1. Idaho QSO Party in the 21st Century
Having FUN!!!!!
We are the DX!!!!!
Working DX!!!!!

2. Idaho QSO Party in the 21st Century
Objectives of the Event:
Encourages Idaho Hams to Get On The Air
Offers an Opportunity for “Outsiders” to work Idaho
Allows Idaho Stations to be “DX, for a Day”
Goal: Have Fun!

3. Idaho QSO Party in the 21st Century
Mobile Operations:
“County Hunters” Love QSO Parties
There are 44 Counties in Idaho (many with only a handful of Hams)
Idaho QSO Party Rules encourage “Mobile” or “Rover” Stations
Rovers May Operate in Multiple Counties (and on County lines!)
Rovers Located on County Line May log two QSO’s (1 for each County)
Mini-Dxpeditions are also encouraged
(sponsors will give prospective expeditions tips on “needed” counties)

4. Idaho QSO Party in the 21st Century
About the Rules:
Available at
Rules Format:
Objectives,
Contest Period,
Operator Category,
Power Category,
Scoring,
Log Submission

5. Idaho QSO Party in the 21st Century
A few More Details:
Always the Second Full Weekend of March
From 1900Z on Saturday thru 1859Z on Sunday
Same weekend as changeover to Daylight Savings Time
(“stay on Zulu time for the weekend”)

6. Idaho QSO Party in the 21st Century
Future Plans:
Continue to refine (and simplify) event Rules
Shorten log submission period (15 days?)
Shorten log checking period & winner announcements (15 days?)
Become a “World Class” operating event

7. Idaho QSO Party in the 21st Century
Past Sponsors:
Ed Campbell (NX7TT), Founding Sponsor, “retired” 2008
Kootenai Amateur Radio Society (KARS) joined as Sponsor in 2009
ARRL SM Ed Stuckey (AI7H) joined as Sponsor in 2009
John Wilson (KØIP) joined as Webmaster in 2009
(Club Sponsor TVRA as of 2018)

8. Idaho QSO Party “Flow Chart”
Second weekend of March
Pre-Event Publicity
Begins 120 days before Event
Log Submission Period
Days after Event
Log “Evaluation”
1 – 45 Days after Event
Prep for Future Year
Rules changes
Processing improvements
New Ideas for Event
Begins 9 Months before event
Summarize Results
And Post to Web Page
(Within 45 Days after Event)
Rest Period!
(maybe)
Recognition Certificates
To all participants
(Within 60 Days after Event)

9. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
The Idaho QSO Party “Event Cycle”
1. By 12/30 of “preceding year” (12/30/18 for IDQP 19)
Make updates to IDQP rules as needed
Make sure Log mailbox is valid and accessible
Inform ‘Contest Calendar’ of upcoming event
2. By 02/01 of event year (optional Publicity)
Ask ARRL Section Manager to send an announcement bulletin
Send an to past year participants encouraging their participation
3. By 03/01 of event year
Have team of IDQP log evaluators ready
(more, next slide)

10. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
The Idaho QSO Party “Event Cycle”
4. Immediately Following Event
Access Log mailbox, copy logs to “IDQP Folder”
Preliminary evaluation of logs (readable,right event, right dates)
Detailed evaluation of logs (Number of QSO’s, Number of Multipliers)
Post logs to Excel “Intake” workbook
Capture “soapbox” comments and pictures, send to IDQP webmaster
5. By 30 Days After Event
Organize results for posting to IDQP Web Page, send to Webmaster
Write a brief recap of the event, send to Webmaster
Create and send Participation Certificate for each Participant
6. By Six Months After Event
Review participant suggestions or complaints
Revise event rules to include new ideas (recommend “take it slow”)

11. Now For The Details Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
1. By 12/30 of “preceding year” (12/30/18 for IDQP 19)
Make updates to IDQP rules as needed. Rules are located at
Make sure Log mailbox is valid and accessible. Current mailbox
name located at
Inform ‘Contest Calendar’ of upcoming event. The “Official” Contest
Calendar is maintained by Bruce Horn (WA7BNM). (He also supplies
QST Magazine with event dates). for Bruce is
(more, next slide)

12. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
The Idaho QSO Party “Event Cycle”
2. By 02/01 of event year (optional Publicity)
Ask ARRL Section Manager to send an announcement bulletin
Send an to past year participants encouraging their participation
3. By 03/01 of event year
Have team of IDQP log evaluators ready
(more, next slide)

13. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
The Idaho QSO Party “Event Cycle”
4. Immediately Following Event
Access Log mailbox, read the mail. Most participants say little or
nothing in their , but include an attachment, like “K7ABC.LOG”
Download this attachment to your computer move or copy to an
IDQP folder like “IDQP19”. SOME participants include “Soapbox
Comments” and pictures with their log. Save these to a folder for
Inclusion in internet report. After completing this activity, move the
participant to an folder like “IDQP19”. (Clears the in-box
and saves the original in case you need to look at it).
Create and maintain an “IDQP19-Intake” Excel File
(see IDQP18-Intake.xlsx as an example). (You can copy that one and re-use).
Post Date Log Received; Time; Call Sign; in sequence of order received
(You will build on this file in future steps).
(more, next page)

14. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
The Idaho QSO Party “Event Cycle”
4. Immediately Following Event
Also, Create and maintain one or more IDQP Log analysis workbooks.
(In 2018, we had IDQP Log Analysis – Book 1, through Book 5)
Number and Name the tabs of the Log analysis with Call signs of participants,
in the same order as they were received. Copy Text file received from
participant in to position (A:1) in corresponding tab of Log analysis workbook.
(See IDQP Log Analysis – Book 1 from 2018).
(I put a max of 20 tabs in the Log Analysis workbook, although it would be
Possible to put all logs in the same workbook).
(Time saver: when you complete Book 1, File>Save as Book 2. Change tab
numbers to range of with associated Call signs)

15. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
The Idaho QSO Party “Event Cycle”
5. By 30 Days After Event
Organize results for posting to IDQP Web Page
You can copy the Intake file to a new Tab, then sort that Tab
(By Idaho/Not Idaho; by Power level; by score)
Normally you can do this about two weeks after event as almost
All participants will have sent in their logs. “Squeeze in” late logs.
Copy the Results to a fresh workbook, send to Webmaster
Write a brief recap of the event, send to Webmaster
Create and send Participation Certificate for each Participant
(Decide what “recognition” to put on all Certificates before writing them)
(You may want to change the Certificate form / format to TVRA Taste)

16. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
The Idaho QSO Party “Event Cycle”
6. By Six Months After Event
Review participant suggestions or complaints
Revise event rules to include new ideas (recommend “take it slow”)
(It can be confusing to participants if you make real big changes in
The next year)

17. Mechanics of Sponsoring the Idaho QSO Party
Trouble Spots
1. Incorrect or Unreadable Logs
(Wrong dates, wrong event, can’t open log)
2. Logs in “ADIF” Format
You can read small logs “by hand”
Use Google to find ADIFmaster online. Download and use on large logs
“Unknowns”
1. Will future ARRL Section Manager continue “Sponsorship”?
2. Will TVRA continue relationship with current Webmaster, or will you
Want to “Do It Yourself”? (cost, relationship with webmaster)
“Unknown Unknowns”
Contact Ed (AI7H) for possible assistance