[CQ-Contest] 10 Meter Contest this weekend!

[Kenneth E. Harker]

    I hope everyone is excited about the ARRL 10 Meter Contest this weekend!
This should be the best propagation conditions on the band in years.  For 
those of you who haven't operated in this contest since the previous solar 
cycle peak, here are a few quick pointers:

* Beginning last year, Mexican states now count as multipliers, and XE 
  stations send their state instead of a serial number.  For a cheat sheet
  of XE multipliers in the contest, download this PDF:
  http://www.dxxe.org/concurso/xe-mults.pdf

* There are nine single-operator categories in this contest, but none permit 
  the use of cluster spotting networks or CW skimmers.  If you use the 
  cluster or skimmer, you will can still enter a log, but your entry category 
  should be multi-single (either high power or low power).

* New this year, the Multi-Single category is split into High Power and Low 
  Power categories.  

* KH6 and KL7 stations participate as US states, not DXCC entities.  They
  should be sending their state, not a serial number.  KP2, KP4, KH0, KH8, 
  etc. participate as DXCC entities and should be sending a serial number for 
  their exchange.

* This is one of the few contests where Maritime Mobile stations not only 
  count for QSO credit, but also count as potential multipliers.  The R1, R2, 
  and R3 multipliers are for maritime mobile stations operating from ITU 
  Regions 1, 2, or 3 respectively.  Maritime mobile stations do not need to 
  send a serial number.  Contacts with aeronautical mobile stations, however, 
  do not count for contest credit.

* The bonus points for working Novice and Technician stations (who used to
  sign /N or /T) are no longer part of the rules.  QSOs with those stations
  count the same as other stations.

As always, everyone is well advised to read the entire contest rules before
operating:

http://www.arrl.org/10-meter

And if you want to check out the contest records:

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20Records/2010-10M-RecordScores-DX.pdf
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20Records/2010-10M-RecordScores-W-VE-XE.pdf

Good luck!

-- 
Kenneth E. Harker WM5R
kenharker at kenharker.com
http://www.kenharker.com/