The idea behind CQP (California QSO Party) is to once a year activate ALL 58 California counties, from which we Californians are looking for all 50 states and 8 Canadian provinces, with DX stations
as a [non-multiplier] Bonus. The above QSL card showcases a triumphant return to MODOC county in 2013, after a disastrous (but 1st-place) 2012 expedition to this undisclosed SW location in the county (the Northeast most county in California).
While Alameda is usually at the BOTTOM of the [most needed] county list, it surprises me every
year how few actual Alameda county stations actually work CQP; too often none from the city of Alameda itself.
If you go to my CQP page (WQ6X.Info/CQP) you see that I first began CQP exploits joining up with
the crew @ W6ML (MONO) - taking 1st-place 4 years in-a-row. Then it was onto Ventura county for several solo events as W6C. Since 2010, I've been part of several 1st-place expeditions w/N6GEO. Individually N6GEO and WQ6X have set Single-OP county records, as well one for Contra Costa county from our K6U LP Multi-Multi event in 2014. Researching the county records stats, it seems that in the LP Multi-Single category for Alameda county, the record high score is only 25k points;
easily doubleable with a full blown CQP club operation.
For previous CQP events I have registered numerous 1x1 callsigns, including:
- W6C / W6K (VENT) Ventura County
- K6M / W6C (MODO) - Modoc County
- K6S (SACR) - Sacramento County
- W6E / W6K (TUOL) - Tuolumne County
- K6U/K6T/W6C/K6C (CCOS) - Contra Costa County
While using a 1x1 call such as K6A (A=Alameda) has some possibilities, I would think using our K6QLF call would better showcase the Amateur Radio Club of Alameda (ARCA); especially having W6QLF as one of the operators.
While I am proposing we run in the Multi-Single (Multi-OP Single Transmitter), that means only
1 transmitted signal is allowed at any given moment. M/S stations can also dedicate a separate
station for finding/hunting multipliers only.
CQP is a multi-mode (Cw & Ssb) for HF, as well as 6m, 2m & 440. Because some operators "specialize" in one band/mode or another (Cw, Ssb, VHF, etc.) to make a multi-single operation
work, a Hour/Band plan should be devised in which a different Band/Mode is run during each hour, taking advantage of band propagation, as well as operator availability. To make this happen,
an operator list should be made, with individual operators indicating which hours / modes
(Cw, Ssb, VHF) each operator is available for.
Another way to conduct a Multi-Single operation is by running TWO stations, each with a different callsign; such as: K6QLF & K6A. K6QLF makes a run for the county record; registering K6A puts another instance of Alameda county on the radio. The PR-value in doing this is the likelihood that the Alameda operation could be co-showcased on the Results page in February. Since 2013, the CQP
contest committee seems to like showcasing some of the events I've been involved in.
Location-wise, we need access to a location that will allow us to be there beginning Friday morning
or early afternoon enabling us to setup radios and antennas (if they are not already there) and then test the radios individually and in relation to each other. If we have an existing station location, I can setup an outdoor station using the Coleman Insta-Tent (opens out in 2 minutes) which I have used for MANY CQP and Sweepstakes operations. The above QSL card shows inside the Insta-Tent during our 2013 CQP operation from Modoc.
To learn more about CQP go to: CQP.Org.
To review the CQP results from last year go to: CQP.Org/Results.
If you have any thoughts / feelings / emotions / idea regarding
the above writeup, you can always e-Mail me at: Ron@WQ6X.Info.
I look forward to working with y'all to FINALLY replace the county record for Alameda county - K6QLF can DoIt. We've made Field Day happen; CQP is just another variation.
Ron
WQ6X
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