[ILQSO] ILQP-out of state perspective

[John Geiger]

Finally getting around to writing up a summary of the contest from how it appeared in Oklahoma.  This was one of those times that everything (almost) came together for a contest.  The XYL took my daughter and her friend up to the Oklahoma City Amusement park (Frontier CIty) for the day, so I was unsupervised for the entire contest.  Propagation was good on 20 and 40, and ok on 80.  The noise that sometimes appears from somewhere in the neighborhood wasn't present for the entire contest.  Only downside at all was that I installed a 250hz filter in my Icom 706MKIIG and I don't really like how it sounds.  Guess I will go back to a 500hz filter.  That is sure a good position to be in-the only contest problem is the sound of a filter that you get used to.

As said, 20 was in great shape for the contest.  Signals were there for almost the entire contest on that band.  I saw some spots on 15m and went up there but had no propagation to IL.  The mobile activity was great!  I only remember 4 mobiles: KF9D, N9JF, KJ9C, and W9MSE but you guys sure covered a lot of counties.  I don't know what KF9D is running but his signal is unreal for a mobile station.  

There were quite a few portable stations who gave out some rare counties as well. I have noticed more stations going to this option as gas prices go up.  I also have missed 4 corner stations at 2 old standbys: OGLE/WBGO/DEKB/BOON and WILL/DUPG/KANE/KEND.  I wonder if these locations are no longer accessible.

40m opened up into Illinois about the usual time-mid afternoon.  80 never had great propagation and I didn't notice a lot of activity up there, but sure appreciate the QSOs I did make up there.  

I missed some counties I can usually count on: WBGO (heard W9MSE there at the start), ROCK, MRCR, WARR.  I know N9JF was mobile in those last 2 but missed him there.  At least I worked DUPG.  I have missed that in a couple of ILQPs and that has to be one of the most populated counties in IL.  Glad I caught W9MSE right at the end of the contest in BOON.  

I worked 87 counties total, which I think is my best ever.  The top 10 stats has me working 90 multipliers in 2002-the year I won the out of state plaque as NE0P.  However, I think some of those were the 8 QSO per county mults that we used to have.  I wonder what the record is for most counties worked in 1 ILQP-maybe that can be added to the top 10 page.

I think this was my 2nd best score ever!  Even more than that, it was a lot of fun.  Can't wait until next year.  Setup here was an Icom 706MKIIG at 100 watts and a homebrew G5RV type antenna. Need to get a small beam up again before next year.

Don't forget, the Oklahoma QSO party is less than 6 months away!  I am threatening to go mobile for it this year!

73 John AF5CC