[PaQSO] - An Ohio Perspective

[W3HKK@aol.com]

The best propagation in years!  At least sitting here in Ohio ,  85 miles 
from the PA Line, looking in, thats what I saw.  All of Pa pounded in  with 
5x9+10-20 signals on 40M SSB.  All day.  Both days.  What a "field day" for search 
and pouncers like me.

My personal goal, as a single, single Little Gun:   to work as many Pa 
Counties as I could.  On SSB only. On 40 and 75.  In fairly casual operating.  

But with such BIG signals pounding in  every 3 khz across the 40M band, there 
were NO cracks.  I worked county after county  as I S&P'd up and down, up and 
down, spinning the dial, never wanting for long.  40 was SO crowded on Sat, 
that after exhausting all the strong signals, I'd often QRT (ie  to watch 
PSU-Purdue....groan!  etc.)   In the back of my mind I knew  things would settle 
down on Sunday.  And they did,  especially after high noon.  Then I would take 
my crack at calling CQ PA.  

By then many were searching for new stations to work, and my FT-902DM's 
signal - 100 watts to a stealth ( in the trees)  40M horizontal loop at 30 ft - had 
plenty of takers. And, unlike recent  contests, PA signals did not fade close 
to the noise in the afternoon sunshine.  They remained rock solid!  So around 
1 pm Sunday I worked my 67th county...my first ever Pa Clean Sweep. Mission 
accomplished.

Kudos to Allegheny, Berks, Erie, Lehigh, and Centre Counties for strong 
participation levels.  Berks was truly amazing. Seemed that half my contacts were 
there.  Did EVERY  ham in the county  participate?  

Final Observations Comments and Questions:

1. The PAQP  is operated by gentlemen and gentle ladies. Ive never seen 
contest stations  temporarily relinquish the frequency  to let others work a needed 
county.  Ive rarely seen others take the time to inform you where the  
counties youre looking for are operating.  This is a wonderfully harmonious event 
replete with  pleasant surprises.  Even former college roommates from 40 years 
ago  pop up to say Hello.  Talk about...DX!  Hi Norm! 

2. While you can work the same station once per band per mode, its hard for 
me to leave 40m SSB.  I have too much fun there. But if I were to,  when IS the 
 peak  time to be on 160M?  75M?  And for how long?  Is it worth it for a 
single single SSB only entrant?  

3. I take it a couple of  AM'ers on 7293 dont take kindly to that empty 
frequency being used for contesting.  Oh well.....the contest is a bit overwhelming 
for non participants with other plans... or with nothing better to do.

4.  Yes, I often get mistaken for K3HKK!  At one time we BOTH were located in 
the State College!  

5. While the amateur  ranks continue to age, from a dwindling influx of much 
needed youth, our hobby is truly strengthened by the  opportunity to  keep in 
touch with  our roots, be it  old friends, our home state,  or places we hold 
near and dear.  The PAQP embodies all those things, and more. So  Kudos to 
NARC for sponsoring  perhaps the best QSOP of all.   

73
Bob Elek
W3HKK - since 1956
ex: F7AL, 5A3TG, 9G1GS, ON8UD
Twinsburg, OH -Home of the World Famous TwinsFest.
formerly from Philly, Lancaster, State College and Blawnox
Summit County ARES, NODXA, CFARS 


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