[ILQSO] more hints and final Activity List

[Jim Funk]

Hey troops,

Things are looking good for Sunday.  Okay, we might get a few sprinkles, but what the heck?  Could this be the year that someone works all 102 counties in 8 hours???

Looking at the activity list, I'd say that most counties should be workable with a serious effort (in other words, you might have to concentrate on ILQP instead of NFL football), but only if you're willing to work both modes.  Most of the mobiles will be primarily on CW.  That means that to snag a county that is being run only by a mobile (and that would include CARR, CASS, CRAW, DEWT, DOUG, EDGR, HNDR, JODA, MACN, MASN, MSSC, MCDN, MNRD, MRCR, OGLE, PIAT, PUTN, STAR, VERM, WARR, and WILL) dust off the key!  There are a few that will probably NOT be on CW:  JERS?  MNRO?  PERR?  RAND?  I haven't kept track well enough of who is going to be on what mode.  Maybe next year....

If CW is not your thing but you are willing to give it a shot, if the station running is buzzing along at 25 wpm and no one else is calling, throw in a slow "dididahdahdidit".  If I hear you, I will slow down or at least put a LOT of space between letters in order to get you in the log!   You have nothing to lose but the county multiplier by doing this!

If you are at home and have 2 meter FM available, keep it tuned to 146.55.  Some will show up there occasionally and throw out a quick CQ.  You may be surprised at how many counties you can pick up that way!

Don't forget to check 80 and 75 meters starting mid-afternoon.  I don't expect to work anyone within 200 miles on 40 meters after 4 pm.  The band has been going really long very early in the day.  That's going to make it tough to pick up counties on anything but 80 and 75.

I'll post the "final" Activity List later today or early tomorrow. Keep those plans coming!

73, Jim N9JF