The paper log scoring party was held on 23 April 2016 at the
QTH of Gordon, NQ4K. From left to right are: Shiva,
KM4NPL; Henry, K2BFY; Monte, KV4KS; Gordon, NQ4K: and Dick,
W2YE.
Some QSL
Cards.
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K4YND SOAPBOX:
| Thanks to the Sterling
Park ARC for a great QSO party. This year I got
permission from the XYL to move the radio upstairs where
I could watch birds at the bird feeders when it was
slow. Good idea. Sat it took me 50 minutes to make my
first Q on 40. Sunday was much better for me. Great fun. 73 Don |
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| Photo is Bill (NR4C) at his station. |  |
AG6AY
SOAPBOX: Sorry to the two (at least) operators I knew were
there but could not
AG6AY SOAPBOX: copy above the noise floor.
20M was the main band for me this year.
AG6AY SOAPBOX: It's just too bad that 40M would not carry the
cross-country distance.
AI4WU
SOAPBOX: Saturday conditions were miserable, especially for
in-state contacts.
AI4WU SOAPBOX: Fortunately, 75 meters opened earlier than
expected and salvaged at
AI4WU SOAPBOX: least part of Saturday. Sunday proved much
better, but I wonder if
AI4WU SOAPBOX: many stations weren't so discouraged by
Saturday, they didn't return
AI4WU SOAPBOX: on Sunday. New stations were very rare towards
the end of
AI4WU SOAPBOX: Sunday. Flex-6500 / Alpha 8100 / 75 M OCF /
40-20-10 Fan Dipole
DL3DXX SOAPBOX: just a few contacts, no bonus station heard
EA5IIK
SOAPBOX: FT 757GX , 100W , Moxon. Thanks,I have enjoyed it. 73s
de Andy.
K1AUS
SOAPBOX: Very poor conditions at my QTH. Tried to work 4
contests at the same
K1AUS SOAPBOX: time this weekend but only heard a few stations
on 40 through 10
K1AUS SOAPBOX: meters. Hopefully nest year will be better.
K1RO
SOAPBOX: Wow, great participation! I had not operated this QSO
Party before and enjoyed it very much.
K2SSB
SOAPBOX: The bands were hopeless all day Saturday - one
"local" contact, whose signal was way
down in he noise, one in Goochland, and a third in southern
Massachusetts. So, in the
afternoon
I went to a concert instead of continuing.
Sunday, things were back to "normal".
K3CCR
SOAPBOX: K3CCR is the club station at the Collington
continuing-care
K3CCR SOAPBOX: retirement community at FM18OW in MD, just east
of DC. Ops
K3CCR SOAPBOX: for the 2016 VA QSO Party were N3UM and W3GB.
In the first hr.
K3CCR SOAPBOX: 10-11 EDT Sat. we could work only 3 VA
stations, all off the
K3CCR SOAPBOX: backs of their 20 m. beams!
All day Sat. 40 m. was oddly
K3CCR SOAPBOX: dead to VA for us: FL and MA stations working
VA were S9, but
K3CCR SOAPBOX: here most answering signals from VA were S1 and
unreadable.
K3CCR SOAPBOX: We scraped up 7 CW Qs in VA after 15 EDT,
signals very weak.
K3CCR SOAPBOX: From 16-22 EDT VA signals on 80 m. SSB were
good, QSOs easy.
K3CCR SOAPBOX: We were even able to run for 1/2 hr. at 19 EDT
and get 24 Qs.
K3CCR SOAPBOX: In hindsight we shoulda gone to 80 at 15 EDT. Sun. morning
K3CCR SOAPBOX: 80 was again good: 130 of our total 158 Qs were
on that band.
K3CCR SOAPBOX: Finally at 11 EDT Sun. we found 40 m. alive to
VA, as prop.
K3CCR SOAPBOX: forecasts and experience would predict. But, neither of us
K3CCR SOAPBOX: was available Sun. afternoon. Our total BIC
time was 9.25 hr.
K4CGY
SOAPBOX: Sat 40m a bust, great from 1PM on Sunday
K4DPF
SOAPBOX: POOREST 40 METER CONDITIONS I CAN REMEMBER IN VAQP!
K4FJW
SOAPBOX: 200 bonus points for working N4CF and N4TGR
K4GJF
SOAPBOX: 500 bonus points for working K4NVA.
K4MSR
SOAPBOX: FIRST TIME OPERATING AND SENDING IN A LOG, LOTS OF
FUN
K4RT
SOAPBOX: Enjoyed the Va QSO Party! Used Atlas 215X
transceiver,
K4RT SOAPBOX: 50 Watts to inverted-vee. 73, Brad K4RT
K4VBM
SOAPBOX: Enjoyed my 2nd VAQP Contest!
K4VBM SOAPBOX: More than doubled my QSOs from last year. Great
fun!
K4WY
SOAPBOX: great time in Appomattox County
K5SPJ
SOAPBOX: Great learning experience
K5VIP
SOAPBOX: BONUS STATIONS WORKED: K2SSB, N3JS, K4NVA, KD4QIT,
N2VA, N4CF, N4TGR, W2HHT,
K5VIP SOAPBOX:
W4CA, W4HFH, W4ZA
K5VLJ
SOAPBOX: 1st contest. Lots of fun and learning!!
K9GDF
SOAPBOX: Antenna is rain gutter and downspouts.
KA4AQM
SOAPBOX: Hello Gordon-
This is
Randy, KA4AQM, in Chesapeake.
First
thing I wanna say is that you all put on a great QSOP this
year.
I wish there was a FEEDBACK spot on the site so we could all
pass on
some lessons learned and give out kudos. I have a few
things I wanna
pass on. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
1.
If you don't do it already, I think the word "/MOBILE" should
follow
the call sign of anyone who gets a certificate if all they did
all
weekend was run up and down the road. Without mobiles, many of
our
scores would be a lot less.
2.
BONUS POINTS: First year I was NOT able to hear K4NVA. So the
idea
with the bonus stations was RIGHT ON! For next year, pick the
BOTTOM 10
counties/cities who provided contacts and then sprinkle the
other 4 to
other volunteers. I think rotating 4 of the spots each year
gives many
hams a chance to realize what it feels like to be in the hot
seat. I
made more points this year by working the bonus stations than
I did
under the old way. KEEP THIS IDEA! (I recommend Buena Vista
city as a
bonus station next year. We had a small qso and he (WA3HJJ) is
1 of 2
hams there. Had a real good attitude.)
3.
A few days before the party, I posted a notification on
EHAM.NET
about the VAQSOP...I hope you all don't mind. I would like to
think it
was another medium to get the word out. For the looks of it on
Saturday,
states outside VA were picking off Virginia stations like fish
in a
barrel. 40m sucked for VA hams, so we had the best opportunity
to make
as many outside state contacts as possible.
4. I made
the time during the contact with states outside VA to thank
them for participating and ENCOURAGED them to send in a log.
Maybe this
will help reach the 400 goal. Most said they always enjoy
working the
VAQSOP, so that helped continue good relations with those
folks outside
the state.
Randy
Melton
KA4AQM
Chesapeake
KA7HBH SOAPBOX: Nephew James future Ham was the operator under
me
KB1WQQ.
SOAPBOX: My first HF rig and had antenna issues and could not
continue.
KD2IRA-4
SOAPBOX: thanks for my first QSO party! Next
time electronic log.
KE0TT
SOAPBOX: K3/10 at 5 watts and dipoles. Thanks
for the fun!
KE0TT SOAPBOX: and your great copy of my QRP sigs. Always lots of stations on from VA,
KE0TT SOAPBOX: way to go ! C U
next time, 73, Dan
ke0tt
KE4GVO
SOAPBOX: Just put my toes in the contest water on this one.
KE4S
SOAPBOX: BAND CONDITIONS SO BAD AND PARTICIPATION SO LOW IN
EARLY HOURS
KE4S SOAPBOX: I JUST COULD NOT KEEP MY ATTENTION ON THE
CONTEST. HAD TO BREAK
KE4S SOAPBOX: FOR FAMILY OBLIGATIONS AND NEVER WENT BACK.
KE4VH
SOAPBOX: Saturday was a tough go - Sunday, much better! But it
was hard to make up for what I had missed.
KF3EB
SOAPBOX: TNX for the contest, it was fun.
KF4QFJ
SOAPBOX: Third month OTA. First VA QSO Party. Band conditions
were not in our favor;
KF4QFJ SOAPBOX: but, nonetheless I enjoyed the challenge,
KF4QFJ SOAPBOX: the chase and being worked! Looking forward to
next year. -73!
KG4Y
SOAPBOX: Cherry picking effort on Sunday afternoon - band
conditions weren't
KG4Y SOAPBOX: good above 20 meters, and didn't hear any VA
station on 160 meters
KG4Y SOAPBOX: after dark. Maybe next year we can play on top
band.
KI4DHW
SOAPBOX: Mother Nature only gets one star for the bands this
year!!!!
KJ4DHF SOAPBOX: 500 bonus points for working K4NVA.
KJ4FUU
SOAPBOX: I defy you to find something nice to say about this
year's score. :)
KJ4OAP
SOAPBOX: I was positioned to start in Montgomery County when
my trusty
KJ4OAP SOAPBOX: ICOM 706 MKiiG died 10 minutes before the
test. Did a scramble
KJ4OAP SOAPBOX: to get my backup in place, but pretty much
Saturday was shot.
KJ4OAP SOAPBOX: Regrouped Saturday night, and went hard on
Sunday to log just
KJ4OAP SOAPBOX: over 500 contacts on Sunday (most I've done in
one day). Many
KJ4OAP SOAPBOX: thanks to all the stations that kept working
me as I moved
KJ4OAP SOAPBOX: around including K1RO who found and held a
freq for me when
KJ4OAP SOAPBOX: I changed bands.
KJ4YKG
SOAPBOX: Made contact with 9 bonus stations.
I like the additional bonus stations.
KJ4YKG SOAPBOX: I had a great time. See
you next year.
Saturday was a bear on 40 Meters. I started on 40. I made a couple of
contacts on 20 Meters but then went back to 40. While I was on 20, I made a
contact with a guy in Texas that was doing the VA QSO Party and I was his
96th VA contact. At that time, he was my 32nd contact but only 8 were VA
contacts. That was 2:44 Saturday afternoon. I thought about flying to
Texas. I went back to 40 but shifted to 80 Meters around 4:15. The shift
was a good move. 80 was just starting to open up and the fun was just
beginning.
73.
Duane, KJ4YKG
KK4ZUU-M SOAPBOX: 1 or
more contacts from: Augusta, Nelson, Waynesboro, Greene, Rockingham,
KK4ZUU-M SOAPBOX: Page, Madison, Rappahannock,
Total Mobile Bonus = 800
KK4ZUU-M SOAPBOX: My second year as a mobile in VaQP. Learning. Thanks
for all of the QSOs.
KK4ZUU-M SOAPBOX: Digital QSL's via QRZ, eQSL, and LoTW by grid.
KK4ZUU-M SOAPBOX: 73
KM4KMU SOAPBOX: The
greatest contest ever.
KM4LLF SOAPBOX: A great
time. First-time participant.
KN4Y SOAPBOX: Band
conditions not great.
KW4CW SOAPBOX: In 43
years of hamming, this was my first VAQP! After stumbling &
bumbling, got the hang of it & had a ball.
KW4FQ SOAPBOX: MUCH FUN
KW4VA SOAPBOX: Although
conditions on Sat. seemed much worse than last year, the
KW4VA SOAPBOX: addition of an extra dedicated CW station to our
multi-op setup this
KW4VA SOAPBOX: year resulted in an increased score. We had one
dedicated 40m SSB,
KW4VA SOAPBOX: one 10-20,75m SSB, one 10-80m CW and one 50-440
FM/SSB/CW station. We
KW4VA SOAPBOX: worked 12 of the 14 bonus stations, missing W4ZA and
K4GAM. Tnx to
KW4VA SOAPBOX: W4RX for letting us use his station and to SPARC for
sponsoring
KW4VA SOAPBOX: another great event!
N1CC SOAPBOX: Bonus
Stations worked: K4NVA,
K2VA, WR4RC, W4HFH, N4CF -500 points
N1NN SOAPBOX: 8TH
VIRGINIA QSO PARTY
N2VA-KJ4EZA SOAPBOX:
KJ4EZA (YOUTH OPERATOR 16 YRS OLD) USING THE CALL N2VA.
N2VA-KJ4EZA SOAPBOX: THE CONTEST STARTED WITH SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH
THE LOGGING SOFTWARE AND
N2VA-KJ4EZA SOAPBOX: RADIO INTERFACE.
I LOST 5 HOURS OF OPERATING TIME ON THE FIRST DAY.
N2VA-KJ4EZA SOAPBOX: IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE MICRO KEYER INTERFACE BOX. THIS PROBLEM LIMITED
N2VA-KJ4EZA SOAPBOX: MY MODE OPERTION TO SSB.
I HAD A GREAT TIME AND WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR.
N2VA-KJ4EZA SOAPBOX: 73'S AND THANKS TO ALL THE OPERATORS WHO CONTACTED
ME DURING THE CONTEST
N3CKI SOAPBOX: My first VQP contest.
N4CWP SOAPBOX: THANKS TO
THE SPARC FOR PUTTING ON A GREAT QSO PARTY AND THANKS TO
THE OUT OF STATE PARTICIPANTS THAT ADD A SIGNIFIANT NUMBER
OF Q'S.
N4TGR
| Well
it was wet, cold and Saturday the bands were terrible, made the most of
it with many out of state contacts and some time with the family in the
field. My wife (KK4DHY - Tech) and daughters Hope and Faith (W4JNE 13yrs, N4FTH 10yrs both Generals) helped with my points by driving around and making contacts. Used Yaesu VX-7r TH's, FT-857, Kenwood TS2000 radios and 40m Buddipole, 40m Inverted-V and 80-6m Widom antennas for the 20+ hrs that I worked the contest. Hope to have an antenna trailer w/ 50ft tower completed for next year so I will not have to deal with shooting lines into trees. Was worried a couple of time that someone might call the Po Po on me. 73's N4TGR Tony |  Expedition Truck |
 Expedition Van |
 Antenna setup in York |
 Generator setup in York |
 Radio setup in York |
N9WL SOAPBOX: You were
there, I was there, and the propagation was AWOL!
NI4VA SOAPBOX: We
operated our club station in Corbin, VA and had a blast, as usual.
NI4VA SOAPBOX: 40 Meters was the place to be and it was crowded on
Sunday. Our
NI4VA SOAPBOX: Flex6700 with a dipole worked great. The friendly QSO's
and slower
NI4VA SOAPBOX: pace makes this a fun contest. Hope to see you all again
next year
NI4VA SOAPBOX: from Caroline County.
NW3V SOAPBOX: USED KX3.
VA3PDG SOAPBOX: GREAT
CONDITIONS INTO ONTARIO ON 40M! THANKS
FOR A FUN QSO PARTY.
W1END SOAPBOX: Rig was
FTdx5000 and Butternut HF6V all-band vertical.
W1END SOAPBOX: Good turnout for this one.
Nice to find so many ops on cw.
W2HHT SOAPBOX:
outstanding-great fun-thanks for all the great work
W2SKI SOAPBOX: 200 bonus
points for working N4TGR/E and N4CF
W2UDT SOAPBOX: Score may
be off. Thanks to all the mobliles. Lots of activity.
W4AKO SOAPBOX: Worked
only 7 hours.
W4DUK SOAPBOX: Another
great time. See y'all again next year!
W4VG SOAPBOX:
Propagation was terrible on Saturday.
Good on Sunday.
WA4EUL SOAPBOX: . .
.spent Saturday programming radios for our ARES-Shamrock Marathon
participation on Sun.; had problems with balky
keyboard sending macro's from
N3FJP to Microkeyer; worked a while Sat evening;
ran comm's for Marathon until
1400 on Sun and finished with fewer QSO's than
anticipated.
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: Great
activity this year. Kudos
to the rovers, especially N4JRI and
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: KJ4OAP who got me 5 new counties!
Only 4 counties left in Virginia
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: and 14 in the U.S.!!!
Sadly, the mob mentality still reigns supreme
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: on 40 and 80 meters *sigh*.
I know it wasn't the condx on 20 meters...
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: that only leaves sub par equipment or operator
malfunctions. I saw
several
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: Virginia stations racking up some impressive numbers
guys so don't tell me
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: you couldn't spend some time on 20 meters so the west
coast could finally
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: hear you! I
spent most of the time 'mining' on 20 meters SSB.
WA6KHK SOAPBOX: Lots of great folks giving me #1 and #2. Thanks to all!
WB7CYO SOAPBOX: Check
log only. Propagation was poor. Only heard these two stns during Sat.
afternoon.
WB7CYO SOAPBOX: Tnx 4
sponsoring contest.
WR4RC : Contacts made by
all ops (mostly me on 40, got relieved a couple of times
and mostly kj4uek on 20) Other ops worked for a while to let me and
Bill
take a short break but he and I made most of the contacts.
40 meters was strange all day Saturday. I could talk to Canada and
states
all around but very little in Virginia, mostly eastern
counties.
We tried some digital on both 20 and 40 without the first contact.
Strange
day propagation wise.
Sunday was some better but didn't get started until late.
WR4RC has been a regular participant in the QSO Party and we enjoyed the
party this year and will be participating again next year.
WX4SNO SOAPBOX: My first
amateur radio contest.