W0BH Tries To Continue 7th QSO Party Domination; Aims For Four Straight Single Op Victories

By Jamie Dupree NS3T radio-sport.net
Posted April 27, 2009

While N4PN tries to continue his domination of the New England QSO Party this weekend, out West the man to beat for the 7th Call Area QSO Party is once again Bob Harder W0BH.
The Kansas contester won in 2008 for the third straight year - as he has taken the top Single Operator spot each year that the 7QP has been contested.
Harder's domination was easy to see from the final scores, as his total of 212,430 was almost three times that of runner-up KF6T in California, as Harder found 146 counties from his 621 net QSO's.
Now, unlike the Indiana and New England QSO Parties this weekend, no one - not even W0BH - is going to be talking about getting a sweep.
"In 7QP there is no possibility of a sweep," says one of the QSO party organizers Dick Frey K4XU, who heads up recruiting efforts in Oregon.
"We have 259 counties in eight states. Even though we have a combined population just equal to Texas, there is a lot of empty land out here."
Frey was one of ten mobiles on the road last year in the states that make up the 7QP, as he hit counties in both Oregon and Idaho.
"The best we have done so far is (activate) 210," Frey told radio-sport.net. "There are 50 counties that have never been on for a 7QP."
Frey says he'd love it if more out of towners would think about making a big sweep out West for their contest.
"We need more mobiles. I'd love it if the ARRL would make 2010, "the year of the mobile."
One good indicator for the 7QP continues to be the number of submitted logs, which went up again in 2008 to 322 logs. It was at 265 in 2007.
So, like the New England QSO Party, less than spectacular band conditions aren't causing a big downward spiral for state QSO parties.
The 7QP is also trying to bring in new contesters by tinkering with the rules as well, by adding digital modes to the mix.
"Same points per Q as CW," reports Frey.
"The same station may be worked on each band on CW, Phone, and Digital," state the 7QP rules, though the CW and Digital contacts must be in the proper sub-bands to be counted.

2008 7th Call Area QSO Party Winners

W0BH - Non-7th SOHP
K0RC - Non-7th SOLP
N2WN - Non-7th QRP
K6LL - 7th SOHP
W7QC - 7th SOLP
K7ZSD - 7th Multi
K7EAR - 7th Expedition
K7UT - 7th Mobile HP

Check out the rules, 2008 results, contest times and more at the 7th Call Area QSO Party web site.

Don't Forget Indiana QSO Party

It is a true county hunting weekend with the 7QP, New England QSO Party, the MARAC county hunting contests and the Indiana QSO Party.
The defending Indiana champ from 2008 is Gerard Jendraszkiewicz KE9I, who used the special call N9Q to key his victory last year.
Michael Stokes KK9V was the low power winner from Indiana. James Walter WT9U was the winner again in the mobile category.
Outside the state, John Laney K4BAI won the high power competition, while Keith Pederson WA3HAE was the top low power entry. In fact, Pederson had the top overall single op score from outside the Hoosier State.
You can find out more about the contest rules at the INQP web site.