2003 US Counties QSO Party, SSB

0000Z Saturday May 17, to 2400Z Sunday May 18, 2003

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I count contacts made on a county hunting net for contest credit?

A. No. Contacts made on any county hunting net are invalid for the contest. All contest contacts are to be "freestyle". Contacts made under a "net control", or someone who announces you or helps with relays are invalid. Stations should not interrupt net activities to announce they are going to another frequency to make contacts for the contest.

Q. How many points do I count for a contest contact?

A. If you are a US fixed station count 1 point when you work a US fixed station, Count 15 points when you work a US mobile station, and 5 points when you work any station not in a US County {DX, US possessions, Maritime mobile in international waters, etc.}.
If you are a US mobile station count 1 point when you work a US fixed station, 15 points when you work another US mobile, and 5 points when you work a station not in a US County.

If you are a station not in a US County count 1 point when you work a US fixed station, and count 15 points when you work a US mobile station.

Q. As a US station, how many points do I count when working Canadian or Mexican stations?

A. Canadian and Mexican stations count 5 points, the same as other stations not in a US County.

Q. How do I calculate my final score?

A. Total your qso points for the contest and multiply that total by the total number of different US Counties worked during the contest. It is up to the entrant to organize any logs or needed paperwork to accurately track his qso points and number of counties worked.

Q. I worked a mobile on a county line. How do I score this contact?

A. The mobile contact counts for 15 qso points, and 2 multipliers if neither county has been worked previously.

Q. I worked a mobile on a county line, but now he is running from one of the counties singly, can I work him again for QSO point credit?

A. No. A mobile on the same band can only be worked once in a county. He could be worked for additional qso point credit on a different band than the county line qso. If a mobile is worked in a county, then stops on a county line, another qso can be made if he has not previously been worked in the second county.

Q. How many points are counted for a contact with a portable station?

A. Contacts with portable stations count the same as a fixed station contact.

Q. As an entrant in the mobile category, may I have someone else drive the car while I operate the contest?

A. Yes. While the US Counties QSO Party is essentially a single-operator event, for safety's sake a mobile may have someone else do the driving. Only the entrant should make contacts, log, and perform other activities actually a part of operating the amateur station or operating the contest.

Q. How do I make contacts for the contest?

A. There are 2 basic ways to make contest contacts. The first is by "searching and pouncing". Tune around looking for other stations calling CQ for the contest and call them. Try to track the mobiles and work them again in each new county or on different bands. The second way is by calling CQ yourself. Besides working those operating the contest you will want to draw out stations who come across your CQ but who really aren't in the contest. Try saying things like- "CQ for the US Counties QSO Party, I can work anyone anywhere, I just need a signal report and your county." You should also be prepared to explain to answering stations that you need to know their county, many may give you their town or other information rather than the county. To maximize your score you will have to decide how to balance your operating between "Search and Pounce" and "CQing" to make the most contacts in the most different counties.

Q. Do I have to be a member of "MARAC" or a "County Hunter" to take part in the contest?

A. No! All participants are welcome and encouraged to take part in the contest. It will be an excellent chance to work counties towards the initial USA-CA Award sponsored by CQ Magazine. It is a beautiful award, and well worth achieving even if one never goes beyond the intitial 500 counties level. confirming the counties can be fairly economical since mobiles can be worked in many different counties, but confirmed on one QSL or MRC card. For more information on the USA-CA Award or how to confirm the counties you work see either the MARAC home page or countyhunter.com

Q. Keeping track of the points and multipliers seems complicated. Can I just send my log to the chairmen and have them calculate my score?

A. No. It is up to each participant to carefully examine the rules and find a way to keep track of thier score and multipliers worked. Multiplier lists and sample log sheets are available for downloading, and computer logging programs are available. Logs received without being scored or with major errors in scoring or tracking multipliers will be returned to the participant for correction.