NAQP: 10 Fantastic Hours of EM-Comm Training

One of the reasons some operators dislike radiosport contesting is because 24-, 30- & 48-hour
events are JUST TOO LONG - Enter the North American QSO Party (NAQP).  NAQP events,
be they Cw, Ssb or RTTY are 12-hour events (Single-OP operators are allowed to operate 10 out
of those 12 hours).  To make it relatively easy (and more fun), the Exchange sent for each contact
is NAME and QTH (State or Province for NA stations), which makes it more personal (and therefore more satisfying).

To assuage the hate of us "pesky contesters" by Ragchewers, the contest rules dictate
that maximum power output be 100 watts or less and no use of internet spotting is allowed. 
Stations running more than 100-watts who submit a log will receive the BiG DQ (disqualified). 
This is appropriate as in the REAL-world access to amplifiers is often limited, if available at all.

And yet, the 3830 stats still indicate a dozen or more stations who ran high power (HP).

Unlike the 4-hour NA Sprint contests, we are allowed to run frequencies, during the entire event
if we wish.  When I remote in to join the NX6T multi-OP GiGs, we typically run frequencies, resorting to S&P when we run out of calling stations on a given band.  Multi-OP stations are allowed to run the entire 12-hours of the contest event.

Contest time period is from 18:00z to 06:00z the following UTC Day.  Single-OPs have the challenge of determining which 2-hours to NoT operate.  I used to start at 20:00z, allowing me to operate the last 2-hours on 160 & 80 meters.  The problem with that approach is that many stations shutdown operations at 04:00z.  My current strategy is often to begin at 18:30z, taking 30-minute breaks when solar storms hit, or the bands seem to quiet down for a while.  Because we are in an ascending solar flux, 10-meter and 15-meter openings are no longer rare, making available more daytime multipliers.

 

During summertime NAQP GiGs many years ago, I setup portable operations from hotel rooms in
the San Francisco East Bay area to simulate what would be needed to setup a last minute "stealth" operation.  (Notice the use of a classic "Slinky" antenna and an MFJ apartment antenna pointing out the 3rd-story window.)

Prior to the 2019 Field Day GiG, I wrote a Blog questioning whether or not radiosport
contesting qualifies as Emergency Preparedness Training.  [CLICK HERE] to read that.

Last year, in preparation for the California QSO Party (CQP) event from Alameda county, I wrote
a quick Blog on CQP as EM-Comm training.  [CLICK HERE] to read that Blog.  While I love CQP, NAQP with its Name/QTH exchange makes it more personable and therefore for many people more fun.  EM-Comm training SHOULD be fun - if NoT, then why invest the time?

Are YOU into EM-Comm activities.

Have you ever considered NAQP to be a valid training exercise?

When the summertime NAQP GiGs come around, check it out.