[HCRA] NEQP this weekend!

[Jim Mullen]

OK gang, the New England QSO Party starts this weekend at 4:00 PM local
(EDT) time. This is a fun contest where YOU are the fat... er - DX! Get on
the air and stations will be calling you for a change! This is an HF event
operating on the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Looking to either start
or complete your Worked All States award? This is the weekend for you. All
the amateurs in the 44 states outside of New England will be on the air and
looking for a contact. They're trying to work all 67 New England counties
and you'll be the ones providing the fun. There's a lobster dinner hanging
in the balance for the winner and they get pretty excited about that!
 
You can read all about the contest, rules, past history, etc. at:
http://neqp.org/index.html. HCRA is a strong supporter of NEQP, both with
activity and sponsoring a beautiful plaque each year. The plaque by the way
is for high score, single operator, in Hampden County. It's been won by an
HCRA member I think every year.
 
This year I know, or have heard, of quite a few of our members that will be
on the air. Both of our club callsigns will be active. W1NY will be QRV from
Ed's/KB1NWH's QTH and is open to anyone that wants to visit. WB1Z will be
QRV from KK1W's QTH (hey, that's me!). Frandy/N1FJ and Matt/W1MSW will be
heading up to a rare county in VT to run a portable operation. Others that
may be on are KB1MU, N1MUV, KC1V, WB1DBY, N0HI and I'm sure a few more. Take
a break from the yard work this afternoon, get on the air and have some fun!
There's even some sunspots gracing the solar disc today, solar flux is up
and the A & K indices are still low.
 
Hours of the contest today are 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM (Sunday morning) then from
again from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sunday. Enough time to make it fun, not so
long as it seems like a job!
 
'73, get on the air, have some fun and make the weekend exciting for those
that don't live in New England!
 
Jim, KK1W