Topband: DX Stations , Electronic Logs, and the ARRL 160 Meter Contest

[Kutzko, Sean, KX9X]

Hi folks-

It is once again time for the ARRL 160 Meter Contest. I hope you all
have your receiving antennas taken care of.

I wanted to let everybody know what to do with your electronic log
submission this year. As those of you who participated last year might
recall, there was a lot of confusion when participants started getting
"Line ignored" messages from the Robot concerning QSOs with DX stations.


Here is a fictional 160m Cabrillo log:

QSO:  1825 CW 2008-12-05 2205 W1AW         599 CT    RM3F          599 
QSO:  1825 CW 2008-12-05 2207 W1AW         599 CT    DL1ROJ        599 
QSO:  1825 CW 2008-12-05 2209 W1AW         599 CT    W3BP          599
EPA

Because DX stations are only required to send a signal report and not a
QTH in the contest exchange, the final column of Cabrillo info is left
blank. However, when this log is submitted, the following message is
returned from the robot:

*** Informative Messages from the Contest Robot ***

[X] FYI:  A sample QSO line for ARRL-160 looks like this:
QSO:  1832 CW 1997-12-07 0523 CX5BW          599 DX     W5KFT
599 STX

[X] QSO: 1825 CW 2008-12-05 2205 W1AW         599 CT    RM3F
599
Line ignored.
I do not recognize '' as a valid element of the exchange.

[X] QSO: 1825 CW 2008-12-05 2207 W1AW        599 CT    DL1ROJ        599
Line ignored.
I do not recognize '' as a valid element of the exchange.

The Robot requires SOMETHING to be in the QTH column, or else you get
the "line ignored" message. 

Despite the wording that says "line ignored," this is NOT the case.
These QSOs are indeed counted for QSO and multiplier credit. However,
for other reasons, we can't simply remove the "line ignored" message.

So, what do you do? You have two options:

1) Put "DX" in the QTH column of your Cabrillo file for every DX QSO you
make. This can be done post-contest by manually editing your Cabrillo
file before sending it in, or during the contest, depending on what
software program you use.

2) Send in your log untouched, and ignore the messages that say,
 "Line ignored.
I do not recognize '' as a valid element of the exchange."

I'm working with numerous people to find the best solution so this
doesn't keep happening. I figured it was better to give at least some
warning that this circumstance would occur, rather than have it be a
surprise as it was last year.

I hope everybody has fun.

73, 

Sean Kutzko, KX9X
Contest Branch Manager

ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111-1494
Telephone: 860-594-0232
Fax: 860-594-0259
email:skutzko at arrl.org