W1AW/8 Activation ARRL Ohio Section
August 30 to Sept 5, 2023
Bookmark or share this information using - tiny.cc/w1aw8-info
This document will be updated as necessary with the latest information
Ohio operators will get their second opportunity to active W1AW/8 from August 30 through September 5th as part of the year-long ARRL VOTA (Volunteers On The Air) operations. For additional information on VOTA, visit- https://vota.arrl.org. Note- you do not need to be an ARRL official/volunteer to activate W1AW/8.
The W1AW/8 activation will take place on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and 6 Meters using CW, Phone and Digital (FT8/FT4, RTTY, etc.). If you would like to operate using the special callsign, you must meet a few guidelines and agree to follow a few rules:
- Currently valid FCC Amateur Radio license
- Operate from within the state of Ohio
- Agree to:
- Follow all US Amateur Radio rules and licensing class restrictions (operate only on frequencies and modes allowed by YOUR LICENSE)
- Follow Radio Amateur’s Code and Considerate Operator’s Guide and other accept Amateur Radio Etiquette. Remember you are representing the ARRL and the Ohio Section
- Accurately log all contacts using computer logging software
- Export an ADIF file of all contacts and submit it via email to Anthony Luscre, K8ZT (k8zt73@gmail.com)
If you meet the above requirements, you can apply for time slots by submitting an online form- tiny.cc/w1aw8-form. You will receive a confirmation email with your time slots, if available. Please refer to schedule- tiny.cc/w1aw8 to confirm your time slots. The process takes a while to update, so please be aware of this. If you have questions or need assistance, please email Anthony (k8zt73@gmail.com)
A publicly available schedule of operating slots will be available at tiny.cc/w1aw8. In addition to using this schedule to find available operating band/mode time slots to apply to fill, please share the link with fellow hams interested in working W1AW/8.
We had a live Zoom meeting for the W1AW/8 Operation on 8/16/2023. The meeting was recorded; view it here https://youtu.be/r9a3-sAT6Mk. The slideshow presentation from the meeting is available here- tiny.cc/w1aw8-slides
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Goals
- Make a W1AW/8 Ohio contact available to as many hams as possible
- Represent the Ohio ARRL Section in a positive manner
- Have Fun!
Logging Your Contacts
- Make sure your station’s computer time is correct
- Log all contacts using UTC time and date.
- If you are operating FT8 or FT4 with WSJT-X
- You do not need to use a separate logging program, as WSJT-X maintains its own log.
- It is suggested that you create a second instance of WSJT-X with W1AW/8 as the callsign and its own separate log- Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a new instance.
- If you are operating CW or Phone
- Set up your logging software with W1AW/8 as the callsign.
- You can use almost any current Amateur Radio logging or contesting software. Many free or reasonably priced options exist if you do not currently use logging software-
- When setting up the software, make sure you include the Grid Square and County you will be operating in.
- Keep all contacts in one log if you are operating multiple time slots.
- After completing all of your time slots
- Export an ADIF file (.adif or .adi). This is not a .log or Cabrillo file. Instructions for specific logging software will be made available (see ADDENDUM below and Zoom recording.
- Name the file with your own callsign and W1AW-8 (i.e., K8ZT-W1AW-8.adi again, do not use a slash “/” in the name)
- Do not upload the file to LoTW
- Email the file as an attachment to Anthony at k8zt73@gmail.com
- Use “W1AW/8 Log” in subject
- In the email text, please include your full name, callsign, grid square and county where you operated and a telephone number.
- All logs need to be submitted by September 8th
Operating
- Please cover all slots you have signed up for. If you need to cancel or make changes, please contact Anthony (k8zt73@gmail.com)
- If you want to add slots, please check the schedule (tiny.cc/w1aw8) and use the form to apply for additional periods. If you are operating and making lots of contacts, if no one is signed up to continue in the next slot, please feel free to continue, but if there is someone signed up, please finish operating before the new hour.
- Choosing an operating frequency
- If possible, choose a spot in the General class allocations to give more stations a chance to work you (on 10 Meter Phone, use the Technician allocation of 28.3 to 28.5 (see allocation chart below)
- Make sure the frequency is not in use by asking on air with QRL? or “Is this frequency in use?” (make sure you give callsign). Avoid frequencies of well-known nets, other busy spots on the band and band edges
- Feel free to spot yourself on DX clusters to assist stations in finding you.
- Please give the call sign frequently and make sure you use the complete call W1AW/8 not just W1AW. Also, include Ohio periodically to ensure stations know your location.
- Make sure you get the other station’s callsign. Super Partial Check can be helpful, but do not overly rely on
- If in doubt, ask for a repeat.
- Be careful to enter callsigns into the log accurately.
- Please be ready to explain the portable W1AW and VOTA program to stations that ask. For additional information on VOTA, visit- https://vota.arrl.org. You can also suggest they visit the site for details.
- Typically the number of stations answering may vary significantly with hectic and very slow periods.
- If things are slow, consider spotting your operation to DX clusters
- If things get really busy, you can revert to techniques used by DX stations: work stations by region (call sign number) or location (i.e., DX only, please, Canada, etc.), working split, etc.
- If working FT8 and the band is congested, consider moving to FT4. If things are slow on FT4, consider moving to FT8.
Here are a few quick reminders sent to me by Joseph Carcia, NJ1Q, W1AW Station Manager and Trustee, W1AW:
- Please ensure there is only one (1) signal per mode, per band. In other words, on each band, you can have one CW station, one digital station, and one phone station active for a total of 3 stations, one per mode on each band.
- In addition, when operating CW or digital, please do not affix the state designator to the callsign suffix. For example, “W1AW/1 CT,” not “W1AW/1CT.” The full callsign and state designator are kept separate.
- Please ensure that your operators use their correct station location information – Grid Square, CQ Zone, ITU Zone, State, County or Borough – when configuring their logs. In addition, if using FT-modes, ensure that the log reflects MODE=FT8 or MODE=FT4, not MODE=MFSK. Please remind your FTx operators to ensure their various programs (e.g., WSJT-X) are configured back to personal use after the VOTA activation.
- Operating: Operators must be polite at all times.
- Operators must operate using the privileges granted by their license class (or within the operator privileges of the highest‐class Control Operator present and observing operations – Eg, a Novice/Technician Class license holder,
however, can operate on General Class or above bands provided a properly licensed Control Operator is present with them at all times.) - Operating frequencies must be selected carefully to avoid conflicts. Even if a frequency sounds clear, the operator should ask at least two times if it is in use before calling CQ [eg, complaints about being too close to a net or SSTV frequency (ie: the 14.300 MHz Intl Maritime Net, or frequencies that may be needed during weather-related emergencies such as the Hurricane Watch Nets on 14.325 MHz or 7.268 MHz, and SATERN Net on 7.262 MHz) should be resolved by QSYing, not by arguing.] Operators must avoid operating too close to band edges as well.
- Goodwill: While the object of the VOTA Operating Event is to hand out as many contacts with W1AW/xx as possible, operators are encouraged to briefly detail the event and its purpose should operating time allow. Encourage other operators to get on the air, make contacts, and have fun.
- Calling “CQ VOTA” is a great way to draw attention.
- QSLs: There are NO QSL cards available for any of the W1AW/xx VOTA operating event stations during this event. All W1AW/xx contacts will be confirmed via LoTW only.
- Special note: Please inform ALL of your Band/Mode stations that they must not upload their logs themselves; all logs must be returned to the coordinator of the operation [K8ZT for W1AW/8 OH] for uploading
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please view this document online at tiny.cc/w1aw8-info
for the most recent version with all updates
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDENDUM (This is a work in progress)
- Slideshow Presentation for Zoom session- tiny.cc/w1aw8-slides
- Setting up your logging software for your W1AW/8 operation
- Exporting an ADIF file from your logging software
- Download the Template File (which will be linked here later)
- Open the template with a Spreadsheet program (Excel, Google Sheets, OpenOffice, Libre Office, etc.)
- Transcribe paper log into spreadsheet using one line for each contact, entering data in each column
- Save the file in CVS (Comma Separated Format)
- Use CVS2ADIF Software