NY QSO Party October 15th

NY QSO Party – Get Ready for October 15!

by Dean NW2K

It's all about NY on October 15 as radio amateurs from around the world get on the air to work all 62 NY counties, Chautauqua to Clinton, Niagara to Suffolk.  A dozen or more mobile operators will take to the mean streets of NYC or the bucolic surrounds of the Southern Tier and North Country.  Brave souls will sneak out to the woodlands to activate a rare county, Field Day style, as temps may dip into the 30's.  And good, solid Elmers will open up their shacks to new hams and build excitement as the spotlight is on US!

The NYQP game is easy to play as all operating modes and bands are eligible.  The QSO exchange is simple for NY operators:  signal report and county.  For those eager out-of-state ops wanting to work all 62 counties, they'll send a signal report and their state, province or DX. 

There's a category for all operating styles from single-operator-QRP to multi-operator-high-power-mobile!  And the 48 plaques, which are awarded to category winners, are simply beautiful and I think they're the best in the business.  Serious “furniture” for the discerning ham's shack! The state-wide NYQP Plaque Sponsorship Team and the Rochester DX Association really step up to the plate each year to make all the effort worthwhile.

Please start thinking about your NYQP operations.  Mobile or Fixed, SSB, CW or digital, the important thing is to get on the air with friends and make some “noise” and help promote amateur radio spirit in NY.  Please consider using this event to introduce new hams into the mix.  Elmering has always been an important aspect of our hobby and NYQP is a perfect vehicle from which to teach operating concepts and station engineering.  Make a new antenna, try a new digital mode, operate a vintage rig, have fun!

There is a page at the NYQP website (www.nyqp.org) that we've created to announce activity across the state.  It's called “2016 Planned Activations” and it's easy to list your plans online to alert others of your activity in that rare or not-so-rare QTH.  It helps all of us make informed choices on how to operate to maximize fun.  The event's rules are also listed at the site.

In 2015, we had a record 314 logs, 156 from NY, 135 stateside, 14 from Canada, and 9 from DX.   5,670(!) unique call signs participated in the event, with 43,065(!) reported QSOs.  Contacts were made in all 62 counties from 49 (missed AK) states, 9 (AB, BC, MB, NB, NT, ON, PEI, QC, SK) provinces, and dozens of DX countries.  There were 57 amateur radio clubs (25 New York and 32 out of state) involved the event.  Let's set some new records in 2016!

Need any assistance or have any questions?  Wondering which are the rare counties?  Have a question about logging software?  The NYQP Team is at the ready...send me a note any time at NW2K@arrl.net or check out the great NYQP website (www.nyqp.org) for all the details.  We'll help you get on the air on October 15!