[nrv-hams] Everything you need for this weekend VA QSO Party

[Cam Coble]

- What do you mean? That's this weekend?!?!
YES!
- Oh, well, I'm not really prepared... blah, blah, excuse, and blah.
I'm removing excuses, and acting as an enabler... so let's go...

- I don't know when it is...
THIS WEEKEND! 20-21 March;
Saturday: 10 AM to Midnight (Virginia local time) and
Sunday: 8 AM to 8 PM (Virginia local time)

- I don't know where to find people.
“Best” Frequency for Virginia – SSB HF: 3860 MHz (80M) and go up and down.

- But I'm a technician class.
FM VHF: 146.580 (2M) and then go up and down.

- I don't know how to contest.
You know your callsign? Know your County? Can you count from 1?
That's all you need to know. Just listen on the bands for others
calling/answering, find the rhythm, and get in there!

- I can't keep track...
Well, here's a freebie software if you only do 30 contacts (I got the whole
suite because it's great software and we use it for field day anyways).
Go here, find the download for Virginia "In State" (since you live in VA):
https://www.n3fjp.com/stateqsoparty.html

- I can't use that! It's way too complicated!
Learn here (yes, it's the field day version, but it's not that different)
https://youtu.be/DJEIXuoKWqc
Or print out a manual log sheet:
https://www.n4nrv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Virginia_QSO_Party_Log.pdf
- Don't know how to fill out that log sheet.
Sample here:
https://www.n4nrv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Virginia_QSO_Party_Log-sample.pdf

- Don't know my county abbreviation.
https://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2021_VQP/VQP_Counties&Cities.pdf

- There's not enough details here!
Full info on the contest and more information.
https://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2021_VQP/2021_VQP_Main.html

If you STILL need help, maybe we could all do a zoom session sometime
Saturday morning before the contest? Let me know!!!

73!
--
Cam - W4XXV