2017 Virginia QSO Party
Post-Party Comments and Soapbox

On 4 May 2017, Bill, W1ATA, emailed:

Home brew magnetic loop

W1ATA with KK4BNS - Courtney Fairing Super dedicated driver.

FT-950 on the back seat.

Logging using N3FJP software

73 
W1ATA
Bill Fairing

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The paper log scoring party was held at the QTH of NQ4K on Saturday, 22 April. Not too many paper logs this year, only 24. Only took an hour.

From the left are: Dick, W2YE; Gordon, NQ4K; Monte, KV4KS, and Bill, K4UPE.

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On 3 April 2017, John, KJ4PGD, emailed:

Great event! I operated from the National Forest in Highland County while camping in my
roof top tent on top of my Jeep Wranger. The high was 28 degrees and the low that night
was 10 degrees. When I hope up in Sunday, I had about 2 inches of snow on my tent.
I operated my Kenwood TS-440S with a G5RV. Pictures below.

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On 22 March 2017, Randy, KA4AQM, emailed:

THANKS!

First and foremost, I want to thank the Sterling Park ARC for putting on the best QSOP this side of the Rockies. It's not their fault that band conditions really stunk this year.

Secondly, I think a big applause goes to all the mobiles who take the time to get on the road and make it more fun for us who sit in a nice chair, eat whatever and whenever we want and don't have to worry about looking for a big blue REST STOP sign. Without these road gladiators, EVERYONE'S scores would be significantly lower. (special thanks to W1ATA, KJ4OAP)

Thirdly, I want to thank all the STATES who made this QSOP possible. My total number of cities/counties was EQUAL to my total state count! They don't have to participate, but choose to. Think about that when you hear THEIR party going on (think Georgia on the 8+9 April) and you wonder should you make a contact. My state contact number was 22. (Special thanks to my New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Tennessee contacts).

Had quite a few QRPers this year and I was glad to have them in my log...its' amazing how much pleasure QRPers get when you answer their call...don't be scared to do it!

And lastly, I want to thank my very understanding bunk buddy who let me play radio all weekend. I think she enjoyed me being home just in case the toilet got plugged up or the power went off. And I would've answered that call from her as long as it wasn't during the time I was answering a "CQ" from a mobile in the Virginia mountains!

Now that we have seen how conditions can really make us appreciate better times, let's do it again in 2018 with more mobiles, more QRPers and more states than ever.

Peace,
Randy
KA4AQM
"CPX"

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On 20 March 2017, Mike, K3MAW, emailed:

I never considered 80m to be a daytime band until this weekend! It was fun chasing some mobiles. I split 50/50 between S&P and running. Good group of Hams in Va.

Mike - K3MAW

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On 19 March 2017, Jim,WB2OMZ, emailed:

Dear fellow Virginia QSO Partiers,

I didn't really think band conditions could have been worse than last year, but a 64% drop in my QSO count from last year has to be blamed on something other than my own incompetence! So I'm going to go with band conditions and a terrible noise floor.

You folks in the densely populated eastern parts of the state have no idea how lonely we get out here in the mountains when the bands are dead since nobody is close enough for us to work ground wave like you guys can do!

Nonetheless, the VAQP is the only contest I participate in, I look forward to it all year, and I have a great deal of fun with it - and this year was no exception. Since I'm usually the only fixed station operating in the party from Smyth County, it's my one opportunity to be rare DX!

Congratulations on another successful party and I'm already planning my station improvements for next year. I've got 363 days to lower the ambient noise floor here at my house.

73,

Jim Talley, WB2OMZ

Marion, VA

The self-appointed and completely unofficial "Voice of Smyth County" in the Virginia QSP Party

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