Tiny Elephant's Contest Corner
The Latest Contest News -
A NARC Bulletin Exclusive
A monthly column by Ed Deichler, K2TE
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A New Crop
Field Day 2000 has come and gone. As
expected, NARC operated a scaled-back - 23
Alpha - compared to the past years. As with
any Field Day there a number of memorable
events that make each one unique.
The most obvious event this year was the
fact that we were operating from a new site
for the first time in 9 years. We were
fortunate to get permission to locate behind
Hollis High School, only a few blocks from
our old site on the Muzzey farm. Field Day
Incident Commander, Fletch, N1MEO,
prodded and cajoled NARC members to
squeeze in a weekend out of their busy
schedules to erect the “NARC standard” of 4
towers. Set up went smoothly as we faced
the challenge of erecting towers in a new
location complete with thick underbrush and
the ubiquitous POISON IVY.
The biggest change I noticed this year was
the influx of new folks to participate. Yeah,
we had several of the old pros on hand such
as Jon, W1SU, Ray, KB1SO, Don, W1GUU,
and Ernie, NO1V to operate. However, this
year there were several new faces eager to
jump in as a stationmaster on one of the HF
bands. Mark, N1ZYZ; Mark, KB1DFE;
Keith, N1ZT; and Daryl, WA1GON all set
up and operated in the “big leagues”. A click
of the mic button to KB1DFE for setting a
new NARC record on 75 phone. Last but not
least, Gene, K1NR - that staunch advocate of
Ancient Modulation - made his annual
appearance to pilot on 6 meters and up.
Post-contest teardown went very smoothly
thanks again to a fresh crew and new
climbers. As a veteran of spending more
time up in the air than on the air during Field
Day, I found it a welcome relief to see Dave,
KW1DX, Charles, KB1DOK, Linda,
N1ZBS, and Daryl, WA1GON, take turns
dismantling the antennas and towers. Maybe
it was the combination of great weather and
the “less fieldy” environs of the high school
that resulted in a larger group than normal
during teardown. Whatever the reason, it
was a welcome change.
It is now a month after Field Day 2000. My
annual dose of poison ivy is now a stubborn
blotch of discolored skin. As I look at it
ruefully, I am reminded of Buzz, KA1MOJ,
for whom this year’s Field Day was
dedicated. I know he would take one look at
me, and cackle, “You idiot! Stay out of the
stuff and you won’t get it!”
Thanks, Buzz. I needed that.
August is always a month for taking it easy.
True to form, contesting steps back and
focuses on low-key stateside QSO parties.
Here are a number of events that you may
want to see if you can work some rare
counties. Often, hams go mobile, sit on a
county line and run a mini-pileup. Why not
throw a rig in the car, park in the shade at a
campground, lean back, and see what you
can work?
Georgia QSO Party, 5-6 August
This contest covers two time periods: 1800Z
to 0400Z on 5 & 6 August, and 1400Z to
2400Z on 6 August. Categories include
single operator, multioperator, multi-single,
multi-multi, and a rover (mobile) class that
operates from at least 6 GA counties.
Contacts may take place on SSB and CW,
with SSB QSOs worth 1 point and CW
QSOs worth 2 points. Multipliers are GA
counties worked per mode (159 max). As
usual, activity is suggested in the upper part
of the CW band and the middle part of the
SSB segments on 80 through 10 meters.
Logs must be mailed/emailed by 31 August
2000 to K4EA (k4ea@contesting.com).
Maryland/DC QSO Party, 12-13 August
This contest also occupies two blocks of
time: 1600Z - 0400Z, 12-13 August, and
1600Z - 2300Z on 13 August. Multipliers
include the MD counties, DC, and Baltimore
City. Contest scoring ranges from 10
points/club QSO; 5 points/mobile station
QSO; 4 points/QRP station or Technician
class station; 3 points/non-SSB QSO; and 1
point/SSB QSO. To make matters
interesting, only the highest single QSO
point value applies for each valid QSO, so a
club station worked on CW is worth 10
points, not 13 points. (Hope they have
software to sort it out.) Logs go to the
Antietam Radio Association by 1 September
2000. Questions go to WA3EOP.
NJ QSO Party, 19-21 August
The NJ QSO party is continuous from
2000Z on Saturday to 0200Z on Monday
and covers 160 meters all the way up to 2
meters. The same stations may be worked on
CW and SSB. Each contact is worth 3
points, SSB or CW. Multipliers are the
number of NJ counties worked (21
maximum). Logs must be submitted by 12
September to the Englewood Amateur Radio
Association. POC for any queries is W2CC,
w2cc@idt.net.
SARTG Worldwide RTTY, 19-20 August
Taking a break to work the rest of the world,
the Scandinavian Amateur Radio Teleprinter
Group (SARTG) sponsors a RTTY contest
in 3, 8-hour blocks of time: 0000 - 0800Z
Saturday; 1600 - 2400Z Saturday; and 0800
- 1600Z Sunday. Operating categories are
single op, all bands; single op, single band;
or multioperator, single transmitter, all
bands. The exchange is RST and QSO
number. Multipliers are each DXCC country
on each band and each call area in Australia,
Canada, Japan, and the US. Scoring is
graduated as 5 points, own country; 10
points, own continent; and 15 points, other
continents. Logs must be submitted by 10
Oct to the SARTG manager, SM7BHM,
sm7bhm@kristianstad.mail.telia.com.
Ohio QSO Party, 26-27 August
My old stomping ground is hosting a QSO
party from 1600Z on Saturday to 0400Z on
Sunday covering 80 through 10 meters. CW
QSOs count 2 points and SSB contacts are 1
point. Multipliers are the Ohio counties
worked (88 maximum) and may be counted
for each mode. If you are operating QRP (<
5 watts), multiply your point total by 5; if
operating 100 watts or less, multiply your
point total by 2. Logs go to KU8E,
ku8e@msn.com.
South Dakota QSO Party, 26-27 August
Heading further west, the South Dakota
QSO party takes place from 1600Z Saturday
to 2200Z on Sunday. The contest covers 160
through VHF (I assume 2 meters), CW and
SSB. Scoring is divided as: 4 points/SSB
QSO on 160, 80, or VHF; 2 points/SSB
QSO on the other bands; 8 points/CW QSO
on 160, 80, or VHF; 4 points/CW QSO on
the other bands; and 25 points/CW QSO
with club station W0OJY, club member
stations, and other SD club stations.
Multipliers are the numbers of SD counties
worked. Final score is QSO points times
multipliers. Logs to N0IGP by 9/30.
Hawaii QSO Party, 26-27 August
Heading all the way to the other end of the
left coast, Hawaii rounds a busy contest
weekend. Like South Dakota, this one takes
place from 1600Z Saturday to 2200Z on
Sunday and on the same bands. SSB QSOs
count 1 point and CW QSOs are 2 points.
There are separate categories for CW, SSB,
mixed, QRP, single operator, and
multioperator. Final score is total points
times Hawaii counties worked (5 total).
Working the Hawaii DX Society club station
KH7XX is worth 150 bonus points to your
final score. Logs must be submitted by 30
September to KH7XX or
starcommradio@juno.com.
With a month like this, you don’t have to get
out of the hammock!
73, de K2TE
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