[SECC] This weekend's contests

[John Laney]

Merry Christmas!  There are a number of contests this weekend listed on 
the various websites.  I think there are only two or possibly three that 
could see activity that we could practically expect to work from here.

1.  I always enjoy the RAC Winter Contest (as well as their Canada Day 
contest each July 1).  Runs the 24 hours of Saturday Dec 27 UTC.  It is 
both CW and SSB and goes from 160 to 6 M.  You may contact each station 
on CW and SSB on each band. Exchange for non Canadians is RS(T) plus 
serial #.  Canadian stations send their province instead.  There is 
generally a lot of activity and it is possible to CQ and work good DX 
stations, since everyone may work everyone else (not just Canadians).

2.  The Stew Perry Challenge.  160 CW only.  Sat 15 UTC to Sun 15 UTC. 
Send 4 digit grid square.  (Example:  EM72 for me.)  You can find your 
grid square on the Buckmaster website by typing in your own call.  Bonus 
in scores here for low power and QRP.  I always run high power and 
operate the contest for fun and to help out the other guys.  If I run 
QRP or even low power, I won't make any or many contacts with my poor 
antenna for that band.  A good chance to make some good contacts on top 
bands when conditions should be pretty good.

3.  RAEM Contest.  In memory of late Ernest Krenkel, RAEM, famed Arctic 
shipboard radio operator, who was assigned the amateur call RAEM because 
of his heroism.  I worked him several times and have his QSL card in my 
collection.  Runs Sunday UTC 02 to 0959.  Therefore, under current 
conditions, it will mostly be a low band contest, since the bands above 
40 meters may be dead and certainly will be dead above 20 meters.  20 
meters would bear checking at the beginning of the contest period. 
Exchange is serial number beginning with 001 and your coordinates.  Uses 
the German language abbreviations, N, S, O (instead of E), and W.  For 
example, my first QSO would be 001 32N 84W.  You can find your 
coordinates on the Buckmaster website by typing in your callsign.

Hope everyone has fun and makes a lot of contacts.  On 160, you should 
be prepared to give Canadian stations a serial number and RST for their 
contest as well as a grid square for the Stew Perry.  Canadians will 
very likely be prepared to give you both exchanges as well.

73,


John, K4BAI.