[VHFcontesting] 2011 Spring Sprints - Status Posting #1

[Spring Sprints]

Happy Easter to the VHF Contesting community,

Two down and three to go for the 2011 Spring Sprints.

As of this morning's log receipts, 144 MHz has reached the half-century mark
(50) and 222 MHz has reached the quarter-century mark (25).

The DEADLINE for 144 MHz log submissions is this coming TUESDAY, April 26th,
so don't delay. I've not seen/received any Mailed/Paper logs and it's
probably too late to mail a 144 MHz entry but there is STILL time to use
WA7BNM's Web-to-Cabrillo form to submit a log entry. Log submission deadline
for 222 MHz is May 4th.

I have made a few updates to the web site at
http://sites.google.com/site/springvhfupsprints/
The "final" announcement and rules are there as well as the Logs Received
Reports.

THIS week brings the 432 MHz Spring Sprint on Wednesday, April 27 from 7pm
to 11pm local time.

Also, in the May, 2011, issue of QST, there are several DIFFERENT
dates/times given for this year's 50 MHz Spring Sprint. The CORRECT
information is that it STARTS at 2300 UTC on May 14th, running through 0300
(technically 0259) UTC on May 15th...this IS the afternoon/evening of May
14th for North America. Information is correct in "World Above 50 MHz" (p.
89 and p.91) but "Sean's Picks" in the "This Month in Contesting" column (p.
79) shows INCORRECT dates. There is also a slight 'glitch' in the "Contest
Corral" (p. 80) which shows the 50 MHz running "backward in time".

Again the CORRECT times/dates for this year's 50 MHz Spring Sprint are:
START 2300 UTC on May 14th - END 0300 UTC on May 15th...the same four hours
for everyone (not "local" time as for the other four Spring Sprint events)
and during the afternoon/evening of SATURDAY, May 14th in North America.
Let's home for some "E" and maybe the more "consistent" kind...not the
"sporadic" stuff ;-).

73, 'JK' (K9, that is), Spring Sprint host and log-checking human

On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 2:42 PM, Spring Sprints <
springvhfuhfsprints at gmail.com> wrote:

> As I was last year, I am again delinquent is fulfilling my duties as host
> for the Spring VHF/UHF Sprints. Thanks to others who have been promoting
> them in my absence and I hope this is in time for the moderator of the
> VHFcontesting reflector to approve and send on "today".
>
> KEY ITEMS
>
> The Dates have been announced correctly...today/this evening being the 144
> MHz Spring Sprint, 7-11pm LOCAL time.
>
> Distance scoring continues for 2011; 1 point per km, based on SIX-Character
> Grid Locator distances.
>
> PLEASE exchange SIX-Character Grid Locators AND record them in your logs.
> This means to EXCHANGE all SIX Characters over the air and LOG what is
> exchanged, do NOT use database look ups that may have the 5th and 6th
> character. IF a station knows ONLY their FOUR-Character Grid Locator, record
> JUST the FOUR characters. ALSO, if you use a logging program that will not
> allow you to put all SIX Characters for YOUR Grid IN the Log (the N3FJP VHF
> Logger being one logging program with which Spring Sprint participants have
> experienced such difficulty), you MUST add a note (ideally a line in the
> SOAPBOX: area of the log) with ALL SIX characters of YOUR locator (or
> locatorS for Rovers). If your logging program won't allow you to record ALL
> SIX characters then please consider using the Web-to-Cabrillo forms (see
> below) to submit your entry.
>
> Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, HAS updated the Spring Sprint Web to Cabrillo forms for
> 144 MHz...go to http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/ and scroll down to the "VHF
> Sprints" area and look for "2011 144 MHz Spring Sprint<http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/spring144sprint_cab.php>".
> (The forms for other bands will be updated from 2010 to 2011 prior to their
> dates).
>
> E-Mail address for *Cabrillo* formatted logs: springsprintlogs at gmail.com
>
> PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE submit logs electronically in the Cabrillo format
> but, if you MUST send a paper log, the requirement will again be that the
> paper log be RECEIVED by the deadline, 14 days AFTER the contest, April
> 26th, so plan on getting it IN the mail ASAP (that is - postmarked WELL
> BEFORE April 26th). Mailing address is:
>      2011 Spring Sprints
>      c/o Chuck Towner - W9KQJ
>      PO BOX 73
>      PALATINE, IL  60078-0073
>
> For Rovers, they can be worked MULTIPLE times and the distance for ONE QSO
> will count from each different FOUR-character Grid in which the Rover is
> contacted. For example, I often visit EN62ad AND EN62aa in
>  Sprints as a Rover...since BOTH are EN62, only ONE could count as
> distance (which would be checkd to verify which was the longer distance)
> BUT if I were ALSO contacted in EN61ax, EN51xx and EN52xa, the
> distances for EACH of THOSE WOULD count. When contacting Rovers, remember
> that Rovers are "new" stations when they move to a different FOUR-character
> locator but PLEASE Exchange AND Record the ALL SIX Characters with/from the
> Rover.
>
> Regarding "assistance" - "Use of telephone, packet or internet methods to
> schedule contacts during the contest IS acceptable. HOWEVER, The telephone,
> packet or internet channel is NOT to be used while the contact is in
> progress. No “OK I am hearing you now.” over the alternate (non amateur
> radio) channel. The alternate (non amateur radio) channel SHALL NOT be
> available in any way to the operator during the contact. The complete
> exchange of call signs and SIX Character grids must be accomplished on the
> relevant amateur radio band." This is essentially the SAME rule as the
> Southeast VHF Society has for the Fall Sprints, though it is restricted to
> ONLY the Microwave event for Fall...for Spring Sprints (and at least for
> 2011) this applies to ALL of the Spring Sprint events.
>
> 73, 'JK' (K9, that is), Spring Sprint host and log-checking human
>
>
>