Inside the NCCC Sprint Grid (Week 5)

The goal of the Sprint according to the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) is to engage new contesters and provide further practice for experienced contesters prior to the majors (NCCC, n.d.). The Sprint facilitates the high frequency practice field before the majors such as the NCJ Sprint, ARRL International, CQ WW DX or WPX, or Sweepstakes. Read further and discover the fun, the competition, and camaraderie called the NCCC Sprint at 100-watts or less.

Neither the West of the Mississippi or NCCC CA/NV divisions matched the effective radiated power of the East. Congratulations goes out to W9RE for his record breaking score (1,984 points) and 1st place finish both divisionally and overall. RE now owns the yellow shirt going into week six.

The buzz on 3610 suggested a short hop night denying some sprinters valuable long hop multipliers. The propagation numbers were (SFI: 68; A: 9; K: 1) for the evening. Meanwhile, N4OGW in the East of the Mississippi division rocked the shack with an overall second place finish behind W9RE. Is there enough radio frequency in OGW's photon powered sprint shoes to capture first place from RE in week six? Continuing, N9CK assured the East's command of the sprint grid with a third place overall finish. CK scored 1,372 points behind OGW's 1,512 points. Stellar work!

Now, let's QSY to the West of the Mississippi Division and look at the frequency counter.

W5JAW takes the top honor for the second week in a row. N9NB continues improving his sprint score and moves into second place within the West. W0BH came in third. NB is the sprinter to watch going into week six and his arc of improvement might impede JAW's divisional three-peat. However, N3BB looms larger than a 100-foot tower and may give the sprint grid an appearance in week six.

Stay tuned to your receiver.

The NCCC CA/NV divisional win goes to N6RO who garnered his fifth straight. RO did not make an appearance in the overall Grid Leader bracket, a first since the series start. K6VVA maintained his ground on second place while K7NV claimed third.

The standings are:

Grid Leaders Week 5
1. W9RE, East, 1984
2. N4OGW, East, 1512
3. N9CK, East, 1372

Record Sprint Scores
1. W9RE, East, 1984 (2007)
2. N4AF, East, 1920 (2006)
2. N3BB, West, 1920 (2006)
3. W9RE, East, 1914 (2006)

East of the Mississippi Division Week 5
1. W9RE, 1984, 3 of 5
2. N4OGW, 1512, 4 of 5
3. N9CK, 1372, 5 of 5

West of the Mississippi Division Week 5
1. W5JAW, 1025, 3 of 5
2. N9NB, 920, 3 of 5
3. W0BH, 828, 5 of 5

NCCC CA/NV Division Week 5
1. N6RO, 1225, 5 of 5, week -2 and -4 grid series leader
2. K6VVA, 820, 5 of 5
3. K7NV, 722, 5 of 5

The Sprint moves into the sixth week of competition and Grid Leader positions continue an ebb and flow pattern. Who will capture the Grid Leader position? W9RE? N6RO? Perhaps propagation will favor all participants providing plenty of multipliers? The NCCC Sprint series goes beyond the mid-point and into the stretch. The heat is on the West and NCCC CA/NV divisions or will the East solder in for a back-to-back Grid Leader sweep?

Tune in and join the Sprint for the best 30-minutes of radiosport. All code speeds welcomed!

73 from the shack.

Reference:
Northern California Contest Club (2007). NS Results Retrieved on April 16, 2007 from http://www.ncccsprint.com/results.htm.

Northern California Contest Club (n.d.). Welcome Page Retrieved on April 17, 2007 from http://www.nccc.cc/.

NCCC Thursday Night Madness 5 of 5

Vince Lombardi said, "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."

Propagation and its powerful influence knocked down KA3DRR's personal best score from the previous week. The numbers (SFI: 68, A: 9, K:1) did not inspire going into the blocks. A few minutes before the starting clock, N9CK, passed a few signal reports. I received a respectable 559 and felt confident that this evening might produce a 'best' score. However, when the digits on the clock turned, my 25-watt signal needed a little more propagation.

KA3DRR called CQ just above the foray (14.040 thru 14.042) hoping to catch a QSY sprinter before engaging the search and pounce (SP) mode. I heard solid 579 signals radiating from W9RE, N9NB, and N4OGW. This evening the ionospheric defensive line held. Three minutes off the sprint clock and zero QSOs in the AE6Y log. KA3DRR spun the FT100 dial back to 14.043 and called the prescribed three-time CQ. My 25-watt signal with a lot of determination met grim ionospheric resistance.

Ok, I thought to myself, go to 40-meters and listen. Again, solid 589 to 599 signals despite the noise-level. I adapted my strategy and SP'd as 12 minutes ticked off the sprint clock. The value of 60 seconds cannot be underestimated during any contest especially the NCCC Sprint. Perhaps a winning score is determined within this micro window of time. Once more, KA3DRR spun the dial searching for one QSO. Yes, W7WHY calling CQ NS from Washington! The ionospheric defensive line gave up the short hop but held on the long.

Two-minutes remained before QSY to 80-meters and KA3DRR called CQ. One sprinter called dit-dit-dah-dah-dit-dit and I fired off my callsign. Typically, this is my cue that a station hears KA3DRR's low-power, low-profile signal and might need a fill. The exchange was an excellent 599 reception from Arizona quarterbacked by W7SW, Scotty.

Two Qs in the log and moving to the 80-meter red zone looking for number three. I did not surrender and focused on the remaining 8 minutes. Signal strengths improved and this meant competing with 100-watt stations. One keeps in mind that multipliers are everything in any contest. I called CQ and SP'd. No luck. The ionospheric defensive line kept knocking down KA3DRR's low-power, low-profile signal. I continued dusting myself off and heard my first Sprint pile-up as K6VVA sprinted toward the goal line.

Results

Band Raw QSOs Valid QSOs QSO Pts Pts/Q Mults
-------------------------------------------------------------------

20 -- -- -- ---- --
40 2 2 2 1.00 2
80 -- -- -- ---- --

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 2 2 2 1.00 2

Final Score = 4

Overall, KA3DRR scored 'average' this evening and will be back next Thursday for another round of NCCC Sprint madness. The motivation of low-power, low-profile contesting is getting back up for the next one.

73 from the shack...

Reference:

Coaching Quotes (n.d.). Vince Lombardi Retrieved on April 13, 2007 from http://www.coachqte.com/lombardi.html

Why Contest?

The allure of amateur radio appealed to my sense of adventure. I enjoyed listening to Morse code while Brian a neighborhood friend communicated with different parts of the country from his room. My grandfather (KA9EEU) who is a silent key passed the generational legacy of ham radio to me. He sat with me after making a long trip from Waukegan, Illnois and we practiced Morse code on the dining room table. He taught me basic electronic theory enough to pass the novice examination.

I received my novice license in 1979 at 15-years of age. My shack consisted of a crystal controlled Heathkit DX-60 and a HR-10 receiver on a tiny wooden table in the bedroom. A 40-meter dipole antenna bought and built by my grandfather connected KA3DRR with the world. I used a straight key for Morse code and a knife switch for receive and transmit. The wireless knows no borders and soon my signal bounced around our blue planet.

A friend of many to follow through the fellowship of amateur radio wrote a QSO script. He outlined what to say when a ham answers one's CQ and the follow-on content such as rig, weather, and antenna. I recall the moment vividly as the first KA3DRR CQ departed Sharon, Pennsylvania assisted by the Earth's ionosphere. Nervous? Yes. Excited? You bet. Certainly, mistakes followed and learning the art of Morse code took practice much like today. However, the deeper quality of amateur radio remained that is, the fun of meeting those who share in our wireless hobby.

My passion for contesting developed through a series of stages. First, attending my first-ever field day in Transfer, Pennsylvania whose location overlooked Mercer county. I remember Drake C-lines and their bluish glow as local contesters called CQ Field Day and used paper logs and paper dupe sheets. The stations dispersed between grain silos and a few acres of freshly cut grass. The novice station transmitted within a grove of tall oaks using a Kenwood transceiver and a Nye Viking tuner for the random wire. I strolled between each station listening to the rapid clip of Morse code. The 24-hour event exhausted me and I fell asleep on that Sunday summer night with the echo of Morse code.

The excitement of contesting deeply etched itself into my sense of self. The next stage of contest development happened as a chance circumstance that evolved into passion.

The Novice Round-up sponsored by the ARRL opened the contesting door for good. I upgraded my station by then with an electronic keyer although the DX60 and HR10 remained. The knife switch broke a record for the number of throws per contact. I experienced for the first time the physiological and psychological meaning of running stations. One experiences a synergistic effect when mind and body syncopates with the keyer, the log, and other contesters. Time itself while moving forward stands still in the run mode. Suddenly, one looks at the clock realizing an hour passed and 70-plus QSOs are in the log.

The thrill and adrenaline of running stations does not match today's instant messaging.

My military career in the Air Force presented an opportunity to operate in the Republic of the Philippines as KA3DRR/DV2. This stage of contesting allowed me to experience the other end of the pile-up. I enjoyed running JA's on 15-meter SSB and Europeans on 20-meter CW. The most notable contest was CQ WPX CW multi-single with another G.I. as DX2F. I remember well his deftness and skill with the keyer. We shared a lifetime memory beneath a tin roofed home running a Kenwood TS530SP into a Butternut HF6V with 20-radials at 25-feet.

Life circumstances took me away from contesting except for a brief year while serving in South Dakota as KA3DRR/0. The indelible print of contesting remained however and, after retiring from the Air Force and completing graduate school, the dormant CQ contest echoed again.

Why contest? The answer might vary from contester to contester. Personally, contesting wove itself into the fabric of my life from my first Field Day in Transfer too the Republic of the Philippines and South Dakota. Contesting is a good friend who patiently waits through the seasons of life. Today, the evolution of technology and its impact on contesting is to say the least, amazing!

Technology changes but the lifelong friendships and lifetime memories as a direct result of contesting are not worth missing. This is why I contest.

Inside the NCCC Sprint Grid (Week 4)

Total QSOs up (906 vs. 921). Total scores up (19068 vs. 21503). Total logs submitted fell (29 vs. 25). The commentary on the 3830 list service suggested excellent conditions on 20-meters and the race for the top sprint slot continued. N6RO won the lead from N3BB while W9RE moved into second place. N9CK claimed third place beating N4OGW by 88-points in a close one. The fun factor rated 'high' for week number four!

Grid Leaders Week 4
1. N6RO, NCCC CA/NV, 1710
2. W9RE, East, 1624
3. N9CK, East, 1596

Is the fabled 2000 point mark within reach? The record sprint score is 1,920 points shared by N3BB (week 7) and N4AF (week 12) in 2006. Further review revealed W9RE (week 12) in second with 1,914 points followed by N3BB (week 8) with 1,848.

2006 Record Sprint Scores
1. N4AF, East, 1920
1. N3BB, West, 1920
2. W9RE, East, 1914
3. N3BB, West, 1848

The eastern division enjoyed a triumphant week claiming 2nd and 3rd grid leader positions while N6RO from the NCCC CA/NV division garnered the yellow shirt as grid sprint leader. Will RO two-peat going into the fifth running?

Division standings are as follows -

East of the Mississippi Division Week 4
1. W9RE, 1624, 2 of 4
2. N9CK, 1596, 4 of 4
3. N4OGW, 1508, 3 of 4

West of the Mississippi Division Week 4
1. W5JAW, 1125, 3 of 4
2. W7OM, 840, 4 of 4
3. VA7ST, 777, 3 of 4

NCCC CA/NV Division Week 4
1. N6RO, 1710, 4 of 4, week -2 and -4 grid series leader
2. K6VVA, 1058, 4 of 4
3. K7NV, 860, 4 of 4

Log submissions from the western division dropped significantly since last week from 11 to six. The eastern division rose from 10 to 12 and the NCCC NV/CA division dropped from 8 to seven. Overall, scores increased and QSOs increased since the third week suggesting a combination of 1). Improved propagation, 2). Improved skills as an effect of practice and, 3). New exchange.

Currently, N6RO and N3BB are tied as grid series leaders with two wins each and the fifth week might reveal a new sprinter claiming the yellow leader shirt? W9RE is poised to challenge N6RO's two-peat in addition BB is the variable to listen for. RE, RO, and BB are this week's grid series match-up.

The eastern division is one to watch as W9RE and N9CK photo finished as N4OGW might not settle for third. Meanwhile, the western division minus N3BB might surprise the sprint pack with a come-from-behind grid leader victory. The NCCC CA/NV division lead by N6RO's pair of grid wins may give the east a run for its propagation.

The 2006 record scores still stand going into the fifth sprint running of 2007. Let the fun radiate...

Reference:
Northern California Contest Club (2007). NS Results Retrieved on April 9, 2007 from http://www.ncccsprint.com/results.htm