Topband: The Stew Perry TopBand DX Challenge is almost here.

[Lew Sayre]

Greetings Men, Women and Others of the 160M Inclination,
     The Boring Amateur Radio Club is very pleased to remind you that The Stew Perry TopBand DX Challenge is nearly upon us. The starting gong sounds at 1500Z Dec. 30 with this year's race ending as usual 24 hours later.  The Rules Committee note that you may operate for up to a total of 14 hours during this period with the Technical Committee suggesting using those operating hours while it is dark outside. The Technical Commitee has several reasons for this including D level absorption,  more stations to contact, electron gyrofrequency maladaptation and improving your backswing.
     The Boring Amateur Radio Club, through the very generous backing of certain 160M Stalwarts, offers up plaques to commemorate certain accomplishments.  Please browse on over to https://www.kkn.net/stew/stew_plaques.html    to view what is available which may very well spur your efforts to even greater heights.  Sponsoring a plaque is easy. Just read the instructions on the above webpage.  If you are unable to do that, then please notify your keepers so that they may locate you and return you to your facility.
     The Stew Perry TopBand DX Challenge does not come with propagation predictions.  There are only vague associations between the physics of the Sun and Earth and 160M propagation. It is not like those easy other HF bands. If someone is offering such predictions then they are either looking for easy money by making things up,  have stopped taking their important medications or their tinfoil hat has been on too tightly for too long.   The point being only by participating in The Stew will you really know what the conditions will be like.
     The Stew Perry TopBand DX Challenge emphasizes operating skill. Therefor it is a CW (Morse Code) only contest.  The Boring Amateur Radio Club has turned away significant offers to include lesser modes of communication, but we believe the true language of 160M is CW so things will remain the same.
     Celebrate the end of the contesting year by enjoying The Stew, sleep in the next day then celebrate the end of the year that night.  This is a recipe to finish up the year in grand style.  This may take a bit of family finessing and timing but an astute 160M Operator will be able to do this without excessive bloodshed.
      Thank you for perusing this notice. The Boring Amateur Radio Club wishes you and your family very happy Holidays and an even better New Year!
   73 and I remain,
   Lew         w7ew
Boring Amateur Radio Club Epistler