Greetings from the 7QP!

The 16th annual 7QP will run this year on Saturday, May 7. We have an outstanding record to uphold. Based on number of logs received last year, 7QP is still the 3rd largest QSO party in the country and growing. For the past several years we have had all 36 Oregon Counties on the air. All kinds of 7QP info is available at www.7QP.org.

Remember the Digital category or in mixed mode: any digital contact counts 4 points! We can help out all those guys looking for Oregon on RTTY or PSK. Suggested frequencies: 80 kHz up on PSK; 86 kHz up on RTTY.  The Digital modes provide another way to get more new operators with modest stations into the activity on HF. Unfortunately, FT4 and FT8 will not work, the 7QP exchange is not compatible. And if you log on a computer, please email us a copy of your log even if you don’t care to compete for an award. It helps us score the event. A convenient Web Form is available to paste your log into.

Suggestion: If you are not using a computer logging program, now is the time to get into it. I suggest using N1MM+. It’s easy, it’s FREE, and was used by 63% of all entrants last year. Even if you are using another program to track your QSOs, DXCC, etc, you can easily export your 7QP log from N1MM back into it when the contest is over. Not only that, there are three other QSO parties that also use our weekend. N1MM is the only one that will let you log their exchange as sent. You can then enter these parties too by sending your log to them. There is no need to remove non-counting QSOs if you do this. Their scoring system does it all. It helps us and them too.

Talk it up when you can. Consider giving a talk to your local club about the 7QP.  Your support and enthusiasm for this event is the backbone of the participation in Oregon. And remember to put May 7th on your wife’s calendar so you don’t get pre-scheduled.

I look forward to hearing from you and, as always, thanks for your support of the 7QP.

73,

Dick Frey, K4XU (N7XU mobile)

Bend, OR

7QP Chairman