USA QSO Parties Gain Steam With Visit To Michigan; Can Anyone Get The County Sweep In 2010?

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted April 12, 2010

After the 159 counties in the Georgia QSO Party last week, this week's 83 counties in Michigan sound like an easy assignment for contesters - but be warned - no one has ever achieved the sweep in the Michigan QSO Party, and we'll see if that can get that done in 2010.

The closest in recent years has been Jerry Chouinard K5YAA, who worked 80 of the 83 counties. In 2009, Jeff Clarke KU8E hit 67, as no one has managed to grab every Michigan county.

"For somebody to get the sweep, they have to be in a position to best capitalize on both 80m and 40m," said MiQP organizer Dave Pruett K8CC.

"Band conditions the past couple of years on 40M has really hampered the mobiles which provide a lot of the counties needed for a sweep," said Pruett, who said if you can't follow those mobiles everywhere, you won't hit 83 county mults.

"Mobiles are typically only in a county for 30 minutes or so, and if you miss the only mobile going through that county, you're sunk," Pruett added.

As for mobiles this year, organizers are still hoping for more than the five who sent in logs for the 2009 test - which included one aeronautical mobile - as Ken Rogner N8KR flew up from Indiana and made 90 contacts while flying over the Wolverine State.

"In recent years, we've seen a gradual decline in the number of rovers," acknowledged Pruett. "In recent years, the winning rover has made 700-900 QSOs in twelve hours, so I don't think low activity potential is the problem. Some of the rovers have migrated to fixed categories."

One story line in this year's Michigan QSO Party will be that of Earl Morse N8SS, who has won the high power single operator category four straight years from his QTH in New Boston, Michigan.

Outside the state, Frank Widmann WA2VYA edged KU8E by only 60 points overall for the top single op position.

Making the Michigan QSO Party a Success

The Michigan QSO Party returned to the contest calendar in 1997 after a two year break - and like many other state QSO parties - it has grown because of hard work.

"We have taken a lesson from the Pennsylvania QSO Party and have tried (with varying degrees of success) to get the in-state clubs involved in MiQP," said Pruett, who is the MiQP Chair.

"For a number of years now, we have concentrated on trying to get more in-state stations on for MiQP."

"For the most part, these are people who don't regularly participate in contests (i.e., are non-contesters)," added Pruett. "Many of these people are in rare counties, which helps the contest overall."

Pruett says a lot of credit must also go to his colleagues in the Mad River Radio Club, who have also helped to beat the bushes to get people on the air during the third full weekend in April.

The Michigan QSO Party starts at 1600z on April 17 and ends at 0400z on April 18. All stations may operate the full twelve hours. For more information, go to the MiQP web site.