[NLRS] Minnesota QSO Party

[w0zq at aol.com]

Hello NLRS land

The Minnesota QSO Party will held held on Saturday, February 4, from 8:00 AM CST (1400 UTC) through 6 PM CST (2400 UTC) .   This is a REALLY fun event where the World works Minnesota stations and Minnesota stations work the World.  The contest exchange is very simple.  For Minnesota stations its your first name and your county, like "Jon in Ramsey".   For non-Minnesota stations its their name and their state, like "Mary in New Jersey".   Activity can be found on 160m through VHF and there is a club competition.  Last year the NLRS finished 5th in the club category.

So I have three action items for everyone.

1.  Check out all the AWESOME information about this day long fun event on the MWA website at http://www.w0aa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=9  .   The amount of information you will find there is just awesome and it includes information on who is planing to rove and their APRS information.  There is also a county activity page ..... click on the county to see who will be active there.   There is also a downloadable software logging program as well as paper logs.  Note that most major contest logging programs cover the MnQP.

2.  Please consider operating and sending in a NLRS log.   HF, VHF, or both ... whatever is your pleasure .... the idea is to just get on.   Please note that there is a new fone only category and that fone contacts are now 2 points, same as CW.  The MnQP has grown considerable in its activity over the last ten years with each year showing more logs and higher scores.  It really is a fun laid back event where YOU get to be the DX station.  

3.  If you plan to operate, please send your call and the county that you plan to activate to Pat, K0PC, at k0pc at mchsi.com so that he can add you to the web sites activity page.   

I know that several NLRS members get on and play HF in this event.  W0ZQ and W9FZ both plan to be HF mobile.  Anyone else?  I will put out my rover route when time gets closer .... I hope that other club members will join in the fun either as a fixed station or as a mobile.   If you want to feel the rush of being DX, try going mobile to some of the more rare counties !

If you have any question, just ask.

Happy New Year to NLRS land.   

73, Jon
W0ZQ