Amateur
Radio Station
W Q 6 X
Operations
in the November Sweepstakes
Sponsored
by the American Radio Relay League (A.R.R.L.),
the November Sweepstakes (SS) amateur radio contest is the
second-oldest radio amateur competition (the oldest being Field Day),
first run in November 1930. Currently a 30 hour event, from its
inception the November Sweepstakes has been a traffic-handling
simulation exercise running during the 1st and 3rd weekends of
November each year. For West Coast operators, depending upon daylight
saving time, Sweepstakes begins either at 13:00 (1pm) or 14:00 (2pm)
in the afternoon (21:00 UTC) on Saturday.
Sweepstakes
ends at 19:00 (7pm) Pacific Time on Sunday (03:00 UTC, Monday).
Here are some interesting write-ups on different aspects of the November Sweepstakes Experience.
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Unlike other radio contests which support a simplistic exchange, Sweepstakes requires an extensive exchange of information between stations making contact, simulating the format of the RadioGram form used to deliver messages (similar to Western Union's telegram format). While computers are used to log contacts, logging software is designed around the classic Sweepstakes log sheets. (Click the PICs for a closer look.)
Sweepstakes is also unique in that a station may only be contacted once during the contest, regardless of how many radio bands are used. Luckily, contest-logging software programs sport duplicate-contact notification, alerting operators before a "DUP" Qso is logged.
The 1st
weekend is dedicated to morse code (C.W.) operations, while the 3rd
weekend is devoted to Phone (voice) operation. This is a competition
between U.S. (and posessions) and Canadian amateurs. The rest of the
world puts
up with
our use of the radio spectrum on those weekends, even though we
exclude them from the fun.
Since
1970, Ron Fitch has participated in over 25 Sweepstakes operations
under such callsigns as:
WA6LKB,
KX6H, K8CX,
NX6T, WQ6X
and W6K.
Operating locations have included Livermore Calif.,
Manhattan
Beach Calif., Cincinatti & N.E. Ohio and years ago as W6K from an
empty multi-millon
dollar house
in Ojai
(east of Ventura), Santa Barbara Section (SB) - then one of the top
10 sought after A.R.R.L. sections.
Since SB
section is now well represented in the Sweepstakes, recent events
have found me operating from
Brentwood
and Concord, Ca. - both in the East Bay Section. East Bay Section is
where it all began and East Bay
Section
is where it continues.
As material regarding Sweepstakes operations is put online, links will appear below in reverse-chronological order.
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Contest Dates |
Contest Activity |
Contest Results |
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Nov 21 - 23, 2020 |
WQ6X Operating using Voice (2020) - from Concord |
UPCOMING |
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Nov 7 - 9, 2020 |
WQ6X Operating using C.W. (2020) - from Concord |
UPCOMING |
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Nov 16 - 18, 2019 |
WQ6X Operating using Voice (2019) - from Concord |
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Nov 2 - 4, 2019 |
WQ6X Operating using C.W. (2019) - from Concord |
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Nov 3 - 5, 2018 |
NX6T Operating using C.W. (2018) - remotely - Fallbrook |
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Nov 4 - 5, 2017 |
WQ6X Operating using C.W. (2017) - from Concord |
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Nov 19 - 21, 2016 |
WQ6X Operating using Voice (2016) - from Concord |
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Nov 5 - 7, 2016 |
WQ6X Operating using C.W. (2016) - from Concord |
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Nov 21 - 23, 2015 |
WQ6X Operating using Voice (2015) - from Concord |
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Nov 7 - 9, 2015 |
WQ6X Operating using C.W. (2015) - from Concord |
2nd Place |
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Nov 15 - 17, 2014 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2014) - from Brentwood |
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Nov 1 - 3, 2014 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2014) - from Brentwood |
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Nov 16 - 18, 2013 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2013) - from Brentwood |
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Nov 2 - 4, 2013 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2013) - from Brentwood |
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Nov 17 - 18, 2012 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2012) - from Hayward |
3rd Place |
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Nov 3 - 4, 2012 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2012) - from Brentwood |
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Nov 20 - 22, 2011 |
WQ6X Operating
N6K using Voice (2011) |
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Nov 6 - 8, 2011 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2011) - from Alameda |
2nd Place |
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Nov 20 - 22, 2010 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2010) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 6 - 8, 2010 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2010) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 21 - 23, 2009 |
WQ6X Guest Op. NX6T using Voice (2009) - from Fallbrook |
a GREAT Score! |
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Nov 15 - 17, 2008 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2008) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 1 - 3, 2008 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2008) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 17 - 19, 2007 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2007) - from Ojai |
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Nov 3 - 5, 2007 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2007) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 18 - 20, 2006 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2006) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 4 - 6, 2006 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2006) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 19 - 21, 2005 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2005) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 5 - 7, 2005 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2005) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 20 - 22, 2004 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2004) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 6 - 8, 2004 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2004) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 15 - 17, 2003 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using Voice (2003) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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Nov 1 - 3, 2003 |
WQ6X Operating W6K using C.W. (2003) - from Ojai |
2nd Place |
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WQ6X is currently in Alameda California
For more information contact: Ron Fitch
Telephone Ron at: (818) 216-5376
E-mail Ron at: Ron@WQ6X.Info
11-06-2020