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The ARRL Contest Update

November 2, 2016
Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG


IN THIS ISSUE
 *  New HF Operators: ARRL Sweepstakes, WAE DX RTTY, JIDX
 *  Bulletins: W1AW Bulletins
 *  Contest Summary
 *  News: Squeeze Keying, Playing Games to Learn the Code, Solar Minimum
    Could Be Hard on 160 Meters, Too, and more
 *  Word to the Wise: Panadapter
 *  Sights and Sounds: W0AIH Goes Big on 80 Meters, Drone Helps Identify
    Real World Antenna Issue, K4BAI in the News, and more
 *  Results: KSQP, SPTBDC, Makrothen
 *  Operating Tip: When to Operate Split in Contests
 *  Technical Topics and Information: Modular Antenna Switch, $22 Logic
    Analyzer, Smarter Power Supplies, and more
 *  Conversation
 *  Contests
 *  Log Due Dates


NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO

The ARRL Sweepstakes, CW is coming up this weekend, and that's where you'll
find a lot of domestic activity. If you have not tried Sweepstakes before,
you'll find that the exchange is a bit more challenging than many contests. The
 longer Sweepstakes exchange is rooted in the National Traffic System Message
Format. The WAE DX (Worked All Europe) contests (CW, RTTY, Phone) also have a
"message handling" component, in the form of QTCs. In the popular RTTY version
of the contest on November 12, everyone can work everyone, and QTC traffic can
be sent and received between continents. You'll likely find that your logging
program can already send and receive QTCs for you, you'll just need to know how
 to use the feature. Also on the weekend of November 12 is the JIDX Phone
contest, which is consistently popular with amateurs on the west coast of the
US.



BULLETINS

W1AW bulletins containing DX or propagation information can be received over
the air, or via e-mail. You can manage subscriptions to ARRL e-mail bulletins
at http://arrl.org/bulletins. The schedule for daily digital transmission of
W1AW bulletins is also available online.



BUSTED QSOS

QRU



CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section

November 3

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest

November 4

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NCCC Sprint

November 5

 *  IPARC Contest, CW
 *  Ukrainian DX Contest
 *  RSGB International Sprint Contest, SSB
 *  ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW

November 6

 *  IPARC Contest, SSB
 *  EANET Sprint
 *  High Speed Club CW Contest
 *  DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest

November 8

 *  ARS Spartan Sprint

November 9

 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  RSGB 80 Meter Club Sprint, SSB

November 10

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test

November 11

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NCCC Sprint

November 12

 *  WAE DX Contest, RTTY
 *  10-10 Int. Fall Contest, Digital
 *  JIDX Phone Contest
 *  SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
 *  OK/OM DX Contest, CW
 *  Kentucky QSO Party
 *  CQ-WE Contest

November 13

 *  CQ-WE Contest

November 14

 *  CQ-WE Contest

November 16

 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test



NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

The Radio Club of Redmond's (Washington) November club newsletter had in
informative article on squeeze keying, including the differences between
various modes, and how keying has evolved over time. The author, Karl Fischer,
DJ5IL, has made the article available on his website (PDF).

Google Glass users can play a game to learn Morse code. The game buzzes dots
and dashes using the transducer built into the glasses. Though the game does
not focus on the code, nor require memorization to play successfully,
researchers found that just by playing the game, players passively learned the
code well enough to subsequently send code at 98% accuracy. (Dennis, N6KI)

Carl, K9LA, talks about how a solar minimum can be too deep, even for 160
meters, in a recent message to the TopBand reflector. "With a weak solar
magnetic field, more galactic cosmic rays will be able to get into the Earth's
atmosphere... Since galactic cosmic rays are mostly very energetic protons,
they can get down to low atmospheric altitudes, causing collisional ionization
in the D region (and lower E region). A cursory estimate using cosmic ray
ionization rates confirms more ionization in the lower atmosphere. 160 meters
is not very tolerant of more absorption, so we may see an adverse effect of the
 weakened solar magnetic field." (via TopBand reflector)

2100 UTC November 5 is the deadline for contest clubs to submit "Eligibility
Lists" in time for the ARRL CW Sweepstakes Contest. See the ARRL Contest Club
Eligibility Lists website for more information.

It's always good to do a little CW in preparation for contest season, but how
about exercises for tuning up your voice? A recent Wall Street Journal article
describes how our voices age, and some exercises that may help delay them from
inevitably becoming softer and scratchier. (Dennis, N6KI)

Look for call signs containing "YOTA" (Youngsters on the Air) during the month
of December. During the entire month, activity will take place with younger
hams at the radio.

NOAA has made available some tools to help with regional prediction of space
weather events. The intent is to be able to warn utilities and space satellite
companies ahead of events having the potential to disrupt their operations. The
 footprint of the regional forecasts is approximately 350 square miles, with a
lead time of up to 45 minutes. Researchers from the University of Michigan and
Rice University developed the tools necessary to make this possible.



WORD TO THE WISE

Panadapter

A panadapter is a device or rig feature that provides a graphical display of a
slice of RF spectrum. Among its many uses in contesting or Amateur Radio, it
can enable finding an empty frequency more quickly, determining where a DX
station is listening by watching for the responding station, or increasing
situational awareness. Examples of panadapters include the Elecraft P3,
SmartSDR from Flexradio, Telepost's LP-PAN, or roll-your-own using an RTL-SDR.



SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Another new antenna for Paul, W0AIH. Even for a guy that has lost count of how
many towers he has, this 75-meter beam ought to stand out. N9QIP's drone video
captures the scale. For a general tour of W0AIH, here's a video from two years
ago. (Jim, K7WA)

When a 25 kW broadcast FM radio antenna was having a problem, a hobby drone was
 outfitted with a FLIR Infrared camera, and sent to examine the feedline and
antenna. The test flight turned out to be all they needed to find the problem!
Here's a video. (Dennis, N6KI)

Well-known contester and 30-year U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge John Laney III,
K4BAI was featured in an article in the Columbus, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer. The
article describes his integrity, and the intensity with which he attacks his
caseload.



RESULTS AND RECORDS

"The final results for the 2016 Kansas QSO Party are out on the KSQP website.
We had a record year, with 325 submitted logs. All 105 counties were collected
by N6MU for the county Sweep and the US SOLP win. Forty-five 1x1 call signs
spelling KANSAS, QSOPARTY, and SUNFLOWER were active, with N8II putting 44 of
them in his log on the way to winning US SOHP. We even had a Thursday Night
Contesting NS competition, won by W4OC. Put the last weekend in August on your
calendar for the 2017 edition of the KSQP to see what happens next!" - Bob,
W0BH, KSQP Coordinator


Dan, K7SS, alerted me to this: "Received this cool plaque with mounted actual
RADIO related stamps, from Bob, W0BH, in KS. Bob decided to celebrate his 50th
year in amateur radio, by sponsoring a special event in the KSQP this year,
tied into the NS Thursday night Sprint, and sent out these Radio stamp
plaques." I reached out to Bob, and he pointed me to the original announcement,
 portions of which are excerpted here: "Finally QCWA x 2! In all these years,
my two favorite ham radio things to do are NCCC Sprints/NA Sprints and mobile
contesting. I wouldn't be where I am today in contesting without the Thursday
NS competition. So how about a party!" As coordinator of the Kansas QSO Party,
Bob had the opportunity to sponsor a contest-within-two-contests, and so he
did. He provided very handsome certificates to those who worked him during the
Sprint and the Kansas QSO Party while he was mobile.


As logs are sent in, the results of the "Pre-Stew Perry" 160-meter contest are
updated and available. Tree, N6TR, is still accepting logs at
tbdc@contesting.com.


The Makrothen RTTY Contest has a new home with the PL259 Gang. The results for
2016 are available on the website.


Some are saying band conditions weren't so wonderful during the CQWW Phone
Contest last weekend. Soapbox phrases like, "Wow, tough conditions,"
"Character-building conditions," "Conditions were terrible here in G," and
"Wow, talk about a slog!" may be the new normal.



OPERATING TIP

Operating Split during a Contest

Generally, in one word, don't. Using two or more frequencies is not fair to
other contest participants, and is so uncommon that most callers will never
even think of calling you on any frequency other than the one you are using to
transmit. You'll spend time announcing where you are listening, and that
doesn't help your rate. However, there is a specific instance where split
should be used during a contest:

If you're transmitting in the US Phone band, but listening outside the US Phone
 band for callers. An example is 40 meter SSB - a US station could transmit on
7.210 MHz, but be listening on that frequency and on 7.087 MHz for stations in
ITU Regions 1 and 3, where SSB is allowed on that frequency. A station running
like this may say, "CQ contest, W1AW listening this frequency and 7087." In DX
phone contests, don't forget to listen for DX stations transmitting in the low
end of 40 meters, too. If you call them, make sure you're transmitting where
you are legal, and not interfering with other domestic communications.



TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

RemoteQTH.com has announced an open-source hardware and software modular
antenna switch. By combining modules in different ways, you can build up to a
12 x 4 antenna switch. Since the design documentation is provided, you can
modify it to suit your needs.


If you're building amateur gear using Arduinos, Raspberry Pis, or Beaglebones,
you may find a logic analyzer could help you examine digital timing
relationships. Using SUMP2 from Black Mesa Labs with a $22 FPGA stick, you
could be capturing 96 million samples per second (MSPS). It could be just the
thing to debug your homebrew preamp sequencer. (EE Times)


Switching power supplies continue to improve in the watt-per-cubic inch metric
as innovations are made in magnetics and semiconductors. As switching
frequencies and semiconductor voltage ratings increase, we should see the
benefit in smaller solid-state linear amplifiers. AM enthusiasts have enjoyed a
 renaissance through the use of Class E amplifier topologies along with these
technology improvements. (Elektor)


Pasternack Enterprises has introduced a 2.4 GHz RADAR demonstration kit, with
the intended use for training and classroom experimentation. The kit permits
experiments with different modulation types, as well as experimenting with
filtering. Courseware is provided for use in a teaching environment. In 2017,
MIT has a 5-day build-your-own synthetic aperture radar course during which
participants learn communications and RADAR theory, design and simulate various
 systems, and go home with a kit designed by MIT's Lincoln Laboratories.
According to a past class description, "You
do not have to be a RADAR engineer but it helps if you are interested in any of
 the following; electronics, amateur radio, physics, or electromagnetics." The
2.4 GHz amateur band is shared with unlicensed users.


There's a new BeagleBone shield that may find use in Skimmer-type operation:
the KiwiSDR. Another use could be as a universal panadater - BeagleBone LCD
screens are relatively inexpensive, and the open-source software for the
KiwiSDR could be a good basis for the panadapter functionality of your dreams.


Researchers from Cambridge University describe some really low-power
transistors that could enable devices that work for years without battery
power. The transistors can scavenge power from their environment by taking
advantage of characteristics, like leakage, that have previously been viewed as
 flaws.



CONVERSATION

Contest Consumables

Contest season is definitely here, even though it appears the ionosphere didn't
 get the memo. The essentials like rigs, antennas, and amplifiers have probably
 been checked, and are at the ready. Other items now bubble up in importance.
How are your station ergonomics? If your shoulders or neck hurts after a few
hours at the rig, it's time to evaluate why, and remedy the situation, before
it leads to other long-term problems. Good sleep before a serious contest
effort is important. Getting enough sleep can help minimize the chances of
catching and keeping a cold or flu before contest weekend, and operating when
tired just makes everything more difficult.

Keeping yourself nourished should also be part of the operating plan. If you
have special dietary requirements, make sure you're not ignoring them just
because you're participating in a contest. If you really are attempting long
stints in the operating chair, you want what you eat to help you accomplish
that goal. I like to have a mix of foods that can be prepared with minimal
effort and eaten at any hour, prioritizing protein, then fats, and lastly,
sugars. For example, I've made chili, BBQ ribs, and chicken wings ahead of
time, so they could be microwaved when needed, adding a bag salad or vegetable
plate for a small amount of variety and fiber. Too many calories can lead to
grogginess... I find eating a little bit, frequently, works well for me.

Lastly, don't forget to get up every now and again and move around. It can
enhance alertness, and may assist in avoiding issues related to physical
inactivity, such as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).

Check your station, and take care of your body to make sure all systems are go
for the contest.

That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories, flea
market pictures, 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

3 Nov - 16 Nov 2016

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


HF CONTESTS

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Nov 2, 1300z to Nov 2, 1400z, Nov 2, 1900z to Nov 2,
2000z, Nov 3, 0300z to Nov 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: November 5.

NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Nov 3, 1800z to Nov 3, 1900z (CW), Nov 3, 1900z to
Nov 3, 2000z (SSB), Nov 3, 2000z to Nov 3, 2100z (FM), Nov 3, 2100z to Nov 3,
2200z (Dig); CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10m Only; RS(T) + 6-character grid
square; Logs due: November 17.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Nov 4, 0145z to Nov 4, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: November 6.

NCCC Sprint, Nov 4, 0230z to Nov 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. +
 Name + QTH; Logs due: November 6.

IPARC Contest, CW, Nov 5, 0600z to Nov 5, 1000z, Nov 5, 1400z to Nov 5, 1800z;
CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; USA IPA Members: RST + Serial No. + "IPA" +
State, non-USA IPA Members: RST + Serial No. + "IPA", non-IPA Members: RST +
Serial No.; Logs due: December 31.

Ukrainian DX Contest, Nov 5, 1200z to Nov 6, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80,
40, 20, 15, 10m; Ukraine: RS(T) + 2-letter oblast, non-Ukraine: RS(T) + Serial
No.; Logs due: December 6.

RSGB International Sprint Contest, SSB, Nov 5, 1700z to Nov 5, 2100z; SSB;
Bands: 80, 40, 20m; [your call sign] + [other station's call sign] + Serial No.
 + Name; Logs due: November 12.

ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW, Nov 5, 2100z to Nov 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80,
 40, 20, 15, 10m; Serial No. + Precedence (Q/A/B/U/M/S) + [your call sign] +
Check + ARRL/RAC Section; Logs due: November 22.

IPARC Contest, SSB, Nov 6, 0600z to Nov 6, 1000z, Nov 6, 1400z to Nov 6, 1800z;
 SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; USA IPA Members: RS + Serial No. + "IPA" +
State, non-USA IPA Members: RS + Serial No. + "IPA", non-IPA Members: RS +
Serial No.; Logs due: December 31.

EANET Sprint, Nov 6, 0800z to Nov 6, 1200z; Any; Bands: Any; RS(T); Logs due:
November 20.

High Speed Club CW Contest, Nov 6, 0900z to Nov 6, 1100z, Nov 6, 1500z to Nov
6, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; Members: RST + HSC No., non-Members:
RST + "NM"; Logs due: November 27.

DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, Nov 6, 1100z to Nov 6, 1700z; RTTY, Amtor,
Clover, PSK31, Pactor; Bands: 10m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: November
21.

ARS Spartan Sprint, Nov 8, 0200z to Nov 8, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: November 10.

Phone Fray, Nov 9, 0230z to Nov 9, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m; NA:
 Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: November 11.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Nov 9, 1300z to Nov 9, 1400z, Nov 9, 1900z to Nov 9,
2000z, Nov 10, 0300z to Nov 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: November 12.

RSGB 80m Club Sprint, SSB, Nov 9, 2000z to Nov 9, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80m Only;
[other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due:
November 16.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Nov 11, 0145z to Nov 11, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: November 13.

NCCC Sprint, Nov 11, 0230z to Nov 11, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.
 + Name + QTH; Logs due: November 13.

WAE DX Contest, RTTY, Nov 12, 0000z to Nov 13, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20,
15, 10m; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: November 28.

10-10 Int. Fall Contest, Digital, Nov 12, 0001z to Nov 13, 2359z; Digital;
Bands: 10m Only; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country),
Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: November 28.

JIDX Phone Contest, Nov 12, 0700z to Nov 13, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
 10m; JA: RST + Prefecture No., non-JA: RST + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: December
13.

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Nov 12, 1200z to Nov 14, 0000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80,
40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE";
Logs due: November 20.

OK/OM DX Contest, CW, Nov 12, 1200z to Nov 13, 1200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,
20, 15, 10m; OK/OM: RST + 3-letter district code, non-OK/OM: RST + Serial No.;
Logs due: November 20.

Kentucky QSO Party, Nov 12, 1400z to Nov 13, 0200z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands:
160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; KY: RS(T) + county, non-KY: RS(T) +
(state/province/country); Logs due: December 31.

CQ-WE Contest, Nov 12, 1900z to Nov 12, 2300z (CW/Digital), Nov 13, 0100z to
Nov 13, 0500z (Phone), Nov 13, 1900z to Nov 13, 2300z (Phone), Nov 14, 0100z to
 Nov 14, 0500z (CW/Digital); CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,
10, 6, 2, 432 MHz; Name + Location Code (see rules) + Years of Service (see
rules); Logs due: December 1.

Phone Fray, Nov 16, 0230z to Nov 16, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;
NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: November 18.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Nov 16, 1300z to Nov 16, 1400z, Nov 16, 1900z to Nov 16,
2000z, Nov 17, 0300z to Nov 17, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: November 19.


VHF+ CONTESTS

See Kentucky QSO Party, CQ-WE Contest, and SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, above.


LOG DUE DATES

3 Nov - 16 Nov 2016

November 3, 2016

 *  RSGB 80 Meter Club Sprint, SSB

November 4, 2016

 *  Phone Fray
 *  CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB

November 5, 2016

 *  ARRL School Club Roundup
 *  MCG Autumn Sprint
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test

November 6, 2016

 *  UBA ON Contest, 2 Meters
 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NCCC Sprint

November 7, 2016

 *  Stew Perry Topband Challenge
 *  FISTS Fall Unlimited Sprint

November 14, 2016

 *  South Dakota QSO Party

November 15, 2016

 *  Iowa QSO Party
 *  Pennsylvania QSO Party



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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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

____________________________________________________________________________


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 * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)