The theme for this year is "My favorite outdoor place". You are encouraged to operate from your favorite outdoor place and tell us about it in your Soapbox comments.
Stations who wish to be designated as "Skeeters" can get a Skeeter number by requesting one by sending an e-mail to w2lj@arrl.net Skeeter numbers would be issued from May through the day before the event.
Station Classes and Multipliers
X1 Home stations - commercial equipment
X2 Home stations - home brewed or kit built equipment
X3 Portable station - commercial equipment
X4 Portable station - home brewed or kit built equipment
Portable stations cannot use permanent antennas, i.e you can't work from your backyard, hook up to your dipole or tower and yagi and be considered a portable station. Also, portable stations cannot be connected to the local power grid - alternative energy sources must be used - solar, battery, wind, etc.
Suggested Call - Either CQ QRP or CQ Buzz
Exchange -
Skeeter Stations - RST, S/P/C, Skeeter number
Non-Skeeter Stations - RST, S/P/C, Output power
Mode - CW
Power - 5W max
Scoring -
Working a Skeeter Station - 2 points
Working a non-Skeeter Station - 1 point
Total score equals the number of QSO points times the number of S/P/Cs worked on all bands (stations can be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and S/P/C credit) times the multiplier for station class.
Bonus points - design and home brew a key or paddle specifically for the event and earn an extra 1000 points.
Suggested frequencies:
The QRP "Watering Holes
80 Meters ~ 3.560 MHz
40 Meters ~ 7.040 and 7.030 MHz - also consider using from 7.114 to 7.122 MHz for a "slower" speed CW area. We want to have everyone involved!
20 Meters ~ 14.060 MHz
15 Meters ~ 21.060 MHz
10 Meters ~ 28.060 MHz
These are suggested starting points, of course. Feel free to spread out and give your "Skeeter" wings a chance to do their thing.
Logs, photos and soapbox comments can be sent to w2lj@arrl.net no later than 30 days after the event. Certificates will be issued to the top scorers of each category as well as others to be determined.
A table of call signs and issued "Skeeter" numbers will appear on a separate page on this site.
Hope to hear and work all of you during this new event. Special thanks to the NJQRP club for their sponsorship!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Good morning Larry, this sounds like a great event. I am liking the idea that it's 4 hour event and I will have the morning to get things done around the house first. Great scoring ideas I'm looking forward to my X4 status using my battery operated Elecraft K2 (built by me) from Riverside park with wires in the trees or if I purchase the Par end feed antenna.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to August!
Interesting that a "skeeter" merely needs a number. Not required to be portable. I rather like that.
ReplyDeleteI would alter the "homebrew key" to "a key fabricated by the station licensee within the last year". I would not want the same key buying 1,000 points per year.
Should it be renamed the "mechanical fab" contest, since the highest number of points is for making a key, and one could possibly win the 'test without a single QSO?
Just curious. I'm sure it's just a matter that the originators of the 'test didn't really think through the wording. But hey, I built a key two months ago, I might win!
Nope - nothing is changing.
ReplyDeleteIt is what it is.
This year's key bonus is for this year. Something different will more than likely be considered for bonus points next year. And besides, I don't think I can be more specific than - "design and home brew a key or paddle specifically for the event and earn an extra 1000 points."
If people are going to cheat, than they are going to cheat. I can't stop them. We're going strictly honor system here.
The idea is not so much to win - it's to get out of your shack with something you home brewed and have fun.
If I entered QRP Sprints only because I thought I had a chance to win, then I guess I wouldn't enter that many.
73 de Larry W2LJ