2009 Spring Maidenhead Grid Event!
The first Lancaster County Maidenhead Grid Contest was held April 27-29, 2007 (results HERE.) The Lincoln Amateur Radio Club is happy to sponsor the second running of this very popular event on Saturday, May 23, 2009, from noon until 9:00 PM. This unique event is open to all area ham operators and, with a few rule changes suggested by prior participants, promises to be a great way to celebrate Spring with ham radio!
Background
Everyone is familiar with the idea of using latitude and longitude to define one's precise position on the globe. For example, KØGND's antenna tower is located at precisely North 40 degrees 46 minutes (') 25 seconds ("), West 96 39' 42" and the famous statue of the sower on the top of the Nebaska State Capitol (another great place for an antenna!) is at N40 48' 29" W96 41' 58". Lines of latitude and longitude form a series of grid lines across the globe. The Maidenhead Locator system defines grid squares that are 1 degree latitude by 2 degrees of longitude and each of these grid squares is given a two letter, two number designator. Most of Lancaster County lies withing the EN1Ø Maidenhead Grid. These larger grids are further broken down into smaller grids (subsquares) measuring 2.5 minutes of latitude by 5 minutes of longitude. These subsquares, which are about 3 by 4 miles in our part of the world, are given an additional two letter designator. In our examples above, KØGND's QTH would be in grid EN1ØQS and the State Capitol Building would be in grid EN1ØPT. For more on Maidenhead Grids as they relate to ham radio, see the ARRL web site.
As you can see from the map below, Lancaster County encompasses part or all of 84 different Maidenhead Grid Subsquares. The goal of this operating event is to contact other mobile or fixed stations in as many of these grid squares as possible!
Sound like fun? Continue on the the NEXT PAGE for more details!
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