[PaQSO] Changes to PA QSO Party

[Page PYNE]

Hello All:
   
       I thought I would weigh in on a couple of the issues currently being discussed.
  First let me say I missed my typical 300 or so contacts this year from my Pocket Rocket Mobile because of my Weekend Work Schedule and the party being on the wrong weekend this year. Also good to see that KQ3F and K4UK weighed in.
   
       I'm a past (i.e.: has been) chairman of the Maryland DC QSO Party and over the years we played to a minor degree with rule changes and to see how it affected our smaller contest. Recently we change a major Category from Licensed Based to Frequency Based. That is, we added a VHF-UHF Plaque and eliminated a Novice-TECH Plaque. The amount of hams competing for the new category plaque is only half of what we had before for whatever reason.
   
       We have allowed digital qsos for several years and found darn few stations are even trying for qsos on these modes. Those who did enter, like those stations who may only operate CW or only operate SSB were stations dedicated to the mode and may not have operated much if any on other modes. None ever had a competitive score and no plaque was offered that was mode specific so those operators were there mostly for the record and to show they participated in our activity.
   
       We allow the specialty modes including ATV to be represented if they wish. We do restrict Packet because its too easy for digi-peaters to be involved.
   
       As I see it, the big winners will be the club/multioperator stations who have an operator to dedicate to specialty modes. I see little difference for single operator stations as the PA QSO PARTY is large enough to keep a single operator station, fixed or mobile, very busy during the contest anyway. In addition to operator skill, its antennas and locations and propogation that will make the difference anyway. If the PA QSO Party was a lot smaller I would agree the digital issue would come into play more.
   
       Regarding scoring, simpler is often better. I favor a fixed point value for each mode allowed and not to have point values change depending on which band you operate. The hams with the proper antennas and time and who are serious about the contest will be on 75/80 and 160 anyway.
   
       Page   WA3EOP  , usually Pocket Rocket Mobile