NEBRASKA  QSO PARTY April 4th & 5th!

2020 NEBRASKA QSO PARTY RULES

Highlights for this Year

 

o       The QSO Party will return to April, first weekend.

o       Two days: Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5

o       FT8 with exchange of grid squares is allowed, but only in a separate competition.

o       Bonuses will be defined later.

o       For the QSO exchange, signal reports are optional.

 

General Information

 

Objective. Stations outside of Nebraska to work as many Nebraska stations/counties as possible. Stations in Nebraska to work everyone.

 

Dates/Times. The QSO Party (QP) will be held over two days. It will start Saturday, April 4, at 1300z (8:00 AM CDT Sat) and run until 0100z Sunday (8:00 PM CDT Sat). Then Sunday, April 5, from 1300z (8:00 AM CDT Sun) to Sunday at 2200z (5:00 PM CDT Sun).

 

Modes. For the regularly scored contest, modes are CW, Phone (SSB, AM, FM) and Digital (RTTY, PSK, and other digital modes, but not FT8). We encourage FT8 participation but FT8 will be scored separately. See separate description of the FT8 rules.

 

Exchange. For all modes except FT8, stations outside of Nebraska send State, Canadian Province or DXCC Country (S/P/C). Stations in Nebraska send NE county. For FT8, stations exchange grid square. For all modes, exchange of signal report is optional.

 

Recommended Frequencies. On CW, suggested frequencies are +/- 1.805, and on other bands 35+ kHz up from the lower band edge. On Phone suggested frequencies are +/- 1.915 and near, but not on, 3.865, 7.265, 14.265, 21.365, and 28.465; and 50.175.o For FT8, 1.840+, 3.573+, 7.074+, 14.074+, 21.074+, and 28.074+.

 

All VHF/UHF bands are allowed. WARC band contacts do not count. Please be courteous of stations that may have scheduled operations on the various bands.

 

Entry Classes. There are three: Out-Of-State, Nebraska Fixed, and Nebraska Mobile/Portable.

 

Scoring (except for FT8)

 

Final Score equals (QSO Points x Power Multiplier x Geo Multiplier) plus Bonus.

 

A Summary Sheet (provided separately) should help guide the scoring. Please attach one to your email.

 

Some QSO Party logging software does not provide complete summaries.

 

QSO Points. Contacts with the same station on different bands are considered unique, and contacts with the same station on the same band but with different modes are also considered unique. QSOs with the same mobile/portable station from different counties are also considered unique, even on the same band and/or with the same mode.

 

Each unique phone contact is worth 1 point. Each unique CW or digital contact is worth 2 points.

 

Power Multiplier. For all stations regardless of class/mode, there is a single Power Multiplier based on the maximum transmitted power output used during the QSO Party. If all QSOs are made QRP (5 watts or less) the power multiplier is 5; if less than 150 watts, the multiplier is 2; otherwise the power multiplier is 1.

 

Geo Multiplier. For stations outside of Nebraska, this multiplier is the total number of Nebraska counties worked. Count each Nebraska county only once per contest. The multiplier for out-of-state stations has a maximum of 93 counties.

 

For stations in Nebraska (either fixed or mobile/portable) the multiplier is the total number of Nebraska counties worked plus the total number of States/Provinces/Countries (S/P/C). The maximum number of states worked is 50, and the maximum number of Canadian providences worked is 13. Count each Nebraska county, and each S/P/C, only once per contest.

 

For Nebraska mobile/portable stations, calculate the geographic multiplier as above for all QSOs without regard to county of operation, band, or mode. Count each S/P/C and county only once per contest.

 

NOTE. A list of Nebraska County abbreviations is provided on the website (www.NEQP1.org). It is the same list used in 2016.

 

Bonus Points

o 25 bonus points for each unique QSO with KA0BOJ.

o 50 points for Mobile/Portable Stations for each NE county they make a QSO from.

o Other bonus points are TBD. See this website before the contest

 

FT8 Competition

 

To get the final score, multiply FT8 QSO Points times the geo multiplier based on grid squares only, and then add bonuses. There is no power multiplier.

Count 2 points for each QSO.

 

For stations outside of Nebraska, the geo multiplier is the total number of grid squares of only NE stations worked. Count each Nebraska grid only once per contest. The multiplier for out-of-state stations has a maximum of 13.

 

For stations in Nebraska (either fixed or mobile/portable) the geo multiplier is the total number of grid squares in Nebraska or outside Nebraska. Count each grid only once per contest.

 

For Nebraska mobile/portable stations operating FT8, calculate the geo multiplier as above for all QSOs without regard to county of operation, band, or mode, that is, credit for a grid square is only once per contest.

 

Regarding bonuses for FT8 stations, These are TBD. See the this website before the contest.

 

Additional Information

 

Entries. Deadline for all entries is two weeks after the contest ends, this year 21 September 2019. The deadline will be determined by postmark on letters, or dates on emails. A separate log with FT8 QSOs needs to be submitted for consideration in the FT8 competition.

 

All entries must contain a completed Summary Sheet and a log with band, mode, date, UTC time, call of the station worked, and exchange sent/received. See this website for a file containing a blank Summary Sheet.

 

Note: For submittals that have five (5) QSOs or less, you may elect to have us calculate your score. Simply request it in your email (or letter) when you submit the log.

 

Entrants are encouraged to submit an electronic log. Only Cabrillo format will be accepted for electronic logs. Otherwise submit hand logs. Submit entry materials in either of two ways:

 

(1) By e-mail: Please send the Log and Summary Sheet to KA0BOJ @ ARRL.org, or,

 

(2) By USPS Mail: Mr Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ, 14300 NW 98^th Street, Raymond, NE 68428

 

Awards. All entries will receive a participation certificate. As there have been in previous years, depending on sponors, there will be plaque and gift card awards. Tand these will be posted separately on website.

 

Miscellaneous

o       For a non FT8 QSO to be valid, each in-state station must copy the call sign and the S/P/C or county of the contacted station, and each out-of-state station must copy the NE county. For FT8, only call and grid square is required. Signal report is optional for any mode.

o       Nebraska Mobile/Portable stations that change counties are considered to be a new station in each county, and may therefore be counted again for QSO points and geo multiplier credit for the new county.

o       Nebraska Mobile/Portable stations should sign with their [call]/[county].

o       Nebraska Mobile/Portable stations may operate from county lines, but only two counties at a time. A single exchange on the air is ok, but enter it twice in the log, once for each county.

o       Cross mode contacts and repeater contacts are prohibited. All contacts must be simplex.

o       Spotting, including self spotting, is encouraged.

o       Known mobile/portable activity will be posted on this website before the contest.

o       Only one transmitter may be transmitting at any one time. Multiple receivers are allowed. Remote operation is allowed but only from the same transmitter/receiver site location for the entire contest.

o       Entrants are encouraged to post estimates of their scores at www.3830scores.com .

 

Conditions of Entry. By submitting an entry, entrants agree to be bound by these rules and their intent, by the regulations of their licensing authority, and by the decisions of the Nebraska QSO Party Awards Committee. Awards may be added or deleted depending on participation.

I will be "Spotlighting" 52 hams this year who have been active in contributing to Amateur Radio. You will see young and experienced hams and get a chance to get to know them. As you see each one, please take a moment to drop them a line so you can get to know them as well. Now, introducing this weeks ham.

 

 

This weeks ham spotlight  is on our very own Rod Blocksome.  KØDAS

I have been an active amateur for 57 years having been first licensed in 1960 as KN0DAS in Ransom, Kansas - on a wheat & livestock farm in western Kansas.  My early interest in radio and electronics led to my obtaining BSEE and MSEE degrees from Kansas State University.  I am much indebted to my early “Elmers” who helped me on this path: "Baldy" Balderson, W0CKV, Hal Dobbs, K5RTH/W0BXU, and Fred Bauer, W0EFT.

I served 4 years as a Communications Electronics Officer in the USAF during the Viet Nam Era.  I had a wonderful career with Collins Radio (later Rockwell Collins) in design engineering, engineering management, and communications systems engineering.  In 2002 I was honored as a corporate engineer-of-the-year and later retired in 2010 with 42 years of service. 

Since retirement I've been very active in many volunteer service projects - the most interesting one being a research analyst in the search for Amelia Earhart's Airplane lost at sea near Howland Island in 1937.  I've participated in three deep ocean sonar searches in 2002, 2006, and 2017 - and the work continues.

In my career I have either visited or worked in over 50 DX entities.  You may find me in your log as KN0DAS, K0DAS, K0DAS/5, K0DAS/KH6, VK2IHY, K0DAS/KH2, T30CXX, T32CXX, T32DAS, K0DAS/V73, and K0DAS/MM3. I hold an Extra Class License and am a life member of ARRL. 

My major amateur radio activities include:

 

• Weak Signal CW/SSB/Digital on the bands 50 MHz thru 2304 MHz including EME on 50, 144, and 432 MHz and contesting as a "Rover" Station.
• HF DXing and Contesting from home and club station N0MA - the Radio Farm
• Equipment and Antenna Design - both professionally and for amateur radio (see ARRL 1995 Radio Amateur Handbook for my 50 Watt Solid State HF PA)
• Restoration of Classic Equipment – I was part of the team that restored the WWII radio operators position on "FIFI" the flying B-29 in the CAF.
• “Elmering” new hams with technical assistance - I assist a friend who hosts regular "builder sessions", CW classes, and "Elmering" sessions.

• Upon retirement in 2010, I was presented with an opportunity to give back to the amateur radio hobby that has meant so much to my career when I was appointed vice-director of the ARRL Midwest Division.  I served in that position until elected director for the 2015-2017 term.

  My experience since joining the ARRL board in 2010 includes serving on the following committees:

  • Programs & Services Committee – current chairman
  • ARRL Historical Committee – current chairman
  • VHF/UHF Revitalization committee
  • Trademark committee
  • Contest Advisory Committee Liaison to the PSC
  • ARRL National Broadband Plan committee
  • Ethics & Elections committee
  • Administration & Finance committee

  For the past seven years it has been my privilege to serve first as Midwest vice-director and then director.  I am available and always willing to listen to member inputs, comments, complaints, and proposed solutions to the complex issues facing ARRL and amateur radio.

  If re-elected, I will continue to represent the ARRL members of the Midwest Division in the governance of ARRL to the best of my ability and with the highest ethical standards.

 

 

 

 

 

Nebraska Section Nets

 

Net name frequency meets time CDT time utc

40 Meter Net 7.282 Daily 1300 1800

Cornhusker Net 3.982 Daily 1230 1730

CW Traffic Net 3.540 M-F 1900 0000

Morning Phone

Net 3.982 Daily 0730 1230

One Sixty

Weather Net 1.995 Daily 1930 0130

Storm Net 3.982 Daily 1830 2330 or 0130

West Nebraska

Net 3.950 M-S 0700 1200

 

 

Notes from the Section Traffic Manager:

 

Looking for any historical notes you may have about any of the Nebraska Section Net’s. Please send me your articles, stories, remembrances, pictures or anecdotes you may have. We will add to the monthly summaries.

Please report your individual traffic monthly totals to me at: nf0n@arrl.net I also check in to several net’s daily, you can send to me on the net. I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Mike, NF0

 

 

 

NET Reports

 

Nebraska 40 Meter Net Sessions 15 QNI 162 QTC 2

Nebraska Cornhusker Net March Sessions

Nebraska CW Net Sessions

Nebraska Morning Phone Net Sessions

Nebraska Storm Net Sessions

One Sixty Meter Weather Net Sessions                                         

West Nebraska Net Sessions 

QCWA Chapter 25 Sessions                                        

Buffalo County ARES Sessions                                         

Dodge County ARES Sessions 

Eastern Nebraska ARES  Net Sessions 

Mid-Nebraska ARES Net Sessions                                         

NPPARC Sessions 

Platte Valley 2-Meter Net Sessions

W0IRZ Memorial ARES Net Sessions 

Elkhorn Valley ARC Sessions

·         Net Report Legend: Sessions=Number of times net called, QNI=Number of Station Check-ins, QTC=Formal Traffic Count

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nebraska Section Nets

 Net name frequency meets time CDT time utc 40 Meter Net 7.282 Daily 1300 1800

Cornhusker Net 3.982 Daily 1230 1730 CW Traffic Net 3.540 M-F 1900 0000

Morning Phone Net 3.982 Daily 0730 1230

One Sixty Weather Net 1.995 Daily 1930 0130

Storm Net 3.982 Daily 1830 2330 or 0130

West Nebraska Net 3.950 M-S 0700 1200

 Notes from the Section Traffic Manager:

 

 

 Looking for any historical notes you may have about any of the Nebraska Section Net’s.  Please send me your articles, stories, remembrances, pictures or anecdotes you may have.  We will add to the monthly summaries.

 

 

 

Please report your individual traffic monthly totals to me at: nf0n@arrl.net  I also check in to several net’s daily, you can send to me on the net.  I welcome your comments and suggestions.

 

Mike, NF0N

 

 

 

 

 

AKSARBEN ARC http://www.aksarbenarc.org
Amateur Radio Association of Nebraska (used to be: Hastings ARC) http://www.w0wwv.org
Ashland ARC http://ashlandarc.org/
Bellevue ARC http://www.bellevuearc.org
Boyer Valley Amateur Radio Club (IA) http://www.bvarc.net
Buffalo County ARES http://www.bcares.info
Douglas County ARES http://www.mdares.org/home/
Elkhorn Valley ARC http://www.qsl.net/evarc
Heartland Amateur Radio Association http://www.qsl.net/hara
Heartland DX Association http://www.hdxa.net
Lincoln ARC http://www.k0kkv.org
Midway ARC http://wØky.kearney.net/
Midwest Home Brewer's & QRP Group http://www.qsl.net/hbqrp
Nebraska EMA http://www.nema.ne.gov/
Pine Ridge ARC http://www.pineridgearc.org/
Pioneer Amateur Radio Club http://www.k0jfn.com
Strategic Air Command Memorial ARC http://www.sacmarc.org/
Quarter Century Wireless Association http://www.qcwa.org/
Society of Wireless Pioneers http://www.sowp.org/
South East Nebraska Radio Club http://www.senrc.farmpond.net
1Ø-1Ø International http://www.ten-ten.org/
3900 Club http://www.3900club.com

Other Links of Interest

ARRL DX Bulletins http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/
ARRL Propagation Bulletins http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/
ARRL Keplarian Elements http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/kep/
ARRL Transmission Schedule http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked
ARRL General and Special Bulletins http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/
ARRL Emergency Communications http://www.emergency-radio.org

SICK CALL

These are Amateur Radio Operators who are ill and need our support. Please send get well cards or QSL cards with your best wishes on them as they recover from their illnesses or surgeries. I will post along with their names what they are recovering from only with the permission of the families or the member themselves.

SILENT KEYS

While we celebrate the friends that they were, it is with sadness that we recognize the loss of these hams from our fold.

2013

WØADK - Lambert (Burm) Burmester
WDØFCK - Floyd D. Scholl

KFØFO Jim Peterson

KØSDG Paul Heiser

2012

WØAEX - Bob Rennolet, Sr.
KØAQQ - William Sprout
WAØASM - Steve May
KAØBTY - Robert Musil
KCØEHX - Roger Wilmont
WØHNW - Garry (Hoss) Cartwright
KØJPP - Berl Damkroger
KØKES - Joe Nanos
KBØOZD - Tadhg (Tag) Jackson
WØQOU - Martin Klein
WDØQVX - Henry Missel
ex-KAØREX - Claudius Shoniwa
KØRPC - Raymond M. Pohl
WØRVQ - Verne Voss
WØSZF - Verle (Moe) Francis
KAØTDN - Glen A. Roberts

2011

KAØFZW - Raymond E. Sheridan
WØGFQ - Leo Meyerson
WØJCB - William A. Rice
WØJCP - Dick Dyas
WØJJL - Jim Monk
KCØKOG - Jim Nitz
WØKQX - Ronald L. Frame
KI0KS - Robert Dunn Jr.
KAØLAR - Dan Tinkham
KBØLLZ - Bud Watson
KA2NIC - John Mark
KA0S - Doug Mibourn
WCØP - Don Duckett
KCØQR - Jerry Robb
KØTVP - Stanley Prokes
KØUDB - Gaylord Ottun
KBØWIC - Richard W. Harter
NØWWO - James Kuehn
KØYAB - Dick Moen
KCØYE - Robert M. Hill
NØXII - Steve Peterson
KCØYFU - Steve Rudolph
NØZRV - Vernon (Vern) Berggren

WEB RESOURCES

ARRL External Noise Handbook

HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS

ARRL Listing
Nebraska Section Convention: http://www.lincolnhamfest.org

VE TESTS

When attending a VE session, make sure you bring the following: your original license, a photocopy of your original license, 2 forms of identification (one with a photograph of you), any CSCE's and $15.00 cash or check.

NEBRASKA
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml?State=NE

Lincoln Amateur Radio Club
Testing is held at 6:30 PM on the first Thursday of the month at Red Cross building, 220 Oak Creek Drive, in Lincoln. Please refer to the calendar to confirm VE test dates.
For more information, the club website is http://www.k0kkv.org.

IOWA
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml?State=IA

NOTICE
You may reprint items from this webpage/newsletter without prior permission if attribution to this source is provided.

Matthew N. Anderson
ARRL Nebraska Section Manager
ka0boj@arrl.org