2018 Virginia QSO Party
SoapBox
and Post-Party Tidbits
************************SOAPBOX
COMMENTS*************
********************************ADDED
5 May 2018*******************************
QSO Card
from KA7HBH.
*********************ADDED 14 APRIL 2018********************
K3CCR: K3CCR is the club station at the Collington continuing-care
K3CCR: retirement community at FM 18OW in MD, just east of DC.
K3CCR:
K3CCR: N3UM
and W3GB did the 2018 VAQP Multi-2, as in ’16 and ’17. We were
K3CCR: able
to put in 18 hrs BIC this year vs 12.5 in 2017, and are pleased
K3CCR: to claim 2X our 2017 score and 21 more counties because of
that.
K3CCR:
K3CCR: As in past years we found that despite serious tries on CW
and
K3CCR: 40 m., VAQP from our QTH might as well be 80 m. SSB only,
where
K3CCR: we got 79% of our QSOs and 85% of our mults.
K3CCR:
K3CCR: Our
first hr. with 46 Qs (31 running on 80 SSB) and 33 mults was
K3CCR: our
best; never got more than 28 Qs and 9 mults in any later
hour.
K3CCR: To
get even those low rates, no one method worked for long; we tuned,
K3CCR:
used KX4O’s spotting net, and CQ’d, but runs ended at 12-21 Qs.
K3CCR: Our
hearty thanks to 3 high-energy mobile ops; W4GO/M for 23 Qs and
K3CCR: 12 mults, KJ4OAP/M for 13 Qs and 6 mults, and NB3A/M for 11
Qs
K3CCR: and 4 mults. Thanks to other /M’s also, but those 3
stood out.
*********************ADDED 13 APRIL 2018********************
AA8TA: Not much heard on day 1. Seemed to more
stations on Sunday. 40
AA8TA: meters was somewhat compressed by the RTTY
contest. Nice to hear
AA8TA: what I assumed to be some newer
contesters. Hope you try again
AA8TA: in other events.
K0ARG: Test of my portable station. Great contacts
using 5 watts (FT-817nd) and a
K0ARG: Buddistick Thanks for the event!
K0STP: 1 or more contacts from: Madison, Culpeper,
Orange, Louisa, Hanover,
K0STP: Richmond City, Albemarle, Nelson,
Fluvanna, Total Mobile Bonus = 900
K1AUS: I only had Sunday afternoon to work the QSO
party. I worked all
K1AUS: but one station I heard from VA. Conditions
very poor here in my
K1AUS: part of MT. Only heard one station on 40
meters, the one that
K1AUS: couldn't hear me. I didn't hear any stations on
15,10 or 6
K1AUS: meters. Thanks for the contest.
k1htv_fixed: Operated using 75 Watts of FT8 on the 40,
20, 15 & 10M HF bands
k1htv_fixed: using a pair of switchable 65 ft high
ZS6BKW antennas for 40M
k1htv_fixed: and an A3S traiband yago at 80 ft for 10,
15 & 20M.
k1htv_fixed: Of the 278 stations worked, 8 U.S. &
6 VE stations did not send
k1htv_fixed: their QTH identifiers, so were zero pint
QSOs.
k1htv_fixed: Only VA stations sent their county
identifier.
k1htv_fixed: I believe that serious consideration be
given to incorporate
k1htv_fixed: the highly popular FT8 digital mode into
future VQP contests.
k1htv_fixed: That may mean factoring in a Grid Square
multiplier for FT8 QSOs.
k1ra: Go FARA!
K1RZ: Always find it a special challenge to work the
Virginia QSO Party
K1RZ: from across the river in Maryland. I try
to lower wire antennas to
K1RZ: try to get best signal into nearby
Virginia. And I adjust some
K1RZ: wire antennas to resonate on other bands. And
then find I run a
K1RZ: combination of powers - high power where I have
a good match, and
K1RZ: low power where I let the transceivers ATU match
a somewhat off
K1RZ: resonance antenna. I really appreciate the
sponsors for organizing
K1RZ: the VAQP event and also the many, many mobiles
who drive across
K1RZ: Virginia, plus the other fixed stations across
Virginia. Thanks
K1RZ: everyone and 73. Dave
K1RZ Damascus MD
K2BFY.M: Activity on VHF down this year
k2pi: GREAT TEST, BUT RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM OUT OF
STATE PARTICIPANTS REGARDING
k2pi: THE VA STATIONS CLUSTERING ON 80M. THANKS TO ALL
THE MOBILES, OUT OF STATE HAMS,
k2pi: AND DX WHO TOOK THE TIME TO GIVE ME A QSO.
WE NEED TO REPAY THAT FAVOR IN THEIR
k2pi: STATE CONTESTS. ALSO, SHOULD WE CONSIDER
OFFSETTING GAS COSTS FOR THE MOBILES LIKE
k2pi: WE DO FOR DXPEDITIONS? IT IS NOT CHEAP TO
DRIVE ALL OVER VA.
K3TW: "Many thanks for another enjoyable Virginia QSO
Party."
K3VAT: All contacts were FT8.
K4AWM: One day operation and as always, had a ball.
k4g_VA: Thank you SPARC for sponsoring this event --
my favorite Ham event of the year!
k4jjr_mobile: 1 or more contacts from: Fauquier,
Prince William, Total Mobile Bonus = 200
K4ZB: I was a FIXED station LOW Power@ 50 WATTS
K7CS: Did not hear many stations in VA.
K8IJ: Great fun - thanks to all, especially the
mobiles. Vy 73.
K9RAF: Rookie, first contest ever.....lot's of fun,
looking forward to
K9RAF: next yeat!
KA7HBH: Sure do apprciate the efforts of the mobile
operators! Great Job by All
KB1WXM: 1 or more contacts from: Prince Edward,
, Total Mobile Bonus = 200
KC3IZX: I am 10 years old and was only able to make
one contact. YOUTH
KD3GC: Had a great time and wish I could have spent
more time operating.
KD4QIT-fixed: Should leave start/stop time like it was
last year
KD4QIT-mobile: 1 or more contacts from: King William,
King and Queen, Total Mobile Bonus = 200
KD4QIT-mobile: Need to leave the start/stop time the
same as last year on saturday
KD8DEU: Am a county hunter.
KE0TT: K3/10 at 5 watts to an 88' dipole up about 45'
fed with ladder line and a
KE0TT: vintage Johnson Matchbox tuner. Thanks
for the party ! Bands were
KE0TT: really pretty poor from MN this time, but
slogged out 24 Q's.
KE0TT: Hope to C U next time. 73,
Dan ke0tt
KE8EKM: Had a lot of fun working my first state qso
party.
KE8EKM: I enjoyed the serial number exchange
format.
KE8EKM: I hope I've scored this correctly...
KE8GWC: Enjoyed first QSO Party thanks and 73!
KE8GWC: Icom 718, ground mounted Hustler 4BTV
KI4DHW: FUN TIME HAD BY ALL
KJ4FUU: Better luck next year, I hope. I need help
setting up my CrankIR next year.
KJ4HMZ: ALWAYS A GREAT TIME. MY FAVORITE QSO PARTY
EVER.
KJ4OAP: Well, this certainly wasn't the best VAQP I've
ever run, but
KJ4OAP: certainly a good fun one. This was a bit
of a test year as
KJ4OAP: I was testing out some logging code I wrote
and ran on a
KJ4OAP: Raspberry Pi in the truck. So, no more
pen & paper and
KJ4OAP: post-contest typing and calculating!
Also interesting that
KJ4OAP: 80m was a little strange this year where I
could hear several
KJ4OAP: stations, but no one could seem to hear
me. Glad that the
KJ4OAP: APRS spectator map worked well (thanks Andy,
K1RA, for setting
KJ4OAP: that up! Of my 112 multipliers, 79 were
C&IC! That's also a
KJ4OAP: good number of the total for VA. One day
I'll catch 'em all
KJ4OAP: in one weekend. I'll be looking forward
to seeing the QSO
KJ4OAP: by C&IC map to see what percentage are
from me in some places!
kk4uyx: Thanks to everyone at SPARC for another great
contest!
kk4uyx: Can't wait till next year!
KK4ZUU-M: 1 or more contacts from: Fairfax, Prince
William, Manassas Park, Manassas,
KK4ZUU-M: Fairfax City, Falls Church, Arlington,
Fauquier, Clarke, Loudoun, Frederick,
KK4ZUU-M: Winchester, Warren, Rappahannock, Page,
Madison, Total Mobile Bonus = 1600
KK4ZUU-M: Fourth year as a mobile out of five, my son
and I enjoyed operating and
KK4ZUU-M: logging your QSOs. 73, David & James
KM4NHN: 1 or more contacts from: Northumberland,
Westmoreland, Total Mobile Bonus = 200
KM4YLC: 1 or more contacts from: Fauquier, Culpeper,
Rappahannock, Warren,
KM4YLC: Clarke, Frederick, Winchester, Total
Mobile Bonus = 700
KN4AUC: I am a 9 year old operator in Woodbridge
Wireless.
KN4AUC: I have attached my call log and hope to do
well in the Single Operator
KN4AUC: Youth category. Please let me know if you have
any questions. Thank you so much!
KN4CHI: Age 12 YOUTH
KN4DUF: My first VA QSO Party !!! It was a
lot of fun.
KN4Y: Poor showing fixed CW operators.
KS1G: Great time getting back into the VA QSO Party
after too many
KS1G: years away, despite limited operating
time.
KT4OZ: Operated 3/17 from Highland County. On 3/18, we
relocated to Bath
KT4OZ: County and attempted VHF operations but were
unable to make contacts.
kv4xz_mobile: 1 or more contacts from: Culpeper,
Fauquier, Prince William, Loudoun, Total Mobile Bonus = 400
kw4va: Thanks to Jim W4RX for the use of his station!
kx4ku: Thank you people at SPARC for sponsoring this
contest! It was a
kx4ku: lot of fun. I also learned some things
too. 73
kx4o: Another great year! Thanks SPARCy!!
N1AIA: Fun one-band effort with Elecraft K1 and low
dipole. Appreciate stations
N1AIA: pulling weak signals out of the noise. Best
thrill was giving new
N1AIA: multiplier to stations with hundreds of QSOs in
the log.
N1LO: we need more participation on 160m. it opened
nicely Sunday Night
N1NN: 10TH VIRGINIA QSO PARTY
N4JER: ALWAYS LOADS OF FUN. THANKS
N5SMQ: Had an AWESOME time as always!!!
N6DW: Franklin County Amateur Radio Club
N6DW: party. I planned to play longer but the
flu/cold knocked me out.
N6DW: I didn't feel like joining until late
Sunday, but I had a great
N6DW: time and it made me feel better!
N8PSI: Worked all QSO with 1 Mobile Station(BTech
UV-25X4); Made wrong turn drove into
N8PSI: WV & made 2 VA contacts before realizing
where I wasn't in Virginia anymore.
N8PSI: Radio stopped transmitting
N9DIJ: Antenna is rain gutter and downspouts.
nb3a: NB3A & KN4DWZ FIRST REAL ROVE TNX FER
CONTEST 73.
NW3V: ENJOYED THIS TOCCATA. USED KX3 AND INVERTED VEE.
W1END: Low bands for me; heaard nothing on 20M. Good
participation by VA.
W1END: Rig was FTdx5000 and Butternut vertical.
W2UDT: tnx to kj4oap/m for my last county in VA and to
all the mobiles!
W2UDT: Condx were bad here Saturday. Lots of QSB on
sigs. CU next year! 73, W2UDT
W3TB: W3TB is Expedition Station, CW only, QRP only
W4DOW: Had Fun From WAS County Again.
W4JTP: A struggle someimes on 40, but always fun.
W4JTP: Let's do something about these condx for next
year, OK? ;^)
W4LCY: 8 YEAR OLD Youth Operator
W4LID: Jolly good show! 73 de W4LID.
W4WVP: USED TS-2000X AND DIPOLE. THANKS FOR VQP!
W5TM: Thanks for the QSOs.
W8KNO: Sunday only.
W8TM: Too many schedule conflicts, too much QRN at
times.
WA4EUL: Poor cdx on 40 both days; late start on Sun
due to Shamrock Marathon
WA4EUL: ARES participation; several old friends worked
on 80 M
WC4R: My first real entry after 40 years!
WD0FYV: Band conditions were bad, hard to make
contacts
WQ6X: This was another ad-HOC WQ6X remote operation
from NX6T.
WQ6X: Most of the weekend was devoted to the BARTG
RTTY contest
WQ6X: and the Russian DX contest. I tuned the
bands every hour or so
WQ6X: looking for VAQP stations and was disappointed
in the usual POOR
WQ6X: VA turnout for their own QSO party. It
seemed that there were 10x
WQ6X: more stations looking for VA then there were VA
stations to be had.
WQ6X: How can we work new VA counties when we can't
hear any stations?
WQ6X: Look for a WQ6X Contest BLOG writeup about this
at:
WQ6X: WQ6X.Blogspot.Com