1 2011 Indiana QSO Party Mel Crichton KJ

1 2011 Indiana QSO Party Mel Crichton KJ 9 C

2 What is a QSO Party? • Short operating event – 8 hours to 2 days (IN QP is 12 hours) • Theme – Geographic – state, call area – Club QP – FISTS, QCWA, FOC • Usually scored like a contest – Contact points – Multipliers (states, DX, counties) – Re-Work mobiles after they change counties

3 What state parties? • Almost every state has one – in every month of the year • Also regional parties – W 7 QP, New England QP, etc. • Indiana QSO Party (INQP) is first Saturday in May (May 7, 2011) – 160 -10 meters (no WARC), SSB & CW

4 What activity is planned? • Most QPs have a web page & reflector – E-Mail plans, questions, discuss and brag – Activity map or list • INQP has both: – Info & sign up at www. hdxcc. org/inqp

5 Why do IN QP? • Be the target of a pileup (feels like being DX) – Rare county or on a county line = REALLY busy! • Shake down your mobile/portable station • • – Test the Field Day setup – Test emergency equipment under 12 hour load Improve contest & message handling skills Improve CW skills or get over mic. fright Fill the log – can make MANY QSOs in 12 hrs Prizes

6 PRIZES? • • • Certificates for notable effort Certificate for Bison Stampede station Plaques for top scores in INQP Worked All States, USACA awards Worked All Indiana Award

7 Worked All Indiana • Info at www. hdxcc. org/wai • QSL 60 of the 92 counties – Cards or INQP log confirmation

8 IN QP Prizes ? • 2011 Plaques for top scores in: – – – – HP, LP single op fixed stations Indiana HP, LP out of state Top multi-operator (M/S and M/M) entry from Indiana QRP overall Indiana mobile Indiana portable Indiana Rover Top W 1 and W 7 entries • CLUB AGGREGATE plaque (sponsor IRCC) – 3 or more club members participate – see rules • Certificate for county winner - possible • Certificate for W 9 UUU Bison Stampede stn

9 2010 INQP plaque winners • • • • FIRST PLACE INDIANA, PORTABLE N 9 FN/Portable FIRST PLACE INDIANA SO, HP K 9 NN FIRST PLACE INDIANA SO, LP K 9 WX FIRST PLACE INDIANA MOBILE KJ 9 C/m FIRST PLACE INDIANA ROVER WN 9 O FIRST PLACE INDIANA MULTI-OP AK 9 F FIRST PLACE HP OUTSIDE INDIANA N 8 II FIRST PLACE LP OUTSIDE INDIANA WA 3 HAE TOP QRP SCORE OVERALL W 9 ILF TOP SCORE FROM W 7 N 6 MA TOP SCORE FROM New England AA 1 KS CLUB AGGREGATE Lafayette DX Association TOP BLACK HOLE (SPECIAL PLAQUE*) KB 9 OWD * + LOTS of certificates IF WE CAN SCORE IT EASILY, YOU CAN SPONSOR A PLAQUE FOR WHATEVER

10 2010 IN QP • • • 228 logs submitted (A RECORD) All 92 counties on with at least one stn. At least 137 IN stations on the air Top score was 310, 871 (WN 9 O/r) Results are posted on website – www. hdxcc. org/inqp

11 What skills do I need? • One or both of 2 modes: – INQP is 160 -10, SSB and CW • The desire to make contacts – Butt in chair up to 12 hours • Ability to keep a legible log (more later)

12 My Station? • Always HF activity in a QSO party – 40 meters most popular (local and DX QSOs) • Rig, antennas, logging means – Fixed station – 100 watts and low dipole : 80, 40, 20 • 10 -15 may be busy in 2011 – Mobile – 20 -40 -80 and CW are advantage – Portable/Rover – good antennas are a plus • Operators – Tech’s operate SSB on some HF bands or guest/club operate on all bands

13 N 9 FN/p

14 Logging? • Indiana accepts handwritten logs – Manual re-entry is required, meaning…. . – Error potential = loss of score • Prefer computer-generated data files via e -mail – Accuracy guaranteed, easier to score – Cabrillo format advised, but not required in Indiana – Most logging programs create acceptable entry files • TR, Write. Log, NA, N 3 FJP, LOGic, CQ/X • N 1 MM is free, works for many state and club QP’s – An Excel data base works, too. • At least: Date-time-band-mode- station worked-his QTH

15 Scoring? • No need to score the contest – Log checker does that anyway – You can calculate unofficial CLAIMED score • How about INQP weekend with FOUR* QPs going on at once? – Generate ONE log, let the log checker throw out the QSOs that do not apply – Microsoft Excel works pretty well for this – Logging program in GENERAL QSO mode * INQP, 7 QP, NEQP and now W-zero land QP

16 Mobiles* always welcome • 12 volt radio and reliable battery • $15 Hamstick - or more $$$ antenna • Computer log on laptop – easier than paper, especially on the move • A map and a PLAN • Options to make life easier: – GPS and mapping software (aero mobile? ) – Driver (or a pilot) = safety * And ROVERS with bigger antennas

17 How high can I score? • Fixed stations – – HP 900 QSOs - LP 500 QSOs • Portable – HP 1200+ QSOs (county line = x 2) – LP 400 QSOs (one county) • Mobile – 100 watts - 600 QSOs • Club – over 350 K points- easy target!!! • RECORDS FOR EACH COUNTY BY CLASS – On INQP web page

18 Don’t think about winning Think about: -Making Indiana heard -Improving your skills -Improving your station -Having FUN!

19 What can I do now? • Visit the INQP website • Subscribe to the Yahoo INQP reflector – Option-Hourly, daily or weekly updates • Look at the Operating Tips in the INQP Publicity Package on the INQP website

20 Rule changes 2011 • No 1 x 1 call award (N 9 I, N 9 N, N 9 Q, N 9 P) • Suggested frequencies changed – Phone lower in band, mobile CW windows • INQP QSOs count for WAI w/o QSL card – Other station’s log must confirm • Added a <ULTI-MULTI class • Multi-operator, multi-signals

21 Rover? • Can be a mobile that stops to erect temporary antennas (antennas may be set up day before) • Can be a “Field Day” setup that changes locations (new county, can be worked again) • Mobile = Antennas must be usable while traveling (land, air, water) but may park 100% • Portable = One location only, temporary setup (Field Day style)

22 May 7, 2011 1600 -0400 UTC • Make plans to be on from home – (invite guest ops) • Spot the mobiles and rovers!!! – (But be careful how you use spotting network) • Take it on the road yourself: – Mobile – in 3 -20 counties. Sit on a line for double points (and be a double multiplier). – As a portable (or Rover) (get landowner’s OK) – Find a county where you can set a new record (INQP records are on the website) – Prepare for the pileups

23 QUESTIONS ? ? ? Mel KJ 9 C- kj 9 c@iquest. net Mark WB 9 CIF markmusick@sbcglobal. net