[PaQSO] TIPS FOR OUT OF STATE OPERATION IN PAQP

[Jimk8mr@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/19/2002 7:20:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
MORSENUT@aol.com writes:


> 
> 1.  Do you find that calling CQ is effective or do you rely on S and P?
> 

On SSB, yes.  Don't try doing if for hours on end, but moderate amounts from 
out of state are worth it.  I don't think CQing from out of state is 
especially effective on CW,

> 2.  Judging from last year's out-of-state standings, it seems like the top
>      scoring stations run about 1/3 CW and 2/3 SSB.  Is this the norm?

I'd say so.

  Or
> have there been years when a station using only CW has placed in the
>      top 5 out-of-state stations? 


I doubt it.  There are too many "casual" PaQPers who show up on SSB only, and 
these are likely to include a number of counties that won't be found on CW. 
Or if those counties are on CW it will be only a very short visit by a 
mobile.

> 
> 3.  Is there much activity on 160 meters, SSB and CW?
> 
Some.  Worth a shot, vs. listening to the same old guys on 80.



> I know that the answers to the above depend on how good your signal is into 
> PA, the power you're running, your QTH, and so on....still I wonder if 
> there 
> is any consensus among out-of-state ops regarding the above, given station 
> location, effectiveness of antennas, and so on.
> 
> I will be operating from SNJ using 100 Watts into a triband sloper for 160, 
> 
> 80, and 40 meters.  This antenna puts a good high angle radiated signal 
> into 
> PA
> on those bands  (maybe a minor lobe of low angle radiation....but it seems 
> best on short haul,,no surprizes there)....not the best on 160 but 
> certainly 
> a decent signal for short haul work.  I will also have a 5 element 
> tribander 
> at 60 feet for 20, 15, and 10....but since PA is so close to SNJ, I am not 
> regarding this as a strength, save for perahps very short skip on 20 meters 
> 
> into the farther flung areas of the state..even here, the major lobe is too 
> 
> low to the horizon to be of great benefit...not to mention that PAQP does 
> not 
> seem to be a high band contest from the outset.
> 

It sounds like your signal will be good enough, just the bands have to 
cooperate. (In this year's OQP a solar flare 10 hours before left 40 meters 
in such shape that QSOs within OH were very tough - so bad I don't think any 
mobiles worked any other mobiles, except for two cases when they ran into 
each other for eyeball qsos as well).  But with normal conditions you will be 
OK.

How far from PA will you be? 5 miles or 100?  If you're close enough, you 
should be able to work some guys on ground wave on the high bands.  If the 
bands are in good condition to some distant points, you might be able to work 
the bigger stations/better operators on backscatter.   FWIW I  worked KC3M 
last year a number of times from 100+ miles on both 20 & 15 CW.

Skip short enough to work PA guys (with good signals) on 20 will be unlikely 
though not impossible. 

Keep track of the mobiles!  From their numbers you can estimate how long 
they've been in a county, and how long it likely will be until they enter a 
new one.  

SNJ is probably too close to PA to be an idea QTH - I'd say places like MA, 
NC, or IN would be better. (Better shot at decent 20 meter stuff.) But, you 
gotta do what you gotta do, so do it and have fun!


73   -   Jim   K8MR



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