NEQP Weekend May 6th & 7th - Plan Ahead

[N1API]

The New England QSO Party Weekend is May 6th and 7th. It is not the only QP running that weekend and you should plan ahead to maximize your contacts and make the most of grabbing the States or Counties that you need and who knows you may get lucky and win something or place in running.

There are four QPs running that weekend plus the ARI DX contest. The QPs are IN, 7QP, DE and NEQP. The big one that weekend is 7QP but don't ignore the others. Log all the exchanges and submit the logs. Last year I did just that and had 6 contacts in the INQP and got a first place PDF certificate via email this week. Probably it was the only CT log received but make a dozen Q's and you could get a certificate too.

Start early with the IN and 7QP parties. If you hear ARI and DE work them to and finish with the NEQP. I concentrate on the 7QP because of all the counties there to help with my county hunting books. Also by the time NEQP starts 7QP is over or just about over and they have all their contacts and are shutting down. The other QPs are over and all that it left is NEQP. Participation on that is "slim" on the HF bands cause they are all on 40 and 75 working. So you don't have 40 or 75 then you are stuck with the slim pickings on 20 and maybe 15 if it opens. Don't expect anything out of 10 meters. If you work anyone there consider it a bonus.

Just a little advise from a "sort of" experienced contester.

-73- Al