2016 VERMONT QSO PARTY

The 2016 Vermont QSO Party was a huge success. We received 21 Vermont Logs and a record setting 82 outside Vermont logs. Vermont stations collectively contacted over 7200 stations on SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK-31. Scores and participation from stations outside Vermont were way up from last year, even though 10 meters was more or less down for the count. Please click the "2016 Results" box up above for score details and listings.

A record 14 Vermont and 24 outside Vermont certificates will be issued.

Two things we will look to improve next year: logging accuracy and proper logging format. We found quite a few busted call signs in the logs (N1NVT for W1NVT, W1WXM for KB1WXM, N1BCC for N1BCL, etc.). So far, we only have had a good laugh over this and don't penalize anyone. But, to be fair to everyone, this might be considered in the future. Some of the electronic logs were in very rough shape and took a lot of time to process. Next year, we will have easy-to-use software available on our site so that everyone can produce clear and concise logs.

Comments we heard:

• Great contest - really enjoyed myself
  
  
• Great time working QRP for this event!
  
  
• Looking forward to next year
  
  
• Only heard 2 stations all weekend in MT
  
  
• Please recruit more CW ops
  >>We DID! I had really twist some arms to get some CW ops over to W1NVT, but we did it!
  
  
• Where were all the Vermont stations? Vermont stations hard to find.
  >>There were 54 Vermont stations on from 12 counties who collectively made over 7200 QSO's. But we work hard to be elusive. Otherwise, Vermont wouldn't be a rare state anymore!
  
  
• The green background on the Vermont QSO Party page makes it hard to read. Change it to white.
  >>Vermont is the GREEN Mountain State, so we have to use GREEN. If we used WHITE, we would get confused with the WHITE Mountain State, which is New Hampshire, next door.
  
  
• W1NVT didn't send their county. Don't all VT stations have to send their county?
  >>As the operator who perpetrated this, I submit myself to the contest manager (me) for disciplinary action and disqualification. But alas, as the host station, we are already disqualified!

The 58th Vermont QSO Party will take place during the first full weekend of February 2016. 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 5th and an end time of 7PM SUNDAY night February 7thd.

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 2016 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 can 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 2016: W1NVT W1JXN.

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: 50.13 MHz SSB, 144.2 MHz SSB, 146.55 MHz FM.

Vermont activity hours have been scheduled to allow Vermont stations to find each other (recently updated):

• Saturday 0000Z 7200 KHz start of contest
• Saturday 0100Z 3850 KHz
• Saturday 1300Z 7200 KHz
• Sunday 0000Z 3850 KHz
• Sunday 0100Z 3850 KHz
• Sunday 2300Z 7200 KHz end of contest

REPORTING

1. E-Mail. Submit your contest log via e-mail to ranv@sover.net no later than March 7, 2016. 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 20 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 certficiate.
• Results will be published on this site within 60 days after the end of the QSO Party

OTHER CONTESTS

Several other contests run concurrently with the Vermont QSO Party to maximize your QSO's and fun, please be ready to give the exchanges necessary in these other contests too!

CONTEST	DAY/TIMES/HRS(UTC)	THEIR REPORT	YOUR REPORT	RULES
Minnesota QSO Party (MnQP)	Sat 1400 - Sat 2400 (10)	Name and MN County	Name and Your State	http://www.w0aa.org/index.php/rules
BC QSO Party	Sat 1600 - Sun 0400 (12)	RST and BC Electorial District	RST and Your State	http://www.orcadxcc.org/bcqp_rules.html
NA CW Sprint	Sun 0000 - Sun 0400 (4)	Your Call, Their Call, S/N, Name, State (CW ONLY)	Their Call, Your Call, S/N, Name, State (CW ONLY)	http://ncjweb.com/north-american-sprint/
10-10 QSO Party	Sat 0000 - Sun 2400 (48)	Name, 10-10# (or 0), State (10M ONLY)	Name, 10-10# (or 0), State (10M ONLY)	http://www.ten-ten.org
Black Sea Contest (BSCC)	Sat 1200 - Sun 1200 (24)	RST and ITU Zone or Club Name	RST and ITU Zone	http://bscc.ucoz.ru/index/rules_black_sea_cup_international_eng/0-21

OTHER INFORMATION

CANADIAN PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES

VERMONT COUNTIES