2017 VERMONT QSO PARTY

The 2017 Vermont QSO Party was another huge success. We received 18 Vermont Logs and a record setting 107 outside Vermont logs. Vermont stations collectively contacted over 6300 stations and participants outside Vermont claimed over 920 QSO's. Conditions were very tough - use of multiple bands and modes were necessary to keep the scores up. Hardly anything was heard on 10 and 15 meters. It's sunspot minimum time! Balancing out the poor conditions, we had our first bonafide mobile expedition across Vermont in many years as N1GVT put all 14 counties on the air. They instantly attracted a sizeable following who chased them across the Vermont countryside, and simultaneously increased competition in this year's event. We hope they do it again next year and hope we can get others to go out and do expeditions, as well!

A total of 41 certificates and 3 bottles of maple syrup will be awarded!

As promised last year, we took a long hard look at logging accuracy and actually checked the logs and removed bad QSO's. So, if your QSO total doesn't exactly match what you submitted, it is likely the log cruncher took its toll. We still have some problems with unacceptable logs being submitted. Much of this was due to a software vendor just releasing a product which was not fully checked out. A couple of logs were totally unreadible. We urge everyone to put bonafide contesting (not logging) software on their shack computers. We will also make some improvements to the log submission process to make it easier for everyone.

Please send along any comments or suggestions. We'll look foward to doing it again next February!

Please click the "2017 Results" box up above for score details and listings.

The 59th Vermont QSO Party will take place during the first full weekend of February 2017. It will begin at 0000 UTC Saturday and will end at 2400 UTC Sunday.

In local time, this corresponds to a start time of 7:00 PM EST FRIDAY night February 3rd and an end time of 7PM SUNDAY night February 5th.

The VERMONT QSO PARTY provides the opportunity for Amateur Radio Operators to contact and exchange QSO information with Vermont Amateur Radio operators. All licensed amateur radio operators are invited to participate. Stations outside Vermont work Vermont stations. Stations within Vermont work everyone.

The discussion below is a summary of the QSO Party. Please download The Official 2017 Vermont QSO Party Rules for specific rules.

CATEGORIES

EXCHANGE

SCORING

• Phone: 1 pt
• CW: 2 pts
• Digital: 2 pts
  (all digital modes (RTTY, PSK, Packet) count as ONE Mode)

Multipliers
Multipliers count ONLY ONCE PER MODE. Multipliers consist of:

• 50 U.S. States
  
• 13 Canadian Provinces and Territories (see list below)
  
• Any ARRL DXCC country (except U.S. Canada, Alaska, Hawaii)
  
• 14 Vermont Counties (see list below)
  
• Specific Vermont Club Stations
  

Club Station Multipliers
Only approved Vermont Club Stations will count as multipliers. A club operation must inform the QSO Party Chairman no later than one week before the contest. A club operation must commit to operating at least 5 hours duing the event. Stations using their own call sign may not then use a club call sign to give out a multiplier. Valid club multipliers for 2017: W1NVT W1JXN N1GVT W1KOO.

Power Multiplier

High Power	over 150w	x 1.0
Low Power	over 5w, under 150w	x 1.5
QRP	under 5w	x 2.0

Final Score is QSO Points times multipliers times power multiplier.

SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES AND TIMES

Phone: 80-15 meters: the first 25 kHz of the General portion of each band, 1850-1875 KHz, 28.400-28.425 MHz.

CW: 25-50 kHz from the bottom edge of each band.

VHF: 50.130 MHz SSB, 144.200 MHz SSB, 146.550 MHz FM.

Vermont activity hours have been schedule to allow Vermont stations to find each other. Please check these frequencies, as it is rough to work each other on 20m days and 40m nights.

Sat 0000-0015Z	Fri 7PM ET	3850 KHz
Sat 1800-1815Z	Sat 1PM ET	7200 KHz
Sun 0000-0015Z	Sat 7PM ET	3850 KHz
Sun 1800-1815Z	Sun 1PM ET	7200 KHz
Sun 2345-0000Z	Sun 6:45PM	3850 KHz

Schedules for Vermont Club Stations

W1NVT will be primarily on SSB

Sat 0000-0300   Fri 7-10PM    80M/40M
Sat 1500-2000   Sat 10AM-3PM  20M
Sat 2000-2400   Sat 3-7PM     40M
Sun 0000-0300   Sat 7-10PM    80M
Sun 1500-2000   Sun 10AM-3PM  20M
Sun 2000-2400   Sun 3-7PM     40M  

There will be some limited RTTY activity. Check the cluster for activity.


W1JXN will be primarily on CW:

Sat 0000-0300   Fri 7-10PM    40M/80M/160M
Sat 1400-1900   Sat 9AM-2PM   20M
Sun 0100-0300   Sat 8-10PM    40M/80M/160M
Sun 1400-1600   Sat 9AM-11AM  20M
Sat 2000-2400   Sat 3-7PM     40M/80M/160M

Also occasional operation on 6 and 2 meter FM, SSB, CW.


N1GVT mobile will visit the 14 Vermont Counties operating both CW and SSB:

Friday:  Franklin, Grand Isle, Chittenden
Saturday:  Washington, Lamoille, Orleans, Essex, Caledonia
Sunday:  Orange, Windsor, Windham, Bennington, Rutland, Addison

Arrivals at each location will be spotted. Also tracking is
available via N1GVT-9 on APRS.

REPORTING

1. E-Mail. Submit your contest log via e-mail to ranv@sover.net no later than March 5, 2017. Contest log must be in Cabrillo Format! Most contest software will produce this for you. We recommend the N1MM software, as this is strongly supported.
2. Contest Software. You are resposible for submitting an accurate log in proper Cabrillo format. The log must be in chronological order, from earliest QSO to latest QSO. The log MUST show your category (SINGLE, MULTI) and power (HIGH, LOW, QRP).
   Any software which automatically looks up call sign addresses is NOT to be used and any logs submitted in this format are not acceptable (Ham Radio Deluxe and N3FJP are examples of programs which have this feature - make sure you turn this feature off!). Participants are expected to COPY ALL pertinent contest exchange information! If you have questions or issues with contest software, contact the Contest Manager at the above address, BEFORE the QSO Party.
3. Postal Mail. We strongly, strongly encourage all participants to submit logs electronically!! However, paper contest will be accepted via postal mail to: Vermont QSO Party, PO Box 9392, South Burlington, VT 05403-9392. PAPER LOGS MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 18 TO BE CONSIDERED. When submitting paper logs, please include summary sheet and dupe sheets

AWARDS

• The 3 highest single operator scorers outside Vermont but within the U.S. will receive a 3 oz. miniature jug of genuine Vermont Maple Syrup!
• The top scorers in each category from Vermont and each category outside Vermont will receive a certificate.
• Stations outside Vermont making over 10 Vermont contacts will receive a certificate.
• Stations in Vermont making over 100 contacts will receive a certficate.
• Results will be published on this site within 60 days after the end of the QSO Party

OTHER CONTESTS

OTHER INFORMATION

CANADIAN PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES

VERMONT COUNTIES