[PaQSO] KA3QLF/M log submitted

[ka3qlf at comcast.net]

Finally, was able to figure out the scoring algorithm's, bonus qso tracking, and filling the 32 summary sheets as required for submission. For those who don;t want to read a story, KA3QLF/M submitted 1002 qso's , (918 CW, 84 Phone) and a grand total of 104 Mults (53 PA counties, 50 sections, 1 DX ), along with 8 qso's with K3MJW (either in WES or ALL, never heard K3MJW/FAY), and 31 counties activated(Made the necessary 10 in each of them) for a grand total of 216,780 points. 



After working with the KQX group since 2006, as part of the N3KAE Multi Multi Team, and having played as the bonus station in the 2009 PQP with them, I decided that 2010 was the year to attempt the PQP mobile.  I have been active as a mobile contester in the now defunct Mid Atlantic qso party, and the past 2 MARAC US Counties qso parties, as well as having transmitted as a mobile from over 160 unique counties in the USA (out of 3077 overall) on the various County Hunter Nets, I wasn't new to mobile operating. What was new was an incredible upgrade to the mobile antenna system (from hamsticks on tri mag mounts , meaning only 2 bands mounted at one time) to a Hustler resonator system. After some inquiries, phone calls, email trading with some long time county hunters, who thrive on ever improving their mobile operation setups, and some experimentation, my Father, and Elmer , NX3Y and I created a multi resonator hub, which would allow us to have the potential of 5 bands mounted at once. (80 or 75, 40, 20, 15, and 10M)  Already, things were looking up from previous runs. 4 hours later, we had the resonators tuned to near perfection for the suggested freqs of the PQP . (Note: there is a 75M resonator for SSB , and an 80M resonator for CW).  All the while, the reflector was buzzing with activity, other mobiles and portables were posting their trips, and the counties of PA were filling in with activity. 





The original trip plan was for me to be solo.  This meant operation only while stopped, hence the original posting of right around 20 counties. Dad, NX3Y decided he would "tag along, and drive me around a bit"  What a relief!! This opened the door for so many possibilities. constant operation, many additional counties to run from, but rut ro , we had less than a week to re finalize everything!  A few nights at the dining room table, maps, mapping software, hashing back and forth whether to hit more counties, or to spend more time in some counties, but run less, we finally decided on a suggested route. For Saturday! only!  We both agreed not to fully plan Sunday, so that we could analyze the "needs list" which many posted on the reflector. 



Finally it was Saturday. We embarked on our venture at 845 AM, heading for Adams county to start the contest. A simple 2 and a half hour drive, meaning we would have 45 minutes to eat, and complete the antenna installation  HA!!  Lesson learned #3..never trust I-81 to be moving in a timely fashion. Hence the 15 minutes late we started. I could not believe the pileup from Adams county.  Nor could I believe 40M was cooperating, I was hearing well all of PA, and the Eastern half of the US.  20M for me on day one was nearly a bust though. no matter the length of time I called CQ , I never really got a run going. Sunday, 20M  wasn't much better, either..but it was better.  As we traveled through our list of counties, one thing was becoming more and more clear to me...for next year, we need to plan a bit more time in each county. In some of the first few counties I never got a chance to try a band other than 40M, let alone SSB . 



By the time we pulled into the driveway Sat night (Sunday AM) there were 750+ qso's in the log. Both dad and I were extremely exhausted, yet were very eager for 9am Sunday to come rolling in. A quick check of the emails, Facebook , etc and seeing the sweep needs, we determined that the only "rare" one we could catch is Wayne County. We, as well as W3USA/M, and W3DYA/M had already been through NUM . The decision was made, that we would start the contest from home ( Lackawanna County) and head to Wayne, and southeast from there. A good deal of time was spent in Wayne County. We found a quiet place to run, so ran it on 40CW, 80CW, then swapped to 40SSB.  I was working my way up the band, found W3BC, and we made the qso .  A short discussion occurred on how rare and needed Wayne was, and W3BC thought it best to relinquish his run freq to allow the mobile a clear SSB freq so others can work towards the sweep.  Chances are, if you worked KA3QLF/M on 40SSB from Wayne, PA it was due to this unselfish act by W3BC, who is my Kudos of the contest award winner. (I have always liked the way PQP participants do not even combat when someone  breaks in to work a new county they had heard, no matter who had the run freq) 



Now the contest is history, we no longer can be considered rookies at PQP mobile.  We certainly learned a whole lot, and the driver is already excited for PQP2011. Barring any unforeseen instances, KA3QLF/M will be out in force again in PQP2011.  Looking back, there are far more highlights than low lights . I would like to thank each of the individuals who followed the mobiles as we traveled around the state, without  you, it would n't be as much fun. I"ll be looking for each of you in the pileups, Nov Sweepstakes is right around the corner, as is the ARRL 160M, and 10M contests. 



Best 73--Scott, KA3QLF Op of KA3QLF/M in PQP2010