Contester's Rate Sheet for October 6, 2004
*********************** Contester's Rate Sheet 6 October 2004 *********************** Edited by Ward Silver N0AX SUMMARY o Four Sprints, Two RTTY Contests, and the PA and IL QSO Parties o Propagation Studies and the Qualifying Runs o ICOM releases the IC-756PROIII o Valid JA and BY prefixes o SLA Battery Chargers o Wisdom from AD6E o Getting a Read On It BULLETINS o No bulletins this issue. BUSTED QSOS o A golden issue last time! ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES FOR 6 OCTOBER TO 19 OCTOBER 2004 Logs are due for the following contests: October 6 - MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint, email to: n8cqa@arrl.net, paper logs and diskettes to: L.T. Switzer, N8CQA, 427 Jeffrey Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48073-2521, USA October 10 - SARTG WW RTTY Contest, email to: contest@sartg.com, paper logs and diskettes to: SARTG Contest Manager, Ewe Hakansson, SM7BHM, Pilspetsvagen 4, SE-29166 Kristianstad, Sweden October 10 - YLRL Howdy Days, email to: wx4mm@tm-moore.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Mary Moore, WX4MM, 216 Lee Road 343, Salem, AL 36874, USA October 10 - Tesla Cup, email to: K3BU@aol.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Tesla Cup, Box 282, Pine Brook, NJ 07058, USA October 11 - Swiss HTC QRP Sprint, email to: (none), paper logs and diskettes to: Guido Giannini, HB9BQB, Kleinzelglistrasse 6, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland October 11 - AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (Sep), email to: vhf-uhf@agcw.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Manfred Busch, DK7ZH, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Weg 6, D-63069 Offenbach/Main, Germany October 12 - Tennessee QSO Party, email to: w9wi@earthlink.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Tennessee QSO Party, c/o Doug Smith, W9WI, 1385 Old Clarksville Pike, Pleasant View, TN 37146-8098, USA October 12 - ARCI End of Summer PSK31 Sprint, email to: wb5khc@2hams.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Tom Owens, WB5KHC, Attn: End of Summer PSK31 Sprint, 1916 Addington St, Irving, TX 75062-3505, USA October 12 - CIS DX Contest, RTTY, email to: srars@srars.org, paper logs and diskettes to: Scottish-Russian ARS, PO Box 7469, Glasgow, G42 0YD, Scotland, UK October 13 - ARRL September VHF QSO Party, email to: SeptemberVHF@arrl.org, paper logs and diskettes to: September VHF, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA October 15 - WAE DX Contest, SSB, email to: waedc@dxhf.darc.de, paper logs and diskettes to: WAEDC Contest Manager, Bernhard Buettner, DL6RAI, Schmidweg 17, D-85609 Dornach, Germany October 15 - QRP Afield, email to: k1cl@arrl.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Chuck Ludinsky, K1CL, 6 Pracing Rd, Chelmsford, MA 01824-1922, USA October 17 - UBA ON Contest, 6m, email to: on5wl@pandora.be, paper logs and diskettes to: Leon Welters, ON5WL, Borgstraat 80, B-2580 Beerzel, Belgium October 17 - EU Autumn Sprint, SSB, email to: eusprint@kkn.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Paolo Cortese, I2UIY, PO Box 14, 27043 Broni (PV), Italy October 18 - South Carolina QSO Party, email to: (none), paper logs and diskettes to: SARA SC QSO Party Entry, PO Box 193, Sumter, SC 29151-0193, USA October 18 - 144 MHz Fall Sprint, email to: ottf@wbia.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Ottmar Fiebel W4WSR, PO Box 957, Hayesville, NC 28904, USA October 19 - ARRL 10 GHZ and Up Contest (Aug), email to: 10GHZ@arrl.org, paper logs and diskettes to: 10 GHz Contest, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA October 19 - ARRL 10 GHZ and Up Contest (Sep), email to: 10GHZ@arrl.org, paper logs and diskettes to: 10 GHz Contest, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA October 19 - Mediterranean Islands Award Contest, email to: ik8vrn@mdxc.org, paper logs and diskettes to: Gianfranco Lai, PO Box 5, 80034 Marigliano, Naples, Italy October 19 - QCWA QSO Party, email to: w2od@aol.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Robert Buus, W2OD, 8 Donner Street, Holmdel, NJ 07733-2004, USA The following contests are scheduled: Note that the following abbreviations are used to condense the contest rules summaries: SO - Single-Op; M2 - Multiop - 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 YLRL Anniversary Party--CW, sponsored by the YLRL, 1400Z Oct 6 - 0200Z Oct 8. (SSB 1400Z Oct 13 - 0200Z Oct 15) Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters. Exchange: serial number, RS(T), and ARRL section/VE province/country. QSO Points: US or VE YL's--1 pt, DX YLs--2 pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C. For more information: http://www.qsl.net/ylrl/ylcontests.html. Logs due 30 days after the contest to wx4mm@tm-moore.com or to WX4MM, Mary Moore, 1593 Lee Road 375, Valley, Alabama 36854. 10-10 Day Sprint--Phone/CW/Digital, 0001Z - 2400Z, Oct 10. One QSO per station, regardless of mode. 10-meters only. Exchange: call, name, state and 10-10 number (if available). QSO Points: nonmembers--1 pt, members--2 pts. Total score: sum of QSO points. For more information: http://www.ten-ten.org/. Logs due 25 Oct to tentencontest@alltel.net or Steve Rasmussen N0WY, 312 N 6th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048-1302. Oceania DX Contest--CW, supported by the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) and New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART), from 0800Z Oct 9 - 0800Z Oct 10. Frequencies: 160-10 meters, work VK/ZL/Oceania stations only. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS, MM, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number. QSO Points: 160--20 pts, 80--10 pts, 40--5 pts, 20--1 pt, 15--2 pts, 10--3 pts. Score: QSO points × WPX prefixes counted once per band. For more information: http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/. Logs due Nov 7 in Cabrillo format to cw@oceaniadxcontest.com or paper logs (if less than 50 QSOs) to Oceania DX Contest, c/o Wellington Amateur Radio Club Inc., PO Box 6464, Wellington 6030, New Zealand. EU Autumn Sprint--CW, sponsored by the EU Sprint Gang, 1500Z - 1859Z Oct 9. Frequencies: 80-20 meters, stations outside EU work EU stations only. SOAB category only. Exchange: your call, serial number, name, other station's call. Special QSY rule--see Web site. Score is number of QSOs. For more information: http://www.qsl.net/eusprint. Logs due 15 days after the contest to eusprint@kkn.net or Karel Karmasin, OK2FD, Gen Svobody 636, CZ-674 01 Trebic, Czech Republic. Pennsylvania QSO Party--CW/Phone, sponsored by the Nittany ARC, 1600Z Oct 9 - 0500Z Oct 10 and 1300Z - 2200Z Oct 10. Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.810 and 40 kHz above band edge; Phone--1.850, 3.980, 7.280, 14.280, 21.380, 28.480; Novice/Tech--10 kHz above edge of segment; mobiles 5 kHz below the listed frequencies. Work mobiles and rovers in each county. Categories: SO (HP >150W, LP, or QRP <5W), MS, MM, SO or MS Portable, Novice/Tech/TechPlus, Mobile, Rover. Exchange: serial number and ARRL/RAC section (PA stations send PA county). QSO Points: CW--2 pts on 160 and 80, 1.5 pts on other bands; Phone--1 pt. Score: QSO points x PA counties (PA stations use PA counties + ARRL/RAC sections + 1 for a DX QSO) x 2 if QRP or x 3 if Novice/Tech. Add 200 points for each QSO with the bonus station (see Web site). PA mobiles and rovers add 500 points for each county with 10 or more QSOs. For more information: http://www.nittany-arc.net/paqso.html. Logs due Nov 15 to PA QSO Party, c/o NARC, PO Box 614, State College, PA 16804-0614. FISTS Fall Sprint--CW, sponsored by FISTS International CW Club, 1700Z - 2100Z Oct 9. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters, work US/VE stations. Categories: SOAB-QRP (<5W), SOAB-QRO, Club. Exchange: Name, RST, S/P/C, members send FISTS number, nonmembers send power output. QSO Points: FISTS members - 5 pts, nonmembers - 2 pts. Score: QSO points × S/P/C (count each only once). For more information: http://www.FISTS.org/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to W8PIG@yahoo.com or Dan Shepherd N8IE, 1900 Pittsfield St, Kettering, Oh 45420. North American RTTY Sprint--sponsored by the National Contest Journal, 0000Z - 0400Z Oct 10. Frequencies 80 -- 20 meters. North American stations work everyone; others work NA stations only. Exchange both callsigns, serial number, name, and S/P/C. The same station can be worked multiple times provided 3 contacts separate the contact in both logs, regardless of band. QSY rule: Stations calling CQ, QRZ, etc, may only work one station in response to that call; they must then move at least 1 kHz before working another station or 5 kHz before soliciting another call. Once you are required to QSY, you may not make a new QSO on the previous frequency until you have made a contact at least 1 or 5 kHz (as required) away. For more information: http://www.ncjweb.com/. Logs due 7 days after the contest to rttysprint@ncjweb.com or Douglas McDuff, W4OX, 10380 S.W. 112th Street, Miami, FL 33176, USA. Worked All Germany--CW/SSB, sponsored by The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club, 1500Z Oct 16 - 1459Z Oct 17. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters, work German stations only. Categories: SOAB (HP >100W , LP, QRP <5W) CW or Mixed Mode, MS, SWL, packet spotting allowed for all classes. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number or DOK code. QSO Points: 3 pts/QSO. Germans count DXCC/WAE countries per band. Score: QSO points x DOK codes (Germans use DXCC entities or WAE countries) counted once per band and mode. For more information: http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedcg.htm. Logs due Nov 20 to wag@dxhf.darc.de or to WAG Contestmanager, PO Box 12 09 37, D-01010 Dresden, Germany. JARTS WW RTTY Contest, sponsored by the Japanese Amateur Radio Teleprinter Society, 0000Z Oct 16 - 2400Z Oct 17. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB (HP >100W, LP), MO, SWL. Exchange: RST and age (Multiop sends 99, YL may send 00). QSO Points: own continent--2 pts, diff cont--3 pts per QSO. Score: QSO points x DXCC entities + JA, W, VE and VK call areas counted once per band. For more information: http://www.edsoftz.com/JARTS. Logs due Nov 30 to jarts2004@edsoftz.com (email logs only). Asia-Pacific Sprint--CW, sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Sprint Contest Committee, 0000Z - 0200Z Oct 17. Frequencies (MHz): 14.030-14.050 and 21.030-21.050. Categories: SO <150W only. Work Asia-Pacific stations only. Exchange: RST and serial number. Special QSY rule. Score: QSOs x WPX prefixes counted once only. For more information and AP country list: http://jsfc.org/apsprint. Logs due 7 days after contest to apsprint@kkn.net (Cabrillo format encouraged, no paper logs accepted). RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest--CW, sponsored by the RSGB, 0700Z - 1900Z Oct 16. Frequencies: 15 and 10 meters (see Web site for band plan), work UK stations only. Categories: UK and DX SO or MS (Open, Restricted, QRP <10W) and SWL (Open and Restricted). Exchange: serial number and UK district. QSO Points: 3 pts/QSO. Score QSO points x UK districts (UK stations use DXCC entities plus JA, W, VE, VK, ZL and ZS call areas) counted once per band. For more information: http://www.rsgbhfcc.org/. Logs due Nov 17 to 2128cw.logs@rsgbhfcc.org or to RSGB--G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7AF, England. Illinois QSO Party--CW/Phone, sponsored by the Radio Amateur Megacycle Society (RAMS), 1800Z Oct 17 - 0200Z Oct 18. Frequencies (MHz): 160-2 meters, CW--50 kHz above band edge, Phone--3.890, 7.290, 14.290, 21.390, 28.390; Novice/Tech--30 kHz above edge of segment. Categories: SO, MS, Mobile. Work stations in each county, county line contacts count for 1 QSO from each county. Exchange: RS(T) and S/P/C (IL stations send county). QSO Points: Phone--1 pt/QSO, CW--2 pts. Score: QSO points x IL counties (IL stations use states + IL counties + VE provinces + up to 5 DXCC entities). Count additional DX for points only. One bonus multiplier for each eight QSOs with the same IL county. For more information: http://my.core.com/~jematz/ilqso04.html. Logs due Nov 15 to jfunk@fossnorthamerica.com (Cabrillo format only) or RAMS, c/o John Matz, KB9II, 7079 West Ave, Hanover Park, IL 60133. Bill Windle QSO Party--CW, sponsored by First Class Operator's Club (FOC), from 0000Z -- 2359Z Oct 16. Frequencies: 160 -- 10 meters, 6 & 2 meters. Call "CQ BW" from 15 to 45 kHz above band edge, open to all hams, not just FOC members. Exchange: RST and name or FOC number, if member. Report total QSOs with FOC members, counted once per band, FOC members report total QSOs and total FOC QSOs. For more information: http://www.firstclasscw.org.uk/. QSO totals due Oct 23 to KZ5D@aol.com. VHF CONTESTS ARRL International EME Contest, 0000Z Oct 9 - 2400Z Oct 10. Frequencies: 50 - 1296 MHz. (Oct 30 - 31 on 2.3 GHz and up, Dec 4 - 5 on 50 - 1296 MHz) Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MO, Commercial. Exchange: signal report. QSO Points: 100 pts/QSO. Score: QSO points x W/VE states/provinces + DXCC entities (counted once per band). For more information: http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/. Logs due Jan 5, 2005 to emecontest@arrl.org or EME Contest, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES The IC-756PROIII upgrades the popular IC-756PROII with fully customizable DSP filters in both receiver and transmitter and more than 100 audio equalization settings, requiring no additional filters or options. The PROIII incorporates a +30 dBm third-order intercept point, low-distortion band-pass filtering and switching, a fundamental-mode 64 MHz roofing filter, and a new preamplifier design. The spectrum display is now visible at all times as a "mini-scope." Complete information about the IC-756PROIII is available at http://www.icomamerica.com/, including brochures and photos in the "Downloads" area. Would you be interested in participating in an ongoing 10-meter and VHF propagation study? The PropNET network uses software to capture beacon information. Subsequent analysis can unlock propagation modes and openings. Instructions for downloading and configuring the software are available at http://hfradio.org/propnet-info.html. (Thanks, Tomas, NW7US) With the Top Band season upon us, DX Engineering (http://www.dxengineering.com/) announces the RBS-1P bidirectional Beverage controller that appears just in the nick of time for fall antenna work. Consisting of a Feed Point Matching Unit and a Reflection Transformer, applying 12 to 15 V dc to the feed-line switches the direction of reception. One antenna port is terminated so that both antennas share a common feed-line. Both antennas can be used simultaneously with a separate feed-line for each antenna. Isolated grounds prevent common-mode noise and unwanted signals, and the unit will not be damaged by nearby transmitters. Other features include air gaps, wide foil traces for increased lightning protection, and 75-ohm Type F connectors. While the RBS-1P is optimized to use 450-ohm ladder line for the antenna element, the system will work with any 300-600 ohm two-wire antenna. The price is $129. I plan on checking one of these out myself! A new version of the Super Check Partial database files has been placed on the Web at http://www.k5zd.com/scp/. The files are based on 2,465,600 QSOs from 1514 logs and the data set contained 115,982 unique calls. Master.dta now contains 32,668 calls! The next SCP file release will be in mid November. Please contribute your logs to Randy K5ZD - see the instructions on the Web page. Kanga US supplies Plastidip products, including a spray-on version, in several colors. Liquid Tape comes with a small brush so the product can be painted on to the joint. Both can easily be removed by slicing it with a knife and then peeling it off. Complete info is available at http://www.kangaus.com/. (Thanks, Bill N8ET) Scott N3FJP has been busy lately. New versions of Amateur Contact Log (rev. 2.6), Field Day Contest Log (rev. 2.4), Field Day Network Log (rev. 2.2), and VHF Network (rev. 1.9) are all available at http://www.n3jfp.com/. Scott says that if you operated in the Texas QSO Party, your score may have been computed improperly. A correction is available on the Web site. The World Wide South America CW Contest is now to be sponsored by the Grupo Argentina CW. The Samuel Morse Party contest will be dropped as a result. The revived WWSA contest will be held every second weekend of June (11 - 12 June 2005), with the new name of "GACW WWSA CW DX CONTEST". (Thanks, Alberto LU1DZ) The W1AW Qualifying Runs are a fun way to challenge your CW capabilities. Certificates and endorsements are available from 10 to 40 WPM and make an interesting club challenge. Who can get the highest speed endorsement this year? The complete schedule is available at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html. GM Contest Club has become the sponsor of the United Kingdom DX RTTY Contest as describd at http://www.ukdx.scotham.net/. The UK DX CW and SSB are cancelled, as well. (Thanks, Jurij MM0DFV) We continue our Portuguese lessons as assisted by Rich KE3Q: Thank You - Obligado ("oh-bli-GAH-doh", not "Gracias", which is Spanish) Sorry - Desculpe ("d'sh-KUL-p") The number is... - O número é ("u NU-m'ru eh") RESULTS AND RECORDS The complete list of Logs Received for the 2004 ARRL August UHF Contest has been posted at http://www.arrl.org/contests/claimed/. If you find a problem with your entry please contact Dan N1ND at n1nd@arrl.org or by phone at 860-594-0232. You'll need to have the receipt number of your submission. The date of the January VHF Sweepstakes (22-24 Jan, 2005) will no longer be tied to the "weekend before the NFL Super Bowl." The date will be determined by the ARRL Contest Branch to avoid, if possible, conflicts with CQ 160 and the NAQP contests. The annual update of General Rules for All ARRL Contests, Rules for ARRL Events on Bands Below 30 MHz, and Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands Above 50 MHz is being posted to the ARRL Contests Web site, http://www.arrl.org/contests. (Thanks, Dan N1ND) TECHNICAL Tom WA9WSJ notes that, "RTV which cures and outgasses acetic acid is very bad for wiring, metal etc. I use GE RTV 162. It is their electronic grade compound. When you're not sure of the type of compound, check the manufacturers data sheets, not just the sales blurb. That's where they tell you all the real technical data you need to know." Other correspondents mentioned using aquarium sealer, which doesn't use toxic or corrosive chemicals during curing. It's time to refresh your knowledge of valid and invalid call signs. Information for Japan and China is contributed by Dave K1TTT and Tack JE1CKA. - No JB or JC prefixes are used - Only JD1 is used, not JD2-JD0 - JP prefixes with YCA-YCZ, YDA-YDZ, YEA-YEZ are repeaters - Only JR6AA-NZ 2-letter suffixes are valid, but they are repeaters - Only JR6, JS6AAA-XZZ 3-letter suffixes are valid - Only JS1, JS2, JS3, JS6 prefixes are valid - 8K and 8L are invalid The JA callsign rules are available at http://www.motobayashi.net/callsign/enigma0.html. Rules for BY prefixes are gleaned from: http://www.qsl.net/bd7nq/. - BA,BD,BG,BI,BT,BV,BY,BZ are in use - 1x1 calls are available - On 2x2 and 2x3 calls the first letter of the suffix can't be Y or Z, except for 7YAA-YZZ A word of caution from Roger K8RI, "Whenever "flooding" a connector with any dielectric grease, be careful about getting any on the outside. Clean the surface well or tape may not stick and the liquid tapes may not even stay on that surface long enough to cure. Do not flood both ends of a piece of coax. It will tend to "breathe" with temperature changes and draw in moisture than will not be able to get out. Coax cables with large internal voids (such as 9913) are particularly susceptible to this. If the outside can be well sealed, I've found it works well to not flood the insides with the exception of the upper most connector in the run." Jon N0JK encourages those "operating a contest from the other side" to give 6-meters a try outside of the contest. W6PH, who has operated from Bermuda. has made quite a few QSOs on the Magic Band from Bermuda and V31JP is often on from V3. Even with declining solar flux, QSOs are being made between the South Pacific and Japan, as well as from the Caribbean to LU and PY. 6-meter DX is possible throughout the solar cycle. Sealed lead-acid batteries give their best performance when kept charged. This sounds like a great homebrew project and a May 2001 QST article by Bob AA4PB makes it easy. Based on the UC3906 IC, a printed-circuit board is available from FAR Circuits at http://www.farcircuits.net/battery1.htm for $12. I use an SLA battery for my antenna analyzer, so this may be a rainy day project on my workbench. (Thanks, Doug W7RDP) If you're a Java aficionado (the software, not the drink), a contest logging program written in Java is available at http://www.qsl.net/w1jq/. (Thanks, Tom K1KI) Al AD6E contributes to ham lore as follows: "Suffice it to say now that you should NEVER NEVER put up antennas next to a bunch of bee hives!!!!!" Nuff said. CONVERSATION Getting A Read On It What's on your reading list this fall? Hams LOVE books of any sort about their way of life...I mean "hobby." And books a-plenty there are. Just a casual browse through the ARRL products turns up dozens of titles on all sorts of topics. If you went to Dayton, it seemed that every other booth was selling books or CDs. The ARRL catalog alone is over 300 titles long, covering everything from fiction to the latest design techniques. RSGB, CQ, and other publishers add even more. The next time you log on to one of the ham radio bookseller sites, take a moment to browse through unfamiliar titles and topics. Can you find one with whose topic you're almost completely unfamiliar? I'm sure you can and probably more than one or two. This is quite a change from the days when I got started in ham radio. Back then, one of the handbooks, an Operating Manual, and a handful of small books on antennas or circuits was enough. As Inspector Clouseau would say, "Not any more!" Ham radio has gotten to be HUGE in scope! Every week brings another digital mode or system. Emergency communications is transforming itself as the served agencies adopt new procedures and systems. So-called VHF+ "weak signal" operating uses a dozen modes, coordinates via real-time Internet sites, and regularly achieves distances thought impossible on frequencies considered unattainable. The QRP operators are thriving, building, and operating. Mobiling! Linking! Unless you are willing to get out of your "comfort zone", you may be completely unaware of some of the neat things going on today. After all, just keeping a competitive contest station on the air is a full-time job, it seems! In the Old Days, one issue of QST could pretty much capture a snapshot of Amateur Radio. To do so today, QST would have to double in size, at least. The number of columns could easily double or triple and have a sizeable audience for each one. Even assisted by CQ's broad coverage, the general ham magazines can't cover it all. They are supported by quite a number of specialty magazines and newsletters catering to the niches of the hobby. This doesn't even begin to address the Web sites. Few clubs don't have a Web site and electronic newsletter. Sites focused on various technologies abound. Other sites relay real-time operating information around the world. DX-ers have a new band to play with - the spotting network. Contesters have reporting and summary tools that give a fairly accurate description of results soon after the contest. My point is, of course, that we all tend to lose sight of the far reaches (to us) of the hobby. That's only natural, I think. We like to perform well and exhibit some expertise when we're on the air. That requires focus. The trick is to figure out whether you're in a groove or a rut. Most hams change emphasis more than once as they experience ham radio, becoming skilled in several areas. One sure way to inoculate yourself against slowly petrifying is to exercise the neurons by having them do something different now and then. Taking up a new aspect of ham radio is not trivial, but there's a convenient substitute in the guise of the many books and publications available. You don't have to chuck all your gear to find out about moonbounce or APRS. Just get a read on it. It's healthy to take a ramble through unfamiliar territory. You clear out the cobwebs and get a fresh perspective on your favorite parts of ham radio. I highly recommend it! This winter, when the weather outside is frightful, grab some literature from or log on to a part of ham radio you've not visited before. You might surprise yourself with a brand new interest. 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
