IARU HF Championship 2019

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IARU HF Championship 2019

July 13-14, 2019 beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1159 UTC Sunday.

Objective: to contact as many other amateurs, especially IARU member society HQ stations, around the world as possible using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

Online Log Submission – logs mustw be uploaded within 5 days after the event via the preferred online web service at contest-log-submission.arrl.org.

Paper Log Submission – logs must be mailed/postmarked (within 5 days after the event) to: ARRL Contest Logs (IARU), 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111 USA.

Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. No contest QSOs on 12, 17, 30 or 60 meters.

5-Day Log Submission Deadline
Entries must be postmarked or uploaded to the web app no later than 5 days after the end of the contest (1200 UTC July 19, 2019). By submitting a log to the IARU HF World Championships, the entrant agrees the log may be open to the public.

Contest Details

1. Eligibility: All licensed amateurs worldwide. Learn More

2. Object: To contact as many other amateurs, especially IARU member society HQ stations, around the world as possible using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

3. Date and Contest Period: The second full weekend of July, beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1159 UTC Sunday (July 13-14, 2019). Both Single and Multi operator stations may operate the entire 24-hour period.

4. Entry Categories:

4.1. Single Operator

4.1.1. Categories

4.1.1.1. Phone only – High, Low and QRP power levels

4.1.1.2. CW only – High, Low, and QRP Power levels

4.1.1.3. Mixed mode – High, Low and QRP Power levels

4.1.2. One person performs all operating and logging functions.

4.1.3. Use of spotting nets, packet, or multi-channel decoders (such as CW Skimmer) is not permitted. Single-operator stations that use spotting nets, packet or multi-channel decoders will be reclassified to the applicable Single Operator Unlimited category.

4.1.4. All operators must observe the amateur radio regulations of their country at all times.

4.1.5. Single operator stations are allowed only one transmitted signal at any given time.

4.2. Single Operator Unlimited

4.2.1. Categories

4.2.1.1. Phone only – High, Low and QRP power levels

4.2.1.2. CW only – High, Low, and QRP Power levels

4.2.1.3. Mixed mode – High, Low and QRP Power levels

4.2.2. One person performs all operating and logging functions.

4.2.3. All operators must observe the amateur radio regulations of their country at all times.

4.2.4. Single operator stations are allowed only one transmitted signal at any given time.

4.3. Multi Operator, Single Transmitter, Mixed Mode Only

4.3.1. Must remain on a band and mode for at least 10 minutes before changing bands or modes. There are no exceptions. The “10 minute clock” starts when a QSO is logged.

4.3.2. Only one transmitted signal is allowed at any given time. There are no exceptions.

4.3.2.1. Alternating CQs on two or more frequencies on the same band is not permitted.

4.3.3. All operators must observe the amateur radio regulations of their country at all times.

4.3.4. Violation of the band change rules will reclassify the entry as a checklog.

4.4. IARU Member Society HQ Station

4.4.1. May have only one transmitted signal per band mode (160 CW, 160 Phone, 80 CW, 80 Phone, 40 CW, 40 Phone, 20 CW, 20 Phone, 15 CW, 15 Phone, 10 CW, 10 Phone) at the same time.

4.4.2. All stations involved in an HQ operation must be in a single ITU zone.

4.4.3. Only one HQ station callsign per member society per band mode is permitted (160 CW, 160 Phone, 80 CW, 80 Phone, 40 CW, 40 Phone, 20 CW, 20 Phone, 15 CW, 15 Phone, 10 CW, 10 Phone).

4.4.4. All operators must observe the amateur radio regulations of their country at all times.

5. Contest Exchange:

5.1. IARU member society HQ stations send signal report and official IARU member society abbreviation. IARU International Secretariat club station NU1AW counts as a HQ station. Members of the IARU Administrative Council and the three IARU regional Executive committees send “AC,” “R1,””R2,” and “R3” as appropriate.

5.2. All others send signal report and ITU zone.

5.3. A complete exchange must be logged for each valid QSO.

6. Valid Contact:

6.1. The same station may be worked once per mode per band for QSO credit.

6.1.1. Mixed-mode entries may work a station once per mode per band.

6.2. A station may only be worked for credit in the portion of the band that is generally accepted for the mode used.

6.2.1. On any band, a station may be worked once on Phone (in the Phone segment) and once on CW (in the CW segment).

6.2.2. Cross mode, cross band and repeater contacts are not valid QSOs.

6.3. Where contest-preferred segments are incorporated into regional band plans, participants must observe them.

6.4. The use of non-amateur radio means of communications (e.g. telephone or the Internet) for the purpose of soliciting a contact (or contacts) during the contest period is inconsistent with the spirit and intent of these rules.

6.5. Use of self-spotting techniques on packet or other mediums are inconsistent with the spirit and intent of these rules.

7. QSO Points:

7.1. Contacts within your own ITU zone, as well as QSOs with any IARU-member society HQ station or IARU official (counting as the special multiplier), count one point each.

7.1.1. Contacts with a station in the same ITU zone but on a different continent count one point.

7.2. Contacts within your continent (but different ITU zone) count three points.

7.3. Contacts with a different continent and IARU zone count five points.

8. Multipliers: The total number of ITU zones worked on each band (not mode), plus IARU member society HQ stations worked on each band (not mode). IARU officials represent a maximum of four multipliers per band (AC, R1, R2 and R3).

8.1. IARU member society HQ stations and officials do not count for zone multipliers.

8.2. To qualify as the special multiplier, Administrative Council and Regional Executive Committee stations must only be operated by the individual station licensee as a single operator entry or as a multi operator, single transmitter entry with significant participation by the licensee.

9. Scoring: The total number of QSO points times the total number of multipliers worked.

10. Reporting:

10.1. New 5-day log submission deadline. Entries must be uploaded to the web app or postmarked no later than 5 days after the end of the contest (1200 UTC July 19, 2019).

10.2. Electronic entries must conform to the Cabrillo file format.

10.2.1. The Cabrillo file format and specifications.

10.2.2. Any entry which has been generated using a computer (either during the contest or after the contest) must be uploaded via the web at http://contest-log-submission.arrl.org. .

10.2.3. Electronic files must use the entrant’s callsign as the file name. Electronic entries must be uploaded using our web app.

10.2.4. Paper logs must be a chronological list of QSOs as made – not separated by band or mode.

10.3. Participants may manually convert their paper logs to a Cabrillo log one QSO at a time and web tool found at www.b4h.net/cabforms. Once the Cabrillo file has been created, that file must then be submitted (uploaded) via the web app at http://contest-log-submission.arrl.org/

10.4. Paper logs must be in chronological order, not separated by bands, and clearly indicate for each contact: band, mode, date, time (in UTC) callsigns, complete exchanges sent and received, multipliers and QSO points.

10.4.1. Multipliers should be marked in the paper log only the first time they are worked on each band.

10.4.2. Paper logs with more than 500 QSO’s must include dupesheets (an alpha-numeric list of all callsigns worked, broken down by band and mode.)

10.4.3. All contacts in paper logs must be in chronological order, not separated by bands.

10.4.4. Paper logs must be mailed to: ARRL Contest Logs – IARU International Secretariat, Box 310905, Newington, CT 06111-0905 USA.

10.5. All paper entries must include the official summary sheet or reasonable facsimile thereof with complete contest information.

11. Awards:

11.1. A certificate will be awarded to the high scoring entry in each category in each ITU zone, each DXCC country and each ARRL Section.

11.2. A certificate of participation will be awarded to all IARU member society HQ stations.

11.3. Achievement level awards will be issued to those making at least 250 QSOs or having a multiplier total of 75 or more.

11.4. Additional awards may be made at the discretion of each country’s IARU member society.

12. Conditions of Entry: Each entrant agrees to be bound by the provisions of this announcement, by the regulations of his/her licensing authority, and by the decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee, acting for the IARU International Secretariat.

13. Disqualification: Any entry may be disqualified if the overall score is reduced by more than 2%.

13.1. For paper log entries:

13.1.1. Score reductions do not include correction of arithmetic errors;

13.1.2. Any entry may be disqualified if more than 2% of duplicate QSOs are left in the log and claimed for credit; and

13.1.3. A three-QSO reduction will be assessed for each duplicate QSO found during log checking or for miscopied callsigns.For electronic logs, a one-QSO penalty will be assessed for a miscopied callsign.

Additional Rules. For situations not covered in these rules refer to the ARRL General Rules for All Contests and the ARRL Rules for Contests on Bands below 30 MHz.

For contest information, contact contests@arrl.org or IARU HF Contest Information, PO Box 310905, Newington, CT 06111-0905 USA.

Top Amateur Radio Websites – Issue 1922

Top Amateur Radio Websites – Issue 1921

NPR New Packet Radio – IP over 70 cm band

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NPR Modem

NPR (New Packet Radio) is an hardware and software project by Guillaume F4HDK recently published on hackaday.io to carry IP network traffic over the amateur radio 70 cm band, with data rates of up to 500 kbps.

Despite the name, the NPR is not related to Amateur Radio Packet Network, and no AX.25 is involved. NPR project has been initially implemented as an extender of the HSMM  Hamnet networks, and has been designed to work on 430 MHz.

While Packet Radio can efford at max 9600 bps on 144 MHz and 430 MHz, the NPR protocol can reach a raw bandwidth of 1 Mbps with an useful bandwith that goes from 150 to 600 kbps on the 430-440 MHz. Hammnet is capable to reach more than 10 Mbps on the 2.4GHz and 5.6 GHz.

NPR is intended to bring high bandwidth IP networking to radio amateurs in the 70 cm band, and it does this rather cleverly with a modem that contains a single-chip FSK transceiver intended for use in licence-free ISM band applications.

The NPR project includes an home made modem with a 433 MHz ISM module, connected with Ethernet to the PC that can be configure wither in client or master mode.

NPR features and limits

  • Currently allow a maximum of 7 simultaneous clients
  • 300km maxi (due to protocol)
  • Limitations of 430MHz band:
    • Not designed for 24×7 usage (The Master only transmits when solicited)
  • Not designed for “mobile” operations

NPR Modem

The NPR project includes an custom designed modem witha a price of 80 USD that can be configured either ad master or client device. Direct PC connection is possible via the built-in ethernet port and a network switch is not required. Initial configuration can be done either via USB port with a Serial terminal client or using the ethernet port via Telnet connection

NPR New Packet Radio Links

We’ve recently added a new category to our directory related to the NPR New Packet Radio Project and we will review more resources about this new digital protocol as soon will appear on the web

NPR Video

F4HDK has recently published this youtube video to demonstrate NPR New Packet Radio modem startup and connection status.

Top Amateur Radio Websites – Issue 1920

KIDS DAY – June 15 2019

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This year’s second Kidsday will be held on Saturday 15th of June.

The first Kids Day of 2019 was on Jan 15 2019.

Kids Day always runs from 1800 UTC through 2359 UTC

Twice a year, ARRL offers an event designed to promote Amateur Radio to our youth. Share the excitement with your kids or grandkids, a Scout troop, a church or the general public!

Kids Day is designed to give on-the-air experience to young people and hopefully foster interest in getting a license of their own. It is also intended to give older hams a chance to share their station and love for Amateur Radio with their children.

This event is especially created to promote Amateur Radio to youth.

This is a moment where you can share your amateur radio hobby with your family, grandkids, friends, scouts or even to the general public.

This day can be the first time for youth to experience a real radio QSO, hopefully they get interested in becoming a licensed amateur radio operator.

You could make use of this suggested exchange: Name, age, location and favourite colour. Be sure to work the same station again if an operator has changed.

To draw attention, call “CQ Kids Day.

Suggested frequencies IARU R1:
10 Meters: 28.350 to 28.400 MHz
15 Meters: 21.360 to 21.400 MHz
20 Meters: 14.270 to 14.300 MHz
40 Meters: 7.080 to 7.120 MHz
80 Meters: 3.650 to 3.750 MHz

Other suggested frequencies by ARRL:
12 Meters: 24.960 to 24.980 MHz
17 Meters: 18.140 to 18.145 MHz
40 Meters: 7.270 to 7.290 MHz
80 Meters: 3.740 to 3.940 MHz

Top Amateur Radio Websites – Issue 1919

Top Amateur Radio Websites – Issue 1918

Yaesu FTDX101D Reviews and Tests

First Yaesu FTDX101D video reviews

Since the Yaesu FTDX101 announcement last year at the Dayton Hamvention 2018, there has been circulating lot of videos about this new Hybrid SDR transceiver, but none of them were real FTDX101 reviews. Just recently the first models has been started being delivered all around the globe and real reviews of this dreaming radio started getting published.

Here below some interesting and well done video reviews

This video by Ham Radio Concepts is a good one with some real QSOs demonstration

In this video by Rate My Radio Jarrad VK3BL checks out the new FTdx-101D at Strictly Ham

Also in this Video by Ham Radio Crash Course tested the FTDX101 at HRO

Finally, a comprehensive and exhaustive demontrastion by Yaesu UK of the FT-DX101D  provided by Waters & Stanton

Sherwood Engineering – Receiver Test Data

Recently Sherwood Engineering tested the Yaesu FTDX101D transceiver, evaluating its receiver overall performance. The Yaesu’s transceiver has been reported as #1 in their popular report.

Sorted by Third-Order Dynamic Range Narrow Spaced – or- ARRL RMDR (Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range) if Phase Noise Limited

sherwood ftdx101 review
Sherwood Eng. Receiver Test Data

Surprisingly the new Yaesu FTDX101 is on top of FlexRadio 6700, ICOM IC-R89600 and the Elecraft K3S and K3

We’ve just added a new links category dedicated to the Yaesu FTDX101 where we will collect all relevant technical articles, reviews and pages about this radio.

Top Amateur Radio Websites – Issue 1917