• Together Again - IARU and WRTC
• CQ Worldwide VHF Contest
• Last-minute WRTC News
• WRTC Results and Records
• Making Good Decisions

NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO

Get on the bands and chase the WRTC2010 stations as they scramble for every QSO during the IARU HF Championship! If you are new to the IARU contest, part of the exchange is your ITU Zone (not your CQ WW Zone). US stations are in zone 6 (West Coast), 7 (Midwest), or 8 (East Coast) as explained on the RSGB site listed in Word To The Wise below.

BULLETINS

Jim AD1C reports that the Country (CTY) Files used by many logging programs were updated on 01 July 2010. These are particularly important during IARU HF because of the use of ITU Zones (not CQ Zones). He request, "Please test this BEFORE the IARU Contest starts. I don't have all the different logging programs to check for errors. "

CONTEST SUMMARY

Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section

10-11 July

• IARU HF World Championship
• World Radiosport Team Championship
• FISTS Summer Sprint--CW
• Feld-Hell Monthly Sprint
• Straight Key Weekend Sprint
• QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint--CW

17-18 July

• CWops Mini-CWT Test (July 14)
• DMC RTTY Contest
• NA RTTY QSO Party
• CQ WW VHF Contest
• CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush--CW
• Run For the Bacon--CW

Combining several reports and press releases from Moscow...

The WRTC2010 Committee has created an online scoring system that will report team scores in nearly real time during the competition. All teams will have special hardware at their locations which will send scores from their computers every 5 minutes. (This is backed up by referees sending scores via text messaging.) You can also watch real-time video from the WRTC-2010 opening ceremony, location and call drawings, competitors' meeting, and closing ceremony. The WRTC photo team will also be uploading pictures to the Web site during the entire competition.

Congratulations to the WRTC2010 Committee for their four years of hard work to make WRTC2010 a reality. A heart-felt thank you from all contesters around the world!

The WRTC2010 Committee also needs as many of your IARU contest logs as possible to create the QSO data base it will use to cross check the WRTC competitors' logs. All stations that make contact with the WRTC teams are requested to please email copies of their electronic, Cabrillo-formatted logs to [email protected] or upload them to www.wrtc2010.ru/upload/ no later than 1800 UTC on Sunday, July 11, 2010 - this is only six hours after the end of the contest. The subject field should contain your contest call sign, e.g., "Subject: W1AW". The Committee guarantees that these logs will be used only to determine winners of the WRTC awards and prizes (see the next News item), and for cross checking the WRTC-2010 teams' logs. Please understand that sending us a copy of your log does NOT constitute a log submission for the IARU HF Championship; for that, you should also e-mail your log to [email protected].

To encourage the HAM radio community worldwide to make contacts with WRTC stations, the WRTC2010 committee has created a special awards and prizes program. WRTC-2010 awards, special certificates, plaques, T-shirts and trophies will be issued based on a number of criteria, including QSO points made with the WRTC stations. A form is provided so that you can check off each of the 50 stations on each band and mode. (That's 50 stations x 5 bands x 2 modes = 500 contacts - a whole weekend of operating on its own!)

Reminder - all WRTC stations will use distinctive call signs from the block R3ØA - R39Z. They may be contacted on each band (80 - 10, no WRTC stations will operate on 160 meters) and mode (CW and SSB).

The WRTC2006 champs - Jim VE7ZO (left) and John VE3EJ (right) recently tuned up for their chance at a repeat title in Moscow. (Photo - VE3EJ)

The National Contest Journal is hosting a team of WRTC Bloggers. Read words of wisdom like Monday's tale of travel confusion by Eric K9GY, "Going to see the real Lenin this morning but I'm taking the subway to get there. Not sure if they require pants or not because the sign says "trunks" are not allowed..." Watch the international news for any signs of disturbances on the Moscow subway. Other contributors include K1ZM, VE3DZ, JK6GAD, K6LA, K6XX, K5ZD, N6XI, KL9A, RA3CO, and N5AW.

The Southwest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA) asked for and was chosen to host W1AW for the IARU HF Championship. IARU chairman Scott N9AG has coordinated the efforts of a team across Ohio that will put out a big signal on all bands:

• 160 (both modes) NØFW - Hamilton, Ohio - Full sized vertical
• 80 CW - NØFW - 4-square
• 75 SSB - K8DV - Goshen, Ohio - wires and Hy-Tower
• 40 CW - N8BJQ - Thackery, Ohio - 2 elements at 110 ft + dipole
• 40 SSB - N8NR - Palestine, Ohio - 2 elements at 130 ft + dipole
• 20 CW - N8AA - Oxford, Ohio - 2x tribander stack
• 20 SSB - N8BJQ - 4 elements @ 90' and 3x tribander stack
• 15 CW - N8NR - 5/5 at 110'/75'
• 15 SSB - NØFW - 4 elements @ 90' + tribander
• 10 CW - N8NR - 5/5/5 at 120/90/60 + tribander
• 10 SSB - K4ZLE - Lebanon, Ohio - TH-11 + tribander

All teams will be using W1AW/8 as the call sign. QSLs for all W1AW QSOs are handled by the ARRL.

If you need a nice ITU Zone map, you can download this one from EI8IC's page on mapability.com. (Graphic by EI8IC)

The Daily DX newsletter reports that K1TTT and W1KM will run the NU1AW station this weekend in the IARU HF World Championship. Operators at K1TTT will be K1SFA, K1MK, K5UZ, KU5B, K1TTT, NJ1F, W1TO, W5MPC, W1EQO and JA1BPA. NU1AW is the IARU Club station call and will count as an HQ station.

WORD TO THE WISE

ITU Zones - a set of 90 geographic zones assigned by the ITU and completely different from CQ Zones. The RSGB has developed a nice Web page on ITU Zones in support of its Worked ITU Zones Program.

You can review results for all prior WRTC events, starting with the first one held in Seattle in 1990, at the WRTC history Web site. Web pages with information about all of the WRTC's are there for you to read while waiting for 1200Z on Saturday!

OPERATING TIP

The WRTC2010 committee asks that you cooperate with requests from R3ØA-R39Z stations to move to another band or mode with them for a new multiplier or QSO. Every point is important!

Making Good Decisions

Ali A71BX, who will be active as A71A this weekend, sent this Friederichschafen hamfest photo of Chief WRTC Judge, Dave K1ZZ (right) and his wife Linda KA1ZD (left).

This weekend will see contesters from around the world operating from Russia in the sixth World Radiosport Team Championship. The hosts - Soyuz Radioljubiteley Rossii (SRR) - are the Russian national Amateur Radio society and they have been working very, very hard to handle the logistics for several hundred participants (and their radio equipment). Held in the wide-open grasslands of Domodedovo, near Moscow, this WRTC is modeled on the Russian championships with the teams operating "Field Day-style" in tents. No effort has been spared to equalize the operating locations and the antennas available to each team. This will be the most level playing field ever for WRTC - literally!

Well, it should be the most equal WRTC ever. The sponsors can only do so much to insure that all teams compete on an equal footing. It is up to the rest of us to help insure that the winners are determined by their skill and stamina. How can we support the competition? By scrupulously operating with the highest ethics and without favoritism.

Radiosport is nearly unique as a competition in that it requires the competitors to cooperate with each other and with the general ham radio public in order to make contacts and score points. It is generally assumed that every operator gives an equal and full chance for any other operator to make contact. Contacts are not to be withheld, disrupted, or falsified in any way. Similarly, participants are expected to attempt contact any station such that everyone has an equal pool of potential contacts. This is required if the final results are to be an indicator of operator skill.

Getting ready for WRTC2010, teammates Andy N2NT and Tim K3LR leave no detail to chance as they assemble the gear headed to Moscow. (Photo - N2NC)

Such is not always the case. If you have been following the IARU HF Championship reports, you know of the serious dispute over the 2009 HQ station results. It was claimed that amateurs in one country worked only their own HQ station on multiple bands, multiple modes, and with multiple calls. Anyone familiar with the IARU contest knows the practice of "cheerleading" and "favoritism" has been a problem in the HQ station category for years. Now that the issue has come to a head, hopefully the HQ station community will come together to define a set of rules that encourages and rewards good behavior and operating ethics in future contests.

Sad to say, WRTC has also seen its share of "irrational exuberance" from hams who are "overly eager" to assist their country's team or teams. Beginning in 1990, rules were constructed to prevent teams from identifying themselves in any way so as to combat the urge to "work our team". Yet in 2006, log checkers had to make the drastic decision to remove all unique call signs from the logs of all stations in order to preserve a credible order of finish among the teams. As a US competitor with KL9A that year, I was unaware of anyone trying to "pack our logs" and would not have supported any such effort. I endorsed the decision by the sponsors to remove unique calls from our log, even though we lost some QSOs, I'm sure.

The desire to see the contest decided solely on the merits of the operators is why I endorse the DARC press release this week by Bernd DL6FBL, "Please support all teams, and do not address teams in their own language, but only in English. Cluster spots are very welcome, as long as they do not compromise the anonymity of the team."

Resist the temptation to post spots or announcements with comments identifying a team or preferentially spotting a team that you believe to be "your" team. The competition's success depends just as much on fair play from us as it does from the teams in the tents. Imagine spectators along the routes of Tour de France jumping out to block riders or running onto the World Cup pitch to tackle an opponent's player! Encourage, congratulate, and support - but do not corrupt the competition.

Radiosport is not and should not be a popularity contest. Don't fall into the childish trap of, "But everybody else is doing it!" No, everybody else is NOT doing it. While we would all very much like to see "our" team atop the first-place podium, let's not let our national pride lead to bad decisions that compromise the very competitions that we so enjoy and upon which the WRTC hosts have worked so hard to make fair and open.

73, Ward NØAX

July 7 through July 20

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

HF CONTESTS

IARU HF World Championship--Phone,CW, from Jul 10, 1200Z to Jul 11, 1200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and IARU zone. Logs due: 30 days. Rules

World Radiosport Team Championship--Phone,CW, from Jul 10, 1200Z to Jul 11, 1200Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T) and ITU zone or 3-letter code. Logs due: See Web. Rules

FISTS Summer Sprint--CW, from Jul 9, 2000 EDT to Jul 9, 2400 EDT. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, name, FISTS number or pwr. Logs due: 30 days. Rules

Feld-Hell Monthly Sprint--Digital, from Jul 10, 1600Z to Jul 10, 1800Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Feld-Hell member nr or age. Rules

Straight Key Weekend Sprint--CW, from Jul 11, 0000Z to Jul 11, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member number. Logs due: 5 days. Rules

QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew--CW, from Jul 11, 2000Z to Jul 11, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, QRP number or power. Logs due: Aug 13. Rules

CWops Mini-CWT Test--CW, from Jul 14, 1100Z to Jul 15, 0400Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Frequencies (MHz): 18 to 28 kHz above band edge. Exchange: Name and member number or S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules

DMC RTTY Contest--Digital, from Jul 17, 1200Z to Jul 18, 1200Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial. Logs due: Aug 19. Rules

NA RTTY QSO Party--Digital, from Jul 17, 1800Z to Jul 18, 0600Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: Name and S/P/C. Logs due: 14 days. Rules

CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush--CW, from Jul 18, 2000Z to Jul 18, 2159Z. Bands (MHz): 14. Exchange: RST, serial, category, CQC member nr. Logs due: 30 days. Rules

Run For the Bacon - Monthly--CW, from Jul 19, 0100Z to Jul 19, 0300Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Flying Pig nr or power. Rules

VHF+ CONTESTS

Straight Key Weekend Sprint--CW, from Jul 11, 0000Z to Jul 11, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member number. Logs due: 5 days. Rules

CQ WW VHF Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jul 17, 1800Z to Jul 18, 2100Z. Bands (MHz): 50,144. Exchange: 4-digit grid square. Logs due: Sep 1. Rules

July 7 through July 20

July 8 - ARS Spartan Sprint, email logs to: [email protected], paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Rules

July 12 - SARL Digital Contest, email logs to: [email protected], paper logs and diskettes to: Lichtenburg ARC, PO Box 410, Lichtenburg, 2740, South Africa. Rules

July 12 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, upload log at: http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/hfenter.pl, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Rules

July 13 - REF DDFM 6m Contest, email logs to: [email protected], paper logs and diskettes to: F6IIT, Patrick Vermote, 175 chemin des Meuniers, F-86130 Dissay, France. Rules

July 14 - ARRL June VHF QSO Party, email logs to: [email protected], paper logs and diskettes to: June VHF, ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111, USA. Rules

July 15 - His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB, email logs to: [email protected], paper logs and diskettes to: URE HF Contests, P.O. Box 220, 28080 Madrid, Spain. Rules

July 19 - Kid's Day Contest, email logs to: (none), paper logs and diskettes to: (see rules). Rules

July 20 - West Virginia QSO Party, email logs to: [email protected], paper logs and diskettes to: Jeffrey Woods, RT 1 Box 211A, Independence WV 26374, USA. Rules

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar.