[ILQSO] iLQP and SSB activity

[Louis Elrod]

It could have been my impression, but I felt like if I didn't work CW, I was missing a good chunk of the counties operating ILQP. I'm really green calling CQ and working pile ups. I'm in a county that usually doesn't get a lot of hams operating(mostly portable/mobile), but I've worked ILQP the last few years and got put on the map this year. I've always had a good time.
This year about 1/3 of my contacts were CW. If I worked, tried to work you, or you got frustrated trying to make a contact with me my apologies. I'm pretty green doing CW. ILQP is only the second time ever I've called CQ in a contest. I did it last year on CQ WW last year... I totally regretted it! Hopefully I'll get there with more practice. At any rate it was good to work some people I met at SMC fest. I'm somewhat new to SMC and it was the first time I went to SMC fest! I was pretty excited and hope to do it again next year!

POTA is huge! I try to operate POTA as much as possible, unfortunately I don't always have the time. I've found it a great way to practice operating skills. I often take a QRP rig out in the field and a very basic wire/ham stick antenna and can have fun for hours on end and work contacts all over the place! It's a great community of people too! Lots of online help, lots of guys experimenting with antennas and gear! POTA was absolutely one of the reasons I got into the radio! I've gotten into many aspects of the hobby, but POTA was a huge draw!

73 Louis/N9ATF
________________________________
From: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net <ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Chuck Schneebeli via ILQSO <ilqso at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2026 6:15 PM
To: Illinois QSO Party <ilqso at mailman.qth.net>; SMC reflector <smc at w9smc.com>
Subject: [ILQSO] iLQP and SSB activity

Hi all,

I normally make a few SSB q's on ILQP, but run back to cw when they dry up.
This year it seemed there was alot more SSB activity, especially on 20.
During a small run, one guy recognized my call from activating a few POTA
parks...we chatted a minute and he said he's never done any contests, just
POTA and some FT8 stuff. He said he made like 45 contacts with IL and was
having blast because according to him, its like POTA on steroids... Lol!

I did talk him into playing in CQWW and especially SS phone, which he said
he was going to research SS on youtube!

I ended having a couple other guys call that recognized me, and, several
new calls/obviously newer hams.

Makes me wonder if POTA means more than we contesters think for a pool of
new hams to get on?

73 Chuck KI9A
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