[ILQSO] activity map and a few tips

[w9dp at w9dp.us]

The latest planned activity map is available for viewing. It can be seen at;

https://w9awe.org/ilqp/

if you have not done so already, read the rules and the FAQ, update your
logging software and do a dry run of your station so you are less likely to
have a hitch Sunday. Make a special note of the list of the county
abbreviations, using the incorrect abbreviation may lead to loss of a QSO
and possibly a multiplier.

Fixed stations, please spot other stations operating the ILQP (with an extra
emphasis on the mobile and rover stations) and include their county in your
spot. Including the county will help the mobile and will help those looking
for the mobiles to know if that particular mobile is in a new county. If you
use the W6RK site, it will want you to include the state and county but
other networks are not so helpful.

Many (most) mobiles will include their county when they call CQ, ex.,
N9JF/BROW.

When you are calling CQ and working a pileup, remember to listen for the
mobiles as they will most likely be very week. You can simply ask everyone
to stand by for a minute and ask for mobiles only (or DX or even a portable
station). You may be surprised.

For those that find their logging software is showing mobile, rover or
portable stations as a dupe, most logging software will allow you to log a
station a second, third or more times if you log the station with /R or /P
after the call sign.  

Some logging software will allow you to list multiple counties in one QSO
entry, such as N1MM and Writelog, probably others. Some software will
require you to log each county as a separate QSO entry. Knowing this ahead
of time will save you some headache and maybe a couple of busted QSO's.

If anyone has any other tips that can be helpful, please feel free to chime
in.

Danny W9DP