[PaQSO] Thoughts on not taking part in PQP

[Bob Foster]

Hi Everyone,

Hope everyone can agree on one thing: that Mike, KB3EIA, and
the other members of NARC deserve a great deal of praise for
running the PA QSO Party.  Sometimes we don't take the time
to say a big THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!  We should do more of
that.  We do appreciate your efforts to make the PA QSO Party
the best contest in the nation!

Several operators have told us here on 
the reflector that they are no longer interested in the PA
QSO Party because of the addition of RTTY and PSK.  I sincerely
hope they will reconsider their decision to drop out of our
fun contest.

Here is why!

If you recall a few years ago PSK and RTTY were added to the
ARRL Field Day.  This did not produce interference in
the CW bands.  Why?  Because the PSK and RTTY ops are a considerate
group, and they stayed in portions of the bands where they belonged.
Also there was no mass exodus to the new modes of PSK and RTTY. 
There were lots of stations to work on SSB and CW during Field Day.

Just my opinion, but I believe the same thing will happen in 
the PA QSO Party.  So I hope the folks who have told us that 
they are no longer interested in the PA QSO Party due to the 
addition of digital modes will reconsider their decision.

Several operators (KB3EIA included) have told us that they do
not expect many people to operate the PSK and RTTY modes.  I 
expect the same thing, so I would suggest we have special hours
for increased activity on the PSK and RTTY modes.  We already
do this for 10, 15 and 20 meters.  That way, you could QSY to
the 20-meter PSK band segment (around 14.070) for an hour
and find twenty or so stations to work.

Some words about QRP!  I work the contest with 5 watts, 
and PSK is a great mode for the QRPer.  You can work lots of
PSK stations with five watts.  RTTY is another matter; while 
I've worked a few RTTY stations running QRP, it is considerably
more difficult.

Then there is the issue of point values assigned.  We all can come
up with our own versions of what point values will encourage
activity on a particular mode.  While many CW ops have expressed
the hope that Mike will make all CW QSOs worth two points, Mike
has given us his ruling that some CW QSOs will still have a
value of 1.5 points.  We should now support Mike in his ruling,
not complain about it!

By giving us a definite ruling on point values here in December,
it gives the folks who write software to support the 
PA QSO Party time to revise their programs for the new modes.
Some programs (like my favorite, WriteLog) already support
contesting in SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK in a single log, and I
suspect more programs will do so for our PA QSO Party in
October, 2006.  By the way, WriteLog also sends and receives
CW, RTTY and PSK as well as keeping the QSOs separate in the log.

See you all in October from COL working CW QRP (and maybe PSK).

73, Bob, K3QIA
PS - It will not be the same without W3USA/M and the other great
mobile CW ops giving out those multipliers from all those counties!
Please think about operating the PA QSO Party next year!