Contester's Rate Sheet for August 24, 2005

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Contester's Rate Sheet
24 August 2005
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Edited by Ward Silver N0AX

SUMMARY
o All-Asia DX Phone
o OH, KH6, and KY State QSO Parties
o NCJ News by K9LA
o Vertex Standard Named WRTC2006 Sponsor
o Conferences and Conventions Galore
o High-Pass and Low-Pass Filters
o Rovin', Rovin', Rovin'

BULLETINS
o Beginning on September 13th, your editor will be occupied with the
K7C DXpedition (http://www.cordell.org/htdocs/KURE/) to the far
western reaches of the Hawaiian Islands - Kure Atoll.  The
infrastructure in transit and in situ is not conducive to generating
email newsletters in a timely and clear-headed fashion.  Therefore,
the 21 Sep, 5 Oct, and 19 Oct issues will be somewhat attenuated,
prepared in advance.  In addition, the QST Contest Corral columns for
November and December will also be sent in early - during the first
week of September.  If you are the manager of a contest scheduled for
November or December, please be sure your Web site is up to date with
any rules changes and notify me BEFORE Aug 31 in order to get the
correct information published in QST and on the ARRL Web site.

BUSTED QSOS
o A golden issue last time!

ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES FOR 24 AUGUST TO 6 SEPTEMBER 2005

Logs are due for the following contests:

August 28 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (Aug), email log summary
to: W2LJ@arrl.net, post log summary at:
http://partsandkits.com/fp/autolog.asp, paper logs and diskettes to:
Larry Makoski, W2LJ, 327 Clinton Place, South Plainfield, NJ 07080,
USA, find rules at: http://www.fpqrp.com/fpqrprun.html 

August 31 - European HF Championship, email logs to:
euhfc@hamradio.si, paper logs and diskettes to: Slovenia Contest
Club, Saveljska 50, 1113 Ljubljana, Slovenia, find rules at:
http://lea.hamradio.si/~scc/euhfcrules.htm 

August 31 - National Lighthouse Weekend QSO Contest, email logs to:
(none), paper logs and diskettes to: Dave Ruch, NF0J, PO Box 20696,
Bloomington, MN 55420-0696, USA, find rules at:
http://arlhs.com/NLLW-2005-guidelines.html 

August 31 - Portugal Day Contest, email logs to: (none), paper logs
and diskettes to: REP Award/Contest Manager, PO Box 2483, 1112 Lisboa
Codex, Portugal, find rules at:
http://boletimportuguesdx.no.sapo.pt/concursos/concurso_dia_portugal_2005.htm


September 1 - ANARTS WW RTTY Contest, email logs to:
ctdavies@bigpond.net.au, paper logs and diskettes to: Contest Manager
ANARTS, PO Box 93, Toongabbie, NSW 2146, Australia, find rules at:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/ctdavies/Rules2005.htm 

September 1 - CQ Worldwide VHF Contest, email logs to:
cqvhf@cqww.com, paper logs and diskettes to: CQ VHF Contest, 25
Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY 11801, USA, find rules at:
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/VHF%20Contest%20Rules%2020054505.pdf 

September 1 - RSGB IOTA Contest, email logs to:
iota.logs@rsgbhfcc.org, paper logs and diskettes to: RSGB IOTA
Contest, PO Box 9, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3RH, England, find rules
at: http://www.contesting.co.uk/hfcc/rules/riota.shtml 

September 3 - North American QSO Party, SSB (Aug), email logs to:
(see rules, web upload preferred), upload log at:
http://www.ncjweb.com/naqplogsubmit.php, paper logs and diskettes to:
Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, 4225 Farmdale Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604, USA,
find rules at: http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php 

September 3 - TARA Grid Dip Shindig, email logs to: (none), post log
summary at: http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_score.html, paper
logs and diskettes to: (none), find rules at:
http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_rules.html

September 6 - ARRL UHF Contest, email logs to: AugustUHF@arrl.org,
paper logs and diskettes to: August UHF Contest, ARRL Contest Branch,
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111, USA, find rules at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/uhf.html 

The following contests are scheduled:

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; LP - Low Power; Entity - DXCC Entity

HF CONTESTS

Ohio QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Mad River Radio Club, 1600Z
Aug 27 -0400Z Aug 28. Frequencies (MHz): CW -- 3.545, 7.045, 14.045,
21.045, 28.045; SSB -- 3.850, 7.225, 14.250, 21.300, and 28.450.
Categories: SO, MM, Mobile and Rover. Exchange: Serial Number and
Ohio county, state or province, DX stations send "DX". QSO Points:
CW--2 pts, SSB--1 pt. Score: QSO points x OH counties (OH station
count states, provinces, and OH counties) counted once per mode. For
more information: http://www.oqp.us/. Logs due 30 days after the
contest to logs@oqp.us or to Ohio QSO Party c/o Jim Stahl K8MR, 30499
Jackson Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022-1730.

TOEC WW Grid Contest--CW, sponsored by the Top of Europe Contesters
(TOEC), 1200Z Aug 27 - 1200Z Aug 28. Frequencies: 160-10 meters.
Categories: SO (no packet) -AB, -SB, Low Power (<100W, AB only), MS
(10 min band change rule), MM, Mobile (SOAB) -- work mobiles from
each grid field (i.e. -- JP, KO, EM). Exchange: RST + grid square,
i.e.--JP73 (log must show all grid fields activated). QSO Points: own
continent -- 1 pt, other cont--3 pts, QSOs with mobiles--3 pts.
Score: QSO points × two-letter grid fields. For more information:
http://www.qsl.net/toec/contest.htm. Logs due 30 days after the
contest to TOEC.contest@pobox.com or to TOEC, Box 178, SE-83122
Ostersund, Sweden. 

Hawaii QSO Party--CW/Phone/RTTY/PSK31, sponsored by the Koolau ARC,
0700Z Aug 27 - 2200Z Aug 28. Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories:
SOAB and MS (single or mixed-mode), MM (mixed-mode only). Spotting
nets and packet allowed in all classes. Exchange: RS(T) and SPC,
maritime region (1-3), or HI county. QSO Points: 20-15-10 meters,
Phone--1 pt, CW/Digital--2 pts; 40 meters, Phone--2 pts, CW/Digital 4
pts; 80 meters, Phone--4 pts, CW/Digital--8 pts; 160 meters, Phone 8
pts, CW/Digital 16 pts. Score is total points plus 150 pts for QSO
with KH6J. For more information:
http://www.karc.us/hi_qso_party.html. Logs due 30 days after contest
to kh6j@karc.us or Hawaii QSO Party, PO Box 8960788, Wahiawa, HI
96786-0788. 

Kentucky QSO Party--CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31, sponsored by Bullitt Amateur
Radio Society from 1600Z Aug 28 - 0400Z Apr 29.  Frequencies (MHz):
SSB: +/-20 kHz about General class band edge; CW: 3.55, 7.05, 14.05,
21.05 and 28.05.  Categories: Entries will be SO-Single Mode (SSB,
CW, Digital), SO-Mixed, Rover.  Work stations once on each mode and
band (RTTY and PSK31 are considered separate QSOs in CW category). 
Work Rover stations in each county. Exchange: Name and KY county or
S/P/C. QSO Points: SSB--1 pt, CW/Digital/Rover--2 pts. Score: QSO
Points x KY counties (KY stations count S/P/C) + QSO with KY4KY. For
more information: http://www.qsl.net/ky4ky/kyqsopartyrules.html. Logs
due 10 days following the contest to kc4wq@arrl.net or KY QSO Party,
c/o KC4WQ, 1229 Zoneton Rd, Shepherdsville, KY 40165.

YO-DX Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Romanian Amateur Radio
Federation (RARF), 1200Z Aug 27 - 1200Z Aug 28. Frequencies: 80-10
meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS. Exchange: RST and serial number,
YO stations send county abbreviation. QSO Points: different country
own continent--2 pts, different continent--4 pts, YO stations--8 pts.
Score: QSO points x YO counties and DXCC entities counted once per
band. For more information:
http://www.hamradio.ro/contests/yodx_eng.htm.
Logs due 30 days after the contest to yodx_contest@hamradio.ro or YO
DX HF Contest, PO Box 22-50, 71100 Bucharest, Romania. 

SARL HF DX Contest--CW, from 1230Z -- 1630Z Aug 28. Frequencies: 80
-- 20 meters. Categories: SOAB, MS. Exchange: RS(T) + serial number.
QSO Points: CW -- 2 pts. Total score: QSO points + ZS call areas and
South African countries (see Web site). For more information:
http://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/contestrules.asp#HFCWPHONE.
Logs due 14 days after the contest to zs4bs@netactive.co.za or PO Box
12104, Brandhof 9324, Republic of South Africa.

SCC RTTY Championship, sponsored by the Slovenian Contest Club, 1200Z
Aug 27 - 1159Z Aug 28. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories:
SOAB-HP, SOAB-LP, SOAB-Assisted, MS. Exchange: RST and 4-digit year
first licensed. QSO Points: own country--1 pt, different country same
continent and between W, VE, VK, ZL, ZS, JA, PY call areas, LU
provinces, and UA9/0 oblasts--2 pts, different continent--3 pts.
Score: QSO points x different years from all bands. For more
information: http://lea.hamradio.si/~scc/rtty/htmlrules.htm. Logs due
Sep 15 to rtty@hamradio.si (Cabrillo format preferred) or on diskette
to Slovenia Contest Club, Saveljska 50, 1113 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

All-Asian DX Contest--Phone, 0000Z Sep 3 - 2400Z Sep 4. Frequencies:
80 - 10 meters, incl. 10-min. band change rule. Categories: SOAB,
SOSB, MO, Low Power (Asian stations only), Junior (JA stations <20
years), Senior (JA stations >70 years). Exchange: RS(T) and a two
digit number denoting the operator's age. YL stations may send 00.
QSO Points for non-Asian stations: 40 - 15 meters - 1 pt, 80 and 10
meters - 2 pts, 160 meters - 3 pts. Score: QSO pts × Asian prefixes
(WPX rules). For more information and Asian station QSO points:
http://www.jarl.or.jp/English/. Logs due Oct 31 to aaph@jarl.or.jp or
JARL, All Asian DX Contest, 170-8073, Japan.

IARU Region 1 Field Day--SSB--sponsored by IARU Societies, 1300Z Sep
4 - 1300Z Sep 5. Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB (LP,
QRP), MS (HP, LP). Exchange: RST and serial number. QSO Points: EU to
EU fixed stations - 2 pts, non-EU to EU - 3 pts, with portable EU
stations - 4 pts. Score: QSO points x DXCC and WAE entities counted
once/band. See IARU Region 1 society Web sites for more information.
Logs due 16 days after the contest to ssbfd.logs@rsgbhfcc.org or RSGB
G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7AF,
England.

DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest--Digital Modes--sponsored by the
Deutsche Amateur Radio Committee, 1100Z - 1700Z Sep 4. Frequencies
(MHz): 28.050 - 28.150 on RTTY, Pactor PSK31, Amtor, Clover.
Categories: SO, SWL. Stations may be worked on each mode, but count
for multipliers only once. Exchange: RST + serial number. QSO Points:
1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO Points x WAE countries + DXCC entities + W/VE/JA
districts. For more information:
http://www.darc.de/referate/hf/contest/. Logs due 4 weeks after the
contest to df5bx@darc.de or Werner Ludwig, DF5BX, PO Box 1270,
D-49110 Georgsmarienhuette, Germany.

MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint, 2300Z Sep 5 - 0300Z Sep 6. Frequencies:
160 - 6-meters. Categories: SOAB with classes A (<250 mW), B (<1 W),
C (<5 W), D (>5W). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and MI-QRP number or power
output. QSO Points: MI-QRP members - 5 pts, non-member W/VE - 2 pts,
DX - 4 pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C counted once per band. If
homebrew RX or TX, multiply by 1.25. If both RX and TX are homebrew,
multiply by 1.5. For information: http://www.qsl.net/miqrpclub. Logs
to n8cqa@arrl.net or L. T. Switzer N8CQA, 427 Jeffrey Ave, Royal Oak,
MI 48073-2521.

Russian RTTY WW Contest, sponsored by Radio, from 0000Z - 2400Z Sep
3. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS, SWL.
Exchange: RST + WAZ zone or Russian Oblast. QSO Points: own
continent--5 pts, different cont.--10 pts. Score: QSO points x DXCC
entities + Russian oblasts, each counted once per band. For more
information:
http://www.radio.ru/cq/contest/rule-results/index2.shtml. Logs due
Oct 3 to contest@radio.ru or Radio Magazine, Seliverstov per 10,
107045 Moscow, Russia. 

VHF+ CONTESTS

Summer VHF/UHF QSO Party--SSB/CW/FM, sponsored by the Colorado QRP
Club, from 1800Z - 2100Z Aug 28. Frequencies: 6m, 2m and 70 cm, 5
watts output maximum, use recognized simplex frequencies according to
the ARRL band plan, do not use the national simplex frequencies of
146.52 or 446.000 MHz. Categories: Portable, Non-Portable. Exchange:
Call sign, Grid Square, first name, and CQC member # or power. QSO
Points: 1 pt/QSO. Total Score: QSO Points x names beginning with
different letters (26 max), counted once per band. 10 point bonus for
QSO with W0CQC. For more information:
http://www.cqc.org/contests/summer05.htm. Logs due 30 days after the
contest to contest@cqc.org or CQC Contest, PO Box 17174, Golden, CO
80402-6019.

NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES

NCJ News by Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA, NCJ Editor - The
September/October NCJ went to the printer two weeks ago, and it
should be arriving in the mail shortly. The following are some of the
interesting features in this issue. With the ARRL 10-Meter Contest
right around the corner, Ken WM5R presents the 10-Meter Contest
records. Pete N4ZR reviews the Win-Test contest logging software.
Toni OH2UA describes the contest station automation effort at OH2BH
to minimize operator errors in SO2R efforts. Al K3LC adds Part 2 to
his "Verticals by the Sea" series by looking at the gain enhancement
of verticals near the seashore versus setback distances of up to
three and a half wavelengths. Eric K3NA discusses interaction between
40-meter and 15-meter Yagis in "Antenna Interactions, Part 8." The
January 2005 NAQP SSB contest results are included in this issue,
along with the following columns: CTT&T by W9XT, Workshop Chronicles
by K4ZA, Propagation by K9LA, RTTY Contesting by W6WRT, Software for
Contesters by N4ZR, VHF-UHF Contesting by N0JK, the Contest Calendar
by WA7BNM, and DX Contest Activity Announcements by NG3K.

Vertex Standard (Yaesu) Co. Ltd has announced that it will be a
corporate sponsor of WRTC2006.  Yaesu transceivers were used by more
than 80% of the competitors during WRTC2002. "We are honored to have
leading companies support the Games as title sponsors," said Atilano
Oms PY5EG, WRTC2006 Chairman.   Mr. Jun Hasegawa, President of Vertex
Standard, said that Yaesu, "...will continue to be focused both on
leading DXpedition events as the Choice of the World's Top DXers and
on world championships in radio contesting."  Martti Laine OH2BH
emphasized that signing up exclusivity for leading manufacturers,
such as Vertex Standard, will help the WRTC concept flourish while
also sending a clear message that this kind of supporting
opportunities exist whatever country decides to apply for the next
Games due in 2010.  For more information on WRTC2006, log on to
http://wrtc2006.com/.

Another free email newsletter makes its appearance!  The ARES
E-Letter from the ARRL can be received by checking the appropriate
box on your member account page.  Many contesters are members of ARES
or support emergency communications ("emcomm") or public service in
other ways.  This newsletter would be another useful addition to your
regular reading.  And while you're at it, check out the EMCOMM
Monthly newsletter, as well, at http://www.emcomm.org/em/.  Your
editor, EC for the Vashon Island ARES team, receives and enjoys both!

Digital dudes (and dudettes) will want to take note of the 2005
ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference, to be held September
23-25, 2005 in Santa Ana, California.  You can find all the details
on programs and registration at http://www.tapr.org/dcc.  Digital
operating being the growth area that it is, these conferences are
great places to get a good idea of where the digital modes are going.

There's a brand-new DX and Contest Conference for your calendars. The
Southeast DX and Contest Organiztion will be held on October 1, 2005
at the Mainstay Suites in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  There is a
complete suite of programs and a big dinner is planned.  For more
information - http://www.sedco.homestead.com/. (Thanks, Lynn W4NL)

Here's a convention afloat - Contest Club Finland (CCF) and OH DX
Foundation (OHDXF) are proud to announce the 11th CCF & OHDXF Contest
and DX Meeting from 20 - 22 January 2006. As with last January's
event, the theme is a cruise on Baltic Sea, from Helsinki(OH) via
Aland Islands (OH0) to Stockholm (SM) and back to Helsinki. There
will be presentations on board on Friday evening and on Saturday
afternoon plus a Contest/DX buffet on Friday evening,  with ala carte
dinner on Saturday evening. Bookmark http://www.qsl.net/ccf for more
information. (Thanks, Toni OH2UA and Pasi OH6UM/OH2IW)

Want to help out a young student and promote ham radio for the price
of a postcard? Averie Minadeo's elementary school class is having a
contest to see how many postcards from various states/countries each
student can collect. I think the readers of this newsletter know
something about that type of postcard. Why not send a QSL to Averie
Minadeo, 4974 Shadowbend Circle, Clarksville, TN 37043. This is legit
and not another Internet hoax. (Thanks, Doug W7ZZ)

Pete N4ZR writes to let us all know that he has updated the World HF
Contest Station Database, effective August 18.  It contains 2988
contest stations whose owners have let it be known that the shack can
be shared or used during contests.  If you are travelling or don't
have a station of your own, take a gander at the list and see if
there isn't a nearby QTH .  The database is available at
http://www.pvrc.org/WCSD/WCSDsearch.htm.

Although the low-band DXers will grumble that it's too soon,
http://www.dxlc.com/solar reports that the first signs of solar cycle
24 was observed on August 12 when a small  bipolar region (with
polarities reversed compared to cycle 23 regions) emerged in the
northeast quadrant. A couple of tiny spots were observed during the
evening, these had decayed to just pores by midnight when the region
was spotless. This observation hints at a solar minimum sometime
between April and October in 2006.  It might be a good summer to
spend vacationing, perhaps in Brazil at WRTC2006. (Thanks, John N2NC)

If you ever saw W2EV's "Psycho Rover" video, you'll also be impressed
with KB1EAA's version that can be viewed at
http://kb1eaa.com/kb1eaa.wmv. It's very nicely edited, with music and
everything!  It looks like the rovers are taking the lead in
exploring new media. (Thanks, Tim KE3HT)

Marc ON4WW is a well-known contester and DX traveller.  Stories and
pictures of his amazing travels can be viewed at http://www.on4ww.be/
and http://www.qsl.net/on4ww.

We continue to get our biweekly Portgueses from the Radio Amateur
Conversation Guide (http://www.k8zt.com/racg/racg.html) written by
OH2BR and OH2BAD.  After the weather, hams talk more about antennas
than anything, so let's tackle that topic:
What kind of antenna do you have?
- My antenna is a dipole.
- Minha antena e uma dipolo.
How big is that antenna?
- My antenna is 42 meters long.
- Minha antena esta com o compimento de 42 metros.
How high is that antenna?
- My antenna is 10 meters high.
- Minha antena esta numa altura de dez metros.
And the ever-popular SWR measurement...
- The SWR of my antenna is 2 to 1.
- A estacionaria da minha antena e dois para um.

RESULTS AND RECORDS

The complete list of Logs Received for the 2005 ARRL Field Day has
been posted at http://www.arrl.org/contests/claimed. This list
includes all paper and regular emailed submissions, as well as those
entries submitted via the Web applet for http://www.b4h.net/cabforms.
Certificates for the January ARRL VHF Sweepstakes have also been
mailed. (Thanks, Dan N1ND)

The CQ World-Wide VHF Contest now has a dedicated Web site:
http://www.cqww-vhf.com/. The Web site has a list of submitted logs
and a Web applet that will help you submit a Cabrillo-formatted log.
(Don't forget the 1 Sep log deadline!) There are also addresses to
send photos for the contest writeup and to sponsor plaques. (Thanks,
John W1XX, CQ WW VHF Contest Director)

The Top 200 claimed scores for the CQ 160-meter contests are now
available on the CQ magazine Web page -
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/awards.html. Remember this is only
the top 200 logs, NOT all logs. While you're there, check out the new
CQ DX awards, the DX Field award and the iDX award. (Thanks, Dave
K4JRB, CQ 160 Contests Director)

Thanks to the efforts of Georgia QSO Party Chairman NE4S, the results
of the 2005 Georgia QSO Party held in April, are now available on the
GQP Web site at http://gqp.contesting.com/. Plaques will be mailed by
K4OGG and certificates by KT4ZB. (Thanks, John K4BAI)

The 2005 results for the Wisconsin QSO Party have been posted to the
West Allis RAC Web site at http://www.warac.org/.  The writeup takes
the form of a very nice PDF document for downloading. (Thanks, Lynn
K9KR)

Signup for the biggest state QSO party of all are going well as
California stations are using the online form at
http://cqp.kx7m.net/cqp2005.html. Mobile stations are encouraged to
post their preliminary itinerary, especially for "rare" counties. 
The status  is updated almost daily at
http://www.cqp.org/Counties-Plan-2005.html. (Thanks, Marc W6ZZZ)

In a noteworthy passing of the torch, Scott W4PA has stepped up to
sponsor the CQ WW Single-Op, All-Band plaque for CW.  The plaque is a
memorial to legendary contester Larry LeKashman W9IOP originally
donated by Al Kahn K4FW, himself a recent Silent Key.  Scott's
memorial donation to K4FW carries forward the tradition of honoring
those who make radiosport what it is today - thanks, Scott! (Thanks,
Steve N2IC)

TECHNICAL

While checking out the Wisconsin QSO Party results, I noticed that
there is also a neat article on making 220 MHz yagis - just in time
for the upcoming ARRL VHF QSO Party.  Browse to the West Allis RAC
Web site at http://www.warac.org/ to find the article.

Several conversations about using antenna SWR analyzers on 160-meter
and 80-meter antennas prompt me to point out a few cautions. 
Antennas of this size can pick up a substantial amount of RF from
local broadcast stations.  This often upsets the RF detector circuits
in the analyzer, giving completely erroneous readings.  You can tell
that something funny is going on by using a transmit power meter to
make a few measurements and comparing them to what the analyzer says.
 Significant disagreements in SWR levels or in changes with frequency
indicate a problem.  I often use a broadcast-reject receive filter
(see next item) at the output of the analyzer, but remember that the
filter will "color" the results as the filter cutoff frequency is
reached.  Sometimes, there is no substitute on 160-meters,
particularly, for using a transmitter at 10 W output or less to test
antennas.  Remember, too, that with a wavelength measured in hundreds
of feet on the low bands, you may be electrically closer than you
think to interacting antennas, metal buildings, and parallel
conductors.

To get rid of a strong local AM-BC station signal, Bill W4ZV
recommends the Par Electronics BCST-HPF broadcast reject 7-pole
elliptic receiving filter, available from Universal Radio at
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/filters/4426.html. The minimum
attenuation below 1700 kHz is 41 dB. The housing has an SO-239
receptacle for both input and output.  There is also a bypass toggle
switch to take the filter out of line.

Shopping for a low-pass transmitting filter? Several LP filters were
reviewed in the August 2002 QST and the article includes response
curves, insertion loss, and other features measured in the ARRL lab. 
The measurements are also compared to the manufacturer's published
specs. (Thanks, Wayne W0ZW)

For hanging temporary wire antennas, Mark KJ7BS reports using a Black
Widow fishing pole available from Cabela's Outdoor Supply
(http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/horizontal-item.jsp?_requestid=27455).
The poles are 20' long and taper to a narrow tip with an eyelet on
the end.  He reports success using it for holding up a vertical with
a loading coil and radials.

Here's a reminder to those of you engaging in the summer activity of
putting down radials. Farm supply stores stock 14-gauge galvanized
electric fence wire in ¼-mile lengths at very reasonable prices. For
holding the radials down, Phil KB9CRY suggests folding a short length
sideways over one's hand so that it looks like a bobby pin and can be
used for pinning the radials down.  Once the grass grows over them,
radial and pins, he reports that they simply disappear into the
grass.

Finding noise sources on power poles often takes a VHF directive
antenna. Several models that are designed for hand-held use are
available at http://www.arrowantennas.com/ .   They have a 3-element
2-meter model and the 7-element 70 cm model that work well for
finding RFI-producing hardware, especially the 70cm model, which is
very directional. They also work well for working the "easy-sats",
including AO-51. (Thanks, Dave N0RQ)

Outdoor antenna and feed line projects often require small enclosures
that often turn out to be surprisingly expensive.  A pair of my
favorite low-cost suppliers for items like this are All Electronics
(http://www.allelectronics.com/) and Marlin P. Jones & Associates
(http://www.mpja.com/).  The mailing lists and email notifications for
both of these vendors are worth signing up for.  Another tip -
waterproof enclosures, plastic and metal, can often be found at
ham-friendly prices in the local industrial surplus emporium, plus
you'll have a great time digging through all the interesting stuff.

CONVERSATION

Rovin', Rovin', Rovin'

Whilst keeping track of a vigorous debate on VHF+ rover operations, a
short segment of  KB1EAA's rover video tickled my funny bone...and
you know what that leads to!  Another mangled tune!  It's not the
most weighty of topics, but in the dog days of August it may serve as
comic relief.  Or not.  Light show and mirror ball optional.

Bands to Be Dialed
(Transmogrified from "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf)

Get your rover runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for the high spots
And whoever tunes our way
Let's drive and go make it happen
Run the bands at a laser's pace
Work all of the grids at once
And be heard up in space

I like smoke and arcing
Metal yagi wonders
Bounce off the aurora
And the E-layer that I'm under
Let's drive and go make it happen
Run the bands at a laser's pace
Work all of the grids at once
And be heard up in space

For a true radio child
There are bands, bands to be dialed
There's no band too high
I wouldn't wanna try

Bands to be dialed
Bands to be dialed

73, Ward N0AX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from the
following sources:
WA7BNM's Contest Calendar Web page -
http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal
ARRL Contest page - http://www.arrl.org/contests
SM3CER's Web site - http://www.sk3bg.se/contest