[SECC] Times for the GQP

[John Laney]

I can tell you the history of the times for the GQP, but not a good 
reason for them.  The GQP rules when the contest was rejuvenated in 1999 
were take from the recently rejuvenated and very successful Fla QSO 
Party rules.  We took their times.  They have since changed some of 
their rules, but not maybe the times.  I think the later start on Sat 
was to allow for some work on that day and to allow for preparation of 
the mobiles and transport to their start points.  They moved their start 
time on Sunday earlier than it had been to allow for more DX contacts. 
Now, with the bad conditions in the mornings for DX on 15 and 20 and no 
conditions on 10, it doesn't help much to start that early.  But, if 
there are to be any DX contacts on 15, the contest needs to start that 
early.  The past few years the first few hours on Sunday have been 
unproductive for most of us.

Anyway, the answer is that we took the FQP hours and adopted them 
without rethinking.  I'd favor an earlier start on Saturday to give us 
DX QSOs possible and a later start on Sunday to allow for church. 
However, I'd not like the see the ending time extended on Sunday.  It 
ends pretty late as it is and the mobiles and the operators need to get 
back home and be ready for work Monday.  Maybe if we wanted to keep the 
20 hour total time period, we could start two or three hours earlier on 
Saturday and the same time later on Sunday?

BTW, it might be helpful for someone to get Paul, N4PN, in on the 
conversation.  He is a big supporter of GQP and one of the more 
enthusiastic contesters in GA right now.  He is a member of SECC and 
SEDXC, but I don't think he subscribes to either reflector.  His e-mail 
address is n4pn at conx.net.

73,

John, K4BAI.