KEYSTONE STATE CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA QSO PARTY

By Jamie Dupree NS3T
After battles two weeks ago in Texas and last weekend in California, state QSO party enthusiasts will be hammering away again at the HF bands with this week's Pennsylvania QSO Party.
Making the contest even more entertaining, is that this marks the 50th running of the PAQP.
"We have a 50th anniversary special event station (W3P) that consist of 5 stations spaced around Pennsylvania," says Mike Coslo, chairman of the PAQP.
"Four of the stations are in fixed locations, and one is mobile," says Coslo.
Special rules for this year give an extra 200 points for a contact with W3P and those who contact all five stations are eligible for a certificate.
"We'll also be having a 50th anniversary T-Shirt for purchase," said Coslo, who will be the mobile arm of W3P during the contest.
"I've been working hard on installing a Bugcatcher antenna on my little mini-SUV," says Coslo. "I've taken it out for testing and it is performing pretty well, as HF mobiles go."
Coslo is expecting 10 or more mobiles to be on the roads of Pennsylvania this coming weekend. "Our mobile ops are pretty top-notch in my opinion and we're glad to have them."
Coslo plans to travel to a series of more rural counties in the north to help activate some of the rare ones.
"I'll probably pay a visit to Susquehanna County, which eluded me for two years in a row from making a 67 county sweep," says Coslo.
That will be welcome news to contesters, as only seven stations managed to get a Pennsylvania sweep in 2006, W3ZI, N3LL, N3SD, KA3QLF, W8MJ, AA3LX and N4PN.
Like in the California QSO Party last week, the out of state defending champ for the PAQP is Ken Meier W8MJ.
Anticipating maybe another iffy weekend in terms of propagation on the bands, PAQP Chairman Coslo says everyone should send in their log this year for good reason.
"One anamoly the past couple years is that we have had operators who have joined in the party, but not sent in logs," said Coslo.
"But during the log checking process, it has become apparent that some of these folks would have won their section if they would have entered!"

UPCOMING RADIO SPORT CONTESTS

Oceania DX CW Contest
0800 October 13 - 0800z October 14; more at the Oceania DX web site.

Pennsylvania QSO Party
1600z October 13 to 0500z October 14 and 1300-2200z Oct. 14; more on the rules at the PAQP web site.

Illinois QSO Party
1700z October 21 to 0100z October 22; more on the rules at the ILQP web site.

JARTS WW RTTY Contest
0000z October 20 to 2400z October 21; more on the rules at the JARTS web site.

Asia-Pacific Sprint CW
0000-0200z October 21; more on the rules at the AP Sprint web site.

Stew Perry Special 160 CW Contest
1500 October 20 to 1500 October 22; this does not replace the normal contest in December. More on the rules at the more on the rules at the Stew Perry web site.

CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest
0000 October 27 - 2400z October 28; more on the rules at the CQ WW web site.

November Sweepstakes CW

2100z November 3 - 0300 November 5; more on the rules at the ARRL web site.

Ukranian DX Contest
1200 November 3 - 1200z November 4; more on the rules at the UARL web site.

For much more comprehensive schedule information, check the contest calendars maintained by the ARRL or WA7BNM

For QRP specific contests, check out the N2CQ QRP Contest Calendar
For RTTY specific contests, consult the site run by AA5AU at rttycontesting.com

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KEYSTONE STATE CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA QSO PARTY

2006 Pennsylvania QSO Party Winners

AA3B - SOHP Pennsylvania WA3A - SOLP Pennsylvania N3LL - QRP Pennsylvania W3SO - Pennsylvania Multi-Single W3ZO - Pennsylvania Multi-Multi W3USA - Pennsylvania Mobile W8MJ - SO Non-Pennsylvania K4ORD - QRP Non-Pennsylvania

UPCOMING RADIO SPORT CONTESTS

Oceania DX CW Contest0800 October 13 - 0800z October 14; more at the Oceania DX web site.

Oceania DX CW Contest

0800 October 13 - 0800z October 14; more at the Oceania DX web site.

Pennsylvania QSO Party1600z October 13 to 0500z October 14 and 1300-2200z Oct. 14; more on the rules at the PAQP web site.

Pennsylvania QSO Party

1600z October 13 to 0500z October 14 and 1300-2200z Oct. 14; more on the rules at the PAQP web site.

Illinois QSO Party1700z October 21 to 0100z October 22; more on the rules at the ILQP web site.

Illinois QSO Party

1700z October 21 to 0100z October 22; more on the rules at the ILQP web site.

JARTS WW RTTY Contest0000z October 20 to 2400z October 21; more on the rules at the JARTS web site.

JARTS WW RTTY Contest

0000z October 20 to 2400z October 21; more on the rules at the JARTS web site.

Asia-Pacific Sprint CW0000-0200z October 21; more on the rules at the AP Sprint web site.

Asia-Pacific Sprint CW

0000-0200z October 21; more on the rules at the AP Sprint web site.

Stew Perry Special 160 CW Contest1500 October 20 to 1500 October 22; this does not replace the normal contest in December. More on the rules at the more on the rules at the Stew Perry web site.

Stew Perry Special 160 CW Contest

1500 October 20 to 1500 October 22; this does not replace the normal contest in December. More on the rules at the more on the rules at the Stew Perry web site.

CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest0000 October 27 - 2400z October 28; more on the rules at the CQ WW web site.

CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest

0000 October 27 - 2400z October 28; more on the rules at the CQ WW web site.