The plans are set for the 5th annual DISTANCE CHALLENGE(DC) to be held at Quartzfest(QF) in January, 2024. Attendees can enter the 3 days of competition and try to win some of the amazing prizes. The competition is set up to see who can make the longest distance portable HF contact from QF! There will be 4 entry classes including: A= CW/ SSB 100 watts max B= FT-8 C= QRP D= for those not bringing in their own radio and equipment, they can use the 3 stations in the W7Q S.E. trailer to compete. Bring your own antenna for the shoot out in the Sonoran Desert at Quartzfest 2024. You can use dipoles, hustler or hamsticks, verticals, tri-bands, Hex-beams, EFHW, long wires, wires supported by kites, drones, balloons, or bring your own special home-brewed antenna and see if you can become one of the 4 champs in the DC! The first day of competition, Monday, January 22, is the BIOENNO DISTANCE CHALLENGE DAY, and whoever makes the longest contact, in each class, will win a BIOENNO battery and charger! (See rules for complete details) One of the antennas that will be used all week long at the W7Q S.E. trailer will be a new SteppIR dipole and anyone that enters the DC competition, in any class, will be entered into a drawing at the closing ceremony to win that SteppIR PreppIR dipole antenna valued at over $1800 WOW!! YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN this incredible antenna, so, make your plans now to stay until the closing ceremony! The photo below shows a SteppIR being used at Lake Powell. Each of the 4 class winners will receive a unique TROPHY HAT, complete with mini antenna, solar panel, fan, light, sponsored by the CABLE-X-PERTS. Other sponsors include Heil Sound, MFJ, CQ Magazine, The DX Store, N3FJP logging software, PreciseRF, and DX Engineering! Plan to bring your best antennas and enter the competition for some amazing prizes! Don't think you need a portable 100' tower with a dozen element yagi on it to win, because previous winners have used dipoles, Hamsticks, vertical antennas, to name a few. Check out our club website for all the DC information at www.nadxa.com or go to the Quartzfest website of https://quartzfest.org We hope to see you there in January! 73, Bob Wertz, NF7E Lou Arminio, W7KFT Distance Challenge Co-Chairman Northern Arizona DX Association NF7E, Wednesday at 6:37 PM Report #1 Reply Indent" class="redactor_btn_indent" tabindex="-1"> Write your reply...
