[NLRS] Minnesota QSO Party

[jcplatt1 at mmm.com]

Hello NLRS Land.

The 10th annual Minnesota QSO Party will be held on Saturday, February 2,
from 8:00 am (1400z) to 6:00 pm (2400z).    This contest is sponsord by the
Minnesota Wireless Association - one of two clubs that I belong to (anyone
want to guess what the other one is ?)    The World works Minnesota
stations, Minnesota stations work the World (including other MN stations).
Minnesota based stations send their first name and MN county .... for
example "Jon, Hennepin".   Stations outside Minnesota send their first name
and their State/Province, or for DX their Country.    A mobile (or
portable) that moves to a new county can be worked again much like a rover
who moves to a new grid.   Mobiles sign their calls with what county they
are in.  For example, "W0ZQ/m Hennepin", or on CW "W0ZQ/HEN".    Oh ya,
mobiles are encourage (but not required) to have an operator and a driver -
there is no limit on the number of operators - this is for safety (and
fun).

Full rules, including free logging tools and the proper three letter county
designators (for CW) can be found at http://www.w0aa.org/mnqp.htm .   The
contest offers a VHF category as well as a HF QRP and Low Power class.
Last year the Single Op HF SSB ONLY class was added and we had quite a few
people enjoy this new class (no CW).

The Minnesota QSO Party also has a fleet of HF rovers.  Because generating
a good HF signal from a mobile station is difficult, the bulk of the mobile
activity does occur on CW.   This year nine mobiles, including your author,
have plans to operate in the HF mobile class.   Because each county is a
multiplier big pile-ups occur at each stop.    As both a VHFer and a HF
contester, I can tell you without a doubt that operating this contest as a
mobile is some of the most fun that I have had in this sport .... it is a
real hoot.    Because the World is looking for Minnesota stations, you need
to call "CQ MNQP" .... on SSB for example it would be "CQ CQ Minnesota QSO
Party, W0ZQ/m Hennepin" or on CW it would be "CQ CQ MNQP W0ZQ/HEN".

In summary, I encourage all NLRS members to be active on Feb 2.   Pick your
operating class, VHF and/or HF (you can submit two logs if you want - one
for the VHF category and one for the HF).   Please make sure to indicate
NLRS on your logs ..... last year we placed third in MN, pretty good
considering most of our club members are not HFers.   If you have any
interest at all in trying HF mobile contesting, this is THE contest to give
it a try.   Mag mount hamsticks, connecting your HF rig to +12 vdc via
Powerpoles, and paper logging are pretty cheap and easy and I can guaranty
you that you will have fun.

If you have not already, check out last years MnQP results with a nice
write-up at http://www.w0aa.org/PDF/MNQP_RESULTS_2007.pdf  .   Mark Feb 2
in your calendar.   Anyone else going to give HF mobile contesting a try ?
If anyone has any questions, or needs any help, ask.

73, Jon
W0ZQ