Zack,
> I still like the idea of grid squares. It could be the 4-character grid
> square (e.g. mine is EN50) or just the 2-letter main square (e.g. EN).
There already is an HF contest that uses grid squares as part of the
exchange and as multipliers. The HF Grid Location Contest (GridLoc)
rules are found below, if you are interested. It takes place next
month, so you won't have to wait long to try it out.
> This has been working fine on VHF contests ... in fact, on the VHF
> reflector we were discussing going to the 6-character squares as
> exchanges (e.g. EN50vc).
>
> But the 2 or 4 character squares really don't take up any more time than
> "599". CT already has the provision to log grid squares for the VHF
> contests ... I wouldn't think it would be that hard to add the feature
> for other contests. (I know a FEW contests such as TOEC already have this
> as the exchange, too.)
Both TR Log and WriteLog for Windows support the GridLoc contest.
In addition, any contest software which supports "create a contest"
should be able to do it as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------
International HF Grid Location Contest (GridLoc)
I. Announcing
Second annual International HF Grid Location
(GridLoc) contest.
II. Objective
For Amateur Radio operators around the world to
contact other Amateurs in as many Maidenhead grid
squares as possible during the contest period.
III. Contest Period
1200 UTC April 13 to 1200 UTC April 14, 1996
(Second full weekend of April). All entrants may operate a
total of 18 of the contest's 24 hours. Off periods must be
no less than 30 minutes.
IV. Operator Classes
There is only one power class (less than 150 watts).
1. Single Operator, phone only, CW only and mixed
mode. One person performs all operating and logging
functions. Use of spotting nets, DX Alert Packet Systems,
telephone, etc., is not permitted.
2. Multi-Operator, Two Transmitter. Mixed mode.
Only 1 signal per band permitted. Once a transmitter has
made a contact on a given band it may not change to
another band for at least 10 minutes. All transmitters and
receivers must be located within a 500 meter diameter
circle or within the property limits of the station licensee's
address, whichever is lesser. The antennas must be
physically connected by wires to the transmitter.
3. Rover. Mixed mode. One or two operators of a single
station moving between two or more grid squares during
the contest, and making contest contacts, using the same
equipment and antennas at each site. A rover station should
sign "rover" after their callsign for voice and "/R" for CW.
V. Modes
Contacts may be made using CW or SSB.
VI. Bands
All HF bands (160-10 M) excluding the WARC bands
(30, 17, 12 M).
VII. Valid Contacts
A given station may be contacted only once per band
mode from a given grid square. Rover stations may be
worked once per band mode in each grid square they visit.
VIII. Exchange
All stations must transmit a proper Maidenhead grid
square (i.e. EM10) and an operator name. If the
Maidenhead grid square is unknown stations may be
counted for QSO credit only.
IX. QSO Points
Count 1 QSO point for each valid contact made during
the contest.
X. Multiplier Points
Count 1 multiplier point for each Maidenhead grid
square worked per band, not per band mode. Stations not
supplying valid Maidenhead grid squares do not count for
multiplier credit.
XI. Final Score
Total QSO points times the total multipliers equals the
total claimed score for all entrants except rovers. Rover
stations must add the total number of QSO points from
each grid, add the total multipliers from each grid and
multiply these to produce the final score.
XII. Score Submission
Log submissions should be sent within 30 days of the
end of the contest to:
Internet: geoiii@bga.com Mail: GridLoc
P.O. Box 180703
Austin, TX 78718-0703
GridLoc is an Open Log contest and all log submissions
become the property of the GridLoc organizers.
XIII. Awards
To be decided.
Q. Are there any rules changes this year?
A. Yes. This year stations may be worked once per band
mode instead of just once per band. This rule change
aligns GridLoc with other multi-mode contests (like the
IARU HF Championships). For example, mixed mode
stations may work each other on 20M phone and then again
on 20M CW. Both QSO's count for 1 point but any
multiplier credit applies only once.
Q. Why use Grid Squares as multipliers?
A. More common than countries and zones, Grid Squares
provide a large number of multipliers which can be worked
on each band. This makes the flavor of this contest
different from any other since WPX multipliers can not be
worked on each band.
Q. How do I determine my Grid Square?
A. There are a number of ways to determine this. Ask
other amateurs in your area (especially VHF operators)
what the grid square is. If no is knows either consult the
ARRL grid square map (which will be useful only if your
community is clearly within a grid's boundary) or type in
the BASIC computer program available from the ARRL
Operating manual. It will determine your grid square
based on longitude and latitude.
Q. Why is the contest 24 hours long?
A. To give everyone around the world equal opportunity
to operate at peak propagation hours.
Q. Why does it start at 1200UTC (7AM CST)?
A. This start time gives everyone around the world ample
time to get home from work on Friday and prepare for the
contest the next day. The contest ends before Monday all
over the world.
Q. Why limit stations to 150 watts of power?
A. One hundred fifty watts is more than enough to work
stations around the world. Higher power would raise QRM
levels on the bands and result in complicating the GridLoc
rules with the additional categories.
Q. What are the suggested frequencies?
A. There are no suggested frequencies. However it is
expected that most activity will be centered around the
lower edge of the general sub-bands and the Novice/Tech
portions of the 10 meter phone band.
Q. Are there any DX awards for HF Grid contacts?
A. Yes. The Japanese Amateur Radio League offers the
Worked All Grid award to Amateurs who work stations in
100 or more Grids. Endorsements are available for
multiples of 100 additional grids. For more information
write to:
The Japan Amateur Radio League, Inc.
Award Desk
14-2, Sugamo 1-Chome, Toshima-ku,
Tokyo 170, Japan
Q. Why are packet spotting systems not allowed?
A. Packet is not allowed for single operators only. An
entry using a packet spotting network would be part of the
multi-two category with "net" as one of the operators.
Q. What is an "Open Log Contest"?
A. An Open Log Contest is a contest in which operating
logs submitted for entry to the contest organizers are made
available to the public. It is the intention of the GridLoc
organizers to make all of the submitted logs available
electronically. This allows everyone to study the
techniques of the top operators and to analyze logs using
common software tools.
Q. Do any logging programs support GridLoc?
A. N6TR's logging program TRLog supports the GridLoc
contest starting with version 5.19. W5XD's logging
software WriteLog (for Windows) now includes a GridLoc
multiplier module.
Q. Will there be any awards?
A. Yes. The organizers will produce awards based on the
amount of activity for the contest. At this time it is certain
that continental winners in each operating category will
receive certificates as will the top ten scorers in each
division worldwide. Certificates for the top college clubs
are also planned.
Q. Where will the results be published?
A. There are several possibilities being investigated. The
organizers hope to have the results published so as to reach
the most Amateurs as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
73,
Robert Barron, KA5WSS barron@liant.com
Liant Software Corporation Hook 'Em Horns!
>From n2ic@drmail.dr.att.com (LondonSM) Tue Mar 12 18:13:05 1996
From: n2ic@drmail.dr.att.com (LondonSM) (LondonSM)
Subject: QSL issues
References: <199603090403.UAA12983@netcom18.netcom.com>
Message-ID: <9603121113.ZM2434@dr.att.com>
On Mar 8, 8:03pm, Jay O'Brien - W6GO wrote:
>
> While on the subject of QSLs, I would like your opinion on the
> following. During the ARRL DX SSB test, as usual we were hounded by
> a small number of US stations who just couldn't understand why we
> couldn't work them. Our policy is to work 'em if they won't go
> away, but of course there's no point in logging them.
I follow this same policy for QSO's. However, I am never nasty to these
stations on-the-air. Just remember this weekend's DX contest nuisance could be
next weekend's SS QSO. I would hate to have anyone not work me in SS because
they remembered I was rude to them a few weekends earlier.
> If he had
> sent a SASE, I would have returned his card with a snotty message,
> but he gets to miss that because in addition to being ill-informed
> he is cheap. So, he gets to label me as a deadbeat. Oh well! He
> isn't in MY log.
See above comment about not being nasty.
Steve, N2IC/0
n2ic@dr.att.com
>
> 73, Jay
> w6go@netcom.com
>-- End of excerpt from Jay O'Brien - W6GO
>From steven@zianet.com (Steve Nace KN5H) Tue Mar 12 23:40:54 1996
From: steven@zianet.com (Steve Nace KN5H) (Steve Nace KN5H)
Subject: AA3JU QSL issues
Message-ID: <22405432300310@zianet.com>
AA3JU writes:
>You wanna know who I am really really mad at? AA3BV.
>I had a QSO with him once and he never sent me a card.
>I sent numerous requests including SASEs even a few dollar bills.
>
>Wouldn't be so much of a big deal if it wasn't the first QSO I ever made on
>CW with my brand new Tech +.
Please let me know when you buy your next new rig. I would like to be your
first CW QSO. I promise I will send you a QSL card, sooner or later.
de Hose KN5H
>From Jan Almedal <janalme@sn.no> Tue Mar 12 23:30:35 1996
From: Jan Almedal <janalme@sn.no> (Jan Almedal)
Subject: Contest Calendar Vers. 96.3
Message-ID: <199603122331.AAA08932@ekeberg.sn.no>
At 19:54 11.03.96 -0800, you wrote:
>
> CONTEST CALENDAR
> Mar 12, 1996 Edition (96.3)
>
>Please send corrections and additions directly to me. I will
>post an updated calendar on a monthly basis.
>
>73 de Bruce, WA7BNM (bhorn@netcom.com)
>
>
The complete contest calendar, with rules for each contest, can be found at
http://www.sn.no/~janalme/hammain.html
73 de
Jan / LA9HW
>From barry@w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) Wed Mar 13 00:06:58 1996
From: barry@w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Subject: QSL issues
Message-ID: <BucPkD2w165w@w2up.wells.com>
> > You wanna know who I am really really mad at? AA3BV.
> > I had a QSO with him once and he never sent me a card.
Gee, there must be something about second QSOs.
My second QSO was with WN2LQZ. He never sent me a card. Anyone know who
this deadbeat is? (trivia question for the day)
didah didahdit
P.S. I still remind this good friend of mine about this every few years
or so...
:.) <----------note
--
Barry N. Kutner, W2UP Internet: barry@w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
.......................................................................
>From Tyler Stewart <kf3p@cais.cais.com> Wed Mar 13 08:38:39 1996
From: Tyler Stewart <kf3p@cais.cais.com> (Tyler Stewart)
Subject: ON4UN and his tubes
References: <199603120747.CAA09161@cais.cais.com>
Message-ID: <3146898F.2EF7@cais.com>
AA1K Jon Zaimes wrote:
>
> At 10:06 3/11/96 -0500, Ed Tanton N4XY wrote:
> >Actually Jim, he is going into the bookend business and thus requires a
> >pair at a time to mount. They probably make nice lamp bases as well. 73
> >--
> > Ed Tanton N4XY (770) 971-0436 Marietta, GA
> > email: n4xy@avana.net URL: Coming Soon
>
> interesting theory; i rather suspect he runs them very coolly without
> blowers to eliminate background noise in the shack....i often regret
> upgrading from a pair of 813s to a single 4-1000; the 4-1000 requires a big
> blower which adds a lot of noise in the shack; the 813s needed none and the
> shack was very quiet!....73/Jon AA1K jon.zaimes@dol.net>
Check out the OT5T article in the new NCJ. He states he runs them
at 2kw output...very cool indeed!
73, Tyler kf3p@cais.com
>From Larry Eckenrode - KD2NT" <lare@ritz.mordor.com Tue Mar 12 15:45:25 1996
From: Larry Eckenrode - KD2NT" <lare@ritz.mordor.com (Larry Eckenrode - KD2NT)
Subject: Poisson de Avril
Message-ID: <199603130043.TAA19494@ritz.mordor.com>
Sorry to say guys that you're all wasting your time.
My station will enter the ZO/FA Class. (Zero Operator/Fully
Automatic) I'm working on the specifics for the operation now.
Station will operate all modes
Working out details like station location, transceiver, antennas, etc
etc.
Now let's see, when was that contest????
With plans like this, How can I not win??????
73 for now,
KD2NT
keywords - MBQ22 and S.O.A.R.S
(Read about them in the contest final report)
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