This contest is only on HF, but NLRS actually won the club
competition last year and maybe we can do it again? The contest
runs 8am-6pm Saturday, and a CQ on any open HF band will usually
bring plenty of callers. Check the rules for suggested frequencies:
https://www.w0aa.org/wp-content/docs/mnqp/MNQP_Contest_Rules.pdf
The exchange is Name and County; counties are recorded as a
3-letter abbreviation. On phone, I say "Paul in Ramsey, Romeo Alpha
Mike". For the standard abbreviations, see:
https://www.w0aa.org/wp-content/docs/mnqp/MNQP-MN-Counties.pdf
Stations can be worked once each mode on each band, and mobiles can
be re-worked in each county. It can be great fun to track the
mobiles and see how many times you can work them; many of them keep
to strict schedules which can be found on a spreadsheet on the
website and at:
https://www.w0aa.org/mobile-operations/
There is an interactive map of Minnesota activity at:
https://www.w0aa.org/activity-map/
That page also has a link to an APRS map that will have live
tracking of many of the mobiles.
This is a really well-organized event that draws a lot of activity
every year. Check it out!
73
Paul W0UC