PA QSO Party FAQs - PA QSO PA

Please see https://www.paqso.org/pa-qso-party-rules.html

Yes.  County activation plans are collected and updated each year and are available at https://paqso.org/--party-plans-and-aids.html.  It is best to check this site often as plans evolve right up to the start of the contest.

Please see https://paqso.org/--rare-counties.php which shows the rarest counties for the last five years.

This is optional but appreciated by the PA QSO Party Association to help ensure that all 67 counties are covered.  Plans can be shared via https://paqso.org/--party-plan-entry.html

Please go to section 9 of the rules.

There are several contest logging programs available that support the PAQP.  The most popular programs are N1MM Logger+, N3FJP, and WriteLog.  Use the latest version to insure the best results.  Also, integration of the contest logging program and radio are strongly encouraged.

No. Logged exchanges must conform to the standard abbreviations shown at https://paqso.org/pa-cntys-arrl-sects.html.  Use of non-standard abbreviations will likely cause the QSO to not count in the final score.

No. QSOs can only be made on CW and SSB.

Yes!  The PA QSO Party allows and encourages spotting in all categories.  Self-spotting is permitted.  Spotting may be performed via the DX cluster and/or the PA QSO Party spotting  page available at http://qsopartyhub.com/paqp-spots.php

Yes, please.  There is no penalty for dupes, and a dupe in your log might be a valid QSO for the other station (e.g., the other station doesn't have you in their log).

No.  There is no penalty for dupes, and a dupe in your log might be a valid QSO for the other station (e.g., the other station mis-copied your call the first time).

No, you will not receive credit for QSOs if you miscopied calls, serial numbers, or locations (county or ARRL section).  The other elements of the QSO are equally important.  For additional information see section 5 of the rules.

You must use UTC for the QSO time.

For those without rig control, the logged frequency can be anywhere within the QSO band.

No. Once you operate as a multi-op station then you are multi for the duration.

Yes, but as there is no single band category you would enter as one of the categories defined in the rules.

Everyone can call CQ.  Here are recommended (optional) CQ messages:

It is suggested that you add “/3” to your callsign to help participants recognize your Pennsylvania location.  For example, NK8Q/3.

The “Mobile Window” is a set of suggested frequencies set aside exclusively for the mobiles to operate in.  Non-mobile stations should not call CQ or “run” in the “Mobile Window” to avoid interfering with the mobile stations.  You are encouraged to look for the mobiles in the “Mobile Window.”  Please see Section 4 of the PAQP rules for mobile window frequencies.

The Bonus Station is a special operation selected by the PA QSO Party Association.   These operations are often clubs that are commemorating anniversaries or other notable activities.  Each valid QSO with the Bonus Station is worth 200 points.  Please see section 11 of the rules for more information.

No, but the submittal of a log, no matter how large or small, contributes to the log checking process and is strongly encouraged.

No. Only Cabrillo 3.0 logs are accepted.  Please go to http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/paqp_cab3.php for support in converting paper logs to Cabrillo 3.0 format.

Cabrillo is a specification intended to establish contest log formatting standards.  Compliance with these standards facilitates electronic submission and checking of contest logs.  Contest logging software will generate Cabrillo 3.0 formatted logs.  The Cabrillo specification is available at https://wwrof.org/cabrillo/

All PAQP logs should be submitted within 7 days after contest via https://www.paqso.org/log-submission.php (the page is activated a few weeks before the Party).

No.  The log checking system used in the PAQP will automatically calculate the claimed scores for all logs submitted.

Yes, the receipt of logs is automatically acknowledged via email.  Further, a listing of uploaded logs is provided at https://www.paqso.org/uploaded-logs.php

You may re-submit revised logs via https://www.paqso.org/log-submission.php, as many times as you like, until the submission deadline.  The last log you submit will be used for scoring.  You may not revise your log once the submission deadline has passed.

Please see https://www.paqso.org/awards-certificates.html for a listing of awards and certificates available to all PAQP participants.

Yes.  Please see Section 15 of the PAQP rules.

Yes, you can pay the sponsorship fee and a plaque will be sent to you.   However, you must submit your request and pay the fee on a timely basis following the posting of the results before we send the list of the plaque winners to the vendor that produces the plaques.    

This is heartbreaking when it happens, but rest assured, it has happened to many participants over the years.  We only grant awards when a participant has met the award criteria.  This makes attaining the award that much more fulfilling.

Yes.  Plaque sponsorship opportunities will be announced by the PA QSO Party Association in November.

The results of the PAQP are typically released in January and are published at the PAQP Website.

Donations are strictly voluntary and welcomed.  These donations are primarily used to cover the costs of maintaining the PAQP information technology infrastructure and PA QSO Party Association sponsored awards.  A list of all donors is available at https://paqso.org/party-donors.html

Please send your question(s) to info@paqso.org