 November 24, 2021 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | |
IN THIS ISSUE
NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO If you're new to HF contesting, you might want to check out the Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, November 30 from 0100Z to 0159Z. The weekly, hour-long event occurs each Tuesday, with categories including Youth, YL, and OM. Scores are cumulative, with each week's scores added to a yearly leaderboard. -- For RTTY operators, the RTTYOPS Weeksprint is November 25 and December 2, 1700z to 1900z. This is a 2-hour, twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) sprint for those operating RTTY (Radioteletype) on 80, 40, and 20 meters. Visit their website for complete rules. CONTEST SUMMARY Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section November 25 November 26 November 27 November 29 November 30 December 1 December 2
December 3 December 4 December 6 December 7 December 8
NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST 160-Meter Transatlantic Centenary QSO Party - 0200 to 0800 UTC, December 12, 2021 ARRL and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) are jointly sponsoring this event to celebrate the achievement of transatlantic communications by radio amateurs 100 years ago. ARRL and RSGB will activate special event stations for 6 hours (0200 - 0800 UTC) on December 12. The RSGB will activate GB2ZE from Scotland, with a team of stations from the GMDX Group sharing operating duties. ARRL will activate W1AW. The stations will operate only on CW. If transatlantic propagation holds up, the stations may continue to operate beyond 0800 UTC. The over-the-air exchange will be your call sign and signal report. Participants who successfully contact one or more of the stations will be able to download a commemorative certificate. The GMDX Group of Scotland will award a quaich -- a traditional Scottish drinking cup representing friendship -- to the first stations in North America and the UK to complete contacts with both W1AW and GB2ZE during the QSO Party. For more details on this event, see www.arrl.org/transatlantic. --- CWops is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Award for Advancing the Art of CW. This prestigious award recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations that have made the greatest contribution(s) toward advancing the art or practice of radio communications by Morse code (CW). Candidates may be:
This award is not limited to radio amateurs or their organizations. Anyone may submit a nomination to awards@cwops.org, with a copy to secretary@cwops.org. Submissions will be acknowledged via email. Nominations must be received by March 18, 2022, and include a detailed explanation supporting the nominee's qualifications, name(s) and call sign(s), and contact information. Also include the name, call sign, and email address of the individual submitting the nomination. The award will be presented at Dayton Hamvention®. WORD TO THE WISE CQ "Calling any station" is the general call when requesting a conversation with anyone. Like many other telegraph terms that originated on the landlines, CQ was brought over into radio and used as a general call to all ships by the Marconi Company. Other companies used "KA" until the London Convention of 1912, which adopted CQ as the international general call or "attention" signal. But why the letters CQ? From the French, sécurité (which means "safety" or, as intended here, "pay attention"). The pronounciation of the first two syllables sounds like the English letters C and Q, which led to "CQ" becoming a call to attention for all stations. SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
Phil, K3UA, is all smiles after working a clean sweep at K3LR during the ARRL November Sweepstakes CW contest. Phil logged over 700 QSOs in 12 hours of operating time. [Tim Duffy, K3LR, photo] RESULTS AND RECORDS The 2021 ARRL Field Day results are available in the December issue of QST as well as on the web at field-day.arrl.org/fdresults.php. While not technically a contest, Field Day is one of the most popular operating events in the US and Canada. In 2021, there were 5,979 entries submitted from participants in The US, Canada, and 13 DX entities. --- Stu, K6TU, writes: "The results for the 2021 running of the Makrothen RTTY Contest are now available on the Pizza Lovers 259 website at www.pl259.org/makrothen/results/. Personalized certificates are available to all participants. We would like to thank all who took part and congratulate the top scorers in all categories. The 2022 Makrothen RTTY Contest will take place on the second weekend of October (8th & 9th)." --- The results for the 2021 IARU HF World Championship are available at contests.arrl.org. Searchable scores are available, as well as the full results article, log checking reports, and line scores. Bob Raymond, WA1Z, notes in the full results article that "with 5,211 logs submitted this year, it is only the third time in the history of the event that more than 5,000 entries have been received." Results will also appear in the March 2022 issue of QST. --- The Scandinavian Activity Contest (SAC) Committee has announced that the SAC CW 2021 preliminary scores are now available at www.sactest.net/blog/sac-2021-cw-preliminary-results/. The committee reports that they received 1,412 logs, very close to last year's record of 1,442 logs. Please check your Category, Score, and LCR and tell us if anything looks incorrect. If you have questions, send an email to support@sactest.net. Clicking on your call in the listings will show the log checking report. The log checking process has been improved and is now producing reports similar to what you get from CQ WW and CQ WPX. --- The CQ WW SSB Contest raw scores are available for review at cqww.com. CQ WW Contest Director John, K1AR, noted that the scoring errors for the Classic Overlay raw scores have been corrected. OPERATING TIP In response to the operating tips from John, N1GNV, that were published in the last issue, John, VE7KKQ, emailed another tip that he'd like to add. In contests, he often comes across operators with "enthusiasm for working calls as quickly as they can, who speak so fast that they are unintelligible." He suggests that operators take the time to speak clearly and slowly so that potential QSOs are not lost due to the fact that the caller is not able to understand what the operator is saying. TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION Len Koppl, KD0RC, shared a link of his presentation about his TeensyMaestro project with the Boulder Amateur Radio Club. The project, built around a Teensy® 4.1 Development Board, provides knobs, buttons, touch display, and a CW memory keyer for FLEX-6000 Signature Series SDR radios. The links for the YouTube video of the presentation and the GitHub repository are below. TeensyMaestro Presentation to Boulder Amateur Radio Club Teensy-Maestro-for-FLEX-6000-radios QUOTABLES Ward, N0AX, shared: "Here's an 1844 quote sent by postal mail from Samuel Morse to his partner, Alfred Vail, regarding telegraphy: '... there is one defect in your writing [sending] which I wish you would pay particular attention to - Make a longer space between each letter, & a still longer space between each word, The letters and words are often confounded for want of this simple attention.' Even at the beginning, nearly 180 years ago, running characters together was a problem!" CONVERSATION When submitting your contest log, many contest sponsors will provide an email confirmation of your entry. It's always advisable to check your confirmation email or the contest's Logs Received page to check if your entry has been submitted, and that your entry category, club name, and location are correct. ARRL, CQ, and other contest sponsors will allow you to resubmit your log with any corrections before the log submission deadline. The most recently upload log will be used for scoring purposes. After the deadline, some contest sponsors will release "Raw Scores" that reflect the scores before any log checking is completed. If, after the deadline, you notice an error in your log submission, contact the contest sponsor to correct it before the results are tabulated and made public. --- That's all for this time. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, and until next time, we'll leave the amp on for you! 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 CONTESTS November 25, 2021 - December 8, 2021 An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral is available as a PDF. Check the sponsors' website for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions. HF CONTESTS CWops Mini-CWT Test, Nov 25, 0300z to Nov 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 27. CWops Mini-CWT Test, Nov 25, 0700z to Nov 25, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 27. RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Nov 25, 1700z to Nov 25, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Dec 2. EACW Meeting, Nov 25, 1900z to Nov 25, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; EACW Member: RST + Member No. + Nickname, EA non-Member: RST + Nickname + EA province, non-EA: RST + Nickname + DXCC prefix; Logs due: Nov 27. RSGB 80m Autumn Series, CW, Nov 25, 2000z to Nov 25, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 28. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Nov 26, 0145z to Nov 26, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 28. NCCC Sprint, Nov 26, 0230z to Nov 26, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 28. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 26, 2000z to Nov 26, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 28. CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW, Nov 27, 0000z to Nov 28, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: Dec 3. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 29, 0000z to Nov 29, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 1. QCX Challenge, Nov 29, 1300z to Nov 29, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Dec 5. QCX Challenge, Nov 29, 1900z to Nov 29, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Dec 5. RSGB FT4 Contest Series, Nov 29, 2000z to Nov 29, 2130z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 30. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Nov 30, 0100z to Nov 30, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Dec 1. QCX Challenge, Nov 30, 0300z to Nov 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Dec 5. RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Nov 30, 1700z to Nov 30, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Dec 7. QRP Fox Hunt, Dec 1, 0200z to Dec 1, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Dec 2. Phone Weekly Test - Fray, Dec 1, 0230z to Dec 1, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Dec 3. CWops Mini-CWT Test, Dec 1, 1300z to Dec 1, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 4. CWops Mini-CWT Test, Dec 1, 1900z to Dec 1, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 4. QRP ARCI Topband Sprint, Dec 2, 0000z to Dec 2, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160; ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + ARCI No., non-ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + power out; Logs due: Dec 19. Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Dec 2, 0000z to Dec 3, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Dec 9. CWops Mini-CWT Test, Dec 2, 0300z to Dec 2, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 4. CWops Mini-CWT Test, Dec 2, 0700z to Dec 2, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 4. RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Dec 2, 1700z to Dec 2, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Dec 9. NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Dec 2, 1800z to Dec 2, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Dec 16. SKCC Sprint Europe, Dec 2, 2000z to Dec 2, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Dec 9. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Dec 3, 0145z to Dec 3, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Dec 5. QRP Fox Hunt, Dec 3, 0200z to Dec 3, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Dec 4. NCCC Sprint, Dec 3, 0230z to Dec 3, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Dec 5. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Dec 3, 2000z to Dec 3, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 5. ARRL 160-Meter Contest, Dec 3, 2200z to Dec 5, 1600z; CW; Bands: 160; W/VE: RST + ARRL/RAC Section, DX: RST; Logs due: Dec 12. UFT Meeting, Dec 4, 0500z to Dec 5, 1000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM"; Logs due: Jan 15. Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Dec 4, 0600z to Dec 4, 0800z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs due: Dec 11. PRO CW Contest, Dec 4, 1200z to Dec 5, 1159z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; CW Club Member: RST + Serial No. + "/M", non-Members: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Dec 12. INORC Contest, Dec 4, 1400z to Dec 5, 1359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Naval: RST + Club + Member No., Independent: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Dec 20. FT Roundup, Dec 4, 1800z to Dec 5, 2359z; FT8/FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; W (except KH6/KL7): RST + state, VE: RST + province/territory, non-W/VE: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Dec 12. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Dec 6, 0000z to Dec 6, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 8. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Dec 7, 0100z to Dec 7, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Dec 8. ARS Spartan Sprint, Dec 7, 0200z to Dec 7, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Dec 9. RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Dec 7, 1700z to Dec 7, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Dec 14. NAQCC CW Sprint, Dec 8, 0130z to Dec 8, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Dec 12. QRP Fox Hunt, Dec 8, 0200z to Dec 8, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Dec 9. Phone Weekly Test - Fray, Dec 8, 0230z to Dec 8, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Dec 10. CWops Mini-CWT Test, Dec 8, 1300z to Dec 8, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 11. CWops Mini-CWT Test, Dec 8, 1900z to Dec 8, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 11. VHF+ CONTESTS VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Dec 1, 1700z to Dec 1, 2000z; FT8; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Dec 6. Two-Meter Classic Sprint, Dec 4, 1300z to Dec 4, 1330z; CW, SSB; Bands: 2; Serial No. + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Dec 7. VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Dec 8, 1700z to Dec 8, 2000z; FT8; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Dec 13. See also: Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest LOG DUE DATES November 25 November 26 November 27 November 28
November 29 November 30
December 1 December 2 December 3 December 4 December 5
December 6 December 7 December 8 ARRL Information Click here to advertise in this newsletter, space subject to availability. Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information ARRL membership includes a choice of one print magazine: QST, the monthly membership journal, or On the Air, ARRL's new bimonthly publication for beginner and intermediate hams. All ARRL members can access all four ARRL magazines -- QST, On the Air, NCJ, and QEX - digitally. Subscribe to NCJ - the National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties. Subscribe to QEX - A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals. Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest of news and information), the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), Division and Section news -- and much more! ARRL offers a wide array of products to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio. Visit the site often for new publications, specials and sales. Donate to the fund of your choice -- support programs not funded by member dues! Reprint permission can be obtained by sending email to permission@arrl.org with a description of the material and the reprint publication. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar. | |
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