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The ARRL Contest Update

September 20, 2017
Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG

IN THIS ISSUE
 *  New HF Operators: Guide to Digital Modes, Equinox Propagation
 *  Contest Summary
 *  News: Yield to Emergency Communications, California QSO Party Club
    Competition, First ever North America Collegiate Championship, and more
 *  Word to the Wise: Ground Gain
 *  Sights and Sounds: St. Croix Relief, WWROF Webinars
 *  Results: NAQP Challenge, NAQP Preliminary Results, IARU R1 VHF, LoRaWAN
    World Record
 *  Operating Tip: Mind over Mode
 *  Technical Topics and Information: Logs for Contest Submission vs. Logs
    for LOTW, Low Solar Activity and Big Solar Flares, and more
 *  Conversation: Bend, Don't Break
 *  Contests
 *  Log Due Dates

____________________________________________________________________________


NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

Even though you're probably all caught up on the latest in digital modes, you
still should read Marshall, K5QE's document "VHF Contesting and the Digital
Modes." There's plenty of information for operators on all bands.

As the weather is changing, it's time or past time to get those outdoor
weatherization projects finished before spending more time in the shack.
September 22 is an equinox, a time when propagation on the HF bands typical
ticks up for a few days before and after. Just because you don't hear anyone
doesn't mean the band isn't open. Try sending a few CW CQs while watching for
your signal reports on the Reverse Beacon Network, or try a digital mode CQ
while watching on the PSK Reporter website. Don't be put off by the website
name, PSK Reporter includes digital modes of all types.

____________________________________________________________________________


BULLETINS

____________________________________________________________________________


BUSTED QSOs

Rick, WW1ME, Editor of the ARRL Letter and other feats of daring, points out
that the "It's the Plumber, I've Come to Fix the Sink!" bit mentioned in the
last issue is from PBS TV Show The Electric Company.

____________________________________________________________________________


CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section

21 Sep - 4 Oct 2017

September 21

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  NAQCC CW Sprint

September 22

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NCCC Sprint Ladder

September 23

 *  CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY
 *  Maine QSO Party
 *  Texas QSO Party
 *  AGCW VHF/UHF Contest

September 24

 *  Texas QSO Party

September 26

 *  220 MHz Fall Sprint

September 27

 *  SKCC Sprint
 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  UKEICC 80m Contest

September 28

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data

September 29

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NCCC Sprint Ladder

September 30

 *  Feld Hell Sprint
 *  UK/EI DX Contest, SSB
 *  Russian WW MultiMode Contest

October 1

 *  North American SSB Sprint Contest
 *  UBA ON Contest, SSB
 *  Classic Exchange, Phone
 *  Peanut Power QRP Sprint

October 2

 *  IQRP Quarterly Marathon

October 3

 *  Classic Exchange, Phone
 *  ARS Spartan Sprint
 *  German Telegraphy Contest

October 4

 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  432 MHz Fall Sprint
 *  UKEICC 80m Contest

____________________________________________________________________________


NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

Remember to yield to emergency or recovery communications that may be occurring
 on Amateur frequencies. Always listen before you transmit, and provide
adequate buffer on both sides of these frequencies. CW operators: There may be
phone nets on frequencies from 7.045, 7.060, 7.075, and 7.090 MHz - these are
not intruders, these are country-specific relief operations.


As this is being written, hurricane Maria is churning through the Caribbean,
having just hit Dominica. Projections show it on a path to hit the US Virgin
Islands and Puerto Rico. From Ward, N0AX: "NP4G relays that emergency traffic
will primarily be on 40 meters: 7.188 MHz primary, 7.182 MHz secondary, and
some on the 60-meter channels. He asks stations with capable 40-meter antennas
to be ready, particularly in the eastern half of the U.S. Those further west
may want to be available should propagation on 40 "go long" as it often does at
 night when flux is low. Please follow net discipline and don't make
unnecessary transmissions. Avoid operating near these frequencies if you don't
need to. Even if you don't hear anything, low power stations may be
communicating and they can certainly hear a high power station. Let's hope our
many friends in Zone 8 make it through okay."


Now that proper notice has been posted in the Federal Register by the FCC, the
630- and 2200-meter bands are available for the potential Amateur use. A
prerequisite for each Amateur operating on these bands is notification to the
Utilities Technology Council of proposed operations via the UTC website. This
must occur before going on the air. If the UTC does not respond within 30 days,
 operations may commence. Any Amateurs interested in these bands are urged to
register on the UTC website. Fritz Raab, W1FR, who coordinated the ARRL 500-kHz
 Experimental Group, notes: "Any amateur station anticipating transmission
SHOULD first read the Federal Register notice to understand frequencies, power
limitations, and operating modes permitted." Ed, KL7UW, has been operating as
WD2XHS/45 with 100 watts into a 43 by 122 foot base-loaded inverted-L,
achieving "about 3w ERP." Ed comments that an Elecraft K3 or K3S with the newer
 synthesizer boards are already capable of 472-478KHz operation. Eric, NO3M,
noted in a message to the Topband reflector that during his operations as part
of the ARRL Experimental Group and also with his own FCC Part 5 license, he's
had "many cross-country QSOs at QRP power levels." His transmit antenna is a 67
 foot top-loaded vertical sharing his top band four square radial field, and he
 uses Beverage antennas for 160 meters as his receive antenna. Jim, K9YC,
recommends the website of Rudy, N6LF, since Rudy's been experimenting on 630
meters for a number of years.


John, K6MM, California QSO Party Chair, writes: "Club Competition in the
California QSO Party (CQP) has been supported for many years, but traditionally
 only a handful of larger clubs tend to compete each year. To encourage more
small and medium club participation for 2017, we've created three new
competition categories.

 1. "Small": the 10 highest scores from a club whose members who submitted
    their log in the Small category count for this competition category.
 2. "Medium": the 35 highest scores from a club whose members who submitted
    their log in the Medium category count for this competition category.
 3. "Large": clubs may combine the scores of any number of their members

All ARRL-affiliated clubs are eligible to compete in the CQP club competition
except for the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC), which sponsors the
contest. Plaques will be awarded for each of the 3 categories for both
California and Non-California clubs: a total of 6 awards. Further details on
the club competition can be found on the CQP website. The CQP takes place 1600
UTC October 7, 2017 to 2200 UTC October 8, 2017. We hope to see many members of
 your club on the air this October in the 52nd running of the California QSO
Party!"


University and college radio clubs can compete against each other in the
first-ever North American Collegiate Championship (NACC), sponsored by the
Society of Midwest Contesters (SMC), during the North American QSO Party (NAQP)
 Phone contest starting 1800z on January 20, 2018. Since this event takes place
 during the NAQP, there will be thousands of stations to contact. This "contest
 within a contest" follows the same rules as the NAQP, with the following
additional requirements:

 *  School clubs must register before the contest with school and callsign
 *  The registered station must be located on the school's physical campus
 *  All operators must be enrolled school students who are members of the
    school's radio club
 *  The exchange used for the contest must remain the same throughout the
    entire contest, and should be something associated with the school, for
    example, a mascot, nickname, founder, etc.
 *  Logging programs that post scores to the Online Contest Scoreboard must
    be used, and scores must be posted in real time during the contest. Two
    examples of logging programs with this support include N1MM Logger+ and
    Writelog.

"The College Contest Class will be multi operator single radio, M/1. You may
use assistance similar to the M/2 class and will submit your official log for
adjudication. Logs will be submitted using the M/2 class and your call will be
matched to the Online Scoreboard listing. The college stations will be
published in the National Contest Journal (NCJ) as their own class. Awards will
 be based on the adjudicated logs and not the online finish. Each club is
encouraged to contact contester(s) in their area for help in preparing for this
 contest. There are many contest clubs that would be glad to help as well. The
contest clubs are aware of this competition and may extend assistance to you."

According to SMC member Craig, K9CT, "The point of the NACC is to foster new
contesters at an age that will have a lifelong impact. I would encourage
contest clubs and school alumni to mentor a college club. As you know, college
clubs are dynamic and have a constituency that changes year to year. This may
be the year that they would be interested in contesting... Or maybe next year,
you just never know. So we will try to build on this as time goes on. Our hope
is that we would add the NAQP RTTY contest next year. This is all with the goal
 of fostering the next generation of contesters." Craig also requests that if
your company is interested in being one of the contest award sponsors to
contact him via email.


The National Contest Journal (NCJ) welcomes Dr. Scott Wright, K0MD, as its new
Editor starting with the January/February 2018 issue. He succeeds Pat, N9RV,
who has had the position since 2015.


Scott, N3FJP, announces that "With the exception of the state QSO parties, new
versions of all my contesting programs now include a real time online
scoreboard upload feature and are now on my website!" He also plans to include
this feature in his state QSO party software by January. Initially, the
supported websites for real time score reporting include
https://contestonlinescore.com/ and http://cqcontest.net/.


WRTC 2018 is only about nine months away, but planning for WRTC 2022 is
underway! The World Radiosport Team Championship Sanctioning Committee is
requesting that groups interested in hosting WRTC 2022 submit a letter of
intent to Tine Brajnik, S50A, by December 31, 2017. The committee will respond
with a WRTC requirements document, and the potential hosts will submit a formal
 proposal based on that document. The proposal deadline is March 1, 2018, and
the announcement of the hosts for WRTC 2022 will be made during the closing
ceremonies of WRTC 2018.


The 2017 Six Meter BBQ in Austin, TX on September 28 and 29 has added Tim,
K3LR, and Rob, NC0B as speakers. This event is all about six meter operating,
antennas, DXing, digital modes and contesting... and BBQ. According to the
sponsors, the event hotel is filling up, and the BBQ registration ends
September 22.

____________________________________________________________________________


WORD TO THE WISE

"Ground Gain" - The increase in signal level possible at elevation angles where
 the direct radiation and the ground image of an antenna are additive in phase.
 For horizontally polarized antennas, this can be as much as 6 dB.

____________________________________________________________________________


SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Fred, K9VV/NP2X, is involved in the relief effort in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"Our local communications team is doing what we are trained to do. Our NIMS
(National Incident Management System) training has paid off in spades. This is
the BEST type of 'contest' we could be involved in. The multipliers are 'saved
lives,' relief rendered, and loved ones connected. All the best to my wonderful
 friends in 9-land."

The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation promises an exciting fall lineup of
webinars, starting with "A Look at Propagation for the 2017/2018 Contest
Season" by Carl, K9LA on Wednesday, October 4, 9:00 PM EDT (Thursday, October 5
 - 0100 UTC). Carl will "will review the status of Cycle 24 for the next
half-year, and discuss how the contest bands will be affected."

One week later on Wednesday, October 11, 9 PM EDT (Thursday, October 12 - 0100
UTC), Joel, W5ZN will present "Contesting! It's a fun game. Let's do it the
right way."

Joel discusses the ethics of radiosport, and why it's important to follow the
rules.

____________________________________________________________________________


RESULTS AND RECORDS

In any size of contest or radio club, it's important to have members that are
active during contests. To encourage activity, some clubs participate in
inter-club competitions. One such competition is the "NAQP Challenge" between
the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC), Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC),
and Society of Midwest Contesters (SMC). In 2017, the SMC won! According to
Craig, K9CT, "It was a tough battle." Here are the results (PDF). Other clubs
could shamelessly borrow the rules from this friendly competition, pick some
competitors, and do the same thing. (Craig, K9CT)


Preliminary results for the North American QSO Party SSB and CW contests were
posted on the National Contest Journal (NCJ) website within four weeks of the
end of the contest, which included entering paper logs. Bravo! Final results
will be in the November issue of NCJ. (Bill, AC0W, NAQP SSB Manager)


The IARU R1 VHF contest was held a couple of weeks ago, and the after-contest
reports are being posted on the Slovenian VHF Forum(SLOVHF). Real time and
claimed scores are posted on their own webpage. (Miha, S51FB)


There's a new world record for communication over LoRaWAN - 436 miles. This
record was achieved at 868 MHz using high altitude balloons. Now that you know
it's a thing...

____________________________________________________________________________


OPERATING TIP

Mind Over Mode

In contests that allow multiple modes, always be mindful of the fastest way to
make contacts. It makes sense to use FT8, JT65, or other digital modes when a
path does NOT exist on CW or SSB. However, if the band conditions permit CW or
Phone Qs, they are often faster to complete than digital contacts.

____________________________________________________________________________


TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

Using N1MM Logger+ in a multi-operator scenario allowing multiple stations on
the same band is a rare configuration most commonly found during DXpeditions or
 'unlimited' type distributed operations. The N1MM Logger+ feature of automatic
 switching between Run and S&P can get in your way in these instances, but you
can toggle it on and off with the Alt-F11 function key.


With new digital modes changing faster than log file standards and formats, you
 may need to generate one log file for contest submission and then a different
one for upload to LOTW. Here's an example: You're using FT8 for some VHF
contacts in the September ARRL VHF Contest. The Cabrillo file format for
contest submissions doesn't support 'FT8' as a mode, so the mode of 'RY' or
'PH' should be used. In the VHF Contest, only one contact per station per band
counts, regardless of mode. Don't use 'FM', since there's an 'FM-only' category
 for that contest. FT8 as a mode is supported by the ADIF standard, and by
LOTW, so make sure your FT8 contacts are uploaded as FT8 mode to LOTW.


"This cycle's a wiener," says solar physicist Scott McIntosh, in a recent
article in Science News about the contrast between waning solar activity, and
strong solar flares. The recent X9 solar flare is attributed to a "delta
sunspot" composed of different magnetic poles. The unusually active delta
sunspots represent only 5% of the population, but are responsible for nearly
all of the large flares, according to McIntosh. (Ward, N0AX)


There are some incredible things happening at very small scales, including how
electron behavior can be predicted to make better LEDs. Perhaps this work on
mathematical landscape functions will also be of use in the microwave region.


Marshall, K5QE, is an avid VHF/UHF operator. The typical email that he sends
before each contest he operates could be considered 'best practice' in
informing and encouraging other stations to work him. He has a new document
entitled "VHF Contesting and Digital Modes" but which also provides background
that would be of interest to digital operators on all bands.


Lance, W7GJ, hosts a table of VHF/UHF antenna gain figures provided by VE7BQH.
This information is updated periodically, and was updated recently. Stacking
and feedpoint details are supplied, and information is normalized as much as
possible between different antenna designs. (W7GJ, via PNWVHFS reflector)

____________________________________________________________________________


CONVERSATION

Bend, Don't Break

CW, SSB, CW Keyers, Computers, Logging Programs, Packet Spots, and Skimmers all
 have at least one thing in common: At the time of their introduction, for
some, they all spelled "the end of Amateur Radio." JT65 and FT8 have become the
 latest whipping boys. Complaints I've heard related to HF use range from
"there's nobody on CW or SSB anymore" and "everyone's switched to FT8!" to "the
 digital segment is already too FULL of FT8 signals, what are we going to do
when there are too many signals?" From some VHFers: "there's nobody on CW or
SSB anymore" to "The HF people have ruined WSJT-X" to "People weren't sending
the right thing using those modes during the contest." Maybe this is why we
can't have nice things.

Like the introductions of all of the other tools that we've survived, we're all
 learning what these digital modes are good for, when they're best used, and
where and how to best use them. The tools themselves are still evolving, and we
 have to reevaluate the What, When, Where, and How at each release. It may look
 easy to make contacts, but it's obvious from some complaints that there's
still operator skill involved in completing contacts in these modes. In the
past we learned how to deal with QLF, off-frequency SSB, bad packet spots, and
the like... we'll learn the proclivities of these modes. We'll complete some
contacts with some of those new callsigns we haven't seen before, we'll learn
from each other. We'll adopt these digital tools, we'll adapt our operating
techniques to use them. We shouldn't feel threatened by change or new tools --
the real enemies of our hobby are stagnation and irrelevance.

That's all for this time. 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

21 Sep - 4 Oct 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, Sep 20, 1300z to Sep 20, 1400z, Sep 20, 1900z to Sep 20,
2000z, Sep 21, 0300z to Sep 21, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: September 23.

NAQCC CW Sprint, Sep 21, 0030z to Sep 21, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20m; RST +
(state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: September 25.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Sep 22, 0145z to Sep 22, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: September 24.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, Sep 22, 0230z to Sep 22, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20,
 15, 10, 6m; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: September 24.

CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY, Sep 23, 0000z to Sep 25, 0000z; RTTY; Bands: 80,
 40, 20, 15, 10m; 48 States/Canada: RST + CQ Zone + (state/VE area), All
Others: RST + CQ Zone; Logs due: September 29.

Maine QSO Party, Sep 23, 1200z to Sep 24, 1200z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40,
 20, 15, 10m; ME: RS(T) + county, non-ME: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"; Logs
due: October 9.

Texas QSO Party, Sep 23, 1400z to Sep 24, 0200z, Sep 24, 1400z to Sep 24,
2000z; All; Bands: All, except WARC; TX: RS(T) + County, non-TX: RS(T) +
(state/province/country/MM region); Logs due: October 31.

SKCC Sprint, Sep 27, 0000z to Sep 27, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./power); Logs due:
September 29.

Phone Fray, Sep 27, 0230z to Sep 27, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;
NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: September 29.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Sep 27, 1300z to Sep 27, 1400z, Sep 27, 1900z to Sep 27,
2000z, Sep 28, 0300z to Sep 28, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: September 30.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Sep 27, 2000z to Sep 27, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only;
4-Character grid square; Logs due: September 27.

RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data, Sep 28, 1900z to Sep 28, 2030z; RTTY, PSK; Bands:
 80m Only; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name];
Logs due: October 1.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Sep 29, 0145z to Sep 29, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: October 1.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, Sep 29, 0230z to Sep 29, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20,
 15, 10, 6m; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: October 1.

Feld Hell Sprint, Sep 30, 0000z to Sep 30, 2359z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80,
40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; (see rules); Logs due: October 4.

UK/EI DX Contest, SSB, Sep 30, 1200z to Oct 1, 1200z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20,
15, 10m; UK/EI: RS + Serial No. + District Code, DX: RS + Serial No.; Logs due:
 October 2.

Russian WW MultiMode Contest, Sep 30, 1200z to Oct 1, 1159z; CW, SSB, RTTY,
BPSK63; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; UA: RST(Q) + 2-character oblast,
non-UA: RST(Q) + QSO No.; Logs due: October 15.

North American SSB Sprint Contest, Oct 1, 0000z to Oct 1, 0400z; SSB; Bands:
80, 40, 20m; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]
+ [your state/province/country]; Logs due: October 8.

UBA ON Contest, SSB, Oct 1, 0600z to Oct 1, 0900z; SSB; Bands: 80m Only; ON: RS
 + Serial No. + ON Section, non-ON: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: October 22.

Classic Exchange, Phone, Oct 1, 1300z to Oct 2, 0800z, Oct 3, 1300z to Oct 4,
0800z; AM, SSB, FM; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m; Name + RS +
(state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: December 31.

Peanut Power QRP Sprint, Oct 1, 2000z to Oct 1, 2200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 40, 20,
15m; RS(T) + (state/province/country) + (peanut no./power output); Logs due:
October 15.

IQRP Quarterly Marathon, Oct 2, 0800z to Oct 8, 2000z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands:
 All; RS(T); Logs due: October 22.

ARS Spartan Sprint, Oct 3, 0100z to Oct 3, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: October 5.

German Telegraphy Contest, Oct 3, 0700z to Oct 3, 1000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40m;
DL: RST + LDK, non-DL: RST; Logs due: October 17.

Phone Fray, Oct 4, 0230z to Oct 4, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m; NA:
 Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: September 22.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Oct 4, 1300z to Oct 4, 1400z, Oct 4, 1900z to Oct 4,
2000z, Oct 5, 0300z to Oct 5, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: September 23.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Oct 4, 2000z to Oct 4, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only;
4-Character grid square; Logs due: September 27.



VHF+ CONTESTS

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