[HCRA] New England QSO Party this Weekend!

[Jim Mullen]

Folks,

The New England QSO Party enters it's third year tomorrow. I was going =
to
write something up for the list today but Tom, K1KI has done a much =
better
job so I have copied his information below. Thanks Tom!

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I think we're finally ready for the New England QSO Party this weekend - =
May
1-2.

Some people call the CQWW or ARRL DX Contest the New England QSO Party,
since W1 stations often do quite well.    You'll find the real NEQP at =
least
as much fun since everyone will be calling you if you live in one of the =
NE
states!    Many people start out their contesting career in state QSO
Parties - so please get on for a few hours!

There are certificates for those making at least 25 QSOs, and we've had =
a
lot of support from the YCCC, and other clubs and individuals so there =
are
27 plaques to be awarded.

The NEQP is a low pressure, fun operating event that starts at 20z on
Saturday until 24z Sunday, with a break from 05z-13z.    Most of the
activity will be on 20 and 40 meters, but you'll also find people to =
work on
80, 15 and even 10m if the sun cooperates.   The full rules are below, =
or go
to the web site at http://www.neqp.org/ for more information.

Thanks!    Tom/K1KI and Bob/W1RH


New England QSO Party Rules

Object: To contact as many New England stations in as many New England
counties as possible on 80-40-20-15-10m.  (New England stations work =
anyone)

Date: First full weekend of May (May 1-2,2004 and May 7-8, 2005).

Contest Period: 2000Z Saturday until 0500Z Sunday (4pm ET Saturday until =
1am
ET Sunday) and 1300Z Sunday until 2400Z Sunday (9am ET Sunday until 8pm =
ET
Sunday).=20

Categories: Single operator high power, low power and QRP categories, =
plus
multioperator, single transmitter.  Same four categories for mobiles.
Single operator stations using assistance during the contest (packet or
Internet spotting nets, etc.) will compete in the multisingle category.=20

Contest Exchange: Send signal report and state/province (DX stations =
send
signal report and "DX").  New England stations send signal report, =
county
and state.=20

Valid Contact: Work New England stations once per band/mode. New England
stations work anyone(and must copy the county for New England stations
worked). CW contacts must not be made in the phone band segments.  =
Mobiles
can be worked again in new counties.  County line QSOs should be logged =
as
two separate QSOs.  Crossmode, crossband and repeater QSOs are not
permitted.=20

QSO Points: Count one point per phone QSO, two points per CW (includes
digital modes)QSO.=20

Multiplier: Stations outside of New England use counties as multipliers =
for
a total of 67 CT/8 MA/14 ME/16 NH/10 RI/5 VT/14).  New England stations =
use
states(50), Canadian provinces(14) and DXCC countries as multipliers.=20

Scoring: Total score is QSO points times the multiplier.   Mobiles count =
QSO
points per county and multipliers from all counties (counted once).

Suggested frequencies: CW - 3540 7040 14040 21040 28040, Novice/Tech - =
3705
7130 21130 28130, SSB - 3880 7280 14280 21380 28380

Reporting: Logs should indicate times in UTC, bands, modes, calls and
complete exchange.  Multipliers should be clearly marked in the log.  =
New
England stations put your club's name on the summary sheet.  Entries =
must be
submitted within 30 days and sent to NEQP, P O Box 3005, Framingham MA
01705-3005 or via e-mail to logs@neqp.org (Cabrillo format preferred).  =
Send
a large SASE for a printed copy of the results.

Awards: Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers (25 QSO minimum) =
in
each New England county, U S state, Canadian province and DXCC country. =
At
least twenty plaques will also be awarded to top scorers, and some =
special
awards are available to non-New England stations (check the web site for =
the
current list).

More information: The New England QSO Party web site is at
http://www.neqp.org. Check there for information on planned fixed =
station
and mobile activity from New England counties, contest software =
information,
county abbreviations, plaques to be awarded, and information on New =
England
state county awards.  NEQP results will be posted on the web site when =
they
are complete.  Questions can be addressed to info@neqp.org.


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Don't forget that HCRA sponsors a nice plaque for 'High Score, Hampden
County'. The last two years this plaque has been won by HCRA members. =
Dave,
KB1MU in 2002 and Dave, AA1MM in 2003. I understand that a few of our
members will be competing for the honor this year, among them Mike, =
KB1FWN
and myself. I'm sure there will be others.

And of course spring Hosstraders will be going strong starting this
afternoon. Looks like the first year in a long time that both days of
Hosstraders will have great weather. I'm off to there, hopefully I'll =
see
lots of HCRA members up there too!

'73 and see you on the air for NEQP,

Jim, KK1W