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ARRL Laboratory Expanded Test-Result Report ICOM IC-746 Pro

Since February 2002, 3830scores.com has served as a central repository for amateur radio contest score rumors, allowing contesters to quickly post and view claimed scores and comments. The platform facilitates the sharing of **claimed scores** for numerous contests, including the ARRL DX Contest, CQ WPX RTTY Contest, and various QSO Parties. Users can access submittal forms for current and recent contests, with options to define and save default form values for efficiency. The site also provides links to the 3830 Reflector, where submissions are posted, fostering immediate community engagement regarding contest performance. Summaries of all submitted scores are instantly available, offering line scores, **band/mode breakdowns**, and compilations of operator comments. Historical summaries for major contests extend back to 2002, with all contest data accessible from 2007. The platform includes a search function to locate all postings associated with a specific call sign and a 'Compare Scores' feature, enabling side-by-side analysis of multiple calls across different contest editions or a single call's performance over several years.

Over 47 full-screen maps are available within _NAOMI_ (North American Overlay Mapper), a free Windows program designed for US and Canadian amateur radio enthusiasts. This mapping suite includes 9 backgrounds such as CQ Zones, ITU Zones, and ARRL Sections, along with 16 foreground layers like Counties, Areacodes, and Grid Locators. Users can calculate distances and bearings, track real-time mouse positions with continuous Grid-Locator data, and integrate with APRS for live station tracking via the FindU database. For a global perspective, the _Global Overlay Mapper_ (GOM) provides a world map, 8 continental maps, and 29 sub-continental maps, all with 12 active layers including Country Outlines, CQ/ITU Zones, and Prefix information. Both NAOMI and GOM offer feature-locate systems to jump to positions based on prefixes, capital cities, or Grid Locators, and provide customized beam headings and distance displays. The site also features _LogView_, a post-contest log visualization tool that analyzes Cabrillo-format logs by plotting QSOs on maps, supporting over 30 major contests like CQWW and ARRL DX, and allowing comparison with published results.

The HB9DHG Contest Calendar aggregates contest information, offering direct links to official rules and past results for various amateur radio competitions. It features a curated list of events, with a focus on HF and digital mode contests, ensuring that operators can quickly access relevant details for upcoming and historical events. The calendar is regularly updated to reflect the latest contest schedules and rule changes. Each entry typically includes the contest name, dates, and a direct link to the sponsoring organization's page, such as ARRL or DARC, where full regulations and scoring information are available. This resource streamlines the process of finding contest specifics, which is crucial for effective pre-contest planning and post-contest analysis. Validation and checking of contest information are emphasized, providing a reliable source for operators planning their contest activity throughout the year. The calendar supports both CW and SSB modes, alongside various digital modes.

ARRL Laboratory Expanded Test-Result Report Kenwood TS-570D

Building an End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) antenna from a kit, as detailed by Frank Bontenbal, PA2DKW, with process photos by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, offers a practical approach for hams. This specific kit, a collaboration between ARRL and HF Kits, targets 10, 15, 20, and 40 meters, making it a versatile option for HF operations. Unlike a center-fed dipole, the EFHW is a half-wavelength antenna fed at one end, which simplifies deployment, particularly for portable use. The construction guide meticulously outlines the assembly of the 49:1 impedance matching network, crucial for transforming the antenna's high impedance (around 2,500 Ohms) to a transceiver-friendly 50 Ohms. Steps include preparing the enclosure by drilling holes for the coaxial connector and antenna connections, followed by the precise winding of enameled copper wire onto a toroid to create the transformer. The guide emphasizes careful insulation removal and soldering for reliable connections. Final assembly involves integrating a 100 pF capacitor for higher band compensation, soldering the transformer's primary and secondary sides, and conducting SWR tests with a 2K7 resistor or a half-wavelength wire. The document also provides examples of wire lengths for different bands, such as 16 feet for 10 meters or 66 feet for 40 meters, demonstrating the transformer's adaptability for various half-wavelength configurations.

Explaining ARRL Technical Reviews of Radios a brief tutorial on radio testing. The ARRL Lab tests radio equipment according to standardized test procedures, using calibrated professional test equipment. Info on transmitter and receiver tests

The Ukrainian Contest Club (UCC) website details contest activities, including a March 2026 contest calendar compiled by _UW3WF_ that excludes specific "exotic" tests, mini-tests, sprints, VHF competitions, and events organized by Russian entities. It lists major contests such as the ARRL International DX Contest, Stew Perry Topband Contest, and CQ WPX SSB Contest, providing dates, times, modes, bands (e.g., **10-160m**), organizers, log submission methods, and deadlines. The resource also highlights Ukrainian participation in various international contests, noting specific callsigns that represented the UCC, and acknowledges new Ukrainian records, such as UW5Y's new record in the ARRL DX CW Contest. The site presents contest results and rankings, including the top 20 Ukrainian contesters in the World Amateur Radio Contesting Association (WARCA) rating for 2019-2024, with _UW1M_ ranked #18 globally and #1 in Ukraine with **26,490.32** points. It also details the club's 12th place finish among 155 clubs worldwide in the CQ WPX Contest 2024 (CW + SSB). The resource includes information on WRTC 2026 participants from the club and lists members excluded due to collaboration with adversarial entities, reflecting the current geopolitical context.

Examining the demographic shifts within amateur radio, particularly concerning **radiosport** participation, this resource analyzes survey data from the National Contest Journal (NCJ) and two regional ARRL surveys. It focuses on the relationship between age and engagement in contesting, presenting findings that suggest older amateur radio operators tend to participate in more contests annually. The author, a spatial demographer, details the methodology, including data consolidation, georeferencing, and statistical analysis performed in collaboration with Dr. Scott Wright K0MD, covering ARRL November Sweepstakes participants from 2000 to 2020. The analysis also addresses the limitations inherent in using voluntary response samples rather than random samples, which may influence the generalizability of the results. Furthermore, the resource investigates the preferred sources of contest information among different age groups, noting that older contesters frequently rely on traditional publications like the NCJ, while younger participants show a preference for online platforms. This demographic review provides insights into the evolving landscape of **amateur radio contesting** and the generational differences in information consumption.

The Yaesu FTDX10 MF/HF and 6-meter transceiver, a 100-watt rig, is designed to bring high-performance receiver architecture to the intermediate-price class. It offers continuous receive coverage from 30 kHz to 75 MHz and transmit capabilities across all amateur bands from 160 through 6 meters, including five preset CW and SSB channels on 60 meters. The transceiver supports AM, FM, SSB, CW, and digital modes, with integrated decoders for CW, RTTY, and PSK31, making it a versatile station for various operating preferences. Physically, the FTDX10 measures 3½ × 10½ × 10½ inches and weighs 13 pounds, requiring a 20–25 A DC power supply for full 100 W output. Its front panel features a 5-inch TFT color touchscreen and a large VFO knob, complemented by an SD memory card slot for recording audio and saving settings. Rear panel connectivity includes a single SO-239 antenna port, multiple USB ports for CAT control and peripherals, and DIN jacks for external digital mode hardware and linear amplifiers, though it lacks a dedicated low-noise receive antenna provision. ARRL Lab tests confirm excellent receiver performance, with blocking dynamic range exceeding 137 dB at 2 kHz spacing and robust IMD dynamic range figures. The hybrid receiver design incorporates selectable roofing filters at 500 Hz, 3 kHz, and 12 kHz, along with two preamplifiers and various attenuation levels, allowing operators to tailor reception characteristics to challenging band conditions. Transmitter performance is also rated very good, with low transmit phase noise.