Operating

In September, 2020, members of the K1USN Radio Club (who are also members of the CW Operators’ Club) started sponsoring a one-hour slow speed CW “contest” called SST aimed at “those who prefer a more leisurely CW pace or are new CW operators or contesters.” SST is held on Mondays at 00:00-01:00 UTC (8-9 PM EDT Sundays).

The event has enjoyed increased popularity, both nationally and internationally. It is supported by the N1MM software logging program.  A second weekly one-hour SST session was started on February 5, 2021, at a time more suited for European amateur radio operators: 20:00-21:00 UTC Fridays.

For more information about the Slow Speed Test, please visit <http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html>.

“On a gray Friday afternoon last spring, Steve Galchutt sat high atop Chief Mountain, an 11,700-foot peak along Colorado’s Front Range. An epic panorama of pristine alpine landscape stretched in almost every direction, with Pikes Peak standing off to the south and Mount Evan towering just to the west.  

“It was an arresting view, and the perfect backdrop for a summit selfie. But instead of reaching for his smartphone, Galchutt was absorbed by another device: a portable transceiver. Sitting on a small patch of rock and snow, his head bent down and cocked to one side, he listened as it sent out a steady stream of staticky beeps: dah-dah-di-dah dah di-di-di-dit. “This is Scotty in Philadelphia,” Galchutt said, translating the Morse code. Then, tapping at two silver paddles attached to the side of the radio, he sent his own message, first with some details about his location, then his call sign, WG0AT.” [Full article]

Marty Sullaway, NN1C, writes on the YCCC mailing list:

I reached out a few weeks ago, got lots of excitement, but few signups, so I’m nagging again.

As many of you know, the hit Tim Allen sitcom Last Man Standing has an actual ham radio station on the set and ham radio is highlighted on the show periodically as one of Mike Baxter’s (Tim Allen’s) character, with the fictitious callsign KA0XTT. Before COVID-19, each week before the show taped operators would activate the station on the set and many people lined up to work KA6LMS, the club callsign of the on-set station.

After nine great seasons, the show is in the midst of its last season of production. In order to celebrate the end of the show and the exposure it has provided amateur radio, a week-long special event has been planed. From 3/24 – 3/30, the KA6LMS special event will be on the air. If the pileups from the studio were any indication (I had the chance to operate there!), it’ll be quite fun. Though this week surrounds CQ WPX SSB, there is still plenty of time to get on the air.

Similar to the W1AW/p operations in 2014, during the week KA6LMS/xx will be on from all ten callsign areas as well as a few W6x special event 1x1s. *I have been asked to form a team to operate as KA6LMS/1.* Thus, I am asking for you to join me, and sign up to operate as much, or as little as you’d like during the event using the KA6LMS/1 callsign.

We can have as many operators on different band/modes as we want at once, as long as there is only one station per band/mode. I am recruiting operators to operate as few or as many hours as you like, on any band, DC to daylight.

*To sign up, use the Google Sheets link here. <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Cnp2KVdHHIy1q13GuDhlvj8A5GWzHEOEgVDrLT1zRDU/edit?usp=sharing>
*

Contest Objective: 

To encourage W/VE stations to expand knowledge of DX propagation on the HF and MF bands, improve operating skills, and improve station capability by creating a competition in which DX stations may only contact W/VE stations. One contest period is CW-only and one is Phone-only.  Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

W/VE amateurs: Work as many DX stations in as many DXCC entities as possible.

DX stations: Work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.

Date: Phone: First full weekend in March (March 6-7, 2021).

Contest Period: Begins 0000 UTC Saturday and runs through 2359 UTC Sunday.

2021 Multoperator Accommodations:

ARRL has issued temporary accommodations for multioperator stations competing in the 2021 International ARRL DX Contest (CW and phone). Individual team members may operate from their home stations in conjunction with the multi-op station. The home stations must be within a radius of 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the multiop station, and must be within the same DXCC entity, US State, or Canadian province.  For more information, visit the link below.

www.arrl.org/news/guidelines-issued-for-arrl-dx-contest-multioperator-stations

Contest rules are now maintained as a single downloadable document (see “Full Contest Rules” below).

For contest information contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0232

Every year on April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of Amateur Radio and to commemorate the formation of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on April 18, 1925.

Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again holding a “Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day” special event in which we encourage as many Amateurs as possible to get on the air and contact as many RAC stations as possible.

• RAC official stations will operate across Canada from 0000Z to 2359Z on April 18. The RAC official station call signs are VA2RAC, VA3RAC, VE1RAC, VE4RAC, VE5RAC, VE6RAC, VE7RAC, VE8RAC, VE9RAC, VO1RAC, VO2RAC, VY0RAC, VY1RAC and VY2RAC.
• Those contacting one or more of these stations will be eligible for a special commemorative certificate noting their participation in RAC’s Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day Event.
• Participants simply need to complete one or more contacts, on any band and mode, with RAC official stations to earn their certificates.
• No logs need to be submitted; simply check back on the RAC website when instructed and enter your call sign to download your certificate.

Note: From 0000z to 0500z and again from 1200z to 1800z, VA3RAC will be active in the Ontario QSO Party and will be sending the contest exchange. Stations contacting VA3RAC during those time periods are encouraged to send their contest exchange in return (state/province/country or Ontario county).

Thank you for your continuing support and understanding during this time of crisis. As with many of our Amateur Radio activities, overcoming challenges is a great way to learn. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones, stay safe and have fun while celebrating World Amateur Radio Day.

For more information on World Amateur Radio Day and the RAC “Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day”  special event please visit:

https://www.rac.ca/operating/world-amateur-radio-day-april-18/

Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
President, Radio Amateurs of Canada

-via K1USN Happenings, 3/5/21