GridLoc (was: Contest Logging -Reply)

Robert Barron barron at liant.com
Tue Mar 12 17:14:32 EST 1996


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 at 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 at liant.com
Liant Software Corporation            Hook 'Em Horns!

>From n2ic at drmail.dr.att.com (LondonSM)  Tue Mar 12 18:13:05 1996
From: n2ic at drmail.dr.att.com (LondonSM) (LondonSM)
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 11:13:05 -0700
Subject: QSL issues
References: <199603090403.UAA12983 at netcom18.netcom.com>
Message-ID: <9603121113.ZM2434 at 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 at dr.att.com


>
>   73, Jay
>       w6go at netcom.com
>-- End of excerpt from Jay O'Brien - W6GO



>From steven at zianet.com (Steve Nace KN5H)  Tue Mar 12 23:40:54 1996
From: steven at zianet.com (Steve Nace KN5H) (Steve Nace KN5H)
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 16:40:54 -0700
Subject: AA3JU QSL issues
Message-ID: <22405432300310 at 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 at sn.no>  Tue Mar 12 23:30:35 1996
From: Jan Almedal <janalme at sn.no> (Jan Almedal)
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 00:30:35 +0100
Subject: Contest Calendar Vers. 96.3
Message-ID: <199603122331.AAA08932 at 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 at 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 at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner)  Wed Mar 13 00:06:58 1996
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 96 00:06:58 GMT
Subject: QSL issues
Message-ID: <BucPkD2w165w at 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 at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
.......................................................................


>From Tyler Stewart <kf3p at cais.cais.com>  Wed Mar 13 08:38:39 1996
From: Tyler Stewart <kf3p at cais.cais.com> (Tyler Stewart)
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 00:38:39 -0800
Subject: ON4UN and his tubes
References: <199603120747.CAA09161 at cais.cais.com>
Message-ID: <3146898F.2EF7 at 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 at 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 at 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 at cais.com

>From Larry Eckenrode - KD2NT" <lare at ritz.mordor.com  Tue Mar 12 15:45:25 1996
From: Larry Eckenrode - KD2NT" <lare at ritz.mordor.com (Larry Eckenrode - KD2NT)
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 19:45:25 +0400
Subject: Poisson de Avril
Message-ID: <199603130043.TAA19494 at 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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