New England QSO Party

The New England QSO Party has been running since 2002. I haven’t missed one yet.

Nine times I've taken 1st Place Maine Single Operator QRP. In 9 other years, I managed just 1st York County QRP (usually the only QRPer in the county). For four parties I was a pooper, making too few contacts to qualify for a certificate.

I finished 2nd QRP New England in 2012 and 2021, 3rd in 2016, and 5th in both 2002 and 2020.

My top scores have been 18,283 in 2021 and 11,120 in 2010, and my average score through 20 competitions was 3,618.

2021

A New Year's Radio Resolution challenged me to set a personal best for this contest in 2021. The weekend arrived before I got to do any antenna upgrades or additions and conditions on Friday didn't seem too hot. With a lot to do IRL I was tempted to sneak out of my commitment, but by the time I put in a couple of hours on Saturday I was confident I could reach my goal.

I ended up claiming 198 contacts (3 of them my first SSB QSOs in 20 years of NEQP) and 48 multipliers. I lost 2 QSOs and a multiplier during log checking, but was still a secure second to W1UU in a field of 13 QRPers.

2024

Still not recovered since the demise of my multiband antenna early in 2023, I suspected any effort from home would be underwhelming. So I set my sights on a mobile operation. Having no mobile setup, it would be more like a serial-portable event, a POTA-SOTA-type effort from spots convenient to a driving route. An multi-POTA operation would have been fun, but too few parks would align with my expected path. Instead I focused on open public spaces close to I-95. Initially optimistic with six target counties, I cut it down to four: Essex in Massachusetts, Rockingham and Strafford in New Hampshire, and York, Maine. That was a good call.

I was in position at Sunday's 09:00-local start and managed alright, especially after switching from a 20m vertical to an end-fed halfwave. Forty was productive and 15 and 20 were adequate. At my second stop I went with the EFHW and at the third, perched above a saltwater bay, I stuck to the vertical. While the early morning had been pleasant, cold breezes had picked up through mid day and then light rain got started. Stop #4 was home, where I set up the same portable station but with equipment protected under the porch. Once again, 40 was the best band and 20 was a struggle.

My first "mobile" contest was fun and full of learning. I was happy to log 101 and to post my sixth-highest score in 23 years of NEQP.