Mid-Atlantic QSO Party

[KB3LIX]

The Mid-Atlantic QSO Party begins this coming Saturday May 13, 2006 at 1200 UTC and runs until Sunday May 14,
2006 at 2400 UTC.

Exchange for MA States is S/N + County Code + State Code.

Exchange for Non-MA States is S/N & State Code.

Hope to see you in the contest.

(I know what you are thinking....Another #@%$ Contest)

[KI4NGN]

I normally don't participate in contests other than to give points to those participating. And I am new to some of the requirements. Where may state and county codes be located? (Since I am in NC, I will probably be expected to provide that information.)

Thanks,

Mike

[ad5qb]

You can find the rules and downloadable lists of US/Canadian multipliers and counties with their abbreviations here-> Mid-Atlantic QSO Party Website (http://www.maqp.info/rules.htm)

If you're operating from NC, you'll just send a serial number and your state for the exchange, only Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Virgina and West Virginia are considered Mid-Atlantic states for this contest.

Good luck and have fun!

[K3UD]

Are these regional QSO parties slowly replacing the state QSO parties? If so, is it because of declining participation in the state parties?

73
George
K3UD

[KF0RT]

I'll be looking for WV on 80 CW.

73, Rob

[KB3LIX]

Quote[/b] (K3UD @ May 10 2006,08:23)]Are these regional QSO parties slowly replacing the state QSO parties? If so, is it because of declining participation in the state parties?

73
George
K3UD
Can't really answer that, but the Pennsylvania QSO Party is October is ALIVE and WELL !

Had a ball in last years.

[kg4kww]

The third annual Mid-Atlantic QSO Party (MAQP), an old-fashioned QSO Party focused on Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and DC, will from Saturday May 13, 2006 at 1200 UTC until Sunday May 14, 2005 at 2400 UTC. Activity will be on all amateur HF bands from 160 to 10 meters (except WARC) and on the <span style='color:red'>50, 144, 222, and 440 MHz bands.</span>


Hope to hear you all on 144 or 432

[KB3LIX]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ May 10 2006,16:44)]The third annual Mid-Atlantic QSO Party (MAQP), an old-fashioned QSO Party focused on Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and DC, will from Saturday May 13, 2006 at 1200 UTC until Sunday May 14, 2005 at 2400 UTC. Activity will be on all amateur HF bands from 160 to 10 meters (except WARC) and on the <span style='color:red'>50, 144, 222, and 440 MHz bands.</span>


Hope to hear you all on 144 or 432
I'll be too busy on 20-40 & 80 meter phone to mess with 144 & 432, Sorry Charlie !

KF0RT, Rob, If I had a mobile setup, I would drive to West Virginia just to try to work you on CW. I SUCK at CW, and am CHICKEN as can be to try CW, but I would try.
However, I do not have a mobile HF lash up.

The WVa line is only about 8-10 miles WEST of me.

[w8cbc]

I'm looking for Delaware and DC. I'll work the lot of you and maybe those two will pop up.

KF0RT - Lloyd in WV, I forgot his call (ab8something), is often at or near 3720 kc. We've worn out a few old socks there.

[w4rot]

Hope to get ya and not mess up your call.
You can't suck at cw worse than me, brother.
Always enjoy hearing you on Fridays
Big Sig from you man.
Have Fun Bill!
w4rot

[KF0RT]

Thanks for the WV tips... I don't figure it will be much of a problem. If not MAQP, there will be other opportunities.

Assuming I get cards from the NEQP, I'm down to 5 states for the 5BWAS I started in 1970 (do I get a prize for taking forever?).

Down to AK, AR, RI and WV on 80 and AK on 40. I've never had much of an antenna on the lower bands, so CW is the "mode of choice."

73, Rob

[w8cbc]

Lloyd is ab8ks - he's made 80-metre Centurion.

3720 (the main SKCC freq) and 3530 (the alt) would be your best bets. +/-5 of course, depending.

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (kd8bsr @ May 10 2006,18:56)]Lloyd is ab8ks - he's made 80-metre Centurion.

3720 (the main SKCC freq) and 3530 (the alt) would be your best bets. +/-5 of course, depending.
I'll listen for Lloyd - thanks!

Got my 6BTV tuned for the contest end of the CW band right now -- it's time to hook up the Drake MN-4 and see if that will let me tune it to the SKCC frequencies.

73, Rob
SKCC #13

[N8CPA]

During regional QP's I like to see if I can work all same name counties in all the participating states.

I think the toughest QP I try to work is my home state. It's held at a fairly dead time of year, August. Just the fact that it's happening seems to invoke BPD--Buckeye Propagation Doldrums. CDX for the weekend preceding and following will be okay, but never the 4th weekend of August.

I think my favorites are the CQP and PQP. They happen at a time of the year when CDX is transitioning from somewhat cool to mostly warm. And they are great for discovering any antenna gremlins ready to rain on your SS parade.

[kg4kww]

Rob (KF0RT) I fully expect to hear you on <span style='color:red'>50, 144, 222, and 440 MHz bands.</span> like the good cult member you are.

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ May 11 2006,10:29)]Rob (KF0RT) I fully expect to hear you on <span style='color:red'>50, 144, 222, and 440 MHz bands.</span> like the good cult member you are.

You stalking me, bud? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

You'll hear me on 6 meters if it ever opens up. I love 6 meter SSB and am tuned to 50.125 right now. All I've got on 144, 220 and 440 is a little Yaesu VX-7R -- and an old Icom IC-228 in the car (bought it new in 1988). One of these days, I'll get something "real" for those bands.

73, Rob

[k0cmh]

OK, regarding the exchange, what is "S/N"?

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (k0cmh @ May 11 2006,10:51)]OK, regarding the exchange, what is "S/N"?
Serial number. Your first contact is #1, second #2, etc. Make sure you copy the other station's serial number accurately if you're submitting your logs for competition. If what you think you heard doesn't match what he thinks he sent, it's a busted contact.

73, Rob

[k0cmh]

Yep, knew that but forgot it. Thanks.

I'm an OF from the old days when "S/N" meant "signal to noise ratio". HI HI. Yep, just forgot that particular abbreviation. However, I often see it as "SN".

[KB3LIX]

My mistake, I should have specified Serial Number.

S/N means Signal to Noise ratio to me too, but as usual, I wasn't thinking.

Wouldn't it be a bit different contest if everyone had to measure the other stations Signal to Noise ratio in the report. Brings a whole new meaning to '5x9'

[K3STX]

I'm gonna be in Boston for a conference, but I think I will bring my 40 meter QRP rig, a dipole, and my keyer. If I can find a nice park maybe I'll throw up the antenna (tennis balls at each end of 22 Ga wire) and try to give out MA as a mult as K3STX/1.

CU then.

paul

[w8cbc]

kf0rt: Quote[/b] ]You'll hear me on 6 meters if it ever opens up. I love 6 meter SSB and am tuned to 50.125 right now.

I hit 50125 lots, there's been not a peep on it since I got the 551D. We should be within Es range. I'm waiting for the season!

[N8CPA]

Quote[/b] (k0cmh @ May 11 2006,12:51)]OK, regarding the exchange, what is "S/N"?
In the context of contesting, SN is Serial Number.
S/N is Signal to Noise ratio--Signal [over] Noise.







.

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (kd8bsr @ May 11 2006,19:40)]kf0rt: Quote[/b] ]You'll hear me on 6 meters if it ever opens up. I love 6 meter SSB and am tuned to 50.125 right now.

I hit 50125 lots, there's been not a peep on it since I got the 551D. We should be within Es range. I'm waiting for the season!
Yeah, me too. I worked a CA station early last December, but other than that, nada so far this season. Heard one real weak opening about a month ago. Signals down around the noise level.

According to my logs, the first real Es opening here (that I noticed) last year was on 5/18, so we should be getting close.

Listen for DM79. We have a local beacon on 50.065 which signs WØIJR or KAØCDN, depending on what month it is (oddly, it appears to be down right now).

73, Rob

[w8cbc]

I'll keep that in mind.

I don't know if there's a beacon for EM79; I haven't heard a thing between 060 and 080 yet.

[KB3LIX]

I'm beginning to think this whole Mid-Atlantic QSO Party thing is a big HOAX.
It was supposed to have started at 1200 UTC, that's 45 minutes ago, and I haven't heard anything except the usual Saturday morning nets.

Listened to both 40 & 20.
The silence is deafening.

Quote[/b] (KB3LIX @ May 13 2006,08:47)]I'm beginning to think this whole Mid-Atlantic QSO Party thing is a big HOAX. .... Listened to both 40 & 20.
The silence is deafening.
I've heard one SSB station working the contest, and a handful of CW stations, on 40 m. Band conditions on 40m this morning seem rather noisier than usual here. I don't have 20 meters at the moment - dipole came down during a storm several days ago and I haven't put it back up yet (actually the wire is fine ... the tree broke)

[KI4MRU]

I'm in Pennsylvania and was planning to call for the contest sometime today, just haven't had time to get to the rig yet. Maybe this afternoon, probably somewhere on 20 meters SSB. :-)

[w8cbc]

Maybe most of the 2s and 3s are hung-over. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I've been all morning putting up a proper dipole for 6, so no participation here as yet.

[W3MIV]

Deader than Hiram here.

[KI4MRU]

I called CQ on 20 meters for 10-15 minutes before lunch, no responses, although I heard a few other contest stations elsewhere on the band (sounded like different contests, although they never actually said which). Will try again in an hour or two.

[ad5qb]

I've been listening around on the 20 meter CW frequencies for a bit, only heard a couple of stations in the MAQP. Heard a couple in the CQ-M International DX Contest and some FISTS calling (maybe in the FISTS Sprint). Gotta go to my son's school festival this afternoon, maybe I'll get a chance to check the bands again this evening.

[KB3LIX]

OK,
It's gotta be a HOAX !
7 hours and 36 minutes into this "Contest" and I have found and made (1) contact to a station in Maryland.

I have had better luck working a European DX Contest of some kind this weekend. Don't know which one, as I haven't looked it up, but a German and a Croatian station on 20 meters, and a German Special Event station for the 2006 World Cup.

Maybe it will pick up later......(Who am I kidding ?)

[w8cbc]

I tuned around 10 and 17 while mobile a few hours ago. Both were dead cold silent. Propagation conditions?

(wanders off to SEC for a look)

SFI=74 (should be okay for 17)
K has been 1 or 2 most of day.
No flares.

It wouldn't be Es screwing up the lower bands because there would have been some good 10-metre propagation.

So, I dunno.

[kg4kww]

I was listening on 144.200 and 432.100 and heard nothing too

[KB3LIX]

Since Search & Pounce wasn't working very well, I found a clear 40 meter freq and started calling CQ-MAQP. Managed 33 contacts, about 50% of them outside the MidAtlantic states.

Maybe everyone is out doing their last minute Mothers Day shopping !

Oh well, It's keeping me off the 'streets' and outta trouble.

Maybe it will pick-up tomorrow. (Eternally Optimistic)

[W6ECE]

When you operate Mid Atlantic do you sign Marine Mobile or Maritime Mobile?

[w8cbc]

kb3lix: Quote[/b] ]...Search & Pounce...

I like that!

I guess I'll wait for the 6-metre thing to end and shuffle off to 80.

[KB3LIX]

Quote[/b] (kd8bsr @ May 13 2006,22:28)]kb3lix: Quote[/b] ]...Search & Pounce...

I like that!

I guess I'll wait for the 6-metre thing to end and shuffle off to 80.
Can't take credit for ther term.
I heard it from someone else.

BSR, You are from Cincinnati...Yes ?

Had someone from your neck of the woods return a CQ for the MAQP. Even got a reply from Colorado.

Thanx to all !!!!!!

[KB3LIX]

Quote[/b] (W6ECE @ May 13 2006,21:26)]When you operate Mid Atlantic do you sign Marine Mobile or Maritime Mobile?
OH, to be operating Maritime Mobile............

That would be WONDERFUL, as long as I could bring my puppy.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[w8cbc]

The dream here is a 60-ft. boat with all the necessities aboard, to cruise the major rivers and lakes of this continent over a span of years.

How does one sign in that case? Are you still /MM, or just /M?

[KF0RT]

MAQP must be a "newer" contest. I notice there were less than 100 entrants last year, and no mention of anything before that on their website.

80 was pretty dead here last night. Couple stations working the Volta RTTY contest and ONE station working MAQP. The MAQP station was in WV -- exactly what I was after. Now, to check those lotto tickets... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

73, Rob

[N8CPA]

Search and pounce? What is that, kinder and gentler contesting? Tigers don't search. Lions don't search. Neither do sharks and eagles. They hunt and pounce. And that's what contesters do.

You scan the band for multipliers. What are you going to do when you find them? Are you going to rescue them? No! You're going to pounce on them and gobble them up into your log.

Search for your keys. Search for the lost. Search for survivors. Search for the ancient cities of gold. But when seeking multipliers in an Amateur Radio event, be the hunter!

Good hunting! ;)

[KF0RT]

Whatever happened to the Alaska QSO party? I see some mention that one used to exist, but there's nothing on the calendar. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

73, Rob

[N8CPA]

Quote[/b] (kd8bsr @ May 13 2006,23:33)]The dream here is a 60-ft. boat with all the necessities aboard, to cruise the major rivers and lakes of this continent over a span of years.

How does one sign in that case? #Are you still /MM, or just /M?
That will always be a dream for me. As much as I have loved boats all my life, I have never owned one. But, my wife and I just booked our next cruise. A 3-nighter from Port Canaveral to Nassau--not much compared to the last one, 2 weeks from San Pedro to Hawaii round trip. It's the only way to see Hawaii as far as I'm concerned.

A dream trip takes a lot of planning. About 25 years ago, a fellow living in Zanesville fulfilled his lifelong dream. He retired, took his fund in a lump sum and bought a houseboat. He set out for a lifetime dream of a voyage--down the Muskingum to the Ohio, the Ohio to the Mississippi, planning to eventually end up somewhere along the Gulf Coast. He made it all the way down the Mukingum okay. But his first night on the Ohio, somewhere between Marietta and Pomeroy, his boat got bumped around and destroyed by the wake from a tow of coal! I remember the article in the paper. I don't know what happened to him after that.

Oficially, to be maritime mobile, you must be beyond the territorial boundary, in international waters. However, you can use the unofficial designation of marine mobile on rivers and lakes.

[KB3LIX]

I have called CQ more times in the last 24 hours than I can believe. Only yielded 65 QSO's so far.
40 seems quite DEAD, except for the few knuckleheads that are attempting to QRM with carriers. HAW ! (copyright infringement)
Hopefully 40 will pick up later.
Maybe the atmosphere will cooperate later.

[KB3LIX]

Well,
The Mid-Atlantic QSO Party is history.
I set a mark for myself at 100 Q's.
Made 114, so I beat it by 14.
Good practice for Field Day & the PA QSO Party in October.
I can't believe how tiring this contesting can be ! I'm whooped. Time for a relaxing pot of coffee, maybe some dinner, sit back and relax and scratch the beagle.
He is mad because I have been ignoring him.
Have to make it up to him. Can't have the puppy mad at me.
Thanx to all who responded to my CQ's.
At least it kept me off the streets, out of the bars, out of jail, and otherwise occupied.

[kj3n]

Quote[/b] (KB3LIX @ May 14 2006,20:23)]Well,
The Mid-Atlantic QSO Party is history.
I set a mark for myself at 100 Q's.
Made 114, so I beat it by 14.
Good practice for Field Day & the PA QSO Party in October.
I can't believe how tiring this contesting can be ! I'm whooped. Time for a relaxing pot of coffee, maybe some dinner, sit back and relax and scratch the beagle.
He is mad because I have been ignoring him.
Have to make it up to him. Can't have the puppy mad at me.
Thanx to all who responded to my CQ's.
At least it kept me off the streets, out of the bars, out of jail, and otherwise occupied.
Guess this means it's safe to go back on the air. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[NN3W]

36 hours is way too long for a contest of that type. 24 would have been better.