Spokane DX Association

2011 plaque — SDXA sponsored

The 2012 Salmon Run contest (Washington State QSO Party) is over and several locals were heard in the contest. There was a new rule change affecting us.

SDXA sponsors a plaque in the this contest for the high score in the Low Power, Single Operator, EWA based, Mixed Mode category. What does this category mean?

-Low Power = 100 watts or less
-Single Operator = one operator, no help from others (food delivery is OK)
-EWA based = Station must be located in the ARRL-defined EWA Section
-Mixed Mode = Mixed-mode entries make contacts using more than one mode (Phone, CW, Digital). To be eligible for an Award, a mixed-mode entry must have a minimum of 5% of the total contacts on a second or a combination of second and third modes. This is a new rule to help the small Mixed Mode entrants who previously had to make at least 10 contacts in an alternate mode.

The Salmon Run is sponsored by our friends in Seattle, the Western Washington DX Club (WWDXC). Info on the contest can be found at this SALMON RUN LINK.

Previous winners of the SDXA-sponsored plaque are:

2003-2004-2007-2010 W7WMO Gene Bye from Ephrata
2005-2006-2009 K7OX Gary Elliott from Spokane County (SDXA member)
2008 WX7P Wilse Morgan from Rice (SDXA member)
2011 W7YKM Rick Olsen (N6NR) from Tieton
2012 WILL YOU BE LISTED HERE??

John announced today his receipt of his new plaque. He joins Wayne WA1PMA, George W6AEA, and Steve K7AWB who also have achieved the honor and plaque. If we missed any others with this honor, let the webmaster know. Notice John’s neat tower and antenna in the background.

The rules for the ARRL DXCC Challenge Award are at this CHALLENGE LINK.

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The 2012 Pacific Northwest DX Convention in Portland / Clackamas just concluded from its August 3-5 run at the Monarch Hotel and Conference Center in Clackamas, OR (sponsored by the Willamette Valley DX Club). There were a lot of DX programs including the big DXpedition on Melpelo Island. The PNW Challenge Cup trophy was won by the Willamette Valley DX Club with the SDXA taking 5th out of 5 competitors.

The five club’s scores are now listed at PNW CHALLENGE CUP.

Also the scores of our SDXA members are also listed at PNW CHALLENGE CUP.

Here are a couple of pictures from the convention:

The trophy

Part of the Sunday morning breakfast food

SDXA President Wayne WA1PMA & the 2013 PNW DX
Convention Chairman Randy K7TQ

Our EWA Section Manager Mark KB7HDX & Wayne WA1PMA

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A few months ago, the SDXA decided to sponsor a third plaque for contest winners. It was in the 7QP, the 7th Call Area QSO Party held in May. The plaque was for the highest score in the High Power, Single Operator, Digital category. Steve K7AWB decided the night of the SDXA decision that he was going to win it and he did. Steve scored highest of all the digital-only entrants. Here are pictures of the plaque, complements of SDXA, and sent by the 7QP sponsors:

High Power, Single Operator, Digital plaque

Incidentally, a review of the three plaques available through the generosity of the SDXA can be found at this SDXA PLAQUE LINK.

Here is a link to the names of all the SDXA MEMBERS who entered the contest and their scores.

The next 7QP contest is May 4-5, 2013. Here is a 7QP LINK to their contest website.

ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC OVER

The picnic at Franklin Park West of North Division Street was great. Complete overhead cover and seating for all; many tables. Additional pictures are at this link: SUMMER PICNIC 2012

FIELD DAY PHOTOS RELEASED

These were received from Cynthia WW7CA.

When I first saw this picture, I thought Wilse WX7P and friends were assembling a new greenhouse for Gimmie AL7LB! This is actually the start of the main tent.

Why hams go to Field Day!

2A Category

2011 Challenge Cup.

REMEMBER OUR CONVENTION?

Reflections Of The 2009 DX ConventionWhen Randy K7TQ sent me the archive of all of the files used for the convention web site in 2009, I found a bunch of pictures of the convention I thought you might enjoy.

2009 DX Convention Gallery

Here are some select pictures from the 2011 Awards Banquet at the Longhorn in Airway Heights. Everyone had a good time and hope to see you there again next year!

RENEW ARRL MEMBERSHIP THROUGH THE SDXA

The SDXA would like to encourage you to renew your ARRL membership through the club. If you do, $2 of the normal fee is retained by the SDXA. If you are joining the ARRL for the first time or your membership expired 2 years ago, the SDXA will retain $15 of the normal fee. It doesn’t cost you more. It is a benefit the ARRL offers affiliated clubs.

For us to take advantage of this benefit your application for ARRL membership or renewal must be made through the SDXA using these forms.

Planning on joining or renewing ARRL membership? Please fill out the appropriate form and get it to me with the normal fee. Send it and the normal fee to me at my home address (qrz.com) or the club’s PO Box (or catch me or any officer at the meetings). Make out your check to SDXA.

This is a great opportunity for the SDXA and we urge you to take advantage of it.

Thank you and 73.
Gary K7GS, Treasurer

SDXA SPONSORED PLAQUES

The SDXA sponsors three contest plaques:

(RESERVED FOR PHOTO)

1. ARRL RTTY Roundup (January) — for highest score in W/VE Single Operator, High Power category. Award is called the Rush Drake W7RM Memorial plaque.

2. WA state Salmon Run (September) — for highest score in Single Operator, Low Power, Mixed category operating from within the EWA ARRL Section.

3. 7QP – 7th Call Area QSO Party (May) —for highest score in digital only category.

7QP RESULTS ANNOUNCED

The results of the 7-land QSO Party (7QP) in May are available. Here are the nine SDXA locals that entered:

WA1PMA Wayne– 1,440 points in Single Operator, High Power, Mixed
K7AWB Steve – 9,213 points in Single Operator, High Power, Digital
WA0WWW Jay – 25,400 points in Single Operator, Low Power, Mixed
K7GS Gary – 47,064 points in Single Operator, Low Power, CW
K7EIQ Merle – 240 points in Single Operator, Low Power, Digital
W6AEA George – 100,425 points in Multi-Single, High Power
AC7MV Dave – 2,288 points in Multi-Single, Low Power
AC7GP Bob – 26,000 points in County Expedition, Single Operator
K7TQ Randy – 7,896 points in Mobile QRP CW

Randy wins a certificate for his category and Steve wins the Single Operator, High Power, Digital (RTTY) plaque sponsored by the SDXA.

More information is at 7QP LINK.

AMATEUR RADIO PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR

Washington state Governor Christine O. Gregoire proclaims June 18-23 as AMATEUR RADIO WEEK. To see the proclamation, press GOVERNOR.

NEWS FLASH!! – Dash Is Now A Coug!!I just wanted to let everyone know that Dash, The Dog-Faced Ham, is back in college attending WSU!! Jeff, K1NSS, sent me the following press release this morning:

“Not many would-be electrical engineers choose spring break for a now-or-never return to college, but Dash! The Dog-Faced Ham is no ordinary sixty-something. Dashiell “Dash!” Hammutt is the webcomix creation of Jeff Murray, K1NSS and has appeared at www.dashtoons.com since late 2005.

K1NSS got the idea to send his character back to school after friend WT0G recently worked W7YH, Washington State University’s amateur radio club station. When his friend posted the W7YH QSL on Facebook, Murray noticed the club’s original proper name – Alpha Chapter, Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity.

“The cool old school club name triggered all my sensors,” said the cartoonist. He immediately contacted the club and discovered that WSU’s Alpha Chapter is one of the oldest collegiate radio clubs in the country, established in 1911. When K1NSS learned more about WSU’s premier engineering school , he said “Everything fell into place”

“I never joined a fraternity and never followed my original plan to become an electrical engineer,” said K1NSS. “ And as I got older, I wondered how my life would have been different if I did those things, among others. Of course, as a 60-something ham radio cartoonist, I’m too dignified to take one last desperate swing at the cheap seats. But my cartoon character has no dignity whatsoever. And frankly, I’m the boss of him.”

Continuing episodes of Dash!2 Alpha Chapter, A Dog-Faced Ham Repeats College All Over Again, are now appearing at www.dashtoons.com.

I’m sure all of us in the SDXA are looking forward in keeping track of Dash’s escapades as he attends WSU!
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A TALE OF TWO PLAQUESSteve K7AWB submitted a nice article about two Salmon Run plaques — one that was sponsored by the SDXA and awarded to Rick Olsen (N6NR), and other awarded to members of the SDXA (Wayne – WA1PMA, Jay – WS7I, and Lynn – N2HS). You can read the full article HERE. And the Salmon Run is coming up soon in September so figure out how YOU CAN WIN ONE!