[SCCC] ARRL DX Phone-VP9/W6PH

[Bill Haddon - n6zfo]

Some of you, well one of you anyway, has played in the fast-paced NCCC Sprint.  Our 4th Annual Ladder competition  begins next Thursday night.  Here are some details.

"Recall that recent CQ-Contest discussion about a certain grueling 48-hour 
contest?   Well, get ready for the NCCC 5184-hour contest, the 4th Annual 
NCCC Sprint Ladder.  But . . don't panic -- that's not 5184 continuous 
hours . . we're nicer  -- in this one, operate frantically for 30 minutes, 
then take a 167-hour 30 min break until the next part of the NS Ladder on 
the following Thursday night.

Tonight . (Thurs Mar 8). . . practice session 1930-2000 PST (0330-0400 UMT Friday).
      -- See separate announcement from N6RO on CQ-Contest

Subsequent Thursdays until late July . . 1930-2000  PDST (0230-0300 Z Friday)
[Remember early kick in for Daylight Savings Time]

Synopsis of rules:

-- 100 watt power limit;  20, 40, 80, 160 m;  merged NAQP (band mults) /NA 
Sprint  rules (1 KHz QSY).
 -- Dupes allowed: 1 intervening Q on same band, but no restriction if changing 
bands (e.g.. work same stn on 80 then 160 with no intervening Q)
 -- See logging instructions and get the N4AF Score Calculator on  
www.ncccsprint.com
 -- Use the 3830 score reporting form:  http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/ 
(starting March 15)  [Thanks, Bruce!]

What is the NS?   Also known as NCCC summer/spring madness, it's a 
more-or-less weekly 18-week ladder competition with merged NA Sprint/NAQP 
type rules. Just half an hour each Thursday night.  Fun, family-friendly, 
very competitive, and a great contest breadboard for testing your new 
antenna, modified operating procedure, or success with SO2R: for example 
you could test the effect of a glass of wine before contesting, or 
determine the efficiency of your new Moxon antenna for 160 meters.   As 
before, report scores to on the 3830 score-report form (Thanks to Bruce, 
WA7BNM).

If you haven't tried NS Ladder, consider participating this 
year.  Review/learn the updated rules at

www.ncccsprint.com   

Important changes this year:

1) For the first few competitions, Exchange will be:

           Serial #,  your first ham radio call-sign, QTH.

            Ex: for N6ZFO:     1, KN6OPI, CA.

2) Dupes.   We're allowing back to back dupes on different bands *without* 
an intervening QSO this year to increase rate even further from it's 
already insane level.

As before, watch www.ncccsprint.com for score updates, rule changes etc.

Remember, we're especially anxious to welcome newcomers . . if your CW 
isn't super fast, try NS Ladder anyway . . all participants have 
instructions to be especially courteous and slow down 
appropriately.  Remember, in the words of one of our great boosters Kurt, 
K7NV, the NS Ladder is all about summer fun.

Questions/comments to  Bill, N6ZFO:   Hounds1234 at comcast.net

or to my two NCCC co-conspirators, N6RO and W0YK or to our NS contest board,
John, K4BAI,  Jim, N3BB or Paul, K3STX. or to our "consultant" Howie, N4AF. Also, 
special thanks to Bruce, WA7BNM for the score reporting forms.

73 Bill N6ZFO