[NLRS] 2011 MnQP - Warming up the spreadsheets

[w0zq at aol.com]

Hello NLRS -

This is a cross post from the Minnesota Wireless Association (MWA) reflector.  If you have no interest in HF or in the Minnesota QSO Party (MnQP), please delete this email now.

Attached below is a note from Bob, K0RC describing the nice work that Pat, K0PC, has done with the MWA website in support of the upcoming MnQP.  Although its not VHF, it is fun stuff ..... fun MN stuff - check it out.  If you plan to be active during the MnQP and want to add your call to the "Counties Active" list as described below, drop a note to Pat at k0pc at arrl.net with your call and MN county.

73, Jon
W0ZQ


-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Chudek - K0RC <robert.chudek at gmail.com>
To: Minnesota Wireless Association <mwa at w0aa.org>; CQ-Contest at contesting.com <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thu, Jan 20, 2011 9:52 pm
Subject: [MWA] 2011 MnQP - Warming up the spreadsheets


Contesters... 
 
There's a little more than 2 weeks before the next great adventure rolls out from a dozen frozen Minnesota driveways. If you haven't heard... it's the *2011 Minnesota QSO Party*! 
 
Our webmaster, Pat Cahill, KØPC has been very busy bringing a new tool to the MWA website. If you haven't visited this page: http://www.w0aa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=31 you should take a few minutes to take a look. This is leading edge technology, folks! 
 
Here's a quick overview: 
 
Click the link above and you will be directed to a color coded map of Minnesota which shows all the county boundaries. The different colors represent "levels of activity" expected from each county. A red colored county will alert you that only ONE station will be active. Extra effort should be placed on getting that county QSO in your log. To the right you will find the color coding legend for expected activity. 
 
Next, if you click on a county, a blue one for example, an info window will pop up showing the county name, its 3-letter abbreviation, and the list of stations expected in that county. In addition, you will see what modes will be active, and the begin & finish times listed to the right of each callsign. This information was provided by each MnQP station and represents their best estimate plan. This information window lists both fixed and mobile stations. 
 
But wait... THERE'S MORE!!! 
 
To the right side of the map is a menu with callsigns of the mobile stations who have reported their routes. Clicking one or more of the check boxes will produce colored routes on the map! You can zoom into any area by pointing to it and double clicking on the map. 
 
When you scroll to the top of this web page you will see that APRS positions will be updating on this map for those mobile operators who have GPS systems installed. This feature will be turned on before the contest, possibly Friday night. 
 
Pat has spent many hours working through the intricacies of the website development, Google map customization, and integrating APRS into this new tool. Your feedback is welcomed. 
 
The Minnesota Wireless Association hopes you find this new tool innovative, fun and helpful. But most of all... turn on those radios and give us a call! 
 
*Minnesota QSO Party 
5-Feb-2011, Saturday 
1400 ~ 2400 UTC* 
 
73 de Bob - KØRC in MN 
 
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