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http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2017-02-22

The ARRL Contest Update

February 22, 2017
Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG


IN THIS ISSUE
 *  New HF Operators: ARRL DX SSB, Antenna System Losses
 *  Bulletins: Keep ARRL Contest Club Eligibility Lists Up to Date
 *  Contest Summary
 *  News: FlexRadio Amplifier, WRTC 2018, Elecraft, and more
 *  Word to the Wise: DMR
 *  Sights and Sounds: RAC Hall of Fame Induction, Tuned Speaker, CW
    Messages, and more
 *  Results: September ARRL VHF, JARTS, and more
 *  Operating Tip: Calling CQ for a State QSO Party
 *  Technical Topics and Information: Windows Serial Ports, "No Excuses"
    160m Vertical, and more
 *  Conversation: The Exchange
 *  Contests
 *  Log Due Dates


NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO

The ARRL International DX Contest, SSB is coming up - a great opportunity to
put some DX stations into your log. The Daily DX, NG3K, and others publish
information on some of the DX entities that will be active. Guidelines and
pointers published for the CW version of the contest that occurred last weekend
are relevant.

Now might also be a good time to better understand your antenna system,
especially how efficient it really is. Your antenna tuner may make your radio
happy, but a modestly high shack-measured SWR combined with lossy coax cable
might indicate you are radiating less of your signal than you think. Check out
this technical note regarding SWR, keeping in mind that fractions-of-dB losses
distributed through your system can add up.


BULLETINS

Attention Contest Clubs: if you are participating in the ARRL Contest Club
Competition, remember that you can change your eligibility list before each
ARRL contest. See the Contest Club Tools web page for more information. To
compete in Club Competition events, clubs must now supply their Eligibility
Lists before the running of the event in which they intend to participate.


BUSTED QSOS

The New Hampshire QSO Party was listed incorrectly in the last issue. This
year's NHQP is September 17 - September 18, 2017.


CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section

February 23

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  RSGB 80-meter Club Championship, CW

February 24

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  NCCC Sprint Ladder
 *  CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB

February 25

 *  REF Contest, SSB
 *  UBA DX Contest, CW
 *  South Carolina QSO Party
 *  North American QSO Party, RTTY

February 26

 *  High Speed Club CW Contest
 *  SARL Digital Contest
 *  North Carolina QSO Party

March 1

 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  UKEICC 80-meter Contest

March 2

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

March 3

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  NCCC Sprint

March 4

 *  ARRL International DX Contest, SSB
 *  Wake-Up! QRP Sprint
 *  Open Ukraine RTTY Championship

March 5

 *  Open Ukraine RTTY Championship
 *  UBA Spring Contest, CW
 *  DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest
 *  SARL Hamnet 40-meter Simulated Emergency Contest
 *  NSARA Contest

March 6

 *  RSGB 80-meter Club Championship, Data

March 7

 *  ARS Spartan Sprint
 *  AGCW YL-CW Party

March 8

 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest


NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

FlexRadio Systems is pleased to announce that their PowerGenius XL Amplifier
recently passed FCC certification. While the official filing process will take
another couple of weeks, FlexRadio is accepting reservations for delivery in
the US effective immediately. A YouTube video featuring the amplifier is
available.

WRTC 2018 has announced a February 21, 2017 deadline for application of
Sponsored Teams. Sponsored Teams allow "...dedicated contesters who cannot
qualify because of other serious commitments the chance to take part in the
WRTC." As of February 19, there are only two Sponsored Team slots remaining.
See the WRTC 2018 website for more information.

Elecraft has a "K3 to K3S Migration" service that helps current K3 owners
easily move their filters and other compatible options to a new K3S/100. For
one flat fee, the current K3 is sent to Elecraft, where the existing options
are tested, updated to current firmware and mod revisions, and then installed
in a new K3S. Of course, additional K3S options can be purchased and added at
the same time. The K3 and K3S are both returned in seven to ten business days,
according to the Elecraft website.

Gary, ZL2IFB, writes about last issue's Conversation: "The comments about not
giving up even if things are going slow reminded me of this quote by Dwight D.
Eisenhower: '...when you are in any contest you should work as if there is
always to the very last minute a chance to lose it.' I'm not sure where I found
it, nor whether it is accurate, and I rather doubt he was talking about Amateur
Radio contesting but still it struck a chord with me." (Ed. Note: Gary is spot
on, President Eisenhower's quote can be found on the website of the Eisenhower
Presidential Library.)

Bob, N7WY, provides some additional considerations for putting up a tower:
"When selecting a tower brand, first you'll need to know what IBC was used in
completing the structural analysis. I got bitten from one year to the next by
the county moving from IBC 2006 to IBC 2009. The supplier may not have an
analysis to the current requirements. Furthermore, the supplier may not be able
to supply drawings and/or analysis with a local state professional engineer's
"wet-stamp." If the supplier does not have a current analysis or a PE marking
for your state, you may need to hire a professional engineer to review the
analysis the supplier has and update it, or review a current analysis and then
apply his "wet-stamp" upon his completing the review. In some areas, like here
in Greene County, MO, you will likely need to have a soils engineer drill a
test hole to see if the soil has the stability needed to allow you to use the
footing design supplied by the tower supplier. One ham nearby found that the
soil was so shallow that he'd either have to move, or have a truss built to
keep the tower upright under 90 MPH winds. I was surprised that even though my
two towers are only 150 feet apart, the county wanted a test hole at each
proposed footing location. The other effect of moving from IBC 2006 to IBC 2009
was that the analysis required the supplier to drastically reduce the allowable
wind load requiring me to move to a higher strength tower to placate the
county. If your property has been platted to allow for future sub-division, the
county may forbid you from placing a tower to close to the subdivision
boundaries, or to consolidate the property so that encroachment by a fallen
tower is no longer an issue."

The Dayton 2017 Contest University class outline has been posted. 2017's
Professors include:

 *  Frank Donovan, W3LPL
 *  Ed Muns, W0YK
 *  Rob Sherwood, NC0B
 *  Joel Harrison, W5ZN
 *  Tim Duffy, K3LR
 *  Bob Wilson, N6TV
 *  Tim Jellison, W3YQ
 *  Greg Ordy, W8WWV
 *  H. Ward Silver, N0AX
 *  Dr. Tamitha Skov
 *  Dr. Bob Mc Gwier Jr., N4HY
 *  Dan Zeitlin, K2YWE

CTU will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, May 18, 2017, from
7:00am to 5:00pm.

Your radio or contest club can promote unity and interest by helping members to
get to know one another better. The Northern California Contest Club (NCCC)
monthly newsletter, the Jug, includes a "Point Generator Profile," a profile of
a club member. Check out KA6BIM's PGP in the January, 2017 issue.

Propagation during the ARRL International DX Contest last weekend was noted as
"weird" by a number of participants. Sunday's Space Weather News noted a "large
gash in the sun's atmosphere" - a coronal hole. Solar wind emanating from the
hole can cause geomagnetic storms and affect radio wave propagation. Analysts
have forecast potential G1 and G2 storms on February 27 and 28.


WORD TO THE WISE

DMR: Digital Mobile Radio

A set of standards for digital voice and data communication via radio and
published by ETSI for professional (commercial) mobile radio users. Following
an age-old tradition, commercial UHF and VHF DMR gear has been and continues to
be repurposed for the amateur bands. As interest has grown, amateur-specific
gear has become available. DMR appears to be quickly growing, and is attracting
the attention of many newer amateurs because of its novelty, rapid innovation
in hardware and services, utility of various networks and system operators, and
inexpensive entry level radios. For experimenters, DMR building blocks (e.g.
encoder/decoder modules, software, digital radios) are available from a number
of sources and are being combined with inexpensive computing hardware. There
are even DMR hotspots in a USB form factor.


SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Mike, VE3GFN, submits: "The Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of
Phil Anderson, VE3FAS, to the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame for 2016.
Prior to 2016, 19 other outstanding amateurs have been appointed to the Hall of
Fame, including Farrell (Hoppy) Hopwood, VE7RD; Jim Dean, VE3IQ; Earl Smith,
VE7EM; Ken Pulfer, VE3PU; Fred Hammond, VE3HC; Don Dashney, VE3RM and Bob Nash,
VE3KZ. The Constitution for the Hall of Fame states that the appointment is
made "for outstanding achievement and excellence of the highest degree, for
serious and sustained service to Amateur Radio in Canada, or to Amateur Radio
at large." The Board of Trustees determined that Anderson is "most worthy of
this honour." Licensed in 1961 at age 16, Anderson had a distinguished
engineering career in defense research and aerospace design, after which he
became an instructor at Humber College in close association with Bob, VE3KZ.
His Amateur Radio involvement includes 50 years of service with the National
Traffic System. He was awarded the prestigious Brass Pounders League Medallion
for outstanding achievement in passing third-party traffic. "He was one of the
best Eastern Area Net controllers we have ever had", according to Bud
Hippisley, W2RU. "He not only served the National Traffic System Eastern Area,
but also was manager of the Eastern Canadian Net and Transcontinental Corps.
Phil was also a QSL bureau volunteer for 20 years with the QSL bureau for
Ontario, the ARRL, the CRRL and then RAC. He continues to mentor and inspire
new amateurs through on the air activities."

Some radios have an "audio peaking filter" feature that maximizes audio
response (volume) at a particular frequency. Another way to accomplish a
similar feature is to design a speaker enclosure that is tuned to respond at
desired frequency - a mechanical solution. This YouTube video by Steve, N4LQ,
describes how a 70's Sky Tec speaker is constructed, and pointers on how to
construct your own out of PVC pipe and other plastic odds and ends. (John,
AE5X, via Elecraft mailing list)

If you left your starship in suspended animation, what would your beacon
message be? (Dennis, N6KI)

Dennis, N6KI also suggests this website to help identify signals you might hear
on the air. It features audio snippets and waterfall displays of the digital
signals you're most likely to encounter.

Dick, W7WKR, notes that there's a CW message buried in the theme song of the
PBS TV-series titled "Morse."


Quote of the Week

"A few years ago I heard this person on 144.200. He was running about 50 watts.
I was running 100 watts, on my horizontal loop. He was having trouble hearing
me. He was using a vertical that had a 4:1 SWR on 144.200. I told him that a
horizontal antenna resonant at the low end of the band would make a huge
difference. He didn't think it would make any difference. Further into the
conversation, I found that he did not have the preamp on his radio turned on.
He said that wouldn't make any difference, either. I told him I had to go."
Buddy, WB4OMG


RESULTS AND RECORDS

The September ARRL VHF Contest Full Results are now available. The total number
of logs submitted was only slightly down from 2015. The 2-meter band had the
highest number of contacts, as six meter openings were scarce to nonexistent.

Team W4AAW's Multi-operator Multi-transmitter (MOMT) entry in the JARTS (Japan
Amateur Radio Teleprinter Society) contest last October succeeded in winning
2nd place overall in the world in their category, demolishing the previous
JARTS North American multi-operator record held by NK7U's 2012 entry. This
effort was accomplished from the East coast of the US, with no operators
physically present at the station - a totally remote operation. The 2016 W4AAW
team consisted of AA5AU in Louisiana; K4XD in North Carolina; MM0LID in
Scotland; N1MGO in Massachusetts; ND3D in Maryland; W4TMO in North Carolina;
W6IHG in Virginia; WS7I in Washington, and W4AAW in Virginia. The 2017 JARTS
contest takes place October 21-22.


OPERATING TIP

Calling CQ for a State QSO Party

QSO Parties are normally based upon stations inside the state working stations
inside and outside the state, and stations outside the state working in-state
stations only. Calling CQ is different for each group. For example, a CQ
message sent by a station inside the state of Illinois for the Illinois QSO
Party would go something like this: "CQ ILQP DE KX9XXX." Stations outside of
Illinois are looking for any stations inside of Illinois, so they'd use "CQ IL
DE W7DX." In today's licensing regime, any prefix can be located practically
anywhere, and don't forget about potential reciprocal operation: In another
example, during 2016's Washington State Salmon Run, RN6LHF/W7 was located
inside Washington state, looking for Washington counties and non-Washington
stations.


TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

When Microsoft Windows boots, it interrogates serial ports connected to your
system to look for peripherals like mice. Unfortunately, this may have the side
effect of switching some lines, such as DTR, that are connected to radios or
other devices. There were various techniques in previous Windows versions to
prevent this, but those techniques don't work with Windows 10. However, if
you're using FTDI-based USB to Serial port hardware, Tom, VA2FSQ, suggests: "If
you open the device manager in Microsoft Windows and double-click on the serial
port, you can select Port Settings, and then Advanced. In this page, there are
two options. One is 'Serial Enumerator' which should not be checked, and the
other is 'Disable modem ctrl at startup' which should be checked. This solves
the issue at least for the FTDI chipset." (Tom, VA2FSQ, via Elecraft mailing
list)

How low can you go with your HF antennas? If you're space constrained, for 160
meters try this "No excuses" vertical by K6MM. At only 25 feet tall, and
painted green, perhaps your neighbors won't notice this in your backyard. John
originally presented this as a joint Northern California Contest Club / Potomac
Valley Radio Club webinar in 2009.

NXP Semiconductor has a new LDMOS transistor that should be appealing to
solid-state amplifier builders -- the MRF1K50. According to the NXP data sheet,
the reference design is capable of 1500 Watts CW output power at 27 MHz, with a
drain efficiency of 78%. To increase the potential for incorporation into
long-lived equipment, NXP is promising to manufacture the device until at least
2031.

Elecraft K3 Users - Here's a technique to eliminate any PTT tail delay in your
CW Macros with modern K3 firmware versions, as described by Bob, N6TV, in a
recent e-mail to the Elecraft reflector: "The problem of unwanted PTT delay
when using the internal keyer with VOX, and computer-generated CW/PTT, was
already addressed by the improvements to the RX; command in K3 firmware 5.46
and later. Sending an RX; command at the end of all computer-generated CW
messages will immediately open the PTT line no matter how long you set the VOX
delay, so there will be no delay in receiving when the computer-generated
message terminates. You will still get the programmed CW VOX delay when hand
sending, and the PTT will be held closed for the duration of all
computer-generated messages, if you follow all of the steps outlined below."
Bob goes on to describe the macros to use with Win-Test, and provides
guidelines for other contest logging software.

WRTC 2018 site details require months of preparation activities. Recent
15-meter Spiderbeam reflector and director element construction required
preparation of 120 Spiderbeam elements, nearly a kilometer of wire, 480
insulators, and tying 1920 knots. The three Saturdays required were described
as "hard and boring." Three Amateurs from the Uetersen Radioclub, Malte,
DE7LMS, Olaf, DK2LO and Karl-Heinz, DB7BN, tackled the tasks.


CONVERSATION

The Exchange

Much of what makes a radio contest a contest is the shared goal of exchanging
information as quickly and efficiently as possible with other stations. Contest
sponsors usually provide an example of a successful contact, which involves the
exchange. The sending of the exchange is NOT a time to stand out from the pack.
For maximum success, send the exchange that the contest sponsors suggest, and
what other stations are sending. Nothing more, nothing less. If you're sending
different information than other stations, please make sure your exchange is
correct. It's okay to ask someone if your exchange is appropriate if you're
unfamiliar with the exchange. Stations that you work want your exchange to be
correct, too.

Most people use contest logging software, so the exchange formats for CW and
RTTY contests are determined by the logger's message macros. Using the default
or contest-specific macros supplied by your logging program may not be enough
-- you can't always assume that the version of the logging program you're using
has the messages right, either!

That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories, book
reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club
newsletters, pictures, stories, blog links, and predictions to
contest-update@arrl.org

73, Brian N9ADG


CONTESTS

23 Feb - 3 Mar 2017

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


HF CONTESTS

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Feb 22, 1300z to Feb 22, 1400z, Feb 22, 1900z to Feb 22,
2000z, Feb 23, 0300z to Feb 23, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: February 25.

RSGB 80-meter Club Championship, CW, Feb 23, 2000z to Feb 23, 2130z; CW; Bands:
80m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: February 24.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Feb 24, 0145z to Feb 24, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 26.

QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 24, 0200z to Feb 24, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: March 2.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, Feb 24, 0230z to Feb 24, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20,
15, 10, 6m; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 26.

CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB, Feb 24, 2200z to Feb 26, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 160m
Only; W/VE: RS + (state/province), DX: RS + CQ Zone; Logs due: March 2.

REF Contest, SSB, Feb 25, 0600z to Feb 26, 1800z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; French: RS + Department/Prefix, non-French: RS + Serial No.; Logs due:
March 13.

UBA DX Contest, CW, Feb 25, 1300z to Feb 26, 1300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; ON: RST + Serial No. + province, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March
12.

South Carolina QSO Party, Feb 25, 1500z to Feb 26, 0159z; CW, Digital, Phone;
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; SC: RS(T) + County, non-SC: RS(T) +
(state/province/"DX"); Logs due: March 27.

North American QSO Party, RTTY, Feb 25, 1800z to Feb 26, 0559z; RTTY; Bands:
80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs
due: March 3.

High Speed Club CW Contest, Feb 26, 0900z to Feb 26, 1100z, Feb 26, 1500z to
Feb 26, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; Members: RST + HSC No.,
non-Members: RST + "NM"; Logs due: March 18.

SARL Digital Contest, Feb 26, 1300z to Feb 26, 1600z; PSK, RTTY; Bands: 80, 40,
20m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: March 5.

North Carolina QSO Party, Feb 26, 1500z to Feb 27, 0059z; CW, Phone, Digital;
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m; NC: County, non-NC: (state/province/country);
Logs due: March 20.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 1, 0200z to Mar 1, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: February 23.

Phone Fray, Mar 1, 0230z to Mar 1, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m; NA:
Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: February 24.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Mar 1, 1300z to Mar 1, 1400z, Mar 1, 1900z to Mar 1,
2000z, Mar 2, 0300z to Mar 2, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: February 25.

UKEICC 80-meter Contest, Mar 1, 2000z to Mar 1, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only;
4-Character grid square; Logs due: February 22.

NRAU 10-meter Activity Contest, Mar 2, 1800z to Mar 2, 1900z (CW), Mar 2, 1900z
to Mar 2, 2000z (SSB), Mar 2, 2000z to Mar 2, 2100z (FM), Mar 2, 2100z to Mar
2, 2200z (Dig); CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10m Only; RS(T) + 6-character grid
square; Logs due: March 16.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Mar 3, 0145z to Mar 3, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 26.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 3, 0200z to Mar 3, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: February 23.

NCCC Sprint, Mar 3, 0230z to Mar 3, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. +
Name + QTH; Logs due: March 5.

ARRL Inter. DX Contest, SSB, Mar 4, 0000z to Mar 6, 0000z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80,
40, 20, 15, 10m; W/VE: RS + (state/province), non-W/VE: RS + power; Logs due:
April 4.

Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Mar 4, 0600z to Mar 4, 0629z, Mar 4, 0630z to Mar 4,
0659z, Mar 4, 0700z to Mar 4, 0729z, Mar 4, 0730z to Mar 4, 0800z; CW; Bands:
40, 20m; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs
due: March 11.

Open Ukraine RTTY Championship, Mar 4, 1800z to Mar 4, 2059z (Low Band), Mar 4,
2100z to Mar 4, 2359z (Low Band), Mar 5, 0800z to Mar 5, 1059z (High Band), Mar
5, 1100z to Mar 5, 1359z (High Band); RTTY; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
2-letter regional abbrev. (state/province/canton, etc.) + Serial No.(restart
serial no. for high band); Logs due: March 20.

UBA Spring Contest, CW, Mar 5, 0700z to Mar 5, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; ON:
RST + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 19.

DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, Mar 5, 1100z to Mar 5, 1700z; RTTY, Amtor,
Clover, PSK31, Pactor; Bands: 10m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 20.

SARL Hamnet 40-meter Simulated Emerg Contest, Mar 5, 1200z to Mar 5, 1400z;
SSB; Bands: 40m Only; Class A: RS + Serial No. (starting with 201), Class B: RS
+ Serial No. (starting with 401), Class C: RS + Serial No. (starting with 601),
Class D: RS + Serial No. (starting with 801), Non-participants: RS + Serial No.
(starting with 001); Logs due: March 12.

NSARA Contest, Mar 5, 1200z to Mar 5, 1600z, Mar 5, 1800z to Mar 5, 2200z; CW,
SSB, Digital; Bands: 80m Only; Nova Scotia: RS(T) + county, non-NS: RS(T); Logs
due: April 4.

RSGB 80-meter Club Championship, Data, Mar 6, 2000z to Mar 6, 2130z; RTTY, PSK;
Bands: 80m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 7.

ARS Spartan Sprint, Mar 7, 0200z to Mar 7, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: March 9.

AGCW YL-CW Party, Mar 7, 1900z to Mar 7, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; YL: RST +
Serial No. + "/YL/" + name, OM: RST + Serial No. + "/" + name; Logs due: March
31.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 8, 0200z to Mar 8, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: February 23.

Phone Fray, Mar 8, 0230z to Mar 8, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m; NA:
Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: February 24.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Mar 8, 1300z to Mar 8, 1400z, Mar 8, 1900z to Mar 8,
2000z, Mar 9, 0300z to Mar 9, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: February 25.

AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest, Mar 8, 2300z to Mar 9, 2300z, Mar 11,
2300z to Mar 12, 2300z; CW; Bands: 40, 20m; RST + Eqpt Type + Eqpt Year; Logs
due: April 9.


VHF CONTESTS

See NCCC Sprint Ladder, South Caroline QSO Party, North Carolina QSO Party
above.


LOG DUE DATES

23 Feb - 3 Mar 2017

February 23, 2017

 *  QRP Fox Hunt

February 24, 2017

 *  Phone Fray
 *  Russian PSK WW Contest
 *  RSGB 80-meter Club Championship, CW
 *  SKCC Sprint

February 25, 2017

 *  SARL Youth Day Sprint
 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test

February 26, 2017

 *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
 *  NCCC Sprint Ladder
 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  NAQCC CW Sprint

February 28, 2017

 *  AGCW Straight Key Party
 *  PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint
 *  Triathlon DX Contest

March 1, 2017

 *  Winter Field Day
 *  OMISS QSO Party
 *  AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party

March 4, 2017

 *  ARRL School Club Roundup

March 5, 2017

 *  Vermont QSO Party

March 6, 2017

 *  YLRL YL-OM Contest
 *  FYBO Winter QRP Sprint
 *  F9AA Cup, CW
 *  FISTS Winter Slow Speed Sprint

March 7, 2017

 *  British Columbia QSO Party

____________________________________________________________________________


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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

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Always Mount a Scratch Monkey
Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it
wrong...
... Every time I've built character, I've regretted it. -Calvin
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