Topband: The Stew Perry TopBand DX Challenge VIII

[Lew]

      The nights are about as long as they can get in the Northern 
Hemisphere, which means it must be about time for the 8th running of the 
Stew Perry TopBand DX Challenge. All you need to do is to get loaded on 
160M, be near your radio 15:00Z Dec 27 to 15:00 Dec 28 and brush up on 
the unique guidelines for this stellar radio competition.  A secret hint 
is that you should use your 14 hours of allotted operating time during 
darkness....but that's only a hint.  Also finding out your grid square 
means your location and not where your electric company main lines exist 
is another fine thing to understand, since it's a part of the exchange.
      The rules may be perused at:
      http://www.jzap.com/k7rat/stew.html
      Working all that sporadic E available on 6M and 2M during the 
winter "peak" is a fine way to get into the mood and 
                     rhythm for this fine test of Men, Women, Others, 
and their hardware.
      Recognition for Participants come from the competitors themselves
by sponsoring plaques for situations that they feel are important. The
donor Stalwarts and categories already spoken for are listed below:
Sponsor                 Category
KL7RA              Top QSO Total
K1PX               Top Score, Single Op, Europe, Low Power
VK6VZ              Top Score using Home-brew gear (VK5AX memorial-winner
                       receives RFDS Cap)
WA9IRV             Top Score by Operator of own Station in
                       VE3,VE4,MN,WI,ND
N5IA               Most Grid Squares worked
N5UL               Top Score, Single Op, Low Power
N7KQ               Top Score, Single Op, Low Power, Rest of World
W7GG               Top Score, Single Op, QRP
BARC               Top Score by a Plaque Donor
KI7Y               Top Score North of 55 deg. (KL7Y memorial)
W4SAA              Top Score, Single Op, Hi Power, USA

       You see a category that is screaming out for recognition? You see 
an overlooked group of RF practitioners that have escaped recognition or 
simply escaped?  You want to try to slip a plaque category past the 
loose censors of the Boring Amateur Radio Club? Just e-mail me with your 
suggestion and then you can get on with your usual last minute Holiday 
shopping with a clear mind. Plus it only costs $50.00. The plaque that 
is. Your last minute shopping costs are between you and your credit card 
provider. The time gets shorter as the antennae get longer. See you in 
the Stew!
      73 and I remain,
      Lew  W7EW/W7AT
      Boring Amateur Radio Club Contest Plaque Producer
      P.O.Box 3110
      Salem, OR. 97302
      U.S.A.
      lew at teleport.com