[PaQSO] PRTC: A Thought for 2004

Wed, 15 Oct 2003 16:02:18 -0400

This is an entirely different concept from what I was thinking of.  Never
mind that it is most unlikely that the FCC would even entertain the notion
of issuing calls like this today, or that you could find anyone willing to
front $1000 per group/per county for entry fees.

The original idea revolved around the notion of getting two person teams to
compete against each other, each using relatively similar stations (thus 100
Watts and simple wire antennas), within the contest -- that's the part
"borrowed" from WRTC.  This proposal from John, if serious, is of an
entirely different level.  I don't see it as feasible.

73, ron wn3vaw

"Gentlemen!  You can't fight in here!  This is the WAR Room!"

----- Original Message -----
From: "John's Travel and Cruises" <[email protected]>
To: "Pa QSO Party Reflector" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 12:06 AM
Subject: Re: [PaQSO] PRTC: A Thought for 2004

PRTC is an interesting concept but would require a lot of work
to make it successful.  For WRTC, participants were willing to
spend a lot of money, travel a great distance, and use up a lot
of vacation.  I don't think you would get that kind of support
for a state contest.

My suggestion would be to change it from a contest in a contest
to something more on the lines of the Texas Amarillo Run, Route
66 Operation or Lighthouse Operation  (sorry if I messed up the
official names).  The whole idea would be to get (more) stations
on the air for the PAQP and to insure that each county is on the
air full time.  It could work something like this:

There would be 67 special call signs on the air from the 67 PA
counties.  Something like N01PA - N67PA.  These could be
the bonus stations for the year if the people at NARC wanted
it.

Clubs or individuals could apply but only one special call
in each county.  All operation could be from one station
or divided up between several.  A neat two station operation
would be one on CW and one on Phone. If they were from
different QTH's, they could both be on the same band at the
same time. Operations could be from fixed or portable stations.

The idea being to get good signals/antennas on the air and make
it easy for the normal participates to get a sweep.  Think of the
possibilities:
Normal sweep  - 67 counties mixed
Double sweep  - 67 counties on both CW and Phone
Double Double - 67 counties on both CW and Phone on 2 bands

To make sure that the people that request the special calls do a
bang up job I would suggest a 1st round application fee of $1,000.
If they make 1,000 contacts they get all the money back after the
contest.  If they only make 900 Q's then $100 goes into the kitty
for awards.  By having money on the line, it should insure that they
have enough stations/operators to get the job done.  One more
thing, at least 1/3 of the Q's must be on CW!

If any counties remain open after the first round, a $750/750 Qs
application would be accepted.  If needed, this would probably
go to some of the rare counties that would be activated by portable
stations.

Think of the activity if the special calls in 67 counties each made
1,000 QSO's.  You are looking at 67,000 contacts on top of
the normal contacts made by the other participations.

The special calls wouldn't be eligible for awards or the free
sweep plaques.

Organizing this type of an operation wouldn't be too hard for
a club.  It would basically be four things:

        1.  Applying for and assigning the 67 special calls

        2.  Processing the applications by a fair distribution system

        3.  Lots of press and PR so the world knows about the special
             event (and free plaques), taking place during the next PAQP

        4.  Sending out plaques for all the sweeps.

Actually, there is actually a 5th thing to do.  Obtaining a 6, 9, or
12 month Certificate of Deposit to invest the $67,000 until it needs
to be returned.  That interest would cover the free plaques for
anyone completing a "Double" or a "Double Double".  Anyone
making a regular sweep would have to pay for their plaque as
it could probably be done in about 90 minutes with this type
of an operation.

What I've tried to come up with is an activity that would run
concurrent with the regular contest that wouldn't require any
additional work from the NARC crew.  It actually would
save them work as they wouldn't have to deal with the
sweep plaques.  They would just have to let it be known who
earned what level plaque so they could be sent out.

Comments and suggestions from the multitude are welcome.
Please keep in mind that this is only one persons suggestion
being tossed out to test the waters.

John Getz, AD8J

_______________________________________________
PaQSO mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/paqso