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http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-02-24

The ARRL Contest Update

February 24, 2016
Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG

IN THIS ISSUE

 *  New HF Operators: Check your Microphone Gain and Compression and more
 *  Bulletins: The real Idaho QSO Party URL, WWROF Webinar
 *  Contest Summary
 *  News lead item: Proposed FCC Wi-Fi Rule Cited as Reason for Firmware
    Lockdown, and more
 *  Website of the week: The National Hearing Test
 *  Word to the Wise: Gin Pole
 *  Sights and Sounds: TO2A FD Style, GTA Tower Climbing Raccoon, and more
 *  Results
 *  Operating Tip: Logging Cut Numbers
 *  Technical Topics and Information: Hard Drawn Copper Wire, Raspberry Pi
    Camera, and more
 *  Conversation: Known Unknowns
 *  Contests in Detail
 *  Log Due Dates

NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO

The ARRL DX Phone contest is coming up the weekend of March 5. The conditions
for the CW contest (just completed) were pretty darned good, and there will be
plenty of DX stations to work. Beforehand, how about checking your microphone
and compression levels of your transmit audio, to ensure that it's
accomplishing your goals? If you've changed headsets or microphones, if you've
changed your shack's acoustics, if you are using higher power than previously,
even if you've changed your power supply for your rig, you may need to adjust
the microphone gain levels and amount of compression that you're using, to
ensure minimum distortion and maximum effectiveness. Some rig manufacturers
supply detailed instructions on how to adjust their equipment, while others
leave you to fend for yourself. Jim Brown, K9YC, has written an article for
the March-April 2016 issue of NCJ entitled, "Clean, Punchy, Competitive
Contest Audio Without Splatter," which pretty much sums up everything that you
should hope to achieve. Additionally, AB4OJ/VA7OJ has a web page on the
general procedure to adjust for more "talk power" if you have a minimum of
test equipment -- a power meter and receiver.

February 27, the NAQP RTTY contest, will be a good bet for lots of contest
activity; also don't forget that the South Carolina and North Carolina QSO
Parties are on consecutive days that weekend.


BULLETINS

Idaho QSO Party Participants: The "Contest Corral -- March 2016" in the March
issue of QST contains an incorrect Sponsors Website listing for the Idaho QSO
Party. The correct listing is http://idahoarrl.info/qsoparty/rules.htm.

"High Performance RX Antennas for a Small Lot" by Jose "JC" Carlos, N4IS, will
be the topic of a webinar sponsored by the World Wide Radio Operators
Foundation. "JC will look at basic concepts of RX antennas and share his
experiences with low band RX antennas on a small lot, including the Waller
Flag." Date/Time: March 3, 9 PM EST (March 4 - 0200 UTC). Registration is
required. (Ken, K4ZW)


CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information for all contests follows the "Conversation" section

February 25

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test

February 26

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  NCCC Sprint Ladder
 *  CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB

February 27

 *  REF Contest, SSB
 *  UBA DX Contest, CW
 *  South Carolina QSO Party
 *  North American QSO Party, RTTY

February 28

 *  High Speed Club CW Contest
 *  SARL Digital Contest
 *  North Carolina QSO Party

March 1

 *  AGCW YL-CW Party

March 2

 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  UKEICC 80m Contest

March 3

 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  NRAU 10m Activity Contest
 *

March 4

 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  NCCC Sprint

March 5

 *  ARRL International DX Contest, SSB
 *  Wake-Up! QRP Sprint
 *  Open Ukraine RTTY Championship

March 6

 *  Open Ukraine RTTY Championship
 *  UBA Spring Contest, CW
 *  DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest
 *  SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emergency Contest

March 7

 *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data

March 8

 *  ARS Spartan Sprint

March 9

 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  Phone Fray
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test
 *  AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest


NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST

Here's a fun and perhaps apocryphal story from some years ago of a surplus 6H6
being used for a critical system on a naval destroyer.

You may recall that in August, 2015, the FCC proposed a rule that would compel
manufacturers of Wi-Fi hardware to "demonstrate that the device contains
security features to prevent the loading of software that would allow the
radio to operate in violation of the Commission's rules." There are a number
of Amateur Radio projects like HSMM-Mesh that take advantage of off-the-shelf
Wi-Fi hardware in combination with project-specific firmware loaded on that
hardware. At the time of the proposed ruling, there was speculation that the
ruling could lead to manufacturers disallowing independent firmware usage so
that they would satisfy the rules, resulting in a chilling effect for any
projects that used independent firmware. The FCC later clarified what it
meant, due to a large amount of feedback.

Recently, TP-Link, a hardware vendor for Wi-Fi networking gear, started
preventing the installation of non-standard firmware on some of its devices,
stating it is due to the "FCC Regulations." That they are preventing upgrades
is factual, however attributing the actual reason to proposed FCC regulations
may just be convenient. There's not enough information to know for sure yet.
Some hardware vendors are conflicted about the usage of third-party firmware
for their products, as on the one hand it has the potential to sell more
hardware and make products more mainstream, while on the other hand, it can
relieve artificial firmware limitations intended to compel purchase of more
expensive products.

For more information on the evolving situation, try LibrePlanet.org, check out
the Slashdot discussion, and see the website http://www.SaveWifi.org (and
associated Save Wi-Fi 2 GoFundMe).

The N3FJP logging program is growing an API (Application Programming
Interface)! Starting in February 2016, functionality that will enable other
programs to "talk" to the N3FJP logging program will start to be incorporated
in the software. Initial functionality includes the ability to get/set text
entry fields, get/set the frequency, band, mode, log a contact, check for
dupes, and more. See the N3JFP website for more information.

Russian scientists are combining memristors to fashion neural networks,
realizing what has been described as a "Perceptron" by Marvin Minsky.
Memristors are relatively new, but it's their use in "neuromorphic networks"
that is novel. While a single-layer perceptron has been constructed, future
multi-layer perceptrons would find application in machine learning and machine
vision.

A typical member of the "Maker" movement has a lot of the same characteristics
of a typical Amateur Radio experimenter and builder -- including willingness
to build their own equipment and projects using what's on hand, or using what
can be gleaned from re-purposing other technology. Now, some makers are
discovering ham radio.

Website of the Week - - https://www.nationalhearingtest.org

The National Hearing Test is a scientifically validated means of testing for
hearing loss via telephone. Partially funded by the NIH, described in the
Washington Post, on NPR, and via the National Hearing Test web site, you can
use the results to determine whether or not it may be prudent to follow up
with an audiologist. The testing fee is $5, however if you are an AARP member,
you may be able to perform the test for free. The test itself uses spoken
numbers combined with varying amounts of noise -- something phone operators
should be familiar with.


WORD TO THE WISE-- Gin Pole

It's a device that is temporarily installed on a tower to lift tower sections,
masts, antennas, and other items. It typically consists of a pulley atop a
hollow pole. At the opposite end of the pole from the pulley is a clamp or
other device that allows attachment to the tower. A rope or cable goes from
the load, over the pulley, and through the pole. K7NV provides a nice diagram
of gin pole use on his website.


SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Rich, N6KT, was TO2A in last fall's CQWW SSB 2015 Contest: "Many thanks to
FY5SE and FY5YR for their great assistance!" For the ARRL DX SSB, he's heading
to HK1NA.

A raccoon climbed nearly 700 feet up a Toronto tower, and then back down.
Unassisted. Social media has made the critter famous. Perhaps she can be
trained as a tower work assistant?

NASA has made a time-lapse movie of 1 year's observations from its Solar
Dynamics Observatory. Flares, ejections, its all here; each frame represents 2
hours in the life of the sun. If you have the capability to display it, you
can also download a 4K version (3840 x 2160 at 29.97 frames per second).
(Dennis, N6KI)

Don, N4KC, writes: "The movie Frequency, which, as you may recall, featured
Amateur Radio very prominently, is now being turned into a television series.
I wonder if this means we can add "decade" stickers to our DXCC certificates
when we work DX from the past and future! Or participate in the ARRL DX
Contest in, say, 1974..."


RESULTS AND RECORDS
[N7VWH_WAE_RTTY_2015.jpg]

Dawn Hanner, N7VWH, was one of the operators at K7RI for the 2015 WAE RTTY
Contest. [Photo courtesy of Curt, WR5J]

Worked All Europe DX Contest (WAEDC) results are available for all modes.

This could also be a fine time to check out recent contest result postings at
3830scores.com.


OPERATING TIP

Convert those Cut Numbers

In the recent ARRL International DX Contest, some CW operators were sending
cut numbers, which are shorter letter abbreviations for numbers. For example,
for a power level of 99 watts, "NN" could be sent. For 100, "1TT", or even
"ATT". Before submitting your log, it's prudent to convert these to the
numeric equivalent. If a cut number is entered for the zone, your logging
progam may not even accept it.


TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION

Hard-drawn copper wire has traditionally been used for some electrical
transmission line and antennas, where its greater tensile strength allows less
sag. It can be difficult to work with, and can be hard to find, though at
least one source has it in both stranded and solid. For long spans with
minimal sag, copper-coated steel may be a better choice.

Using a Raspberry Pi computer and some switchable filters, it's possible to
build a camera that allows one to view images captured using polarized light
(PDF). Polarized sunglasses can help you see fish through the glare reflecting
from water; using variations on this theme, it's possible to use this device
to detect man-made materials, chemical plumes, etc. The author of the paper is
N2QG.

Building antennas for higher frequencies may require bending aluminum rod. A
tool that you can build yourself may be helpful for consistent bends.

Foamed Copper may be a better heat conductor than solid, as it has greater
surface area for heat exchange. (Ward, N0AX)

Careful with those network-enabled devices! Make sure you know what you're
putting on the Internet.

Old-CPU nostalgia: One company has realized a pin-signal-level replacement for
an 8088 using an relatively inexpensive FPGA. Of course, other CPUs and even
whole computers have been re-implemented using FPGAs: 6502: Apple II FPGA,
generic 6502, or even a PDP-11.

Here are some techniques tempered with humor that you can use to get soldered
components off that PC board, provided by one of the principals at Elecraft.

Could you use a Bluetooth switch with your computer? It turns out that
under-$3 button hardware can link to your computer, emulating a keypress.
These could be handy for some uses in the shack.


CONVERSATION

Known Unknowns

A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with a colleague about what it would
take to enable remote operation of our home stations so that we can use them
from anywhere. The conversation eventually turned to the nitty-gritty details
of how we could access our ham gear through our home network firewalls. My
colleague mentioned that he worked with someone that thought you "didn't have
to worry about using firewalls, because what is someone going to do anyway?"
Being involved in the computer industry, I was taken aback; I didn't have an
immediate answer to this, so alien was this opinion
to me. I couldn't say nothing. All I could muster at the time was. "I think
that's a really bad idea, there are all sorts of threats you are not aware
of," while thinking, "don't exchange any USB storage devices with THAT guy.
Remember to not open any of his e-mail attachments, either."

What would have been a more comprehensive response?

First, the answer to, "what is a bad guy going to do, anyway?" The smug but
accurate answer is, "anything they can." It's not just the good guys that read
about how the NSA exploits networks; the bad guys do too, and they write
automated tools to do their work. Initially, their army of script-driven robot
attackers look for network devices that are vulnerable to gain a toehold.
There are plenty of devices that are potentially vulnerable; there's even a
search engine that will help find them by the message they use to
self-identify. Some network routers, firewalls, and cable modems, have
vulnerabilities. Exploits and vulnerabilities are even bought and sold among
the black hats. All it takes is one device that's vulnerable, and some
unwanted software is running on that device making it capable of launching
attacks on all of the other devices on your network. Compromised computers
will be scanned for financial information; keystroke capture software may be
installed so everything that's typed gets sent somewhere for later analysis;
new root certificates may get installed, which will allow further nefarious
software to be installed when you browse the web. You could suddenly be be
locked out of all of your files, including your electronic logbook, or be
sending spam e-mail to all of your ham friends in your address book. You could
become an electronic pariah. The bad guys could also get access to whatever
devices are running your ham gear, but they'd likely prefer your bank accounts
and your identity information. Even if there are laws in place to protect you
financially from identity theft, it is a long and arduous process to put your
financial and virtual self back together. Security is all about cost-benefit
trade-offs -- you want to be as costly and difficult a target as possible for
a potential hacker. Understand and implement security practices that apply to
your situation. In general, protect yourself however you can. Use strong
passwords. Change default passwords. Keep your software and hardware up to
date. Scan for viruses and other malware. Back up your data. Use a firewall,
and don't open any more ports in your firewall than necessary.

See you in the NAQP RTTY?

73, Brian N9ADG

PS. Send your contest-related pictures, links, humor, press releases, and
comments to contest-update@arrl.org.

CONTESTS

25 Feb - 9 Mar

An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format is
available. Check the sponsor's website for information on operating time
restrictions and other instructions.

HF CONTESTS

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Feb 24, 1300z to Feb 24, 1400z, Feb 24, 1900z to Feb 24,
2000z, Feb 25, 0300z to Feb 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: February 27.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Feb 26, 0145z to Feb 26, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 28.

QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 26, 0200z to Feb 26, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: February 27.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, Feb 26, 0230z to Feb 26, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,
20, 15, 10, 6m; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 28.

CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB, Feb 26, 2200z to Feb 28, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 160m
Only; W/VE: RS + (state/province), DX: RS + CQ Zone; Logs due: March 4.

REF Contest, SSB, Feb 27, 0600z to Feb 28, 1800z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; French: RS + Department/Prefix, non-French: RS + Serial No.; Logs due:
March 15.

UBA DX Contest, CW, Feb 27, 1300z to Feb 28, 1300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; ON: RST + Serial No. + province, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due:
March 15.

South Carolina QSO Party, Feb 27, 1400z to Feb 28, 0059z; CW, Digital, Phone;
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; SC: RS(T) + County, non-SC: RS(T) +
(state/province/"DX"); Logs due: March 29.

North American QSO Party, RTTY, Feb 27, 1800z to Feb 28, 0559z; RTTY; Bands:
80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs
due: March 6.

High Speed Club CW Contest, Feb 28, 0900z to Feb 28, 1100z, Feb 28, 1500z to
Feb 28, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; Members: RST + HSC No.,
non-Members: RST + "NM"; Logs due: March 20.

SARL Digital Contest, Feb 28, 1300z to Feb 28, 1600z; PSK, RTTY; Bands: 80,
40, 20m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: March 6.

North Carolina QSO Party, Feb 28, 1500z to Feb 29, 0059z; CW, Phone, Digital;
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m; NC: County, non-NC: (state/pro
ince/country); Logs due: March 21.

AGCW YL-CW Party, Mar 1, 1900z to Mar 1, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; YL: RST +
Serial No. + "/YL/" + name, OM: RST + Serial No. + "/" + name; Logs due: March
31.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 2, 0200z to Mar 2, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: March 3.

Phone Fray, Mar 2, 0230z to Mar 2, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;
NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: March 4.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Mar 2, 1300z to Mar 2, 1400z, Mar 2, 1900z to Mar 2,
2000z, Mar 3, 0300z to Mar 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: March 4.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Mar 2, 2000z to Mar 2, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only;
4-Character grid square; Logs due: March 2.

NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Mar 3, 1800z to Mar 3, 1900z (CW), Mar 3, 1900z to
Mar 3, 2000z (SSB), Mar 3, 2000z to Mar 3, 2100z (FM), Mar 3, 2100z to Mar 3,
2200z (Dig); CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10m Only; RS(T) + 6-character grid
square; Logs due: March 17.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Mar 4, 0145z to Mar 4, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);
Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: March 6.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 4, 0200z to Mar 4, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: March 5.

NCCC Sprint, Mar 4, 0230z to Mar 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.
+ Name + QTH; Logs due: March 6.

ARRL International DX Contest, SSB, Mar 5, 0000z to Mar 7, 0000z; SSB; Bands:
160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; W/VE: RS + (state/province), non-W/VE: RS + power;
Logs due: April 5.

Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Mar 5, 0600z to Mar 5, 0629z, Mar 5, 0630z to Mar 5,
0659z, Mar 5, 0700z to Mar 5, 0729z, Mar 5, 0730z to Mar 5, 0800z; CW; Bands:
40, 20m; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs
due: March 12.

Open Ukraine RTTY Championship, Mar 5, 1800z to Mar 5, 2059z (Low Band), Mar
5, 2100z to Mar 5, 2359z (Low Band), Mar 6, 0800z to Mar 6, 1059z (High Band),
Mar 6, 1100z to Mar 6, 1359z (High Band); RTTY; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; 2-letter regional abbrev. (state/province/canton, etc.) + Serial
No.(restart serial no. for high band); Logs due: March 21.

UBA Spring Contest, CW, Mar 6, 0700z to Mar 6, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; ON:
RST + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 20.

DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, Mar 6, 1100z to Mar 6, 1700z; RTTY, Amtor,
Clover, PSK31, Pactor; Bands: 10m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 21.

SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emerg Contest, Mar 6, 1200z to Mar 6, 1400z; SSB;
Bands: 40m Only; Class A: RS + Serial No. (starting with 201), Class B: RS +
Serial No. (starting with 401), Class C: RS + Serial No. (starting with 601),
Class D: RS + Serial No. (starting with 801), Non-participants: RS + Serial
No. (starting with 001); Logs due: March 13.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Mar 7, 2000z to Mar 7, 2130z; RTTY, PSK;
Bands: 80m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 14.

ARS Spartan Sprint, Mar 8, 0200z to Mar 8, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,
10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: March 10.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 9, 0200z to Mar 9, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +
(state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: March 11.

Phone Fray, Mar 9, 0230z to Mar 9, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;
NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: March 11.

CWops Mini-CWT Test, Mar 9, 1300z to Mar 9, 1400z, Mar 9, 1900z to Mar 9,
2000z, Mar 10, 0300z to Mar 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;
Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs
due: March 12.

AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest, Mar 9, 2300z to Mar 10, 2300z, Mar 12,
2300z to Mar 13, 2300z; CW; Bands: 40, 20m; RST + Eqpt Type + Eqpt Year; Logs
due: April 10.

VHF+ CONTESTS

See NCCC Sprint Ladder, North Carolina and South Carolina QSO Parties, above.

LOG DUE DATES

25 Feb - 9 Mar 2016

February 25, 2016

 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW

February 26, 2016

 *  Phone Fray
 *  Russian PSK WW Contest
 *  SKCC Sprint

February 27, 2016

 *  ARRL School Club Roundup
 *  Feld Hell Sprint
 *  SARL Youth Day Sprint
 *  QRP Fox Hunt
 *  CWops Mini-CWT Test

February 28, 2016

 *  NCCC Sprint Ladder
 *  NCCC RTTY Sprint
 *  AGCW Straight Key Party
 *  PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint
 *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest

February 29, 2016

 *  Triathlon DX Contest

March 1, 2016

 *  Winter Field Day
 *  OMISS QSO Party

March 2, 2016

 *  ARRL January VHF Contest

March 4, 2016

 *  YL-ISSB QSO Party, CW/SSB

March 6, 2016

 *  YLRL YL-OM Contest

March 7, 2016

 *  British Columbia QSO Party
 *  FISTS Winter Slow Speed Sprint
 *  FYBO Winter QRP Sprint
 *  Vermont QSO Party

March 8, 2016

 *  F9AA Cup, CW


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest
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