Archive for the 'Contesting' Category

Page 3 of 4

Upcoming CW Contest

June 27, 2011 by va3qv

This information comes to us via Glenn VE3GNA

=====================================

Coming…The World’s First “CW Open” Events

What? Three separate 4-hour contests, each separately scored and awarded

When? August 20, 2011 from 1200-1600Z and 2000-2400Z and August 21 from
0400-0800Z

Mode? CW

Bands? 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10

Categories? Single operator (QRP <5w; LP >5 but <100 w; HP >100w); Packet,
Skimmer, and Reverse Beacon systems are allowed

Teams? Yes, teams of 10 or less, no geography restrictions

Club competiton? Teams (see above)

Exchange? Serial number + name

Scoring? Each 4-hour contest starts at 0 points, 0 mults; work someone
once per band per event; score 1 point per QSO per band and 1 mult per
call sign once per event

Awards?
*Trophy for 1st place in each time period.
*Plaque for 1st place in each power level in each time period
*Trophy for over all combined score of all three time periods.
*Plaque for 1st place for each power level in the combined score group.
Note: if the same entrant wins multiple awards, they may be combined.
*Certificates for achieving more than 100 QSOs in any or all time periods

Logging software support? N1MM, WriteLog, TR4W, CQ/X, SD, GenLog (more,
check “rules” page -see below)

Log submission? One log per event; Cabrillo format

Deadline for Log submission? By 2400Z on September 5, 2011

Rules? www.cwops.org/cwopen.html

Posted in Contesting | 0 Comments

Bulletin de RAC 2011-005F Résultats du IARU HF Worl Championship 2010.

March 4, 2011 by ve2qq

Bulletin de RAC 2011-005F Résultats du IARU HF Worl Championship 2010.
2011-03-04

Les liens pour accéder aux résultats sont à:

http://www.iaru.org/contest.html

Merci à Dave Sumner, K1ZZ pour l’information.

Acheminé par:
Daniel A. Lamoureux, VE2KA
Vice président affaires Internationales,
Radioamateurs du Canada

———————————————————————

RAC Bulletin 2011-005E Results of the 2010 IARU HF World Championship.
2011-03-04

The results links are availlable at:

http://www.iaru.org/contest.html

Thanks to Dave Sumner, K1ZZ for the information.

Forwarded by:
Daniel A. Lamoureux, VE2KA
Vice-President International Affairs,
Radio Amateurs of Canada

Posted in Contesting | 0 Comments

RAC Bulletin 2011-005E Results of the 2010 IARU HF World Championship.

March 4, 2011 by ve2qq

2011-03-04

The results links are availlable at:

http://www.iaru.org/contest.html

Thanks to Dave Sumner, K1ZZ for the information.

Forwarded by:
Daniel A. Lamoureux, VE2KA
Vice-President International Affairs,
Radio Amateurs of Canada

———————————————————————

Bulletin de RAC 2011-005F Résultats du IARU HF Worl Championship 2010.

Les liens pour accéder aux résultats sont à:

http://www.iaru.org/contest.html

Merci à Dave Sumner, K1ZZ pour l’information.

Acheminé par:
Daniel A. Lamoureux, VE2KA
Vice président affaires Internationales,
Radioamateurs du Canada

–

* * * *

Posted in Contesting | 0 Comments

VE7CVA Field Day 2010

January 21, 2011 by va3qv

Today’s movie comes to us from our friends in VE7Land who posted an exceptional You Tube Video on Field Day 2010.  Their comments were as follows:
“Here is a video we made at the Cowichan Valley Amateur Radio Society’s (VE7CVA/VE7RVC) Field Day in 2010. We were set up at a local community hall and had twenty operators present.”

Good Production Technique in the Video and also Nice Toys in the video itself

Thanks to Gabor Horvath, VE7DXG for bringing this to my attention

Just remember…  The original Amateur Radio Social Media device used a “Key” and not a “Keyboard”.

73 from Ottawa… Bob

Posted in ARES, ARRL, Contesting, Fun stuff, RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA and Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Some upcoming events

December 28, 2010 by va3qv

Now that the Christmas Rush is over and you are resting up for New Years I thought I would mention a few upcoming Amateur Radio Events to think about.

The First event which starts at 0000hrs (UTC) on Jan 1st 2011 is the ARRL Straight Key Night.If you click on the ARRL Logo (above) you will end up at the ARRL Website where you can read up on the where, what and wherefores of the event but basically its a CW Contest where the participants use the Straight Key rather than paddles, keyers, computers etc.

Although I (with my lousy CW Skills) will not be participating in this event I do recommend that you at least give a listen ( I will be) and if you have the necessary skills or think you do try making a few contacts…  I find it interesting that now that CW is not a requirement that the mode is actually gaining in popularity especially with the QRP Portable types as now everyone who is operating CW actually wants to operate CW…

If your not into CW HF but into CW and SSB VHF Work why not give the ARRL Jan VHF Sweepstakes a try.

Click on the above logo to go to the ARRL Contest site for more info.

Date and Contest Period: The date will be announced annually by the ARRL but will generally be the third or fourth weekend in January. Begins 1900 UTC Saturday, ends 0359 UTC Monday (January 22-24, 2011).

With all the various HF rigs that now offer 2m, 6m and 70cm as well (Such as the TS 2000, FT897, IC 7000 just to name a few) most of you have no excuse to at least listen to the contest and give out a few contacts to those who are actively contesting.

Also remember that they do call 6m the magic band for a reason and if there is any sort of opening you can have a blast operating just with the output of your radio and a simple dipole antenna.  But you can’t make any contacts if your not on the air…

I will be there for this one using a simple 1/4w rotatable dipole for 6m with my FT 847 with the rigs 100w and hope at least to get a couple of grid sq

Last but not least The SPAR Winter Field Day event is at the end of the month…

From their website:

The 2011 Winter Field Day will be held from 1700 UCT (12:00 noon EST) Saturday January 29, 2011 through 1700 UCT (12:00 noon EST) Sunday January 30, 2011. The object of the event is familiar to most Amateur Radio operators: set up emergency-style communications and make as many contacts as possible during the 24 hour period. The rules encourage as many contacts on as many bands and modes as possible, because during a real emergency, the most important factor is the ability to communicate, regardless of band, mode or distance.

If you click on their logo (above) you will be taken to the SPAR Website for more information.

I have participated in this event in the past and am looking forward to doing it again this year.  The plan is to set up in a park close to home and operate QRP/P from the great outdoors till I freeze up or I go through one battery pack with the FT817.  Either way I figure that I am good for about 3 hours or so …  Noon till 3 pm or 4pm would be a fun way to spend an afternoon giving out contacts and getting some fresh air at the same time.

So there you have it…  Three events to start off the New Year with…  Hope to hear you at least in one event…

Just remember…  The original Amateur Radio Social Media device used a “Key” and not a “Keyboard”.

73 from Ottawa… Bob

Posted in ARRL, Contesting, Fun stuff and News | 0 Comments

The Party is over…

December 19, 2010 by va3qv

Well now that the contest is over and I got a bit of sleep…  How much fun did you have and how good or bad did you do???

Why not drop over to our RAC Facebook Group site and leave us a comment on the Wall there .  Lets make that the soapbox for this event…

Now for this event I was the guest of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club as one of the Operators of VE3JW.  The VE3JW station is located at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa and is sponsored by the OVMRC

.

One of the really great things about having the chance to operate at a better station than I have at home is the fact that I hear so much more…  An 40m/80m trapped dipole that is not folded over the tree a couple of times and a tower with a 7 element triband beam… I was in heaven for this event…

A Flex 3000, a TS 2000 and a TS850 were all at my disposal…  I felt like a kid in a Candy store…

Now lots of other groups were out there for the contest and first off a big thank you to the RAC stations who agreed to cause a pile up for the event.  I think we got most of them in the log…

But I do know as we did not make any contacts in VY0, VE8 and VY1 there were at least 3 that we missed…  We heard stations in the North but unfortunately we were unable to make ourselves heard.

So if you have the time why not drop over to the FACEBOOK RAC Site and make let us know what you thought and how you did…

A fellow blogger AA1J made mention of us in a post on his blog and I thought I would share the link with you.

On a personal side of things this week will be a busy one in the VA3QV household as we finish our preps for the big day on the 25th.  I might be a little slow posting here and on the FACEBOOK accounts this week, but as my smartphone does do Twitter this is a good reason to remind you to follow  RACTWEETS on twitter.

It goes without saying that if there is any NEWS that you need to hear it will be posted immediately here, on RACTWEETS, on FACEBOOK and of course on the RAC Bulletin and on the RAC Website.

We are giving you the means to stay informed and all you have to do is pick how you want to be informed…

See you before the “Big Day”

Just remember…  The original Amateur Radio Social Media device used a “Key” and not a “Keyboard”.

73 from Ottawa… Bob

Posted in Contesting, Fun stuff and RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA | 0 Comments

Bulletin RAC 2010-041F – Le concours d’hiver de RAC

December 17, 2010 by ve2qq

Bulletin RAC 2010-041F – Le concours d’hiver de RAC
2010-12-15

Le concours d’hiver de RAC aura lieu de 0000 à 2359 UTC le 18 décembre 2010.

Les stations suivantes prévoient être actives en utilisant les indicatifs RAC:

Indicatif RAC Commanditaire

VE1RAC VE1PJS
VA2RAC Club Radio Amateur de Québec Inc. (VE2GEJ)
VA3RAC Ottawa ARC (VE3CWM)
VE4RAC VE4BAW
VE5RAC VE5CPU
VE6RAC VE6JY
VE7RAC Clubs Coquitlam, Surrey et Surrey Emergency opérant
sur toutes les bandes à 1 kW
VE8RAC VE8EV
VE9RAC VE9AV à Fredericton
VY0RAC VY0AW opérant sur 40 m. et 80 m.
VY1RAC VY1EI
VY2RAC VY2LI
VO1RAC VO1MX
VO2RAC VO2NS

Une des stations que vous pourriez rechercher en particulier est VE4RAC avec le président de Radio Amateurs du Canada Geoff, VE4BAW, en tant qu’opérateur. Geoff opèrera sur 20, 40 et 80 mètres.

Et, en prime pour tout le monde, soyez à l’affût de BY1RX avec un précédent président de RAC Dave, VO1AU, aux commandes de la station.

Dave planifie de participer au concours d’hiver de RAC avec l’un ou l’autre des indicatifs VO1AU/BY1 ou BY1RX. BY1RX a de très bonnes
antennes et un plein kW. Si vous avez besoin de BY sur une nouvelle bande ou un autre mode, il serait très disposé à faire QSY.

Finalement, un prix consistant en une tasse à café de RAC sera décerné à toute station qui aura fait contact avec toutes les stations RAC.

Prière de mentionner avec votre soumission de résultats si vous avez contacté toutes les stations RAC.

Pour les calculs de points, les fréquences, les logiciels gratuits pour vous aider à soumettre vos résultats et les détails complets au sujet du concours d’hiver de RAC, s.v.p. utiliser ce lien à la page Web de RAC:

http://www.rac.ca/fr/rac/programmes/contests/

(Traduction par Serge Langlois, VE2AWR)

Posted in Contesting | 0 Comments

RAC Bulletin 2010-041E – RAC Winter Contest 2010

December 16, 2010 by ve2qq

RAC Bulletin 2010-041E – RAC Winter Contest 2010
2010-12-15

The RAC 2010 Winter contest will be held from 0000 UTC to 2359 December 18, 2010.

The following stations plan to be active using the RAC call sign:

RAC Call Sponsor

VE1RAC VE1PJS
VA2RAC Club Radio Amateur de Québec Inc VE2GEJ
VA3RAC Ottawa ARC at VE3CWM
VE4RAC VE4BAW
VE5RAC VE5CPU
VE6RAC VE6JY
VE7RAC Coquitlam, Surrey and Surrey Emergency Clubs operating on all bands at a kW
VE8RAC VE8EV
VE9RAC VE9AV in Fredericton
VY0RAC VY0AW operating on 40 and 80
VY1RAC VY1EI
VY2RAC VY2LI
VO1RAC VO1MX
VO2RAC VO2NS

One of the stations you may want to look for in particular is VE4RAC with Radio Amateurs of Canada President Geoff, VE4BAW as operator. Geoff will be operating on 20, 40 and 80 Metres.

And as a little bonus for everyone, listen for BY1RX with former RAC President Dave VO1AU manning the station.

Dave plans to be on in the RAC Winter Contest operating as either VO1AU/BY1RX or BY1RX. BY1RX has excellent antennas and a full kW. If you need BY on a new band or mode, he would be very willing to QSY.

Finally there will be an award of a RAC coffee cup to any station that contacts all the RAC stations. Please mention in your log submission if you work all the RAC stations.

For scoring, frequencies, free software to help you submit your results and complete details on the RAC Winter Contest please use this link to the RAC web page:

http://www.rac.ca/en/rac/programmes/contests/

Bill Unger, VE3XT

Director – Ontario East/North

Posted in Contesting | 0 Comments

A little more on the RAC Winter Contest

December 15, 2010 by va3qv

So far things are looking good… Our Facebook Event Page for the Contest is growing on a daily basis.

We have heard from many amateurs who are setting up in EOCs, Museums, club stations and even one group who are going to snowshoe to a remote cabin and operate QRP with battery power and a woodstove for heat.  This year could be the best RAC Canada Winter Contest ever.  Look for RAC Official stations across the country giving out contacts and having fun talking to Canadians.  RAC President Geoff Ve4BAW will be operating VA4RAC in Winnipeg.  Give a listen for him…

Who knows who you might hear in the contest this year!!!

The success of the event will be determined by you the Amateur Radio Community.  Without your participation there is no contest.  We need people to get out there and talk it up and be out there and make contacts in the contest.

Back in 2006 some members of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club activated Bate Island for the Canadian Islands on the Air (CISA) during the Canada Winter Contest using the Callsign CF3RCS (Canadians Freezing  3 Real Cold Spot) we had a lot of fun but it was cold on the Island in the Winter… Thanks for Propane heaters… and coffee…

Picture Courtesy Larry Wilcox VE3WEH <sk>

This was our operating location for the contest before we set up the walls

Picture courtesy Larry Wilcox VE3WEH <sk>

The shelter after the walls (blue tarp construction)

Left to right VA3SIE, VE1SBC,VA3UMP & VA3QV

Photo courtesy Larry Wilcox VE3WEH <sk>

Ken Halcrow VE3SRS/VE8RCS making CW contacts during the contest.

.

.

<—Our Coffee machine

Our Heating Plant —>

.

Pictures courtesy Larry Wilcox Ve3WEH <sk>

I know we went through 2 20 pound propane tanks in the 24 hours just to keep the temps above freezing.  But we did have fun even when the weather took a turn for the worst overnight…  Heres what Saturday morning looked like for us…

Pictures courtesy Larry Wilcox Ve3WEH <sk>

But the bottom line is that we had fun… We operated the Contest and we made a successfull activation of the Island for the CISA Program.  No frostbite (almost) and everyone had a great time…

Pictures courtesy Larry Wilcox Ve3WEH <sk>

Hope to work you in the contest this year…

Just remember…  The original Amateur Radio Social Media device used a “Key” and not a “Keyboard”.

73 from Ottawa… Bob

The reason behind this posting is to show you that you don’t have to go somewere rare for a DXPediton.  You can have fun in your own backyard.  Bate island is approximately 6km West of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  It is an island in the Ottawa River and accessable via a bridge.  No backpacking… we drove there…

View Larger Map
But we did have fun… so get active and get on the air…

73bob

Posted in Contesting, Fun stuff and Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Bulletin RAC 2010-040F Souhaits des Fêtes

December 14, 2010 by ve2qq

Bulletin RAC 2010-040F Souhaits des Fêtes
2010-12-14

Pour nos camarades radioamateurs, à vos familles et êtres chers;

Je vous transmets les souhaits de la saison de la part de notre
association radio amateur, Radio Amateurs du Canada.

J’espère que 2010 a été une excellente année pour vous et pour ceux qui vous sont chers.

Alors que nous entrons dans cette saison des Fêtes, je désire souhaiter chaleureusement à tous et chacun d’entre vous une extraordinaire saison de festivités, en plus d’une année 2011 remplie de santé et de prospérité. Je suis sûr que vous prendrez du temps pour être en compagnie de vos amis et de votre famille. Être avec ceux qui sont les plus proches de vous en fait la plus belle partie de l’année.

J’espère vous entendre sur les ondes de 0000 UTC à 2359 UTC le 18
décembre à l’occasion du concours d’hiver de RAC… Ceci fait partie de la façon pour RAC de célébrer les festivités.

J’ai hâte de rencontrer plusieurs d’entre vous en personne lors de
l’assemblée générale annuelle de RAC qui se tiendra à Terre-Neuve en
août prochain.

Joyeux Noël, joyeux Hanukah, joyeuse saison des Fêtes.

Prenez soin de vous . Que 2011 vous soit favorable.

Geoff Bawden VE4BAW
Président RAC

(Traduction par Serge Langlois, VE2AWR)

Posted in Contesting, Executive Posts and News | 0 Comments