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The ARRL Contest Update

May 17, 2017
Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG


IN THIS ISSUE
 *  New HF Operators: Dayton Activities, ARRL Field Day Locator
 *  Bulletins
 *  Contest Summary
 *  News: Region 2 ARDF Championships, FlexRadio SmartLink, RaDAR, and more
 *  Word to the Wise: RaDAR
 *  Sights and Sounds: Dayton Contest Activities, Pin One Problem, 10 km
    2.4GHz link, and more
 *  Results: WRTC 2018 Standings Updated
 *  Operating Tip: Be in the Contest Moment
 *  Technical Topics and Information: Avoiding Ransomware, Electric Field
    Tomography, and more
 *  Conversation: Increasing the Rate of JT Modes
 *  Contests
 *  Log Due Dates


NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

Amateurs anywhere near Ohio are likely thinking about this week's Hamvention.
This year the event drawing thousands moves to a new location near Xenia, Ohio.
 There's something for every facet of Amateur Radio, and manufacturers often
use the occasion to announce new products or services. For contesters, in
addition to the various sessions being held at the Hamvention grounds, a full
slate of contest-related activities occur at the Dayton Crowne Plaza hotel.
Contest University, the Contest Super Suite, and various contest organizations
have formal and informal activities and presences. If you cannot attend,
monitor Twitter and radio-related websites for announcements or live streams of
 ongoing events, such as those provided by W5KUB's Amateur Radio Roundtable and
 others.

The ARRL Field Day event is coming up soon. Participating in a Field Day
operation is a great way to find a radio club if you're not a member of one,
meet new people in your club, or share your enthusiasm for the hobby with
others. The ARRL Field Day Site Locator is standing by to help you find a
location near you, or help advertise your club's operation.



BULLETINS


BUSTED QSOS

George, K5KG, writes: "The N1MM+ IN7QPNE module now handles the Delaware QP. DE
 was added this year. All four are now supported: 7QP, IN, NE, and DE."

"QSLs for the Martian New Year QSO Party, held May 5-6, should go to N2MA"
(Tim, K3HX)


CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section

May 18

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test

May 19

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NCCC Sprint
 *  Slobozhansky Sprint Contest

May 20

 *  UN DX Contest
 *  NZART Sangster Shield Contest
 *  Aegean RTTY Contest
 *  EU PSK DX Contest
 *  His Maj. King of Spain Contest, CW
 *  Feld Hell Sprint
 *  Baltic Contest

May 21

 *  NZART Sangster Shield Contest
 *  UA2 QSO Party

May 22

 *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest

May 24

 *  SKCC Sprint
 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test

May 25

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW

May 26

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NCCC Sprint

May 27

 *  CQ WW WPX Contest, CW

May 28

 *  SARL Digital Contest
 *  QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint

May 31

 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test


NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

Registration is now under way for the 2017 USA and International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU) Region 2 championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF),
which will take place August 3-6 near Harrison, Ohio. Rick, WW1ME, noted in the
 The ARRL Letter that "USA's ARDF Championships are an ideal opportunity to
watch and learn from the best radio-orienteers in the US and from around the
world, because visiting competitors from numerous other countries are expected
to attend."


It's not often that high frequency stock trading and explanations of coaxial
cables and radio wave propagation are part of the same article, but here's one
where the velocity of propagation can have some real financial consequences.
Microwave links for communicating financial transactions beat fiber just enough
 to make them better. The article covers a wide range of issues related to
optimizing latency between two locations.


Remote Operation for contesting and operating in general just got a little
easier. FlexRadio Systems has just announced its SmartLink remote access
feature, to be included in the upcoming SmartSDR v2.0 software release.
SmartLink makes it easier to "securely and easily operate your FLEX-6000 SDR
over the Internet without the use of VPN or specialized hardware. SmartSDR v2.0
 for Windows, iOS, and Maestro includes all of the necessary software for
seamless remote operation. There will be live demonstrations of SmartLink in
action at the 2017 Hamvention." There is also more information on the
qrznow.com website.


Sometimes a thing can be so bad that it earns grudging admiration for excelling
 at being bad. The Eico 753 HF Transceiver may qualify. According to Dennis,
N6KI: "If you were a ham in the mid 1960s and have some spare reading time and
want to ROFL, read the eham reviews about the Yugo of HF transceivers of that
era. As a "starving" freshman college student, I ordered one from Lafayette
Electronics catalog on a monthly payment plan my older graduate student room
mate signed for as you had to be 21 and I had just turned 18...."


U.S. customers interested in SOTAbeams antennas, filters, and testing tools,
but uninterested in potential international shipping hassles can now order from
 the exclusive U.S. distributor, DX Engineering. DX Engineering will stock a
number of SOTAbeam products, including the WSPRlite Antenna Performance
Analysis System.


If installing a logging program on your computer before a contest is just too
much of a bother, you can still paper log, and then enter your contacts into a
web form: http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/. Many popular contests are supported,
see the web page for details.


According to Scott, N3FJP, VHF Contest Log 5.4 is now available, supporting the
 brand new ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest.


KE9V's Calling CQ email newsletter noted N4KGL's RaDAR - Rapid Amateur Radio
Deployment Challenge activity in Florida. RaDAR operators take everything they
need to operate in the field for four hours of a 24 hour period, including food
 and shelter. The catch is that operators are to move locations every 5
contacts by at least 1 kilometer if on foot.


Rocket triggered lightning strikes are NOT a good way to protect your towers
from high energy events. It IS an exciting way to perform lightning research.
And make impressive videos. (Dennis, N6KI)


For ARRL Contests, remember that there are layers of rules. The General Rules
state the Precedence of rules:

 *  Rules for individual contests or events, including Field Day, take
    precedence over all General Rules.
 *  General Rules for HF and VHF contests take precedence over General Rules
    for all contests.



WORD TO THE WISE

RaDAR: Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio. Originated by ZS6BNE, it's the "concept
for operating an amateur radio station anywhere, anytime and even in adverse
environmental conditions." Operators are encouraged carry their gear as well as
 support items like food, water and shelter, to their operating locations, and
during rallies or contests are encouraged to change locations after a certain
number of contacts. Coordination is through a website, and RaDAR Challenge
events occur on three weekends a year.



SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Radio Shack stores around the country are being shuttered, another event in the
 unfortunate saga of the chain. The store on Market Street in San Francisco is
advertising up to 80% off.


The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) published a video entitled
"Dayton 2017 Contest Activities With K3LR" describing Contest University and
other contest related activities coming up this week. (Ken, K4ZW)


Tim, K3LR, also posted a full menu of options for watching Dayton activities.
Starting Wednesday evening at 9pm EDT with a Ham Nation LIVE broadcast from the
 Contest Super Suite, and including certain Contest University sessions
broadcast courtesy of ICOM,


At the recent International DX Convention in Visalia, California, the Contest
Dinner featured a performance of the band "The Pin One Problem." Band members
included K6JS on bass guitar, KU6F and others on vocals, K6SRZ on acoustic
guitar, N6AN on electric guitar, N0AX on mandolin and vocals. Lyrics were by
N0AX. Bob, N6TV, captured the moment and preserved it forever on YouTube. By
clicking on the "Show More" button you can view the lyrics so you can follow
and sing along. (Bob, N6TV)


Some very inexpensive ESP32 hardware was used to transmit data over a 10
kilometer link via the 2.4 GHz band. The YouTube video covers the calculations
for the link, and explains how the setup still conforms to the EU rules for
unlicensed operation. Further links in the video provide information on how to
gain access to lower-level packet operations of the ESP32 hardware.



RESULTS AND RECORDS

The WRTC 2018 qualification standings have been updated to include final CQWW
scores. (Ulf, DL5AXX)



OPERATING TIP

Be in the Contesting Moment

With conditions being what they are, there could be plenty of dull moments
during a contest, even on an open band. It may be tempting to read a book,
catch up on email, check the latest XKCD, or any other non-score-building
activity. Resist. Instead, use the 2nd VFO to find another station to work. See
 if another band is open. Only concentrate on activities that have a chance of
increasing your score.



TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

It hasn't been prudent to use Microsoft Windows XP since support for patches
ended on April 8, 2014. The impact of this week's ransomware virus has
compelled Microsoft to release a security patch for this obsolete operating
system. According to Bob, N6TV, "In light of all the damage caused by the
WannaCry ransomware, including many out-of-service Windows XP systems that many
 of us may still use on at least once computer, Microsoft has issued Security
Patch KB4012598. You can go to the Microsoft web site
(https://www.microsoft.com/en-us) and enter "KB4012598" in the Search box at
the top to find it, or you can use this direct link to the software catalog
page. The patch is a simple program (.exe file) that you download, run once,
and then reboot. To verify installation after reboot: Start, Control Panel, Add
 or Remove Programs. Check the *Show updates* box at the top, wait a bit, then
scroll down to *Windows XP - Software Updates* at the bottom. You should see
Security Update for Windows XP (KB4012598) at the bottom of the list."


Using a technique called electric field tomography, researchers at Carnegie
Mellon University can turn nearly any surface into a touch control. By spraying
 on an electrically conductive coating, then attaching electrodes to the
perimeter of the area, touches to the surface can be detected and mapped with a
 one centimeter resolution. Imagine multi-function tuning knobs or an
interactive compass rose for rotator controllers. (Dennis, N6KI)


Mark, K6UFO, suggests: "I was using the Great Circle Mapper the other day to
visualize directions and paths into Europe. If you don't know the Airport
codes, it has a search function, it also can show Lat/Long of starting and
ending points, and several map options."


When roving for VHF/UHF Contests, or if you're lost during the Stew Perry
Contest but found an awesome spot to put up your 160 meter blimp, you're doing
to need to know your Maidenhead Grid. Some GPS units will display Maidenhead
grid locators, and Lynn, N7CFO, keeps a list of them. (Bob, K0NR, via
VHFcontesting reflector)



CONVERSATION

Increasing the Rate of JT Modes

Rob, N7QT, is putting together a DXpedition to Mellish Reef later this year and
 we have been talking over the last few months about how to operate in the face
 of declining sunspot conditions which will make communication on the higher
bands a challenge. In addition to shifting the focus lower in frequency to 40,
80, and 160 meters, we started to discuss the newer JT65 and JT9 modes. These
modes do seem to provide the potential for communications when a band is closed
 to other modes, but because of the six minute QSO cycle time - a maximum rate
of 10 Qs per hour - operator resources would seem to be better deployed on more
 open bands with traditional modes.

However, over the past couple of months JT65 and JT9 operators and operating
techniques have changed in a way that has re-opened the discussion about
whether JT65 or JT9 would be appropriate for a DXpedition. It appears that more
 people have "discovered" the mode, whether by choice or by finding that no
other circuit is working. Here in the Pacific Northwest, Rob notes that 20
meters is full of workable JT65 calls from Asia and EU from morning until late
in the evening. There are some familiar calls, but many more calls that might
represent the 'next layer' of stations he doesn't normally hear. He also notes
that frequently there is a solid 4 kHz of activity. He often decodes more
signals between 14.076 MHz and 14.078 MHz than there are signals in the entire
CW band segment. A DXpedition's use of the JT modes could provide an All Time
New One (ATNO) opportunity for many stations that otherwise would not have the
chance.

Rob notes that in recent weeks, for an estimated 20% of the contacts he's made
on JT65, the other operators reduce the six minute QSO time by omitting one of
the 'legs' of the QSO. As an example, instead of sending a grid square in
response to a CQ, they'll now send the signal report, saving one minute.
They're exchanging just as much information as Phone or CW contact. Other
operators are choosing to combine the "RRR" exchange with the "73" exchange ,
by sending a single "RR 73" exchange , saving another 2 minutes.

Bengt, K7ADD, was using JT65 on a somewhat recent operation from E51 - The
South and North Cook Islands, and noted that he was able to have two JT65 QSOs
going simultaneously, by offsetting two instances of WSJT-X in transmit
frequency. By doing so, he had the potential to increase the rate to 20 QSOs
per hour. That's not such a bad rate if the band is otherwise dead. He tried
three instances simultaneously, but managing three instances of WSJT-X was not
ideal, and operators on the other end were confused by signal reports being
given to multiple stations simultaneously.

However, his experience provides hints of operating conventions that could make
 JT65 more practical from a rate perspective for DXpeditions. Cut the exchange
sequence to four minutes, exchanging just signal reports. The DX station could
handle multiple simultaneous JT65 mode QSOs - let's say six -- where the DX
station transmits in one 1.5 KHz window, carriers 250 Hz apart. Space them even
 closer if using JT9. The DX station would use more power, as it's being split
between a number of carriers -- JT65 and JT9 are not by necessity low power
modes. Stations would call the DX in another 1.5 KHz window. Sure, the same
frequency window could be used, as JT65 signals are time multiplexed, but it's
likely that not all operators would understand to transmit on the correct even
or odd time interval. It would make it easier on the DXpedition operators if
there were a version of JT mode software that could handle the 6 simultaneous
QSOs with only one instance, keeping track of the progress of individual
contacts. Most of all, the plan for operating this way would be disseminated
ahead of time, so that everyone has the opportunity to avoid operator
confusion. With these changes, the theoretical maximum rate could be 90 QSOs
per hour... even 40 QSOs per hour would be a good rate for a "closed" band.

That's all for this time. See you in Dayton or Xenia, Ohio? Remember to send
contesting related stories, book reviews, tips, techniques, press releases,
errata, schematics, club information, pictures, stories, blog links, and
predictions to contest-update@arrl.org

73, Brian N9ADG



CONTESTS

18 May - 31 May 2017

An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format is
available. Check the sponsor's Web site for information on operating time
restrictions and other instructions.


HF CONTESTS

CWops Mini-CWT Test, May 17, 1300z to May 17, 1400z, May 17, 1900z to May 17,
2000z, May 18, 0300z to May 18, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: May 20.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, May 19, 0145z to May 19, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 21.

NCCC Sprint, May 19, 0230z to May 19, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.
 + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 21.

Slobozhansky Sprint Contest, May 19, 1800z to May 19, 1959z (SSB), May 19,
2000z to May 19, 2159z (CW); CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80m; Serial No. +
Administrative District (URDA,RDA,province,state); Logs due: June 9.

UN DX Contest, May 20, 0600z to May 20, 2100z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; Kazakhstan: RS(T) + District Code, non-Kazakhstan: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs
due: June 4.

NZART Sangster Shield Contest, May 20, 0800z to May 20, 1100z, May 21, 0800z to
 May 21, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; ZL: RST + Serial No. + Branch No., non-ZL:
 RST + Serial No.; Logs due: June 17.

Aegean RTTY Contest, May 20, 1200z to May 21, 1200z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20,
15, 10m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: June 15.

EU PSK DX Contest, May 20, 1200z to May 21, 1200z; BPSK63; Bands: 80, 40, 20,
15, 10m; EU: RST + EU area code, non-EU: RST + QSO No.; Logs due: May 26.

His Maj. King of Spain Contest, CW, May 20, 1200z to May 21, 1200z; CW; Bands:
160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; EA: RST + province, non-EA: RST + Serial No.; Logs
due: June 5.

Feld Hell Sprint, May 20, 1600z to May 20, 1759z, May 20, 2000z to May 20,
2159z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; (see rules); Logs due:
May 24.

Baltic Contest, May 20, 2100z to May 21, 0200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80m Only; RS(T)
 + Serial No.; Logs due: June 10.

UA2 QSO Party, May 21, 1300z to May 21, 1659z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20m;
UA2: RS(T) + RDA ID, non-UA2: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: June 14.

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, May 22, 0100z to May 22, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160,
80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs
due: May 28.

SKCC Sprint, May 24, 0000z to May 24, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./power); Logs due: May
26.

Phone Fray, May 24, 0230z to May 24, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;
NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: May 26.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, May 24, 1300z to May 24, 1400z, May 24, 1900z to May 24,
2000z, May 25, 0300z to May 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: May 27.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, May 25, 1900z to May 25, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80m
Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 26.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, May 26, 0145z to May 26, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 28.

NCCC Sprint, May 26, 0230z to May 26, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.
 + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 28.

CQ WW WPX Contest, CW, May 27, 0000z to May 28, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,
20, 15, 10m; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: June 2.

SARL Digital Contest, May 28, 1300z to May 28, 1600z; PSK, RTTY; Bands: 80, 40,
 20m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: June 4.

QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint, May 28, 2000z to May 29, 0000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80,
40, 20, 15, 10m; RST + (state/province/country) + (ARCI no./power); Logs due:
June 11.

Phone Fray, May 31, 0230z to May 31, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;
NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: June 2.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, May 31, 1300z to May 31, 1400z, May 31, 1900z to May 31,
2000z, Jun 1, 0300z to Jun 1, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: May 13.

VHF+ CONTESTS

See Feld Hell Sprint, above

LOG DUE DATES

May 18, 2017

 *  NRAU 10m Activity Contest

May 19, 2017

 *  Phone Fray

May 20, 2017

 *  Microwave Spring Sprint
 *  AGCW QRP/QRP Party
 *  Jakarta DX Contest 40m

May 21, 2017

 *  SKCC Weekend Sprintathon

May 22, 2017

 *  10-10 Int. Spring Contest, CW
 *  Nebraska QSO Party

May 27, 2017

 *  50 MHz Spring Sprint
 *  Arkansas QSO Party

May 31, 2017

 *  VOLTA WW RTTY Contest
 *  MIE 33 Contest
 *  Holyland DX Contest
 *  Texas State Parks on the Air
 *  4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest
Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar.

____________________________________________________________________________


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
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Copyright (C) 2017 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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)\/(ark

Always Mount a Scratch Monkey
Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it
wrong...
... Nothing is constant, unless it is dead.
---
 * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)