2004 New England QSO Party Results
by Tom Frenaye, K1KI - frenaye@pcnet.com

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Introduction

Springtime in New England is a nice time of year.  The first weekend of May also brings with it the New England QSO Party, and 2004 was its third year.   Connecticut and Rhode Island take on a nice green color as the leaves on the trees have started to come out in early May.   As you go further north the green fades to grey and in northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, the leaves haven't started to show, some of the high hilltops still have some leftover winter snow, and many of the lakes and ponds are mostly covered with ice.   But summer is around the corner - the scenery changes fast at this time of year.

The number of logs jumped 15% to a total of 295 in 2004, mostly from non-W1 entries.  The number of QSOs reported was 49,720, way up over 2003.   All New England counties were active - logs from eight mobiles covered 86 counties, plus there was one group (K1JB) who operated portable from several counties and a couple of other mobiles who didn't submit logs.
 
Propagation

As the sun's 11-year cycle heads towards the minimum, QSOs were hard to find on 10m, though there were still more than in 2003.  More than half of the total QSOs were made on 20m, and surprisingly 80m had more activity than 15m did.


80m 40m 20m 15m 10m
QSOs made by W1s 3,141 10,222 19,578 1,193  157
Different stations worked    408
   1,695
   3,750
    302
   58

As in past years, the K-index summary from NOAA is shown below.  Basically it shows that there were no significant solar storms during the contest, but with an index of 3 on the first day and 2 on the second, there is room for a little improvement.  More information on this can be found here:   http://www.sec.noaa.gov

Estimated Planetary K Index

Mobiles

Several new mobile efforts were present in the 2004 NEQP - N1JEO/m, N1RR/m, N1SV/m and W1VE/m all made an impact.   Actually, Charlie "The Wiz" N1RR/m turned in the top single operator mobile score while covering 13 counties, dethroning previous champ Tom, K1KI/m, who managed to operate from 23 counties.   Charlie had a few less QSOs but pulled over the top by catching some additional multipliers.   Ed, K1EP/m, finished in the top three again while passing through 16 counties.   

John, W1XX/m, was joined by Bob, K1XA, this year and the team again took top honors in the multi-operator mobile category while moving around in four Rhode Island counties, and set a multi-op record at the same time.

Mobile activity really helps to spice up the contest - so if you have the inclination to try it out in 2005, there are several people willing to help you out.

USA/VE/DX results

Check here for detailed results -->  Score detail
and for band-by-band info for the leaders -->  Band-by-band

Paul/N4PN seesm to try something different each year in the NEQP.  The first year he was SOLP from Georgia, and had the top score.  In 2003 Paul entered as SOHP from Florida, and again had the top score.   In 2004 he was SOHP from Georgia and had a NEQP record score with 507 QSOs, all 67 counties and 48,173 points.   Paul puts in a full effort - and you can see from the table below he doesn't stay on any one band or mode for long.  He doesn't take much time off either...

N4PN
 May 1st
 May 2nd
Band/UTC
 20
 21
 22
 23
 00
 01
 02
 03
 04
 1st day
 13
 14
 15
 16
 17
 18
 19
 20
 21
 22
 23
2nd day
 Total
10 CW








0




3




3
 3
10 SSB








0




3
 1



4
 4
15 CW








0
 3
 3
2






8
 8
15 SSB








0



3
 1
 7
 1


12
 12
20 CW 24
 1
 7
 7
 1
 3
 1

44
 14
 7
 9
 6
 7
 3
7
 6
 3
 1
 63
 107
20 SSB 43
 34
 10
 23
 19
 3
 1

133
 6
 21
 15
 18
 11
 14
 13
 8
 5
 1
112
 245
40 CW

9
 6
 1
 7
 5
 10
 2
 40

2


1
 4
 1
 8
 10
 26
 66
40 SSB

4
 2
 3
 6
 5
 8
28
 1





2


3
 31
80 CW




4
 14
 6
 3
 27









1
 1
 28
80 SSB





1
 1
 1
 3










0
 3
Total CW 24
 1
 16
 13
 2
 14
 20
 16
 5
 111
 17
 10
 11
 8
 7
 6
 1
 11
 7
 11
 12
 101
 212
Total SSB
 43
 34
 14
 25
 22
 9
 7
 9
 1
 164
 7
 21
 15
 18
 14
 18
 21
 11
 5
 1
133
 295
Total 67
 35
 30
 38
 24
 23
 27
 25
 6
 275
 24
 31
 26
 26
 21
 24
 22
 22
 12
 12
 12
 231
 507

Other stations with big single operator scores were all from the 4th call area with Jim/K4PV in Florida the closest competition to N4PN with 30,600 points, followed by John/K4BAI in George and Bert/N4CW in North Carolina.   In the Low Power category, Charlie/NF4A made 301 QSOs in 61 counties for his leading 28,548 points.  Dave/N4IG in Florida and Ned/K1GU/4 in Tennessee each managed more than 20k points.   Breaking into the 4th call area dominance were Keith/WA3HAE in Pennsylvania, who was 2nd in the SOLP category just behind K1GU/4, and Tom/N2CU in New York with a 4th place finish.   Being close to New England isn't necessarily an advantage when a large percentage of the QSOs to be made are on 20m.  

Top scorers from further west  were led by Rex/K7QQ with a big 18,468 points and 5th place SOHP with 171 CW QSOs in 54 counties.   Also doing well from the west were Paul/K0JPL in Missouri and Californians Rob/K6RB and Bob/W1RH/6 in the HP category and Bill/K5WAF from Texas, and Mike/K5UV from Oklahoma.

Bill/K4LTA from Tennessee ran away with the QRP category and found 100 CW stations in 46 counties to work.   The multi-operator category was won by Dan/N0HF (+Bruce/WW1M) from Colorado after a 2nd or 3rd place finish the first two years.    Doug/VA3DF led all Canadian scorers with his 115 QSOs and 45 counties while running QRP power - and set the Canadian record at the same time!   

The top DX score came again from Ged, LY3BA, with 238 QSOs in 61 counties and 23,607 points, beating all but three USA SOHP entries!     Gerd/DL5AWI was second while setting the German SOHP record and Hal/DL5MC turned in the top SOLP score - a new DX SOLP record.  A number of people were quite happy to work Dave/K1ZZ who operated from 4U1ITU as well.

There were new records set in the multi-operator category in five states, in SOHP and SOLP categories in 12 states each, and in SOQRP in six states.

New England results

Check here for detailed results --> Score detail
and for band-by-band leaders -->  Band-by-band

This was the year for Rick/KI1G to win the High Power category from New England.   Rick put in a full effort from his Kent County RI located, balanced his activity about 50-50 between CW and SSB, and totalled 1532 QSOs and 106 multipliers resulting in 241,786 points.   As with N4PN outside of New England, Rick kept at it for the full contest period with few breaks and regular band and mode changes.    Dennis/NB1B stayed on CW for the whole contest from Bristol County MA and came in second and newcomer (to the NEQP) Bill/NT1Y from relatively rare Orange County VT.   Ken/W1NG was a close fourth and Art/W1RZF nailed fifth place.
KI1G
 May 1st
 May 2nd
Band/UTC
 20
 21
 22
 23
 00
 01
 02
 03
 04
 1st day
 13
 14
 15
 16
 17
 18
 19
 20
 21
 22
 23
2nd day
 Total
10 CW








0

4
4
 4

1

13
 13
10 SSB








0



4
 6
 1
1

12
 12
15 CW

3
 1




4
44
 10
 8
 13
 2
 4
1
 3
85
 89
15 SSB
4






4
5
 15
 1
 1
 4
 1
2

29
 33
20 CW/rtty 102
 4
 17
 16
 1
 12


152
 42
 18
 11
 32
 10
 25
 13
36
 4
 9
 200
 352
20 SSB
103
 67
 60
 15
 39


284
 22
 4
 16
 24
 5
8
 110
 46
 69
 34
 338
 622
40 CW



88
 5
 28
 14
 21
 156



8
 2


11
 3
 23
 180
40 SSB




44
27
 2
 73








1
 1
 2
 75
80 CW




2
 67
 18
 19
 106









9
 9
 115
80 SSB






10
 1
 11




2



28
 30
 41
Total CW 102
 4
 20
 17
 89
 19
 95
 32
 40
 418
 42
 62
 25
 40
 35
 33
 17
38
 18
 21
 331
 749
Total SSB
107
 67
 60
 15
 83
37
 3
 372
 22
 9
 31
 25
 10
 12
 10
 110
 49
 70
 63
 411
 783
Total 102
 111
 87
 77
 104
 102
 95
 69
 43
 790
 64
 71
 56
 65
 45
 45
 27
 110
 87
 88
 84
 742
 1532

In the Low Power category, Pete/W1RM found the formula for victory from Hartford County CT with 841 CW QSOs and 82 multipliers for 137,924 points. 
Following Pete were Randy/K5ZD using club station AK1W from Worcester County MA and Ann/WA1S from Hillsboro County NH.  Bill/K1EV used his QRP station to make 195 QSOs and the top QRP score.

Dave/K1TTT and his team of Brian/NJ1F Tom/W1TO and Mike/WM1K continued their dominance of the multi-operator category with 1330 QSOs and a multiper of 116..   Dave/KB1H with Chris/N1XS kept close but their 1241 QSOs and 96 multipliers had to settle for second place for the second year in a row.

Logs were received from stations in all counties.    Quite a number of records were set - view them here -->  NEQP records

Who are the "Multiplier Kings"?
 
Who worked all of the counties in each New England state?

Congratulations to N4PN for working all 67 counties in New England.  N4IG found 63 of them, WA3HAE and K4BAI worked 62, and NF4A and LY3BA logged 61 counties.    Working all Rhode Island counties turned out to be the easiest - 52 stations worked all five of them!

Worked all Connecticut counties (8) 
Call QTH Category
LY3BA
 Lithuania
 SOHP
N0HF
 Colorado
 MS
N4IG
 Florida
 SOLP
N4PN
 Georgia
 SOHP
NF4A
 Florida
 SOLP





Worked all Massachusetts counties (14)    
Call QTH Category
K4PV
 Florida
 SOHP
N2CU
 New York
 SOLP
N4PN
 Georgia
 SOHP





Worked all Maine counties (16)    
Call QTH Category
N4CW
 North Carolina
 SOHP
N4PN Georgia
 SOLP
     
Worked all New Hampshire counties (10)    
Call QTH Category
K4BAI
 George
 SOHP
K4PV
 Florida
 SOHP
N2CU
 New York
 SOLP
N4IG
 Florida
 SOLP
N4BP
 Florida
 SOLP
N4PN
 Florida
 SOHP
WA3HAE
 Pennsylvania
 SOLP
     
Worked all Rhode Island counties (5)    
Call QTH Category
AB7RW
 Washington
 SOLP
AF5P
 Louisiana
 SOHP
DL5AWI
 Germany
 SOHP
DL5MC
 Germany
 SOLP
HB9ARF
 Switzerland
 SOLP
K0AD
 Minnesota
 SOHP
K0JPL
 Missouri
 SOHP
K1GU/4
 Tennessee
 SOLP
K3EGE
 Pennsylvania
 SOLP
K3MD
 Pennsylvania
 SOLP
K4AMC
 Tennessee
 SOLP
K4BAI
 George
 SOHP
K4BEV
 Tennessee
 SOLP
K4LTA
 Tennessee
 SOQRP
K4PIC
 Georgia
 MS
K4PV
 Florida
 SOHP
K5KG
 Florida
 SOHP
K5WAF
 Texas
 SOLP
K6DGW
 California
 SOLP
K6RB
 California
 SOHP
K7QQ
 Washington
 SOHP
K8IR
 Michigan
 SOLP
K8ZT
 Ohio
 SOQRP
K9EN
 Wisconsin
 SOLP
KH2D
 Florida
 SOLP
KJ9C/m
 Indiana
 SOLP-m
LY3BA
 Lithuania
 SOHP
N0HF
 Colorado
 MS
N0YO
 Kansas
 SOHP
N2CU
 New York
 SOLP
N4BP
 Florida
 SOLP
N4CW
 North Carolina
 SOHP
N4GM
 Florida
 SOLP
N4IG
 Florida
 SOLP
N4LR
 Georgia
 SOLP
N4MM
 Virginia
 SOHP
N4PN
 Florida
 SOHP
N6NF
 Texas
 SOQRP
N6ZFO
 California
 SOLP
N9KO
 Illinois
 SOHP
NF4A
 Florida
 SOLP
NN6DX
 California
 SOLP
NW7MT
 Montana
 MS
PA3ARM
 Netherlands
 SOLP
VA3DF
 Ontario
 SOQRP
W4ARM
 Florida
 SOLP
W4STB
 Florida
 SOHP
W9YQ
 Wisconsin
 SOLP
WA3HAE
 Pennsylvania
 SOLP
WB9CIF
 Indiana
 SOHP
WC4E
 Florida
 SOLP
WD0BMS
 South Dakota
 SOHP



Worked all Vermont counties (14)     
Call QTH Category
LY3BA
 Lithuania
 SOHP
N4PN
 Georgia
 SOHP



What about the New England stations?

Single operators AF1T and KI1G worked all 50 states, as did the multi-op team at K1TTT.    KG1E found 49 and three others put 48 states into their logs.   No one worked all of the Canadian multipliers but NT1Y and multi-op KB1H each found eight different provinces.   Twenty New England stations worked 20 DX countries or more.

Worked all US States (50)    
Call QTH Category
AF1T
 MER NH
 SOHP
K1TTT
 BER MA
 MS
KI1G
 KEN RI SOHP
     
Worked at least 20 DX countries    
Call QTH Category
AF1T
 MER NH
 SOHP
AK1W
 WOR MA
 SOLP
K1FK
 ARO ME
 SOHP
K1KI/m
 23 counties
 SOLP-m
K1TTT BER MA MS
K2LE
 BEN VT
 SOHP
KA1ZEX
 WOR MA
 SOLP
KB1H WIN CT
 MS
KG1E
 ESS MA
 SOHP
 KI1G
 KEN RI
 SOHP
N1API
 NHV CT
 MS
N1RR/m
 13 counties
 SOLP-m
NB1B BRI MA SOHP
NT1Y
 ORA VT
 SOHP
W1ACT
 DUK MA
 MS
W1KT
 WOR MA
 SOLP
W1NG
 NHV CT
 SOHP
W1RM
 HAR CT
 SOLP
W1RZF
 WOR MA
 SOHP
W1UF
 NAN MA
 SOHP
WA1S
 HIL NH
 SOLP
WA1Z
 ROC NH SOLP
 
Club Competition
 
Looks like the Yankee Clipper Contest Club ran away with the club competition this time!    Since they sponsor the plaque for the top club competition score, the plaque will go to the CT-RI Contest Group.    Good efforts from the Meriden ARC (CT) who generated five entries, and the Contoocook Valley RC (NH) and the Falmouth ARA (MA) with three entrieseac .    Make sure to add your club name to your entry next time.  
     
Club Count Score
Yankee Clipper Contest Club 41 2,197,614



CT RI Contest Group 8 418,603
Contoocook Valley RC 3 110,231
Nashua Area Radio Club 1 54,473
Framingham Amateur Radio Association 1 39,156
Hampden County Radio Assn 1 37,240
Candlewood ARA 2