Contester's Rate Sheet for May 3, 2006
******************************************** CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET 3 May 2006 Edited by Ward Silver N0AX Published by the American Radio Relay League Free to ARRL members! (Subscription info at the end of newsletter) ******************************************** SUMMARY o State QSO Parties Galore - IN, NEQP, 7QP, Mid-Atlantic o Microwave & 6-meter Sprint, EU EME Contests o West Mountain Radio Sponsors ARRL RTTY Roundup Plaques o Dayton Forum & Banquet News o Extreme RC Modeling o CQ WW VHF and NCCC Sprint Online Results o Grounding Tutorials o PASS and EMRCalc Programs o Crossbrace Oddity BULLETINS o No bulletins this issue BUSTED QSOS o A Golden Log last issue! -oo --- -o - -- oo ooo ooo -o-- --- oo- o-o LOG DUE DATES - 3 MAY TO 16 MAY 2006 o-oo --- --o -oo o o- -oo o-oo oo -o o ooo May 3 - ARS Spartan Sprint, email logs to: hjohnc@core.com, post log summary at: http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/ss_log.html, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at: http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/pages/spartan_sprints/ss_rules_new.html. May 5 - YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest, CW, email logs to: kc4iyd@yahoo.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Nancy Rabel Hall, KC4IYD, PO Box 775, North Olmsted, OH 44070, USA. Find rules at: http://www.ylrl.org/ylcontests.html. May 7 - Russian DX Contest, email logs to: RusDXC@contesting.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Russian DX Contest, PO Box 88, 119311 Moscow, Russia. Find rules at: http://www.rdxc.org/asp/pages/rulesg.asp. May 9 - ARCI Spring QSO Party, email logs to: va3jff@yahoo.ca, paper logs and diskettes to: ARCI Spring QSO Party, c/o Jeff Hetherington, VA3JFF, 139 Elizabeth St W, Welland, Ontario L3C 4M3, Canada. Find rules at: http://www.qrparci.org/. May 9 - Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest, email logs to: gc@qStru, paper logs and diskettes to: GC Contest Committee, PO Box 2020, Moscow, 101000, Russia. Find rules at: http://www.srr.su/contest/GC/gc2005re.htm. May 10 - 222 MHz Spring Sprint, email logs to: springsprints@etdxa.org, paper logs and diskettes to: 222 MHz Spring Sprint, ETDXA/WU4O, Jeff J Baker, 2012 Hinds Creek Road, Heiskell, Tennessee 37754, USA. Find rules at: http://www.etdxa.org/2006_spring_sprint%20rules.htm. May 12 - EA RTTY Contest, email logs to: rttycontest@ure.es, paper logs and diskettes to: EA RTTY CONTEST, PO Box 220, 28080 Madrid, Spain. Find rules at: http://www.ure.es/hf/concursos/eartty/basesearttyingles.pdf. May 12 - Georgia QSO Party, email logs to: gqp@iham.us, paper logs and diskettes to: John Laney, K4BAI, PO Box 421, Columbus, GA 31902-0421, USA. Find rules at: http://gqp.contesting.com/Rules.htm. May 12 - YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest, SSB, email logs to: kc4iyd@yahoo.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Nancy Rabel Hall, KC4IYD, PO Box 775, North Olmsted, OH 44070, USA. Find rules at: http://www.ylrl.org/ylcontests.html. May 13 - TARA Skirmish Digital Prefix Contest, email logs to: (none), post log summary at: http://n2ty.org/seasons/tara_dpx_score.html, paper logs and diskettes to: John C Durbin, N8PSK, 175 Footville Richmond Rd E, Jefferson OH 44047, USA. Find rules at: http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_dpx_rules.html. May 15 - Michigan QSO Party, email logs to: logs@miqp.org, paper logs and diskettes to: Mad River Radio Club, c/o Dave Pruett, 2727 Harris Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48198, USA. Find rules at: http://www.miqp.org/MiQP_Rules.htm. May 16 - EA-QRP CW Contest, email logs to: ea1bp@yahoo.es, paper logs and diskettes to: Vocalia de concursos (Concurso CW), PO Box 48021, E-28043, Madrid, Spain. Find rules at: http://www.eaqrp.com/concurso/concurso-CW_2006_en.htm. May 16 - YU DX Contest, email logs to: logs@yudx.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Savez radio-amatera SCG, YU DX Contest, PO Box 48, 11001 BEOGRAD, Serbia and Montenegro. Find rules at: http://arenaqs.com/yudx/rulesengl.pdf. -o-o --o- - o ooo - -o-o --o- - o ooo - CONTESTS - 3 MAY TO 16 MAY 2006 -o-o --o- - o ooo - -o-o --o- - o ooo - 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 (>100 W); LP - Low Power; QRP (5W or less) HF CONTESTS MARAC County Hunters Contest--CW, sponsored by the Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club from 0000Z May 6 - 2400Z May 7. Frequencies (MHz): 3.575, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050, work fixed stations once/band and mobiles once for each county and band. Categories: Mobile, Fixed, Mixed. Exchange: RST, state, and county code (see Web site) or DX. County line QSOs count as one QSO but separate multipliers. QSO Points: Fixed stations in US --1 point, Mobile--15 points, DX--5 pts, one station must be in a US county. Score: QSO Points × US counties counted only once. Mobiles sum score from each state. For more information: http://www.marac.org/. Logs due Jun 9 to aa8r@aol.com or Randy Hatt, 7878 W County Line Rd, Howard City, MI 49239. 10-10 International Spring Contest--CW/Digital, sponsored by Ten-Ten International from 0001Z May 6 - 2359Z May 7. 10-meters only. Exchange: Callsign, name, QTH, and 10-10 number (if a member). QSO Points: nonmembers--1 pt, members--2 pts. Score: total points. For complete rules: http://www.ten-ten.org/. Logs due May 22 to tentencontest@alltel.net or Steve Rasmussen N0WY, #68684, 312 N 6th St, Plattsmouth, NE 68048. Indiana QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Hoosier DX and Contest Club from 1600Z May 6 - 0400Z May 7. Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.805 and 40 kHz above the band edge on 80-10 meters, SSB--1.845, 3.850, 7.230, 14.250, 21.300, 28.450, try 160 at 0200Z, no crossband QSOs. Categories: SOAB (HP, LP, QRP, no spotting assistance), MS (incl. SO using spotting assistance), Mobile, Portable. Exchange: RS(T) + S/P or IN county (DX stations send RS(T) only). QSO Points: SSB -- 1 pt, CW -- 2 pts, contact stations once per band/mode and once per county. County line stations count for 2 counties max. Score is QSO Points x IN counties or S/P/C counted once per mode. Bonus for working W9UUU. For more information: http://www.hdxcc.org/inqp. Logs due Jun 15 to inqp@hdxcc.org (Cabrillo format preferred) or HDXCC, c/o Mike Goode N9NS, 10340 Broadway, Indianapolis, IN 46280-1344. ARI International DX Contest--CW/SSB/Digital, sponsored by ARI from 2000Z May 6 - 1959Z May 7. Frequencies: CW/SSB--160 - 10 meters; Digital--80 - 10 meters, change bands or mode no more than once per 10 min. Categories: SO-CW, SO-SSB, SO-Digital, SO-Mixed, MS-Mixed, SO-SWL-Mixed. Exchange: RST and Italian Province or serial number. QSO Points: own country--0 pts (mult only), own continent--1 pt, different cont.--3 pts, Italian stations--10 pts. Score: QSO points x Italian Provinces + DXCC entity (except I, IS0, IT9, IG9/IH9) counted once per band. For more information: http://www.qsl.net/contest_ari. Logs due 30 days after the contest to aricontest@kkn.net (Cabrillo format is encouraged) or to ARI Contest Manager c/o ARI, Via Scarlatti 31, 20124 Milano, Italy. New England QSO Party--CW/Phone, 2000Z May 6 - 0500Z May 7 and 1300Z - 2400Z May 7. New England is ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, and RI. Frequencies (MHz): CW--3.540, 7.035, 14.040, 21.040, 28.040; SSB--3.875, 7.280, 14.280, 21.380, 28.380; no crossmode or crossband QSOs, all CW QSOs in CW band segments. Categories: SOAB (HP, LP, and QRP), MS (includes stations using any kind of spotting assistance), mobiles use same categories. Exchange: RS(T) and S/P (non-US/VE sends "DX") or NE county/state. Work stations once per band/mode and mobiles in each county. County lines logged as two QSOs. QSO Points: phone--1 pt, CW and Digital--2 pts. Score: Non-NE stations--QSO points x NE counties; NE stations--QSO points x S/P/C; mobiles total QSO points from all counties and count multipliers only once. For more information: http://www.neqp.org/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to logs@neqp.org (Cabrillo format preferred) or NEQP, PO Box 3005, Framingham MA 01705-3005. 7th Area QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Central Oregon DX Club from 1300Z May 6 - 0700Z May 7. Frequencies (MHz): 80 -- 10 meters, CW--40 kHz above band edge, SSB-- 3.855, 7.255, 14.255, 21.355 and 28.455; no repeater QSOs. Exchange: State and county code (see Web site) or S/P/C. QSO Points: SSB--2 pts, CW--3 pts. Score: QSO points x 7th area counties (7th area stations add states and provinces) counted only once. For more information: http://www.7qp.org/. Logs due Jun 10 to 7qplogs@codxc.org or 7th Call Area QSO Party, c/o CODXC, 61255 Ferguson Rd, Bend, OR 97702. IPA Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the International Police Association US Section from 1400Z - 2000Z May 6 (CW), 1400Z - 2000Z May 7 (SSB), each mode is considered a separate contest. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB, MS, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number, IPA stations add IPA, US IPA stations add state. QSO Points: Non-IPA--1 pt, Non-US IPA--2 pts, US IPA--5 pts, IPARC club--10 pts, US IPA stations with 1x1 call--20 pts. Score: QSO points x US IPA states worked from all bands. For more information: http://www.iparc.org/ or jenkinstd@aol.com. Logs due 30 June to WA8VDC Tom Jenkins, 4828 Elm St, Newport, MI 48166. Radio Club of America QSO Party--SSB, from 1700Z May 6 - 0700Z May 7. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, equipment used. RCA members sign their calls "/RCA". Band changes throughout the day, for more information: http://www.radio-club-of-america.org/. Logs to mrraide@cbs.com or Mike Raide W2ZE, 21 Canandaigua Street, Shortsville, NY 14548. Armed Forces Amateur/Military Crossband Communications Test--the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are co-sponsoring the annual military/amateur radio communications tests in celebration of the 55th Anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFD). The test is conducted one week earlier than Armed Forces Day (May 21) to avoid conflicting with the Dayton Hamvention. For complete information, including call signs and frequency lists: http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/news/. Mid-Atlantic QSO Party - SSB/FM/CW, sponsored by the Independent Mid-Atlantic QSO Party Committee from 1200Z May 13 - 2400Z May 15. Mid-Atlantic states include DE, MD-DC, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WV. Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters, 50 kHz from bottom of band segment for operating mode, 50, 144, 222, and 432 MHz. Categories: SO-LP (<200 W) and QRP, MS/Club, Mobile, Rover. Exchange: serial number and QTH (Mid-Atlantic stations send 3-letter county and 2-letter state, US/VE send state or province, DX sends "DX"). QSO Points: Phone--1 pt, CW--2 pts, Mobile--3 pts. Score: QSO Points x Mid-Atl counties (Mid-Atl stations count S/P + 1 DX), all multipliers counted only once. For more information: http://www.maqp.info/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to logs@maqp.info or Mid-Atlantic QSO Party, Attn: Walter O'Brien W2WJO, PO Box 4922, Clinton, NJ 08809. CQ-M International DX Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Krenkel Central Radio Club from 1200Z May 13 - 1200Z May 14. Frequencies: 160 -- 10 meters including satellites, which count as a separate band; remain on a band for at least 10 min. Categories: SOSB (CW, SSB, Mixed, Satellites), SOAB (CW, SSB, Mixed, LP, QRP must sign "/QRP"), MS-Mixed, SWL-Mixed, WWII Veteran, Pobeda Memorial. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number. QSO Points: Using P-150-C award countries, own country--1 pt, same cont.--2 pts, different cont.--3 pts. Score: QSO points x countries counted once per band. For more information: http://www.cq-m.andys.ru/. Logs due July 1 to cqm@srr.ru or ua0agi@andys.ru or to CQ-M Contest Committee, PO Box 25464, Krasnoyarsk 660049, Russia. FISTS Spring Sprint--CW, sponsored by the FISTS CW Club from 1700Z - 2100Z May 13. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters, work US/VE stations. Categories: SO, SO-QRP, Club. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, first name, FISTS number (non-FISTS 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. Alessandro Volta RTTY DX Contest, sponsored by COMO and ARI from 1200Z May 13 - 1200Z May 14. Frequencies: 80 -- 10 meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS, SWL. Exchange: RST, serial number, CQ Zone. QSO Points: see table on Web site. Score: see Web site for scoring rules and examples. For more information: http://www.contestvolta.com/. Logs due Jul 31 to log@contestvolta.it or to Francesco Di Michele I2DMI, PO Box 55, I-22063 Cantu, Italy. Feld Hell Sprint Sprint, 10AM - 2PM local time, May 13. Frequencies: 160-10 meters, use digital frequencies according to band plan. Categories: USA/VE and DX, 100 watts max. Exchange: RST/RSQ + state/province or serial number. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points x S/P/C counted once only. For more information: http://www.feldhellclub.co.uk/. Logs in Cabrillo format due 2 weeks after the contest to contest@feldhellclub.co.uk. VHF+ CONTESTS Microwave Spring Sprint--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Eastern Tennessee DX Association from 0600 -- 1300 local, May 6. Fixed and Rover categories. Exchange is Grid Square only, count 1 pt per QSO. Score is QSO Points x Grid Squares, score each sprint separately. Rovers and Microwave sprints total all points and all grids worked from each grid. For more information: http://www.etdxa.org/vhf.htm. Logs must be emailed or postmarked within four weeks of the contest to springsprints@etdxa.org or ETDXA/WU4O Jeff Baker, 2012 Hinds Creek Road, Heiskell, Tennessee 37754. EU EME Contest--any mode--sponsored by DUBUS and REF, 0000Z May 6 - 2400Z May 7. Frequencies: 1.2 GHz. Categories: Single and Multi-band, QRP and QRO--based on EIRP, Pro, CW, Digital, Mixed, Assisted. Exchange: callsigns TMO/RST and "R". QSO Points: 144/432/1.3--100 pts for random, 10 pts for scheduled QSO, 2.3 GHz and higher--100 pts/QSO. Score: QSO Points (x2 for QSOs at 2.3 GHz and above) x S/P/C from random QSOs (or any QSOs at 2.3 GHz and above). For more information: http://www.dubus.org/ or info@dubus.de. Logs due Jun 7 to f6hye@ref-union.org or Patrick Magnin, F6HYE, Marcorens, F-74140 Ballaison, France. 50 MHz Spring Sprint, sponsored by the Eastern Tennessee DX Association from 2300Z May 13 - 0300Z May 14 (see rules for Microwave Sprint, May 6) --o- ooo - --o- ooo - --o- ooo - -oo o NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST - oooo o o-o o- - o ooo oooo o o - -o- ARRL CONTEST NEWS The ARRL is pleased to welcome West Mountain Radio as the principal awards sponsor for the 2006 ARRL RTTY Roundup. West Mountain Radio has agreed to serve as the sponsor for nearly 50 plaques currently unsponsored which recognize various levels of operating achievement in what is considered by many to be the premier worldwide digital contest. West Mountain Radio will pick up sponsorship of plaques for any Overall W/VE or DX Category winners or ARRL Division winners that are not already sponsored by long-time supporting clubs and individuals. (Thanks, Dan N1ND) - - - - - 2006 Dayton Hamvention Forum and Banquet News Contest Forum, Moderator Doug Grant K1DG Saturday, May 20, 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM in Room 1 at the Hara Arena "What's new at the NCJ - YOUR Magazine" - Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA "WRTC2006 Update" - Atilano Oms, PY5EG "Extreme CW Contesting - the IARU High-Speed Telegraphy Championship" - Barry Kutner, W2UP "Who Says There's No Young Contesters? Introducing the WWYC" - Dominic Smith, M0BLF "Mobile Contesting - A New Pileup Every 30 Minutes!" - Jim Stahl, K8MR and Hal Offutt, W1NN "Extreme Makeover - YCCC Edition" - Doug Grant, K1DG and Randy Thompson, K5ZD ...and a few little surprises scattered throughout the afternoon... Antenna Forum, Moderator Tim Duffy K3LR Friday, May 19th, from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM in Room 1 at Hara Arena. "Another Way to View Propagation Predictions for DXing and Contesting" by Dean Straw, N6BV "Design, Construction and Maintenance of Antennas and Towers for Storm Survival and Long Term Reliability" by Frank Donovan, W3LPL "Construction of the Largest SteppIR Yagi Stack in the World at K9LTN" by Brion Gilbert, N0AE "Tips, Tricks, & Tools of the Trade" by Don Daso, K4ZA "The BIG Antennas at Contest Station VE6JY" by Mitch Mitchell, VE6OH and Don Moman, VE6JY Tom WA8WZG, Tony WA8RJF and the VHF Weak Signal Group would like to invite all weak signal VHF, UHF and Microwave enthusiasts to the 13th Annual VHF Weak Signal Group banquet to be held on Friday evening May 19th - at the Holiday Inn Dayton North, 2301 Wagner Ford Road, Dayton OH 45415. Cost per person is $35.00 and includes dinner and prize ticket. A few seats are left - for more information contact Tony at wa8jrf@arrl.net or Tom at wa8wzg@wa8wzg.com. - - - - - The Central Arizona DX Association announces that K7UGA, the memorial callsign of the late Sen Barry Goldwater, will be activated during the 7th Area QSO Party on May 6th and 7th. K7UGA is located in Maricopa County. Please visit http://cadxa.org/ for additional information. (Thanks, Gary K8BN) Doug KI6DS announces the newest kit in the Hendricks QRP Kits lineup, the PCB-Vise. (http://www.qrpkits.com/, click on PCB-Vise under Current Kits) The PCB-Vise is a high quality, yet affordable solution to that extra hand that you need when working on PC Boards. The kit is made of 1/2" square aluminum bar that is fully machined and drilled. The aluminum parts are anodized a turquoise blue. The cost of the kit is $20 plus shipping and handling. Assembly time is less than 5 minutes. Many of the Rate Sheet readers have at least some passing familiarity with the Bell Labs building in Holmdel, NJ that has the water tower shaped like a transistor. As this article notes, the transistor has reached it's MTBF and will soon be snipped: http://tinyurl.com/s8jzy. (Thanks, Steve N2IC) I know we have some Radio Control modelers in the readership. This video shows an example of Extreme Modeling - the maiden flight of a model B-52! The plane has eight turbines, it took over two years to build, a wing span of about 22 feet, and takes multiple pilots as there are so many things to control. Be amazed at: tinyurl.com/odsy8! (Thanks, Mel K0PFX) We return to the inexhaustible Babel Fish translator at Alta Vista (http://babelfish.altavista.com/) for more fun with contest-related Portuguese: What a lid! - Que tampa! You look very nice in a thong - Você olha muito agradável em um thong I thought you packed the power cable - Eu pensei que você embalou o cabo de poder Which way is Europe? - Que maneira é Europa? What is our zone? - Que é nossa zona? URL OF THE WEEK - Instant solar flare alerts are available from SpaceWeather by phone (http://spaceweatherphone.com/), allowing you to catch solar eruptions in the act. oo-o oo -o -oo -o-- --- oo- -o- RESULTS AND RECORDS -o-o o- o-oo o-oo oooo o o-o o ARRL CONTEST RESULTS NEWS Certificates for the 2005 September VHF QSO Party were mailed and 2005 November Phone Sweepstakes Web results have been opened to ARRL Members. The West Mountain Radio and Icom sponsorship logos will be incorporated into their sponsored awards. (Thanks, Dan N1ND) - - - - - CQ WW VHF Contest scores will be published on the Web after publication in print. Contest sponsorship is a major committment and expense. Therefore, after a lag time of about two months from publication so as not to take away any value from those who do subscribe, the results will be posted on-line at the CQ Web site: http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/. The 2005 results, showing growing interest in the contest (http:// www.cqww-vhf.com) are available now in the April issue of CQ. (Thanks, John W1XX) In support of encouraging contest activity and providing a forum for regional and local competition, Ed W0YK, has put together a very efficient and classy Web page to support the NCCC Sprint and the NCCC Sprint Ladder at http://www.ncccsprint.com/. If your club is considering ways to promote contesting, this Web site is a good idea. (Thanks, Marc W6ZZZ) oo oo-o oo - ooo -o --- - -ooo o-o --- -o- o TECHNICAL TIPS AND INFORMATION -o-- --- oo- o-o o -o --- - - o-o -o-- oo -o --o Jim AD1C provides a program called "PASS" that analyzes your log for band-to-band passing. Browse to http://www.k1ea.com/utilities and look for "pass.exe". (Thanks, Jim AD1C) Bob K0RC came across this tutorial when researching tower grounding. It contains a lot of useful information and diagrams of typical grounding systems used in Communication Tower and Power Substation installations: http://www.leminstruments.com/grounding_tutorial/html. For information about feeding quads, Dan N5AR recommends LB Cebik W4RNL's book "Cubical Quad Notes", Vol. 1. (http://www.antennex.com/) It has an entire chapter titled "Separately Feeding Multi-Band Quads" He goes into great detail about the various feed systems, unused stubs shorted vs unshorted, and much more. The effect on gain, f/b, and feed point impedance is covered. A second volume covers advanced Quad designs considering the effect of conductor diameter, 3 and 4 element designs, and OWA types. For doing calculations of RF exposure, you can download a program that does all calculations for you from yagis, dipoles, verticals and so on. Have a look at http://www.sm2cew.com/download.htm for the VK3UM Site and Radiation Calculator version 5.1 (EMRCalc.exe). The program does not need to be installed, just run the .exe file. When it comes up it is in VHF/UHF/SHF mode. Click the check box marked "HF" in the "Frequency" window to get the HF options and antennas. Different radiation limits (standards for different countries) can be chosen. (Thanks, Peter SM2CEW) TECHNICAL URL OF THE WEEK - I may have mentioned this in the past, but it's such a good site! The RF Cafe (http://www.rfcafe.com/) is an RF techie's delight - articles, tutorials, calculators, you name it. Bookmark this URL for sure! -o-o --- -- o --- -o o ooo --o o - oooo o o-o o CONVERSATION ooo o- o-oo o- o-o -o-o -o-- -o-o o-oo o oo--- oooo- With all of you contemplating the summer's list of tower-top aerial acrobatics, it's time for another bit of fun with popular song! Crossbrace Oddity Originally by David Bowie and rendered unrecognizable by Dr. Beldar Ground Control to Climber Tom Ground Control to Climber Tom Cinch your climbing belt and put your hard hat on Ground Control to Climber Tom Commencing climbing, stepping on Check your lanyard and may Murphy smile on you One, two, three, four, five, six, Seven, eight, nine, ten, topped off This is Ground Control to Climber Tom Your gonads are grade A And the rope crew says to check your underwear Now it's time to climb the mast steps if you dare This is Climber Tom to Ground Control My arms are really sore And I'm leaning in a most peculiar way And the ground looks very very far away For here I am hanging from a gin pole Far above the world SWR is 2 And there's nothing I can do Though I measure right at fifty ohms The beam looks very ill I don't think the signals know which way to go Tell the boys we'll have to fix it down below Ground Control to Climber Tom The pulley's jammed, there's something wrong Can you hear me, Climber Tom? Can you hear me, Climber Tom? Can you hear me, Climber Tom? Can you.... For here I am hanging from a gin pole Far above the world SWR is 2 And there's nothing I can do... Have a good summer and a safe one, too! 73, Ward N0AX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from the following sources: WA7BNM's Contest Calendar Web page - http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal SM3CER's Web site - http://www.sk3bg.se/contest ARRL members may subscribe at no cost by editing their Member Data Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet. Excel and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation