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The NAQCC March 2018 Challenge

All challenge info such as rules are now in the hands of Gary K1YAN. Email him with any questions in that regard at pix_email_k1yan (1K).

The results on this page are the responsibility of Hap K7HAP. Email him with any questions in that regard at pix_email_k7hap (1K).


30 METER CHALLENGE

PREMISE:
The 30 meter band offers some great possibilities for the QRP operator. In these days of declining band conditions, its niche between 40 and 20 meters is a good spot to be when 20 has closed and 40 isn’t quite up to snuff. The domestic power limit of 200 watts levels the playing field a bit for the QRP gang and the lack of contest activity opens up some spectrum during those wall to wall contest weekends. Conditions can vary greatly with both local and DX stations showing up for your operating pleasure. I’m sure, with all this said, you just can’t wait to have a go at this little jewel. Well, that is fortunate because our challenge this month is staged only on 30 meters.


TIME FRAME:
The first day of the month 0000Z through the last day of the month 2400Z


RULES:
All General Challenge rules apply, in addition to the specific requirements listed below.

ALL CONTACTS MUST BE MADE ONLY ON 30 METERS.

Make at least 15 QRP and / or QRPp CW contacts, on 30 meters, during the time period that total 5,000 Miles Per Watt or more.
Contacts must include at least 6 different states or 6 different DX entities.
The other station may be running any power. Only you must be QRP or QRPp.

Calculate MPW by dividing the distance of the contact by your power and total the MPW from all contacts to reach the required 5,000. Use one of the MPW calculators available on line for this calculation.

Example:
K1QRP works KX3CW a distance of 200 miles using 250 mW ( 0.25 watts ) --> 200 / 0.25 = 800 MPW
K1QRP works K6DIT a distance of 1500 miles using 5 W --> 1500 / 5 = 300 MPW

K1QRP has a total of 1100 MPW.


AWARDS:
A certificate and Participation Point go to everyone completing both the MPW total and QSO requirements and submitting their report before the deadline.

A Participation point goes to everyone who either makes only the required minimum 15 QSOs and the state or DX entity requirement OR only makes the 5,000 MPW total and submits their report before the deadline.


PRIZES:
A choice of an item made by master woodworker Gregg WB8LZG as shown on our prizes page here goes to someone selected via a random drawing from all who participate and submit a report for this month's challenge. A person can only win once, then they become ineligible for future drawings.


LOGS:
State that you did or did not complete the QSO requirements for states or DX entities.
List call, number of QSOs, number of states or DX entities and MPW total, regardless of whether you completed the whole challenge or just a part of it.

Examples:

K1QRP, 15 QSOs, 9 states, 5570 mpw (This entry is good for a certificate and a participation point.)

DL3CW, 15 QSOs, 10 DX, 4279 mpw (This entry is good for only a participation point.)

You may also include comments about the challenge. Please preface any comments you want posted with "SOAPBOX:" so we will know what you want posted and what is private.

Send your results as text in the horizontal format shown above to:

E-mail: pix_email_k7hap (1K) (You must type that address into your email program.)
Subject must read: (your call) NAQCC (month) Challenge
For example: K3WWP NAQCC February Challenge

All entries must be RECEIVED before the 10th of the following month at 2400Z.


Final Results:

 

         QSO     ST    DX        MPW

KD0V:     15     12            5,139.6 

K4KBL:    19     10     6      5,039.2

AK3X:     15      4     8     10,084 

N9SE:     15      7     5     26,076

KI4IO:    18      6     8     11,210

KJ4R:     18      8     8      5,026

KA5PVB:   26     10            5,177

K1YAN:    24     10     6       6236

VE3DQN:   18     10     4       5054 

W8BUD:    50     29     4      9,634.5
 
WI5H:     21     16     2       5082

W2JEK:    16      8     4       9574

NF1U:     16      9             2531

AA4NN:    18     14     4       5007

WX1M:     15      8     4       5599 

N8XMS:    15     10     1      	5408

G3JFS:    15      1    12      21810

PA9CW:    37           37      75024


All the above get a certificate and participation point.

All below get only a participation point.

 
WB4OMM:    5      2     3       5487

PA0XAW:   30     13             4317

K1IEE:    11      9     2       4318
Not eligible for a certificate or participation point for the following reason(s):
@ = Non-member
$ = QRO power

Soapbox:
KD0V:  It was nice to do a challenge again. My work schedule was to busy last year. 
Now it is back to somewhat normal (the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction). 
Doing this challenge has really lifted my sprints. Thanks - Merlin 

K4KBL: 30 meters is starting to come around more in the last few weeks. My Elecraft 
K1 is a joy and exciting to operate especially working DX.

AK3X: 30 meters is rarely open when I am on the radio, so I had to change my 
operating habits a little. Late afternoon and early evening were the best times 
for me.  Rig was my Small Wonder Labs DSW-30 running 2.4 watts and a wind damaged 
132' OCF doublet at about 27 feet.  If the wind ever stops long enough I will get 
it back up.  For now it is configured as an 88' doublet inverted vee.  A fun 
challenge, and now I know when to get on 30 meters.  I tried to get 3C0W in the 
log for this challenge, but no joy... good thing I like sitting in pileups and 
listening to the 'UP" police. 72 til next month...  Peter

N9SE: Highlight of the month was working Rotuma Island 3D2EU with 900 mW

KI4IO: What an odd band.  This evening 3C0W, off the coast of Africa, was 
running JA's and some stateside hams.  Other than that, a dead band.
30 meters does not suffer from a lack of propagation, but a lack of
participation.  It might very well be the best band for QRP, If only
other hams could be encouraged to dive in...

KJ4R: Nice change of pace for this months challenge.  30 meters some evenings had 
good long propagation to help with the MPW and other evenings it was graveyard dead.
Some of my longer distance QSO's this month were ZP6CW and TF3JB.  Had a nice QSO 
with KA9MYF who I had not worked since 1996. 22 years since our last contact. I 
tried a few times to work some of the rarer DX (3C0W, TJ2TT, TN5R) but poor condx 
and massive pileups made it a waste of time.  Another fun month using the PFR 3B 
and 1/4 wave vertical. 73 to everyone.

KA5PVB: I spent a lot of time calling CQ with no joy, and even tried to set-up 
sked's through the SKCC "sked page" and others could not hear me calling them. 
The last couple of days the propagation seemed to improve and more contacts were 
logged here on 30M! Thanks for a very interesting and challenging "challenge", 
looking forward to next month's already!

K1YAN:  Heard a lot of DX early in the month but no success working the rare ones. 
Propagation not good enough to break the pileups. Did manage some of the more common 
ones though ... E7, LZ, LA, 9Y4, PJ5, I.

VE3DQN: I liked being "forced" to hang out on 30mtrs for a change. Before this 
Challenge I'd listen occasionally to 30m, and not hearing much would move off to 
other bands. With my low wire antenna I was surprised even to snag a few DX stations. 
How about putting the 30m Challenge 2 times a year on the schedule?

WB4OMM: Wow, just couldn't get on the air much this month.  But that being said, 
I COULD NOT BELIEVE I WORKED TJ2TT AND 3C0W WITH 3.5W!!  Was using my Elecraft K-1 
that puts out 3.5W and got both of them the same night!  (OK, so it took a lot of 
tries!).  A very different type of challenge this month!  Looking forward to next 
month's challenge.

WI5H: Thanks for another fun challenge. I had some really nice QSOs and work several 
new contacts. Several were 2 way QRP. 72, until next time. CUL Mike

W2JEK: STARTED WITH OAK HILLS OHR-500 AT 1 WATT FOR 5 QSO WITH ONE DX AND 4 STATES 
FOR 6696 MPW. THEN USED YAESU FT-840 AT 5W FOR 11 QSO WITH 3 DX AND 8 STATES. 
9Y4/LY2IJ WAS A NEW 30 COUNTRY FOR ME.  DX WAS F5NTV AT 1 WATT AND  9Y4/LY2IJ, 
OK1DN AND PJ5/SP2GCJ AT 5WATTS. HAD A GOOD TIME. 72 AND 73 DON W2JEK

NF1U: I did not enjoy this 30mtr challenge.  30mtrs was just not my friend during 
March. Having scheduled and taken a 12 day vacation to the UK(Scotland) did not 
help either.  I much prefer alphabet challenges where all authorized bands can be 
employed.

AA4NN: MPW calculated using Maidenhead Grid distance and bearing calculator

WX1M: Another fun challenge. Gave the K1 a workout. QRP never ceases to amaze me 
imagine thousands of miles using 3 to 5 watts and a wire antenna. Great job and a 
huge THANK YOU!!! to all that make the challenges possible. 

PA0XAW: Limited time. Most stations in between 500 to 900 miles, except SV8ANW at 
1350 miles, during an early evening qso. Could not make the 5000 mark, but it was 
a enjoyable challenge!

N8XMS: This was a close one!  I made my final contact during my last available 
hour of operating time on the last day of the month!  The three QSOs that I made 
while operating portable with 1-watt of output certainly helped my MPW total.  
Everything else was made at 4 or 5 watts.

G3JFS: I decided to use 1 watt to simplify calculation and to produce genuine miles 
for one watt figures. I also aimed to make all contacts for my entry to be over 
1000 miles. I did manage to do this but it was a lot harder than I expected as 
conditions did not favour QRPp operations. Much credit must go to the guys who 
struggled to copy my tiny signals.

W8BUD: Had great time with my new KX3 5 watts into inverted L antenna 45 feet up 
and 100 feet horizontal worked early mornings and late afternoon thru the Gray Line 
also my Deltran 12volt battery 26-35 AH 96 Watt Hrs. it was flawless during the 
complete operation will be using it this summer on the beach of Lake Michigan at 
the end of our road here on the farm. My key was the Navy Flame Proof thanks to 
all that worked me was on quite a bit so 73/72 to all Bud # 1243.

K1IEE: This was a big challenge for me. I seemed to be in the right place at the 
wrong time on the band all month. Another handicap was that I ran 4 watts with the 
HW9. The challenge did work in that got me on 30M more then ever. 73 to all Dick