[CQ-Contest] NS Ladder - Quick Start Guide

[Bill Haddon]

Tomorrow night marks the begging of the 14-week NS Ladder VI.  For those who
want to jump in and give this fun, fast-paced sprint event a test run,
here's a guide of just the essentials:

1) Show up in vacinity of 14040, 7040 3540 with 100 w CW at:
            0230-0200 Z (Friday UTC)
            1930-2000 PDST (Thursday night in NA)
            2030-2100 MDST
            2130-2200 CDST
            2230-2300 EDST

Use for example, the NA Sprint module in your logging program -- see
http://www.ncccsprint.com/software.htm for additional suggestions.

2) Send one of the following CW Exchanges:

        A.  Responding to CQ NS:    [His/Her Call]  [Ser #]  [Your Name]
[Your QTH] (state, province, Country) [your call]
                      -- expect immediate responses on same frequency, for
which you use exchange "B"
        B.  Sending a CQ: when a station answers,
                                     ]his/her call]  [your call] [Ser #]
[Your Name] [Your QTH]

3) Then, QSY one KHz and work another station: Dupes ok after 1 intervening
Q on same band, immediately if QSY to a 2nd band.
4) Go at a frantic pace for half an hour, then quit and maybe join us on
3610 if you're in the West.
5) Calculate your score:
            (#Q's ) x (# Mults per band)  = Total Score.
6) Post your score at http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score
        If you;ve not competed previously in NS Ladder, you can delcare
yourself to be in the "Newcomers" division (or if you've just done a small
number of NS Ladder weeks)
7) Relax and recover.
8) After you're hooked on this weekly Thursday contest, read the details and
nuances at :  www.ncccsprint.com

NOTE: Want to practice this drill before the NS LAdder? Then show up, same
frequencies, for W9RE's Slow NS half an hour before NS Ladder.

Questions/comments to:  n6zfo at arrl.net

73 Bill n6zfo
NS Ladder Director