Please note the following corrections to my note sent yesterday:1. The number 2675 refers to matched QSOs thus far, not total QSOs made.2. K4FD should be N4FD, Larry Smith.So long as there are writers, there will be editors who will be the bane of the writer's existence... and their salvation.73,ScottPlease distribute to radio club reflectors and individuals that participated in the Georgia QSO Party on April 9th and 10th, 2011.
Preliminary Report: GQP 1x1 Special Event Stations
As of 04/30/2011, all of the logs from the stations that operated with 1x1 call signs appear to have been received. They have been reviewed by the log checking program, and then run through the comparison cycle with the participant logs submitted thus far (DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING LOGS: May 15, 2011 – send them to gqplogs@iham.us ).
The eighteen call signs were used by over two dozen Hams over the course of the event and over 2,675 contacts were logged. This number was bolstered by the fact that several of the target stations were mobile “Rovers”, and each time they entered a new county, they became a new multiplier and thus eligible for another entry in the log. The roving 1x1 stations were K4I (W5JR), N4E (K4FD), N4I (WB4EVH), N4A (NM2L), and W4R (K4BAI).
The minimum requirement was to contact seven of the 1x1 call signs and spell G-E-O-R-G-I-A (yes, two “G” stations). However, never content to do just what was required, several stations submitted over 90 contacts with 1x1 operators during the contest (no one reached the century mark). In spite of the prolific appearance of the 1x1 stations in submitted logs, only one operator thus far has submitted a log with all eighteen stations in it. Two stations fell one letter short of a clean sweep; one missed K4E and the other missed N4E.
The epitome of frustration must be a log with over 70 contacts with 1x1 stations, but not enough unique call signs to spell G-E-O-R-G-I-A. Two stations wear that collar; both needed a second “G”. The rare vowel “E” was the undoing of many operators as well. Two logs recorded over two-dozen 1x1 contacts but nary a one with that “E”-lusive letter.
At the other end of the spectrum, two stations submitted logs with exactly enough 1x1 stations to qualify for the special award. They join 99 other happy operators who have qualified for the K4OD Memorial Award Certificate (operators from outside Georgia) and the K4BK Memorial Award Certificate (operators from inside Georgia) thus far. If you believe that you worked enough 1x1 stations during the 2011 Georgia QSO Party to qualify for an award and have not submitted your log, do it today. In addition, do an extract of those unique 1x1 contacts and submit them to 1x1@iham.us. If you have already submitted your log and extract, thank you. Another update will be released soon after the deadline for log submissions.
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Background:
K4BK was the ham radio call sign of James M. Rowe, the recently deceased brother of K4OD, John G. “Gordon” Rowe. Not long after the conclusion of the 49th edition of the Georgia QSO Party in 2010, Gordon resolved to create an award that would honor the memory of his brother and generate interest in the golden anniversary of the annual event in 2011. He got the wheels in motion and almost immediately, he had over a dozen commitments to make the “event-within-a-event” a reality. By the time the 2010 GQP results were published, Gordon was in failing health and sadly, he passed away on December 11, 2010.
It was resolved by the South East Contest Club and Southeastern DX Club, the two sponsors of the Georgia QSO Party that Gordon’s plans to honor his brother would not be abandoned, and that Gordon would be honored in a similar manner. The certificate honoring Jim would be presented to hams within Georgia, and the one honoring Gordon would be presented to hams outside Georgia. The response by the ham radio community to the 50th anniversary of the Georgia QSO Party has been overwhelming. So far, over 335 logs have been submitted, but over 1000 unique call signs have been documented has having participated in the event.
If you are one of the 700+ folks that made contacts in the GQP but did not keep a log, please send an e-mail to gqplogs@iham.us . Include your name and call sign and the approximate hours when you operated. Even if you only made a handful of contacts, we want to hear from you. Another update will be forthcoming after the deadline for log submissions.
73,
Scott, KB4KBS