[VHFcontesting] Re: QRP portable geography

[curtis c. roseman]

Reflectorites:  

I wholeheartedly agree with the statements below about QRP Portable (now "single operator portable").  With relatively little equipment, short feedlines, simple antennas, and a good location, one can have a lot of fun. 

I was curious about the statement that "west caost stations seem to have dominated it recently,"  so I looked at the data.  Over the last three years only, 2000, 2001, and 2002, here are the locations of the ten highest scoring QRP portable entries in each of the major ARRL VHF contests. They are listed in order from highest to tenth highest. 

June:
IL
NC
SCV*
IA
NC
MN
WI
EPA
EPA

September:
SCV*
SJV*
ME
MN
OH
OH
SJV*
OH
WI
WI

January:
SJV*
CT
OH
WNY
EPA
ORG*
WNY
WI
LAX*
OH

I left out the calls so that we can concentrate on the geography.  Those indicated by a * are on the left coast.  I wouldn't say the coast "dominated," but clearly it is well represented, especially in September and January. 
Actually, the remarkable thing that I see in this is the diversity of locations that are represented. The fact is that you can do well in this category from a lot of places, and because the number of entries is usually quite small, it is possible for a modest station to break a section record in many places across the map (even with just two or three bands). 

73, Curt Roseman k9aks





----- Original Message -----
From: KA6AMD <ka6amd at earthlink.net>

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Duane Grotophorst" <n9dg at yahoo.com>
> 
> Actually, there is one category in VHF contesting that is designed to be
> competitive for smaller stations.  That is the QRP portable category.  One
> thing to note is that west coast stations seem to have dominated it lately,
> unlike most of the other categories that seem to be east coast dominated.
> I'm not sure why this is, but it is one area that is wide open for
> competition.
> 
> The QRP portable also seems to be what people are looking for as the epitome
> of contesting.  Using your skills with minimal equipment to get the QSO's.
> Why is it then that so few hams use this option?
> 
> The key to VHF contesting is (especially QRP) location, location, location.
> I live in a RF hole surrounded by 5000-7000 ft mountains.  I have to go
> somewhere else for my contesting, so I chose a category where I could be
> reasonably competitive without spending megabucks on the station.  I started
> out operating AB then ABD then ABCD and right now ABCD9E.  I am working on
> adding other bands and budget and time allow.
. 
. 
> Erich
> KA6AMD  DM15bp
>