NAQCC May 2008 Challenge

Call     QSO's   Certificate
K3WWP    158     x
W2JEK    124     x
NU7T     100     x
WY7N      33     x
KC2EGL    31     x   Paddle handle drawing winner
N8XMS     27     x
N1LU      15     x
K4PBY     14     x
K1YAN      7
N8BB       5
KU4A       4
WA5BUC     3

Soapbox: N1LU - Due to family issues I wasn't able to spend much time on the challenge and made most of my half watt QSO's in the sprint. My greatest miles per watt QSO for the challenge was with K6DF (5434 miles per watt). Used my FT817 to a Cobra Ultralite antenna.

KU4A - I didn't know what to expect with this one, as I had never operated HF with less than five watts. But, it seems like you can count on contesters to hear you no matter what. I made four QSOs in the New England QSO Party, but wasn't able to devote any time to the challenge after that. 73 Chris KU4A NAQCC #1960

WY7N - I worked these stations (33 total) in the CQWPX contest using just under 1W (as close to 1W as I could get). I was surprised; it didn't seem much harder than running 5W. There were a few stations that couldn't seem to hear me at 1W, so I increased to 5W and tried again. If 1W didn't work, it seemed I couldn't work them with 5W either. I wasn't able to participate for very long (maybe four hours). I achieved my goal of 1000 points though.

K3WWP - It's only the 28th, but I don't think I'll have time to make any further mW QSO's. 119 were made the first weekend of May in the many contests that took place that weekend. I was pleased to have worked all the W7 area states then, a couple for the first time ever with mW power here. 38 others were made in the WPX contest this past weekend. One was a regular QSO early in the month. All were made on 40 or 80 meters as I don't have my RF attenuator set up for operation on 20-10 meters just yet, but that will come. I now need only AK, HI, ND, and NM for a mW WAS. Now that I'm set up for mW operation for the first time in about 9 years, those states should come before long now. As Bruce said above, it isn't much harder working stations with (in my case) 930 mW as it is with 5 watts. After all, there is only slightly over 1 S Unit difference.

K1YAN - A lot of CQs but not a lot of answers. Started QSOs with a G,VE1 and W9 station and lost them all to the QSB. 30 meters and mW seemed to be a good combination.

K4PBY - I operated the May NAQCC Sprint using a Rockmite xcvr running 750 mw to a vertical antenna and worked 14 stations.

N8XMS - A very busy month limited my on-air time but I still had a lot of fun making 27 QRPp QSOs. I worked into 14 different states, 1 Canadian province, and Mexico. Canada doesn't really count as DX from the Detroit area, but the Mexico QSO works out to be about 2223 miles/watt. Most of my contacts were made with my Elecraft K1 at 800 mW, but I also had a very nice ragchew (MI to VA) at 450 mW with my 30-meter Rockmite. My antenna was my 15-year old Cushcraft R7 trap vertical. One fellow that I worked told me that I was the first QRPp station that he had ever contacted. I think that his excitement was well founded because I have always thought that the real credit for mW contacts should go to the receiving end of the QSO. So thanks again to all of the "great ears" out there!

KC2EGL This was a very challenging event. I set a goal for 31 QSO's. I made it with a few days to spare. Unfortunately I did not have any time to spare the last three days of the month. I could have made a few more QSO's. At times I had to be very patient while operating. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of operating mW power. And at times It was tough to get stations to hear me. I operated 900mW in the SKCC Straight Key Sprint this month. I was the only one who operated with less than 1W. All in all it was yet another fun event with NAQCC not to mention a learning experience. 73 Mike

W2JEK - operated with my ohr-500 at 900 mw. made qso's in ne and in qso party,america contest, naqcc sprint, cq wpx contest and qrparci hootowl sprint. best qso was m1a on 80m. 72 and 73 don younger w2jek #1135

WA5BUC - My mw contacts during May were much like the sunspots -- few and far between.. Well, here goes: 05/09/2008 KB3AAG Frank Waynesburg, PA 05/17/2008 XE2ML Martin Durango, Mexico 05/20/2008 NF9A Bill Gleason, WI My rig is a RockMite 20 running 350 mw to a 135 ft end-fed wire. I was on for several QRP sprints hoping to make more contacts: FP's RFTB, NAQCC Sprint, and the RockMite Night. I heard stations, but could not get a contact. Being XTAL controlled his its limits -- hi hi. I can't complain. I have 10 states and 2 foreign countries with this set up (Hawaii's doing double duty). 72/73 es hope to hear you on the air. Fred - WA5BUC NAQCC 2398
N8BB - With the contests going it made it easier to find the good ears in the bunch. Only had time for a few minutes of fun, I have been working 7 days a week and some 12 hour days so it gets tough to sit and relax before I doze off. Still is odd that the good ears are in the contests and without them you could go for hours calling cq. I know we are out there, just need to shake the bushes harder. K-2 at 900mw G5RV Werner

PREMISE:
Very simple. Make as many QSO's as you can using milliwatt power (less than 1 watt) and a simple wire antenna.

TIME FRAME:
May 1, 2008 0000Z through May 31, 2008 2400Z

RULES:
Make as many QSO's as possible using milliwatt power at any time during the month on any band(s).

A 2X milliwatt QSO counts as two QSO's.

All QSO's must be INITIATED with milliwatt power. No starting with higher power, then reducing to milliwatt levels.

County line QSO's that may count as 2 (or more) QSO's in contests only count as ONE QSO for the challenge.

AWARDS:
A certificate goes to the two members making the most QSO's.

AMENDMENT: After the rules for awards were made up, we decided to repeat last year's setup where we award a certificate to anyone making 10 milliwatt QSO's. All certificates were mailed out free of charge. However if those receiving them can afford to make a donation of $3.00 to cover cost of handling and mailing, it will be appreciated and will help our dwindling club finances.

PRIZE:
A set of beautiful bug or paddle handles. These pieces are wonderfully hand crafted and donated by Gregg, WB8LZG. To see what they look like check them out here.

Every member who earns a participation point as outlined in the next section is eligible to win the prize. A list of those eligible will be sent to Gregg, WB8LZG who will select a winner in a random drawing. A member can only win one set of paddles after which they become ineligible for future drawings. At Gregg's request, NAQCC officers at their discretion are also eligible for all his bug/paddle handle prizes. If you do not wish to be entered in the drawing for any reason, let us know when you submit your report. For example, some members only use a straight key and would have no use for bug/paddle handles.

PARTICIPATION AWARD AND WEB LISTING:
You must make at least 2 qualifying QSO's and report them to get a Participation Point and a web listing.

LOGS:
For your report, list the stations you worked and the power you used. If they were also milliwatt power, list that also. You may also include comments about the challenge.

Please preface any comments you want posted with "SOAPBOX:" so we will know what you want posted and what is private.

Send your results to:

E-mail:

You must type that address into your email program.

Subject must read: (your call) NAQCC (month) Challenge

For example: K3WWP NAQCC June Challenge

Postal mail:
John Shannon, K3WWP
478 E. High St.
Kittanning, PA 16201

All entries must be RECEIVED before June 10, 2008 at 2400Z.