Tag Archives: NEQP

2011 New England QSO Party

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Contest: New England QSO Party
Date: May 7-8, 2010
Mode: Mixed
Period: 2000Z, May 1 to 0500Z, May 7 and 1300Z-2400Z, May 8, 2010

BAND/Q PH / Q CW
15 / 4 / 8
20 / 22 / 19
TOTAL: 26 PH / 27 CW QSO / 28 Mults
SCORE: 2240 (TIME ON: 4 H 36 Mn)

SOAPBOX: The NEQP was one of the other two contests (7QP & InQP) taking place during this weekend. Most importantly, I improved by 51% over my 2010 totals. I expected a bit more on 15M, making only 12 QSOs. But it seemed 20M was a much stronger band on both CW and SSB. Running low power I had no problem being heard by the New England states.

I did put in about 2 hours more in the NEQP than I did in 2010, but I did not return on Sunday to finish up the contest. I knew this going in that I would get a portion of the start of the contest and would miss out on the low bands when the sun went down. Still I saw improvements across the board and most importantly had a great time participating. Look forward to the 2012 NEQP and putting in more time to make more QSOs.

QSO Party Triple Header

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This weekend is a triple header QSO party weekend, as the 7QP, Indiana QSO Party and New England QSO Party are all on the air. I participated in all three for the first time last year and had a a great time in just about 8.5 hours. The main focus was the 7QP and when I came across someone calling from the other two parties, it was just as simple to give them the RS(T) + CA. Made for a wonderful afternoon participating in all three at one time.

I am looking to work about 12-14 hours, on and off in the 7QP. I probably won’t make the later hours of the 7QP because of work on Sunday morning, but working from 1300z until 0200z. My goal for 7QP is to improve on my 99 QSO / 50 MULT effort in 2010. The goal for 2011 is going to be 200 QSO between CW, SSB and DIG and 100 MULTs. This year, like last year it will be a low power effort.

As for the Indiana QSO Party I only made 9 QSOs with 7 MULTs, so increase my final score of 105 total points should not be too difficult. Again, hopefully I can make 30 QSOs this year with 15-20 MULTs. Finally, the NEQP yielded 36 QSO / 21 MULTS last year, I figure we will have some good propagation to the East Coast. Unfortunately based on the 2010 NEQP results it does not look like a submitted a log last year. I assume my score will also be higher this year. Results for both of these QSO parties will be dependent on working for than about 2-3 hours, which is what I participated last year.

Down & Out

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It’s been a rough7 day stretch as the entire family has been sick at some point. First the wife, followed by my son with an ear infection and then myself with flu like symptoms and either a migraine or sinus headache that persisted for about 4 days. Needless to say, nothing got done last week, as I spent most of my time in bed and only worked 2 days. Too bad some people don’t understand the reason for sick days.

As for the house the process has slowed. We are still waiting for the first allotment of insurance money to arrive, but in the meantime we did receive our personal property check from the insurance company. Now I see why insurance fraud could be so easy to commit. But my wife an I were honest and did not include anything that was not ruined by the water damage. My best guess is August before the house is 90-95% complete.

The world of radio has been rather slow. There is one big contest remaining at the end of this month, CQWW DX CW and then nothing I will participate in until July. My eyes are actually on the CQP, sponsored by our contest club in October. I was able to work some 150 QSOs in the 7QP, IN QSO Party and NEQP. It was a great time participate in 3 contests at once. If I were set up differently I probably could have made some QSOs in the ARI International DX.

The 2010 World Cup is now 32 days away as the world awaits the arrival of the beautiful game. Of course I cannot convince anyone at work that football even exists if it does not include a pigskin. I still believe Italia will have a great showing and hopefully raise the World Cup. Spain has taken a big hit with El Nino injured and not participating, which lessens their hopes. Germany will be strong, as always. England won’t surprise and still need a keeper and Holland could have a nice run into the final four. More on the 2010 World Cup as we get closer.

Great Radio Weekend

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I had to take advantage of the time off from work due to the continuing problems in my right knee and right foot, so what better way to spend the time than off my feet and in front of the radio! It was a very enjoyable radio weekend with three separate QSO parties as well as a county hunters contest and a DX contest.

The main objective this weekend was to log states on SSB, CW and digital that I did not have as I work my way towards the ARRL Triple Play. Still have a way to go, but I was able to lock up a total of 9 QSOs between CW and SSB. As luck would have it I spent most of my time giving out points in the ‘7QP‘ which was then entire 7th call district. Activity was plentiful, but damned if it was rare to see a call from Nevada. I think I logged one, the entire time, a SSB QSO with N7UR.

Luckily later in the day the Indiana QSO Party started up as well and I only needed a SSB contact and K9SG was a strong ’59’ into California, so I locked up another needed contact. While these two QSO parties were going on the New England QSO Party started .

I was in need of some contacts in the New England states and aside from a digital contact from Maine I was able to finish up many needed QSOs from that geographical region. Forgive me, I thought Delaware was in the New England states. Silly me. Of course I still need Delaware for my WAS. *sigh*

The other contest going on was the MARAC, which centered about mobile (and fixed) stations logging counties in the USA, especially for those chasing a USA-CA (worked all counties 3,077). I was able to get some needed states (as well as counties) like West Virginia, which I had not contacted in 2009. Thankfully I knocked out a SSB contact with a mobile unit.

DX was solid as well, but I am at a bit of a disadvantage due to the antenna situation, but if I can hear a station I SHOULD be able to work that station. I did log my first contact with Italy, IQ9PA as well as Brazil, PT7CB, both on 20M SSB. Later that evening KH7XS was a solid “30 over 9” into the west coast.

So it was a very relaxing and enjoyable radio weekend. I was able to work SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK31 during all the contests, which hopefully helps me as an operator. I still seem to have some issues with the ALC with transmitting CW macros from the computer, which I will need to look into. Now to do all the paperwork…