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DX and Contesting |
I'll be posting DX and Contest Tips, suggestions, schedules. I will probably try to do this on a weekly basis. Right now, the "Tip of the Week" will be first, followed by the week's contests with helpful Links at the bottom. --Sorry I missed last week
If you'd like to see anything in particular, drop me an email.
73, Tad, WF4W
Tip of the week:
Whenever you operate a contest, set some goals. They don't have to be big, but they will help you set your sights on operating to reach the goal. Keep it simple at first like, "I want to make 50 or 100 contacts in the contest this weekend" or "I want to operate 5 hours in this contest." No worries if you don't reach the goal--you can try harder the next time--Life does get in the way sometimes. The great thing is, if you surpass your goal, you will feel really great about it! Bottom line is, enjoy operating the contest, regardless of how well you do.
This week's Contests
RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB: 2000Z-2130Z, Feb 6
Mode: SSB
Bands: 80m Only
Exchange: RS + Serial No.
Find rules at: http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2012/r80mcc.shtml
ARS Spartan Sprint: 0200Z-0400Z, Feb 7
Mode: CW
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Max power: 5 watts
Exchange: RST + (state/province/country) + Power
Find rules at: http://adventure-radio.org/wiki/index.php?title=Spartan_Sprint_Rules
QRP Fox Hunt: 0200Z-0330Z, Feb 8
Mode: CW
Bands: 80m Only
Max power: 5 watts
Exchange: RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output
Find rules at: http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm
CWops Mini-CWT Test: 1300Z-1400Z, Feb 8 & 1900Z-2000Z, Feb 8 and
0300Z-0400Z, Feb 9
Mode: CW
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Max power: HP: >100 watts
LP: 100 watts
QRP: 5 watts
Exchange: Member: Name + Member No.
non-Member: Name + (state/province/country)
Find rules at: http://www.cwops.org/onair.html
NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint: 1800Z-2000Z, Feb 8
Mode: CW
Bands: 80, 40, 20m
Max power: 5 watts
Exchange: RST + country + (NAQCC No./power)
Find rules at: http://naqcc-eu.org/SprintHelp/SprintRules.pdf
QRP Fox Hunt: 0200Z-0330Z, Feb 10
Mode: CW
Bands: 40m Only
Max power: 5 watts
Exchange: RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output
Find rules at: http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm
NCCC Sprint Ladder: 0230Z-0300Z, Feb 10
Mode: CW
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m
Max power: 100 watts
Find rules at: http://www.ncccsprint.com/rules.html
YLRL YL-OM Contest: 1400Z, Feb 10 to 0200Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW/Digital, SSB
Classes: (none)
Max power: HP: >100 watts
LP: 100 watts
QRP: 5 watts
Exchange: QSO No. + RS(T) + (section/province/country)
Find rules at: http://www.ylrl.hfradio.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=160
CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest: 0000Z, Feb 11 to 2359Z, Feb 12
Mode: RTTY
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Max power: HP: 1500 watts
LP: 100 watts
QRP: 5 watts
Exchange: RST + Serial No.
Find rules at: http://www.cqwpxrtty.com/rules.htm
SARL Field Day Contest: 1000Z, Feb 11 to 1000Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW, SSB, Digital
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Max power: QRP: 5 watts
non-QRP: >5 watts
Exchange: Number of transmitters + Category (see rules) + Province (or "DX")
Find rules at:http://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/SARL_2012_Contest_Manual_issue_10.pdf
Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint, CW: 1100Z-1300Z, Feb 11
Mode: CW
Bands: 40, 20m
Max power: Asia Pacific: 150 watts
Non-Asia Pacific: maximum legal
Exchange: RST + Serial No.
Find rules at: http://jsfc.org/apsprint/aprule.txt
Dutch PACC Contest: 1200Z, Feb 11 to 1200Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW, SSB
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Max power: LP: 100 watts
QRP: 5 watts
Exchange: PA: RS(T) + province
non-PA: RS(T) + Serial No.
Find rules at: http://pacc.veron.nl/
KCJ Topband Contest: 1200Z, Feb 11 to 1200Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW
Bands: 160m Only
Exchange: JA: RST + Prefecture/District Code
non-JA: RST + Continent Code (AF,AS,EU,NA,OC,SA)
Find rules at: http://www.kcj-cw.com/contest/12_toptest_rules_e.pdf
Louisiana QSO Party: 1500Z, Feb 11 to 0300Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW/Digital, Phone
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m
Exchange: LA: RS(T) + Parish
non-LA: RS(T) + (state/province/maritime region/country)
Find rules at: http://www.qsl.net/kd5wdy/LAQSO_/laqso_.html
OMISS QSO Party: 1500Z, Feb 11 to 1500Z, Feb 12
Mode: SSB
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Exchange: RS + (state/province/country) + (OMISS No. if member)
Work stations: Once per band
Find rules at: http://www.omiss.net/Facelift/qsoparty.php
New Hampshire QSO Party: 1600Z, Feb 11 to 0400Z, Feb 12 and 1200Z-2200Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW/Digital, Phone
Bands: All, except WARC
Max power: HP: >150 watts
LP: 150 watts
QRP: 5 watts
Exchange: NH: RS(T) + county
non-NH W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province)
DX: RS(T) + "DX"
Find rules at: http://www.w1wqm.org/nhqso/NEW_HAMPSHIRE_QSO_PARTY_RULES.pdf
FISTS Winter Sprint: 1700Z-2100Z, Feb 11
Mode: CW
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Max power: QRO: 100 watts
QRP: 5 watts
Exchange: FISTS: RST + (state/province/country) + first name + FISTS No.
non-FISTS: RST + (state/province/country) + first name + power
Find rules at: http://www.fists.org/sprints.html
RSGB 1st 1.8 MHz Contest: 2100Z, Feb 11 to 0100Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW, SSB
Bands: 160m Only
Exchange: UK: RST + Serial No. + District Code
non-UK: RST + Serial No.
Find rules at: http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2012/r1st-160m-2012.shtml
SKCC Weekend Sprint: 0000Z-2400Z, Feb 12
Mode: CW
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m
Exchange: RST + Name + (state/province/country) + (SKCC No./"NONE")
Find rules at: http://www.skccgroup.com/sprint/wes/index-wes.php
North American Sprint, SSB: 0000Z-0400Z, Feb 12
Mode: SSB
Bands: 80, 40, 20m
Max operating hours: 4 hours
Max power: HP: 1500 watts
LP: 100 watts
QRP: 5 watts
Exchange: [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] +
[your name] + [your state/province/country]
Find rules at: http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintrules.php
Classic Exchange, Phone: 1400Z, Feb 12 to 0800Z, Feb 13
Mode: AM, SSB, FM
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m
Exchange: Name + RS + (state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model
Find rules at: http://www.classicexchange.org/jan12/jan12ann.html
ARRL School Club Roundup: 1300Z, Feb 13 to 2400Z, Feb 17
Mode: CW/RTTY/Digital, Phone
Bands: All, except 60, 30, 17, 12m
Max operating hours: 24 hours total
6 hours out of any 24-hour period with off
times of at least 30 minutes
Exchange: RS(T) + Class (I/C/S) + (state/province/country)
Find rules at: http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup
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NEXT WEEK'S CONTESTS:
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ARRL School Club Roundup 1300Z, Feb 13 to
2400Z, Feb 17
PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint 2000 local, Feb
14 to 0200 local, Feb 15
NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint 0130Z-0330Z, Feb 15
QRP Fox Hunt 0200Z-0330Z, Feb 15
AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening 1900Z-2030Z, Feb 15
RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data 2000Z-2130Z, Feb 15
QRP Fox Hunt 0200Z-0330Z, Feb 17
NCCC Sprint Ladder 0230Z-0300Z, Feb 17
Russian PSK WW Contest 2100Z, Feb 17 to
2100Z, Feb 18
ARRL Inter. DX Contest, CW 0000Z, Feb 18 to
2400Z, Feb 19
Feld Hell Sprint 2000Z-2200Z, Feb 18
AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party 2300Z, Feb 18 to
2300Z, Feb 19
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest 0200Z-0400Z, Feb 20
LINKS
