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Hawaii and Pacific Section Report - September 2016

Hi all,

Since beginning the SM position, the focus has been on discussing interests with the section appointees and how they can help Amateurs in Hawaii. Most have stepped forward with ideas and suggestions on what we might do better. Not an easy task with the Amateur Radio Service involved in so many group interests, activities and technologies.

One area missing from previous reports was club activities, which we will correct this month with a few announcements.

First there is a new web site www.HawaiiARRL.info intended to document information about clubs in our section. Second, new PIO (Public Information Officer) positions have been developed to promote Amateur Radio contributions to the general public.

I'm travelling to ARRL HQ this month, along with a long list of new section managers, to learn more about the ARRL organization services provided to members. During the return I'll drop by Pacificon and meet the crew in our ARRL Division. Some vendors look like they have interesting displays. There should be a few items to report next month.

Aloha es 73,
Joe Speroni, AHØA
ARRL Pacific Section, Section Manager

HawaiiARRL.info

GridMadness 2016

Kauai Assistant Section Manager

Section Staff Travelling

ARRL Section Joins VOAD

Big Island Hamfest

ARRL Section Adds Public Information Officers

Contesting Note

CQ Worldwide SSB Contest this month – Why not try it out?

In my first article about contesting some months ago I pretty much said what I am about to say, again. If it didn’t get your attention or motivate you I hope to make it clear today. The hardest rationale I’m guessing is… "Is radio contesting worth my time"? That’s a question lots of people ask themselves. The answer is, stereotypically, “It depends.”

With all the distractions in life these days it takes discipline to make time to do the things you like. People who play on HF do lots of different things that will take up their time.

• DX hunting is high on the list.

• So is making casual contacts.

• Some people only do digital work using PSK or JT variants and even the grand dad RTTY mode.

• Some enjoy station building, often concentrating on antennas as they are one of the few things that are not necessarily expensive or require experience in hi-tech fields.

Whatever your interests are, contesting can provide an avenue (and an excuse) to do all of these things. And, you can often do it in a concentrated time frame from a few hours to a couple of days then go back to other demanding interests in your life. The added benefit is that you will typically improve your station, operating skills, DX totals and satisfaction in the hobby by preparing for and participating in a contest.

How is that? It’s simple. You can work to design or install new and better antennas for the contest. This will help in the pursuit of the DX entities that often activate for contests and give you a better chance using your new antenna. Being able to quickly respond to changing band conditions during a contest yet maintain effectiveness will make you a better, more knowledgeable operator. Over time, it will prepare you to handle more complex situations such as readiness for EMCOMM events. If you indulge in CW it can provide the push to increasing your code speed. If you haven’t tried the digital modes or RTTY, here’s your opportunity to figure out how to make it work and learn in the process.

Don’t count out radio contesting until you’ve adequately looked into it. Most contesters are happy to share and assist in getting you ready and operational. They are often among the more accomplished and informed hams you can know and learn from. Try it. You might like it.

The largest radio contest of the year takes place this month, October 29 – 30, UTC. Locally, that means 2 PM on Friday, October 28 through 2 PM on Sunday, October 30. You don’t have to operate the whole period. The CQ Worldwide DX SSB Contest is entered by thousands of hams all over the world. Most as individuals but many in groups operating in categories known as Multi-Single, Multi-Two and Multi-Multi, where one, two or an unlimited number of transmitters can be used (only one transmitting per band at a time). If you want to just observe or play a limited role for your first foray, contact a contester. I think they’ll let you listen in or operate a bit (if they’re in a multi-op effort) to get your feet wet. Have them show you how they prepared their station. Maybe it will give you some good ideas for your own. Or, if you can’t put up your own station or antennas, here’s a way to get to operate using other peoples’ station. It may be a better than average one to boot.

http://www.cqww.com/

If you don’t know any contesters drop me an email. I’ll try to get you hooked up with one. Until then, good luck and have fun.

KH6YY Contesting Station in Pupukea

73,

Kimo Chun, KH7U