Low Band Monitor

Mon Nov 22 11:04:16 EST 1993

I have received several inquiries regarding the "The Low Band Monitor."  TLBM
is a magazine devoted exclusively to 160m, 80m & 40m DXing published by K0CS.
 It is my favorite ham radio publication and essential if you DX the low
bands!  Subscriptions are $24 per year ($36 for outside the USA) from:

     Lance Johnson Digital Graphics
     PO Box 1047
     Elizabeth CO 80107
     telephone 303/646-4630 (for MasterCard/Visa orders)

See y'all in the CQ WW this weekend (will be M/M with a great team)

Bill AA6TT

>From DKMC" <dkmc at chevron.com  Mon Nov 22 16:41:00 1993
From: DKMC" <dkmc at chevron.com (DKMC)
Date: 22 Nov 93 08:41:00 PST
Subject: NOTE 11/22/93 07:59:00
Message-ID: <CPLAN065.DKMC.4450.1993 11 22 0759 0759>

 Microsoft Mail v3.0 IPM.Microsoft Mail.Note
 From: McCarty, DK 'David'
 To:  OPEN ADDRESSING SERVI-OPENADDR
 Date: 1993-11-22 09:55
 Priority:
 Message ID: 90A9B414
 Conversation ID: 90A9B414

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Tim,

 CT has always had problems with /MM.  Last year had to do a lot of fudging
 for an EA/mm who was in a zone I didn't work otherwise, on a band where  I
 didn't work EA, and a UA0/MM worked before a land-based UA0; the year before
 that, same thing with an OK/MM on 160.

 AD1C writes

 >Fortunately, not too many rare DX stations are /MM during the contests.

 The above two difficulties show that they don't have to be rare to be a
 problem.  The odds are good that you will work one or two /MM's in a full
 effort.

 This is a real deficiency in the software, in my book.

 Dave, K5GN

>From Steve Lund <stevel at hpsrfh.sr.hp.com>  Mon Nov 22 16:46:56 1993
From: Steve Lund <stevel at hpsrfh.sr.hp.com> (Steve Lund)
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 93 8:46:56 PST
Subject: SS Assisted Categoy
Message-ID: <9311221646.AA09665 at hpsrfh.sr.hp.com>

Bill, AA6TT, asks:

>Is there an "assisted" category in SS?  LOTS of SS-related packet spots going
>back and forth this weekend.  Is this within the rules?
>
Good question, as it was also asked on our PacketCluster.  NCCC was going out
for top club score, so most stations were operating in multi-operator
category.  As such packet spotting is allowed.

I operated single operator (low power) and as such can't use packet spots.  I
did have packet connected, so I could spot VE8/VY1s, but CT doesn't show
packet spots to single operators.  It's supposed to allow packet spots out,
but I've never monitored it to see if it does.

Simply stated using packet spotting puts one in the multi-operator category.
Being connected to a PacketCluster does not mean that you can not be in
single operator.

In looking at the logs, I notice that CT does not record actual frequency
in SS as it does in CQWW.  Why not?  I would like to have information so I
can determine when I was running and when in S&P mode.  Could also be used
to determine if a single-op caught 'rare' sections after a packet spot.

Steve WA8LLY/6

>From Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton at engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM  Mon Nov 22 19:24:00 1993
From: Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton at engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM (Skelton, Tom)
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 93 11:24:00 PST
Subject: Phone SS @ WB4IUX
Message-ID: <2CF111E8 at admin.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM>

I haven't even put in a quasi-serious effort in SS for the
last 10 years, and I've never spent the time to try for a clean
sweep.  However, with the nice coffee mugs this year I thought
I 'd give it a go.

I knew I wouldn't get close to a 24 hour effort,and I started late
because I wanted to watch the Clemson U (class of 73)
vs U. South Carolina football game Saturday afternoon.  Plus,
4 of the 5 household members (myself included) were suffering
from various stages of colds, sinus infections, croop, ad
nauseum....Let's see, can I think of any more excuses??

So I finally got active about midnight Saturday night  and went
to 5 am Sunday, got back in S&P for mults a couple of hours
Sunday morning, more S&P in the afternoon and a couple of
hours of running....suddenly I found myself close to a clean sweep
but no PR or PAC.  KP4VS called me on 20 (thank you!), and I
decided the rest of my time would be spent finding a KH6.
I couldn't work KH6GMP and N6VI/KH6 on 15 Sunday as the
only available antenna I had for 15 was the 40m beam...it didn't
cut it.

Arrrrrrrrggggggggggg!!! Barffffffffffffffffff!!!
Uggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!
No KH6 was to be found in the WB4IUX log!

I finished with 693 Q, 76 mults, 105K score, single op.....10 hours
total time including searching for a KH6.  I remembered
how challenging this contest was since my high school and college
days when I used to try to make a few hundred Q's....the difference
today is that I have a much better station and was able to run
stations.  I guess my next goal is 1000 Q's,  a clean sweep and
still not irritate the family

My hat's off to the low power/QRP ops with the clean sweeps and
huge QSO totals!

Equipment:  TS690S, SB220, 80m sloper, 40m 2 ele yagi,
20m 3 ele yagi
(I know, you big guns are thinking THIS IS A BETTER
EQUIPPED STATION??? Well, yes it IS better than a Kenwood
TS520/Heath HW101, 20/40m dipoles, 10m gp)

73, Tom WB4IUX (South Carolina)

>From Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton at engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM  Mon Nov 22 19:28:00 1993
From: Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton at engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM (Skelton, Tom)
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 93 11:28:00 PST
Subject: FW: Can SS contacts be used for awards like WAS?
Message-ID: <2CF112E3 at admin.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM>

>From what I understand, the purpose of a signal report is simply
to verify that the signal was indeed copiable such that a 2 way
QSO could be held. Some awards stipulate a "minimum" of
2x2 or 3x3/339 report.

With the SS exchange, it is no doubt that the QSO was made.  The
weakest signal that's going to make it through weekend contest
QRM is probably 55 anyhow, but most all stations are 59 or 59+.
Finally, IMHO and in listening to 80m SSB DX'ing, signal reports
are mostly meaningless.  Put a reasonable report on the card and
go for it!  The person responding will probably just put a 59/599
on his card in return.

73, Tom WB4IUX
 ----------
From: Mark E. Bailey
To: cq-contest
Cc: mebly
Subject: Can SS contacts be used for awards like WAS?
Date: Monday, November 22, 1993 9:28AM

Several of the new hams from a license course I helped teach this spring
entered the phone Sweepstakes last weekend.  All were very excited about
working all of the states that were on ten meters.  They are collecting
QSL cards for the ARRL Worked All States Award.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING SOME NEW HAMS INTERESTED
IN CONTESTING.

It is my understanding that the exchange of signal reports is what makes
a valid QSO for most awards.  A signal report is not part of the SS
exchange.  So, can QSL cards from SS contacts be used for awards like
WAS?  If so, what goes in the REPORT or RST section of the cards?  Does
this apply to Field Day as well?

If the contacts do not count for Worked All States, perhaps we need
to stuff an RS(T) into the already lengthy SS exchange!

>> NO, NO....NEVER HAPPEN. SS IS SS.

Mark Bailey     KD4D          Motto:  Life's too short to drink cheap beer.
mebly at eng.umd.edu             Disclaimer:  I didn't really say this.

>From Jim Reisert AD1C  22-Nov-1993 1214 <reisert at wrksys.enet.dec.com>  Mon Nov 22 17:09:44 1993
From: Jim Reisert AD1C  22-Nov-1993 1214 <reisert at wrksys.enet.dec.com> (Jim Reisert AD1C 22-Nov-1993 1214)
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 93 12:09:44 EST
Subject: Can SS contacts be used for awards like WAS?
Message-ID: <9311221709.AA16103 at us1rmc.bb.dec.com>

Trey WN4KKN wrote:

>Many years ago when I was into state collecting, you could just put 
>"Sweepstakes" down for the exchange on your QSLs and WAS application
>and it was fine.

And if you write "SS" sloppy enough, it looks like "55" which is a valid
RST.

73 - Jim AD1C