[CQ-Contest] US Counties QSO Party-SSB

[Scott Nichols]

Hi again everyone...

Another quick reminder that the inaugural running of the U.S. Counties 
QSO Party - SSB will take place May 17 and 18, 2003.

This is a 48 hour event, starting at 0000z May 17/03 and ending at 2359z 
May 18/03.

Formerly known to most as the County Hunters Contest - SSB, the U.S. 
Counties QSO Party - SSB is sponsored by MARAC (The Mobile Amateur Radio 
Awards Club). All amateurs worldwide are invited to participate. Lots of 
plaques and certificates for winners/participants.

Full rules and information is available at 
 http://www.stpaulisland.net/countycontest.html including downloadable 
listings of the 5 letter codes assigned to each of the 3,077 US counties 
(multipliers) in WORD, EXCEL, TXT and PDF formats. These are all very 
lengthy, but the Excel version is likely the shortest for printing...

We are still very hopeful that a fully functional Writelog module will 
be ready for this years contest. Details will be posted on the above 
website when/if this happens...

Basically, US stations work everyone (includng other US stations) and 
stations outside the US work US stations only. In other words, at least 
one station must be in a US County for the QSO to count... All 3,077 US 
counties are multipliers, and mobile stations are worth extra bonus 
points...Of course, mobile operation is strongly encouraged, and if you 
would like to post your planned mobile trip (or even fixed operation), 
there is a place to do that on the above website as well...One mobile 
station has indicated to us that he'll be putting out some 70 different 
counties during this contest...

Can't go to Dayton? Well, this is the next best thing...Hope to hear you 
on...

If you have questions or need more information, please email me directly 
and I'll try to help...

73, Scott VE1OP
Advisor to the Organizing Committee
2003 US Counties QSO Party-SSB