Ham Radio QSO Parties

Question:
Last question — I read your post regarding the use of phonetic callsigns . . . do most VHF’ers use those or not? Again, I’ll prep my son as needed either way.

Question:
The rules give suggested frequencies for use — during a contest is it normal for all (or most) contacts to be made on these frequencies (at least in the VHF/UHF part of the spectrum), or do folks jump around? If there is a range of frequencies that are used, I’ll pre-program the radios to be able to quickly scan those sections of the bands.

Question:
Would it be considered bad form for each of us to contact one another from opposite sides of county or city boundaries? On each band we have available to us? And then switch locations?

Question:
As for ’station category,’ we hope to spend most of the time mobile, but the rules imply that multiple operators would need to work under a single call sign. I would think that we’d better off working under our own call signs, but am unsure if that is allowed. Is it?

In the ‘operator categories’ section of the rules, I don’t know if we’d be better off trying to each fit in the “Single Operator” category, or in the “Multi-Operator/Single Transmitter” category. Do you have any guidance, or does it really matter at this point?

When you start a contest make sure you know when it really begins and have an accurate clock handy.

These days there is little excuse to not know what time it is to the second… at least inside your ham shack.

Since this is a leap year day, let’s celebrate by making sure we don’t forget when Daylight Time begins. Remember last year they changed the dates…

From: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/daylight_time.php

Looking for an interface between your PC and your rig? Here is a comparison of my attempt to do exactly that between a laptop with no serial ports and an Icom 746 (not Pro).

The analytical approach used here is a classical way to analyze a variety of solutions in what’s called a “trade space.”

We take one particular make and model and then compare it with many other models on as many attributes as we desire to compare. The other models are either better, worse or the same as the base model.

A running total of the pluses and minues results in an integer number which reflects a relative better ness or worse-ness of the compared item.

During last year’s Virginia QSO Party I heard a few too many folks on the HF bands saying their exchange with plain letters. Hmmm wasn’t this the year many no-code technicians became no-code generals? Fresh meat on the HF bands. Most of you new generals did just fine. All the ones I know certainly did fine. However, for the few who insisted on using plain letters, your rookie, FMer, status is blatantly obvious.

While preparing for the Virginia QSO Party expedition class I decided to walk the halls of an office store and Dick’s sporing goods to see what gear may prove helpful to set up a semi-permanent Portable KX4O/P radio station. What I found was encouraging and may be helpful for two aspects: protecting and organizing the radio gear and provisions for shelter.