945, Izhevsk 426011, Russia January 10 - DARC Christmas Contest, email logs to: xmas@dxhf.darc.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Markus van Bergerem, Brandenberg 5, 47533 Kleve, Germany The following contests are scheduled: 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; LP - Low Power; Entity - DXCC Entity HF CONTESTS There are a number of short contests celebrating the New Year. For more information, view the Web sites for each contest. o ARRL Straight-Key Night - see http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms. o New Years Snowball Contest - sponsored by the Activity Group of Belarus (AGB) - http://www.qsl.net/eu1eu/index_e.htm. o HA Happy New Year Contest - sponsored by the Budapest Society of the Hungarian Radio Amateur Society and the Puskás Tivadar Radio Amateur Club - http://radioklub.puskas.hu/ha5khc/web/ o SARTG New Year RTTY Contest - sponsored by the Scandinavian RTTY Activity Group (SARTG) - http://www.sartg.com/contest/nyrules.htm o AGCW Happy New Year Contest - sponsored by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft CW - http://www.agcw.de/. UBA-SWARL 365 Day Contest - All modes - sponsored by the Royal Society of Radio Amateurs (UBA) and the Short Wave Amateur Radio Listening (SWARL) during 2005. Participants log DXCC entities on all amateur bands from 160 - 10-meters, including WARC bands, according to the IARU band plans. Only one category - mixed mode, including all digital modes. Each entity logged counts one point per band. Logs are due at three times through the year - 31 March, 30 June, and 30 September to ONL4299@skynet.be (email only). For more information: http://www.uba.be/hf_contests/calendar/cal_pop_01.html#. ARRL RTTY Roundup - 1800Z Jan 8 - 2400Z Jan 9, operate for 24 hours max. with no more than two off periods. Frequencies: 80 -- 10 meters. Categories: SO-LP, SO-HP, MS-LP, MS-HP, 10-minute band-change rule for MS. Exchange: RST + state/province/serial number. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points x States + Provinces + DXCC entities counted only once (KH6, KL7 count as DXCC only). For more information - http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms. Logs due Feb 8 to rttyru@arrl.org (Cabrillo format only) or RTTY Round-Up, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Kid's Day - Phone, sponsored by the Boring Amateur Radio Club from 1800Z to 2400Z Jan 2. Frequencies: 28350 - 28400, 21380 - 21400, 14270 - 14300 kHz, and 2-meter repeaters with permission of repeater control ops. Exchange: Name, age, and favorite color. If the operator has changed, a station can be contacted again. For more information: see page 50 of January 2004 QST or http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html. No scores or logs are required - every participant is eligible to receive a colorful certificate. Send a 9 X 12 SASE to Boring Amateur Radio Club, 15125 SE Bartell Rd, Boring, OR 97009. North American QSO Party - CW, sponsored by the National Contest Journal from 1800Z Jan 8 - 0600Z Jan 9. Frequencies: 160 - 10-meters. Categories: SOAB and M2, 100 W power limit, operate a maximum of 10 hours (off times must be at least 30 min and M2 entries may operate the entire contest). Exchange: Name and S/P/C. Score: QSOs X States + Province + NA DXCC countries (count each once per band). For information: http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php. Logs due Jan 23 via the Web form at http://www.ncjweb.com/naqplogsubmit.php, via email to cwnaqp@ncjweb.com (there is a Web-to-Cabrillo converter link on the rules page) or Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, 4225 Farmdale Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604. The same mailing address will be used for both modes of this contest. DARC 10-meter Contest - CW/SSB, sponsored by the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club from 0900Z -1059Z Jan 9. Frequencies: CW 28.000 - 28.200 MHz, SSB 28.300 - 28.700 MHz, work stations once only. Categories: SO-Mixed Mode and SO-CW. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number, DL stations add DOK code. QSO points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSOs x WAE and DXCC entities + DOK codes. For more information: http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedcz.htm. Logs due 25 Jan to 10m-contest@dxhf.darc.de or Frank Steinke, DL8WAA, PO Box 1188, D-56238 Selters, Germany Midwinter Contest - CW/SSB, sponsored by the Dutch YL Committee, CW from 1400Z - 2000Z Jan 8, SSB from 0800Z - 1400Z Jan 9. Frequencies: 80 - 10-meters, SSB 3.600-3.650, 7.080-7.090, 14.270-14.300, 21.270-21.300, 28.470-28.500 MHz. Categories: YL-SSB, YL-CW, OM-SSB, OM-CW, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and sequence number, OMs start with 001 and YLs start with 2001. QSO Points: YL - 5 pts, OM - 3 pts. Score: QSO points x DXCC entities counted once per mode. For more information: http://www.qsl.net/pi4ylc/Engels/midwinter%20contest.htm. Logs due 15 Feb to jckoekkoek@home.nl or PA3GQG - Contestmanager Midwintercontest, Keulenheide 1, 6373 AP Landgraaf, The Netherlands VHF+ CONTESTS There are no VHF+ contests scheduled, although some of the VHF Contest Clubs may be sponsoring a local Straight Key Night, such as the Pacific NW VHF Society (http://www.pnwvhfs.org/.) NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES Look on the ARRL Contest Web site (http://www.arrl.contest/) for the complete PDF writeup for the August UHF Contest including line scores. Certificates for the August UHF Contest and June VHF QSO Party should be hitting the mail over the next couple of weeks. Writeups for the 2004 IARU HF Championships and 2004 10 GHz and Up Competition are in final preparation for their Web release. (Thanks, Dan N1ND) A very nice Web site about the big signals coming from the ZL6QH station at Quartz Hill is now available at http://www.zl6qh.com/. (thanks Pete N4ZR) Scott N3FJP announces that Amateur Contact Log 2.7 is now available with numerous enhancements regarding DX spotting networks, spot display and interaction. A new dynamic band and spectrum map has been added, as well. Upgrade information is available on Scott's Web site at http://www.n3fjp.com/. There is also a new user's manual, "The Definitive Guide to Amateur Contact Log" that is downloadable as a PDF document. If you are a crossword aficionado, you might enjoy a recently introduced family of word games called Anagramania. Here's the Web site - http://anagramania.com/. If you're not, then boodat! To get that skyhook off the ground, The Mast Company (http://www.TMastCo.com/) offers a line of military surplus stackable aluminum tubing for mast systems and antennas, a 33-ft vertical antenna kit, and heavy-duty fiberglass telescopic poles from 19 to 32 ft, with combinations up to 40 ft. (Thanks, Henry K4TMC). Jose CT1BOH has udated his HF propagation Web page - http://www.qsl.net/ct1boh/propagation.htm. Along with the propagation information, Jose has added some contest audio files, info on his SO2R operations, and a photo section. There is a wonderful collection of purportedly true accounts of commercial CW operations in the Old Days by Jeffrey Herman, a USCG radio operator at NMO in Hawaii. The URL is http://www.radiomarine.org/tales.html. He manned the 500 kc CW post for three years. There are quite a few transcripts of live sessions. It's interesting to see what the actual marine radio CW practice was like in real life. (Thanks, Frank AB2KT) In the Dec 20 issue of Time there is an excellent multi-page story about sleep, with great sidebars about caffeine, animal sleep, and sleep labs. (Thanks, Dave NN1N) The annual production of the popular L.B. Cebik "Antennas" CD-ROM is now available. Version 5.0 has a collection of 600 of LB's articles. Version 11.0 of antenneX on CD-ROM is also available with 1,012 more great antenna and radio-related articles. They are combined as a single CD-ROM, Double Pack Volume 6.0. Browse to http://www.antennex.com/shopping.htm for more info. (Thanks, Steve K7LXC) The PJ2T crew has logged roughly 26,000 QSOs in the recent CQ WW contests, the 10 Meter Contest, and a couple of 160 contests. "If you're curious to know if the crews are as ugly as we sounded. Just click on the "Photo Album" links at http://asgard.kent.edu/ccc. Also, in keeping with our longstanding "everything public" practice, you'll see that our full logs are available. VP2E crushed us (and everybody else) in the SSB contest, and HC8N was a strong winner on CW. Still, we're proud to be listed #2 world in both modes thus far, and to be in so many of your logs. We're building the PJ2 contest schedule for 2005. There are several contests (WAE, RTTY, IOTA, others) open if you want to consider a contest operation of your own." (Thanks, Geoff, W0CG & PJ2DX) From Dan N1ND at the ARRL Contest Desk, "Folks, please do not use the "slashed zero" character in your logs (ALT 0216 on the PC keyboard). It is not interchangeable with a true zero. Computers read them as two separate things." Using the wrong character means call signs get sorted and stored as a different call than you intended, leading to log checking problems. Updated 2005 NAQP rules are now available at: http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php and in the latest issue of NCJ. The important change is in log submission methods: the first preference is uploading via a Web form, the 2nd preference is e-mail. (Thanks, Bruce WA7BNM) Interesting pictures of the big Parkes CISRO 64 Radio Telescope (featured in the movie "The Dish") have been posted at http://www.febo.com/travels/parkes/. This was the result of a visit by John N8UR (TAPR President) and others. It looks just like it did in the movie - the photo of the rotator coax loops is particularly neat. (Thanks, Mel, K0PFX) A photo gallery of the JU1DX team during CQWW SSB has been posted at http://www.imagestation.com/. To access the photos, the user name and password are both "ju1dx". (Thanks, Khos JT1CD) You probably heard about the small plane that collided with the KFI tower last week. KVI is a rather historic station and there are several Web pages with information about the tower and transmitter site. Thanks to George K5TR for the following links: http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/LA/kfipix.htm http://www.qsl.net/ad7db/kfi.html http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/LA/kfi-recentbase.jpg RESULTS AND RECORDS The results of the Eu Sprint Contest - CW held in October have just been released. You can find the UBN reports on the new Eu Sprint web page at http://www.qsl.net/eusprint. "Once again both the UBN and the LOGs will be public and available for everyone on our Web page, just click on a callsign to see the UBN report or to download the log in .ASC format." Congratulations to top finishers RW3FO, DL5AXX, and LY4AA! The EU Sprint Gang is proud to announce the Winners of the 2004 EU Sprint Plaques. This is the fourth year that this award is issued and it goes to the three operators with the highest combined scores, having entered at least three of the four European Sprint contests each year. The 2004 Winners are ES5TV, LY4AA and LY9A/LY3BA. (Thanks, Paolo I2UIY & Karel OK2FD for both EU Sprint items) TECHNICAL Launch vehicle enthusiasts, unite! "For what is probably the ultimate page for this kind of stuff see http://www.spudtech.com/. This defines "over-the-top", although I admire some of his contraptions." (Thanks, Rick K7LOG) Two good sources of information about the hardware you need for microwave contesting are available on the Web. Microwave antennas are featured at http://www.w1ghz.org/antbook/contents.htm. A steady stream of helpful discussion and advice can be had by subscribing to the WA1MBA reflector at http://www.valinet.com/mailman/listinfo/microwave. (Thanks, Mike KD7TS) Selecting reasonably-priced waterproof connectors for control lines, rotator connections, and so forth can be a problem. Keith NM5G suggests the 400-series Bulgin environmentally sealed connectors. "These are industrial type circular connectors available from Mouser. They are sealed to IP68 specification when mated, which means rated to 15 meters or 50 feet indefinite submersion. plugs, sockets and pins must be purchased separately. Parts for a typical connection (male-female combo) will cost about $20." Jim W6RMK recommends AMP Circular Plastic Connectors, LEMO for small but pricey ones, and the Daniel Woodhead company's industrial sensor connections. If you like interactive brower-based demonstrations, here's a way-cool applet that demonstrates radiation patterns for antenna phasing. If you ever wanted to "turn knobs" and see what happens to the pattern of a phased array, browse to http://www.comapps.com/tonyt/Applets/Antennas/Antenna.html. (Thanks, Marten KC8HZM) Electonic Design News has a dandy article on receiver protection using PIN-diodes. It can be found at http://www.edn.com/article/CA486567.html?nid=2431&rid=493886844. (Thanks, Jon EA2SN) In the "Ain't the Internet Great" category, browse on over to http://www.dxtuners.com/. "It was fun listening to 160-Meter Contest from Norway as the band opened there. It was 10am here!" There are several receivers and audio streams to choose from. (Thanks, Johnny KE7V and Merle W7YOV) While reading the latest Adventure Radio Society "Sojourner" at http://arsqrp.com/ I found a great source for waterproof radio and camera bags - http://www.sit-on-topkayaking.com/Store/StoreAquaPac.html. Looks like these could be handy for all kinds of outdoor stuff. If you've read your copy of "The Antenna Book" to death, rebinding services for books are often available at local print shops. They slice off the worn-out part and reglue it along with a new cover, to boot! There are a couple of sources for ladder line connectors that help stabilize the solder joints and provide some strain relief. One is the Emtech Ladder-Grabber - http://emtech.steadynet.com/lgrabber.shtml. Ten-Tec has also created the Acro-Bat which performs all kinds of functions - http://www.tentec.com/TT3003.htm. Bringing up the rear, so to speak, is a link to the famous "Tactical Pants" at http://www.511tactical.com/Products/Tactical/Pant.asp. Pockets a-plenty, reinforcements where it counts, clip-on points, you name it. You could be a walking tool chest up on the tower and never haul a bucket! (From the Wired Magazine Gadget News) CONVERSATION Resolutions Three Here we are at the New Year once again and I'm sure that many of us are making firm resolutions of one sort or another. More exercise, quit [fill in the blank], do more, do less, and all are admirable in their intent. What about ham radio? Shouldn't there be a few resolutions for our favorite past time? (It IS a past time, isn't it?) I have a suggestion; three suggestions, actually, in order of difficulty. Resolution One - Improve The Station This one isn't so hard. Maybe all you have to do is dust! Surely, there is one gadget missing or some nagging problem that needs repair. Mine is a goofy mike cord on a VHF/UHF rig that I keep "meaning to fix" but never quite seem to find the time for. You might choose to do a major upgrade, too. At any rate, put shoulder to the wheel and improve your station's performance. Maybe I'll finish that new sound card interface! Resolution Two - Improve The Operator Getting a little more difficult, this time. I know, we are all stellar operators and couldn't be any better. Right. In our honest moments, we all know that there are a few deficiencies in our operating or understanding skills. Is there some style or mode that you haven't mastered? Maybe your logging accuracy isn't what it could be? Now is the time to pick something to focus on this year to be a better operator. Perhaps it's a technical challenge instead. You could buy a book or take one of the ARRL's on-line courses. Pick an area that's new to you - satellites, low bands, digital modes. Get those neurons shaking off the rust. Look for me to get on meteor scatter this year - ka-ping! Resolution Three - Improve The Amateur Service Ah - this is the tough one. It's one thing to put effort into your own abilities and station. It's quite another to figure out how to improve the hobby itself. Your personal contribution of time and energy is usually required. Is rotten operating giving you heartburn? Why not invite some young dogs over for a multi-op and lead by example. (You ARE a good example, right?) Bemoaning the lack of new blood? Go give a talk on contesting at a general-purpose club meeting or volunteer to help them out on Field Day. Take a good look at the excellent set of personal skills you have developed by contesting. How can these be put to work to improve the Amateur Service - and that's just what it is, a service - for everyone, not just contesters? You'll probably have to get out of your comfort zone a little bit, meet someone new, and take a chance. The result is guaranteed to expand your consciousness of ham radio as it enters the 21st century. It's a lot bigger than you might think, particularly if you've been licensed for a long time. There may not be a clear topic that leaps to mind right away. That's fine - just hold the thought as the year wends it way along. The opportunity will present itself, I'm sure. As the line in the movie "Polar Express" goes, the secret lies in getting on the train when it stops for you! As midnight comes on December 31st and the digit counters roll over to 2005, I wish all of you the best for the coming year. Natural disasters and conflict of various sorts will likely test our abilities in ways we wish they didn't. The world has funny ways of making things happen unexpectedly. And yet, there is a brightness to be found behind the front panel of a radio that is our special secret, shared by hams the world over. Hope to see you there! 73, Ward N0AX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from the following sources: WA7BNM's Contest Calendar Web page - http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal ARRL Contest page - http://www.arrl.org/contests SM3CER's Web site - http://www.sk3bg.se/contest
