Contester's Rate Sheet for September 21, 2005

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Contester's Rate Sheet
21 September 2005
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Edited by Ward Silver N0AX

SUMMARY
o The Three B's - Part I

BULLETINS
o No bulletins this issue

BUSTED QSOS
o The editor, being at sea or on Kure Island, is blissfully unaware
of any errors that he may have made or promulgated.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES FOR 21 SEPTEMBER TO 4 OCTOBER 2005

Logs are due for the following contests:

September 24 - DX Colombia International Contest, email logs and
diskettes to: dxcolombia@costa.net.co, mail paper logs and diskettes
to: Transversal, 56 #22-107 Bosque, Cartagena, Colombia. Find rules
at: http://www.dxcolombia.com/contest.htm.

September 26 - Ohio QSO Party, email logs and diskettes to:
logs@oqp.us, mail paper logs and diskettes to: Ohio QSO Party, c/o
Jim Stahl, K8MR, 30499 Jackson Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44022-1730,
USA. Find rules at: http://www.oqp.us/rules 

September 27 - CQC Summer VHF/UHF QSO Party, email logs and diskettes
to: contest@cqc.org, mail paper logs and diskettes to: CQC Contest,
P.O. Box 17174, Golden, CO 80402-6019, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.cqc.org/contests/summer05.htm 

September 27 - Hawaii QSO Party, email logs and diskettes to:
kh6j@karc.us, mail paper logs and diskettes to: Hawaii QSO Party,
P.O. Box 8960788, Wahiawa, HI 96786-0788, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.karc.us/hi_qso_party.html 

September 27 - YO DX HF Contest, email logs and diskettes to:
yodx_contest@hamradio.ro, mail paper logs and diskettes to: YO DX HF
Contest, PO Box 22-50, Bucharest RO-014780, Romania. Find rules at:
http://www.hamradio.ro/contests/yodx_eng.pdf..

September 30 - AGCW Straight Key Party, email logs and diskettes to:
htp@agcw.de, mail paper logs and diskettes to: Friedrich W. Fabri,
DF1OY, Moselstrasse 17b, D-63322 Roedermark-Urberach, Germany. Find
rules at: http://www.agcw.de/english/contest/htp_e.htm 

September 30 - IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB, email logs and diskettes
to: (see your national society rules), mail paper logs and diskettes
to: Your national society. Find rules at: Your national society Web
site.

September 30 - Keyman's Club of Japan Contest, email logs and
diskettes to: kcjlog@freeml.com ,   Upload log at:
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~kcj/cgi/e_contestlog/contestlog.html,
mail paper logs and diskettes to: Masayoshi Namba, JA1FCY, 1420-55
Kibara, Sambu-town Sambu, Chiba 289-1212 Japan. Find rules at:
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~kcj/e_kcjrule26.htm 

October 3 - Russian RTTY WW Contest, email logs and diskettes to:
contest@radio.ru, mail paper logs and diskettes to: Russian RTTY WW
Contest
Radio Magazine, Seliverstov per. 10, Moscow 107045, Russia  Find
rules at: http://www.radio.ru/cq/contest/rule-results/index2.shtml 

October 4 - DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest (Sep), email logs and
diskettes to: df5bx@darc.de, mail paper logs and diskettes to: Werner
Ludwig, DF5BX
P.O. Box 1270, 49110 Georgsmarienhuette, Germany. Find rules at:
http://www.darc.de/referate/ukw-funksport/sonder/tei-digi.htm 

The following contests are scheduled:

Note that the following abbreviations are used to condense the
contest rules summaries:
SO - Single-Op; M2 - Multi-Op - 2 Transmitters; MO - Multi-Op; MS -
Multi-Op, Single Transmitter; MM - Multi-Op, Multiple Transmitters;
AB - All Band; SB - Single Band; S/P/C - State/Province/DXCC Entity;
HP - High Power; LP - Low Power; Entity - DXCC Entity

HF CONTESTS

CQ Worldwide RTTY DX Contest--sponsored by CQ Magazine from 0000Z Sep
24 - 2400Z Sep 25. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB (LP,
HP>150W), SOSB, Assisted (AB only), MS (LP, HP), M2, MM. Exchange:
RST + CQ Zone (W/VE stations also send state/province). QSO Points:
own country--1 pt, different country, same continent--2pts, diff.
cont.--3pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C (incl. WAE countries) + CQ
Zones counted once per band. For more information:
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/. Logs due 29 Oct in Cabrillo format
to rtty@cqww.com. 

Scandinavian Activity Contest--SSB--sponsored by Sveriges
Sändareamatörer (SSA 1200Z Sep 24 - 1200Z Sep 25. Frequencies: 80 -
10 meters. Categories: SOAB (QRP <5W, LP <100W, HP), MS, SWL.
Exchange: RS(T) + serial number. QSO Points: EU stations--1 pt,
Non-EU--1 pt on 20--10, 3 pts on 80 - 40. Finals score is QSO pts ×
Scandinavian call areas counted once per band. For more information:
http://www.nrrl.no/7_english/start_e.htm. Logs due Oct 31 to
la4yw@broadpark.no or to NRRL HF Contest Manager: Liv Johansen,
LA4YW, Kolstadtunet 4C, NO-7098 Saupstad, Norway.

Texas QSO Party--CW/Phone/Digital--sponsored by Northwest Amateur
Radio Society (NARS), 1400Z Sep 24 - 0200Z Sep 25 and 1400Z - 2000Z
Sep 25. Frequencies (MHz): CW--40 to 60 kHz above bottom of band,
Phone--25 kHz above edge of General segments and 28.300 - 28.500,
VHF--50.2, 144.2. Categories: Fixed Stns--SO-Mixed (HP and QRP <5W
CW, <10W Phone), SO-CW, MO; Mobile (Texas Only)--SO-Mixed, SO-CW, MO.
Exchange: RST + TX County or S/P/C or MM region. QSO Points: Phone--2
pts, CW/Digital--3 pts. Score: QSO points x TX counties (TX stations
add S/P/C). Multipliers counted only once. Add 500 points for every 5
counties from which a specific TX Mobile is worked. Texas mobiles add
one thousand (1000) points to final score for every county activated
with five or more QSOs. For more information: http://www.txqp.org/.
Logs due 31 Oct to k5cx@arrl.net or Texas QSO Party Committee, 16880
East Maglitto Cir, Tomball, TX 77377-8414.

Alabama QSO Party--CW/Phone--sponsored by the Central Alabama HF/VHF
Contesting Club, 1800Z - 2400Z Sep 25. Frequencies: 160 - 70 cm, SSB,
CW, and FM contacts count separately. Categories: SO, MS, Rover,
QRP(< 5W), LP (< 200 W), HP. Exchange: RST and S/P/C. Work Rover
stations in each county. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Scoring: AL
stations--QSOs x states + AL counties + DXCC entities counted once
per band. Non-AL stations--QSOs x AL counties counted once per band.
Logs due 30 days after the contest. For more information, check the
on-line Contest Corral at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/months/sep.html for log submission
addresses or contact w4nti@mindspring.com.

Classic Exchange--AM/SSB, from 1300Z Sep 25 - 0700Z Sep 26. (CW is
Oct 2-3) Frequencies (Mc); AM--1.890 3.880 7.290 14.286 21.420 29.000
50.300 144.300. SSB--1.855, 3.870, 7.280, 14.270, 21.370, 28.390,
50.125, 144.200. Exchange RS, name, QTH, TX, RX, XCVR, AM
International number if available. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Total Score:
QSOs × (number of TX and RX worked + S/P/C counted once per band) ×
CX multiplier (age of all RX TX and XCVR used for at least 3 QSOs).
AMI QSOs count for CX score. For more information: qsl.asti.com/CX.
Logs to WQ8U@arrl.net or WQ8U, 104 W Queen St, Hillsborough, NC
27278.

Tesla Cup--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Tesla Radio Club from 0000Z -
2400Z Sep 24 (CW) and 0000Z - 2400Z Sep 26 (SSB). Frequencies: 160 -
10 meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, SO-Assisted, MS, MM, Club/Team,
with QRP (<15 W), LO (<150 W), and HP in all categories. Exchange:
4-digit grid square. QSO Points: SSB--2 pts, CW--3 pts.  Work
stations once each 24-hour period.  Total Score: QSO Points x number
of different first three digits of grids (i.e. - FN2, CN8) counted
once per band.  For more information:
http://www.computeradio.us/TeslaCup.htm. Logs due 14 days after the
contest to k3bu@aol.com or Tesla Cup, Box 282, Pine Brook, NJ 07058.

Fall QRP Homebrewer Sprint--CW/PSK31--sponsored by New Jersey QRP
Club, 0000Z - 0400Z Sep 26. Frequencies: QRP CW and PSK31 frequencies
on 80 - 10 meters. CW and PSK31 are considered separate bands.
Exchange: RST + S/P/C + Output Power. QSO Points: Commercial
Equipment--2 pts, Homebrew Xmtr or Rcvr--3pts, Homebrew Xmtr and Rcvr
or Xcver--4 pts. Kits ok as homebrew. Power Multiplier: 0>250 mW = x
15, 250 mW>1W = x10, 1-5W = x7, >5W = x1. Score: QSO Points x S/P/C
(counted once per band) x power multiplier. For more information:
http://www.njqrp.org/data/qrphomebrewersprint.html. Logs due 30 days
from the contest to n2cq@arrl.net (text format) or Ken Newman, N2CQ,
81 Holly Drive, Woodbury, NJ 08096.

PSK Rumble (The Fall Classic)--sponsored by Troy ARA, 0000z - 2400z
Oct 1. 80-6 meters. Exchange: name and S/P/C. Categories: Normal
(>100 W), Great (<20 W), Super (<5 W), Novice, SWL. Score: QSO's x
(W/VE/JA/VK call areas + DXCC entities counted once per band). For
more information: http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_rumble_rules.html.
Logs due 29 Oct via online score submission form at
www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_rumble_score.html. 

Oceania DX Contest--SSB, supported by the Wireless Institute of
Australia (WIA) and New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters
(NZART), Phone 0800Z Oct 1 - 0800Z Oct 2 (CW is 0800Z Oct 8 - 0800Z
Oct 9). Frequencies: 160-10 meters, work VK/ZL/Oceania stations only.
Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS, MM, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and serial
number. QSO Points: 160--20 pts, 80--10 pts, 40--5 pts, 20--1 pt,
15--2 pts, 10--3 pts. Score: QSO points × WPX prefixes counted once
per band. For more information: http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/. Logs
due Nov 6 in Cabrillo format (required for logs with more than 50
QSOs) to ph@oceaniadxcontest.com (CW to cw@oceaniadxcontest.com) or
paper logs (if less than 50 QSOs) to Oceania DX Contest, c/o
Wellington Amateur Radio Club Inc., PO Box 6464, Wellington 6030, New
Zealand.

EU Autumn Sprint--SSB, sponsored by the EU Sprint Gang, 1500Z - 1859Z
Oct 1 (CW is 1500Z - 1859Z Oct 8). Frequencies: 80-20 meters,
stations outside EU work EU stations only. SOAB category only.
Exchange: your call, serial number, name, other station's call.
Special QSY rule--see Web site. Score is number of QSOs. For more
information: http://www.eusprint.com/. Logs due 15 days after the
contest to eusprint@kkn.net or Paolo Cortese, I2UIY, PO Box 14,
I-27043 Broni (PV), Italy (CW logs to Karel Karmasin, OK2FD, Gen
Svobody 636, CZ-674 01 Trebic, Czech Republic).

California QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Northern California
Contest Club, 1600Z Oct 1 - 2200Z Oct 2. Frequencies: 160-2 meters.
Categories: SOAB (HP >200W, LP, QRP <5W), MS, MM, CA County
Expedition, Mobile, Club, School. SO work 24 hours only. CW QSOs in
CW subbands, except 160. Work CA stations in each county. Stations on
a county line count as a single contact for QSO points, but both
counties may be claimed as mulitpliers. Exchange: serial number and
S/P/C or CA county. QSO Points: CW--3 pts, Phone--2 pts. Score: QSO
points × CA counties (max 58) or CA stations multiply by states and
VE call areas (max 58). For more information: http://www.cqp.org/.
Logs due by Nov 1 to cqp@contesting.com or to NCCC, c/o Kevin Rowett,
N6RCE, 21906 Monte Ct, Cupertino, CA 95014.

RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest--SSB, sponsored by the RSGB, 0700Z - 1900Z Oct
2 (CW is 0700Z - 1900Z Oct 16). Frequencies: 15 and 10 meters (see
Web site for band plan), work UK stations only. Categories: UK and DX
SO or MS (Open, Restricted, QRP <10W) and SWL (Open and Restricted).
Exchange: serial number and UK district. QSO Points: 3 pts/QSO. Score
QSO points x UK districts (UK stations use DXCC entities plus JA, W,
VE, VK, ZL and ZS call areas) counted once per band. For more
information: http://www.rsgbhfcc.org/. Logs due Nov 17 to
2128ssb.logs@rsgbhfcc.org (2128cw.logs@rsgbhfcc.org for CW logs) or
to RSGB--G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7
7AF, England.

Classic Exchange--CW, from 1300Z Oct 2 - 0700Z Oct 3. Frequencies
(Mc): 1.815, 3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.135, 28.050, 50.100, 144.100.
(see Sep 25 - 26)

VHF+ CONTESTS

ARRL EME Contest, from 0000Z Sep 24 - 2400Z Sep 25. Frequencies: 2304
MHz and up. (50 - 1296 MHz, Oct 22-23 and Nov 12-13) Categories:
SOAB, SOSB, MO, Commercial. Exchange: signal report. QSO Points: 100
pts/QSO. Score: QSO points x W/VE states/provinces + DXCC entities
(counted once per band). For more information:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/. Logs due Dec 13 to
emecontest@arrl.org or EME Contest, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111.

VHF Fall Sprints--CW/Phone/Digital--sponsored by the Southeastern VHF
Society as follows: 222 MHz--7-11 PM Sep 27. Fixed and Rover
categories. Exchange: Grid Square. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score is QSO
Points x Grid Squares, score each sprint separately. Rovers all grids
worked from each grid. For more information:
http://svhfs.org/fall_sprint_rules.htm. Logs must be emailed or
postmarked within four weeks of the contest. 144 MHz logs to
ottf@wbia.net or Ottmar Fiebel W4WSR , PO Box 957, Hayesville, NC
28904. 222 MHz logs to k4sz@arrl.net or Bob Lear K4SZ, PO Box 1269,
Dahlonega, GA 30533. 432 MHz logs to w4kxy@arrl.net or Jim Worsham
W4KXY, 1915 Oak Wind Lane, Buford, GA 30519-6766. Microwave logs to
rover@wireco.net or Greg Robinson KB4NVD, 208 Dogwood Acres Rd,
Hampton, TN 37658-3348. 50 MHz logs to wa4njp@bellsouth.net or Ray
Rector WA4NJP, 3493 Holly Springs Rd, Gillsville, GA 30534.

CONVERSATION

The Three B's

Part I

The recent draft of a proposal to change amateur band subdivision
from the current mode-based scheme (CW, Data, and Phone) to one based
on signal bandwidth has generated a lot of interest and reaction.  On
its surface, the proposal
(http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/13/1/) wouldn't seem to
result in huge differences from the current state of affairs; CW is
still at the low end of the bands, CW and narrow-band Data share some
segment higher up, and the wide-band modes are still at the top.  But
stir the waters it has. 

A couple years ago, I viewed regulation-by-bandwidth as a natural and
sure-fire way to accommodate the burgeoning pantheon of digital
modulation and encoding types. An attractive aspect of using
bandwidth is the relative ease it offers of administration.  A
signal's bandwidth is directly observable on the air. No special
decoding is required nor does the content of the signal count. The
methods of its measurement are already defined and understood.  The
concept of "mode" has become entirely too fuzzy.  For example, if I
use digital signals to conduct a QSO by exchanging files of my
recorded voice and JPGs of my smiling face, is that data, voice, or
image?  Where could such a signal be transmitted in the bands? 
Clearly, mode as a differentiating element between signals is on its
way out.  Bandwidth looked to me like a shoo-in to take its place.
Yet, the proposal's use of bandwidth has generated some stiff
resistance.  What happened?

I've come to understand there is a fair amount of confusion about the
Three B's; Bandwidth, Band Plan, and Behavior.  All three affect how
amateurs populate and use our spectrum. For any effort at
administration to satisfy the needs of the expected uses, all three
B's must be accounted for.  Let's start by making sure we're all
using the same definitions.

Bandwidth is commonly defined in terms of the difference between a
signal's peak power and the power in sidebands some frequency apart. 
For example, the FCC defines bandwidth in item 8 of Part 97.3 as "The
width of a frequency band outside of which the mean power of the
transmitted signal is attenuated at least 26 dB below the mean
transmitted power within the band." (-26 dB is 1/400th or ¼ % of the
signal peak power.)  There is no requirement for the signal to be
symmetric or efficient.  It's easy to imagine a bandwidth-checking
robot tuning a spectrum analyzer up and down the bands, checking each
signal and computing its bandwidth. From a technical standpoint,
bandwidth is well understood and fairly easy to work with.

Band plans don't appear on the air, rather they are usage guidelines.
 They cross-reference the customary use of the radio spectrum by
signal type or content with a list of frequencies or frequency
ranges. Band plans range from having the force of law (repeater
coordination), to convention (USB above 10 MHz), to tradition
(calling frequencies and DX windows).  Band plans are simply
agreements that the occupants of the spectrum use to organize
compatible methods of operations.  They are just plans and can shift
when circumstances demand, such during emergencies or periods of
higher than usual band loading during DXpeditions or contests.

Behavior is the least discussed of the Three B's, but has the most
visible and apparent effect on operation.  Behavior comprises all of
the protocols that are used as the operators interact; radio manners,
if you will.  Behavior can be the technical description of how
digital stations establish a link and exchange data. Behavior also
applies to the convention of asking, "Is the frequency in use?" or
"QRL?" or pausing for breaking stations during a QSO. Independent of
band plans or signal bandwidth, behavior has to be agreed upon and
followed for harmonious spectrum use.

To Be Continued...

73, Ward N0AX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from the
following sources:
WA7BNM's Contest Calendar Web page -
http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal
ARRL Contest page - http://www.arrl.org/contests
SM3CER's Web site - http://www.sk3bg.se/contest