[ILQSO] ILQP

[n9jfcountyhunter at gmail.com]

I hope everybody got on for a bit today and worked some NY stations in their
QSO party, and that they will reciprocate!

As for rare counties....

If one checks the Activity Map and Activity List, certain things are
obvious.  You won't maximize your score unless you work both phone and CW,
not only because of the number of contacts but because some counties simply
will not be active on one mode or the other.  For sure, some will be
available ONLY on CW because they will be activated by mobiles who won't
waste time trying to be heard on SSB.  Sorry, but them's da breaks.  I for
one, will probably not CQ on SSB because it just doesn't attract any
attention.  I'll look for stations calling CQ and call them.  I'll keep
track of who hears me easily, and that's the stations I'll call the next
time I change counties.  Favoritism has nothing to do with it.  If I call
you half a dozen times and you CQ in my face, it's not personal; it just
means I'm weak and/or you have a high noise level.  

End of editorial.

Now, to the main question: If we assume for the moment that all of the
portable stations' plans materialize, and if they spend some time CQing, you
should work those counties.  Things get stickier when a county is only
activated by a rover or (especially) a mobile.  The mobiles are spread
pretty thin and will keep moving.  Here are the counties I predict will be
tricky to work (in alphabetical order....):
BROW: It's a small county with a good mobile (K0PC) who may not be there
long.
CARR: N9C has a long route, and I don't expect anyone else to be on from
there.
CHRS: W9EBK: May be only on SSB?
DEWT: AD4EB/M is probably your only shot at this one and probably only on
CW.
EDGR: K9WX/M is probably your only shot in this rather small county and
probably CW.
EDWA: KJ9C/R will hit this one, maybe both modes.
FRNK: N9FUE/P has canceled.  Your only shot is AD4EB/M on CW.
GREE: N9JF/M.  Not a big county, and early in the route, probably won't
linger, and the main road is in a valley.
HNDR: K0PC/M; if he runs it north to south, it's a long county.  If not,
it's a quick one.
JERS:  N9JF/M just barely gets into this one and will have to stop to run it
to do it justice.  It will not be a long stop!
LAWR: KJ9C/R, both modes in a small county.
LOGN: K0PC/M in a small county with a long total route to do.
MARI: AD4EB/M will probably go through on the interstate.  Pay attention!
MSHL: N9JF/M will be here right at the end.  Most of the IL stations will
need to work it on 80 cw!
MNRD: WA9AQN may have to cancel.  N9JF/M will cut through the corner of the
county after CASS.  Won't be there long!
MRCR: K0PC/M in a small county....
MNRO: K9RVE/P.  Both modes or only SSB??
MORG: N9JF/M will just go through the corner of this one after SCOT.  Will
probably stop briefly as long as there are callers.
PIAT: AD4EB/M, probably on interstate through a small county....
SANG: WD9EEK (SSB only?); maybe some others?
SCHY: K0PC/M; mostly CW; N9JF will NOT be in this one due to detour
SCOT: N9JF/M; small county; will probably stop briefly as long as there are
callers
STAR: N9JF/M near the end.  IL stations will probably have to get this one
on 80 CW.
WOOD: KD9ERS/P;  SSB only??

To miss as few of these as possible, watch the map, see if mobiles and
rovers return to a specific frequency (many will), listen for weak ones if
you are CQing, watch W6RK or DX Summit (preferably the former0 for spots and
spot the mobiles!   We'll do the best we can.

73, Jim N9JF