2021 Idaho QSO Party

Results

On March 13 and 14, Jay, N7ZUF, and I activated eight counties in the Idaho QSO Party using the Idaho DX Association club call of NI7DX. Jay operated 20 m SSB while stopped and I operated 40 m CW all the time. The final QSO count was 124 SSB Qs and 137 CW Qs for a claimed score of 54,128. The 261 Qs was down from last year's 310, but the split between SSSB and CW was more equitable and we had a good time.

We started the contest in Idaho county. After too long with on contacts on either SSB or CW, we re-checked both antennas and found our original settings of the coil traps were not correct, probably due to interaction between the two antennas. Once that got fixed, there was time for a few 40 m Qs before we had to head for Lewis county.

As it has been for the last three years, Nez Perce county was our most productive one. We operate from the top of a 2,100 foot drop off to the towns of Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA and the confluence of the Clearwater River and the Snake River. This is a great location for terrain enhancement to the east and south. We made a total of 68 Qs from that location.

Our second and third best counties were Latah with 46 and Benewah also with 46 Qs. We get a double hit in Latah with late Saturday afternoon and again early Sunday morning. 40 m was productive both times especially on Saturday afternoon as the sunset line moved across the country. We were in Benewah county mid-morning Sunday which is a good time for 20 m propagation.

The champion chaser was KA6BIM. Dave, who lives in OR, found us on CW in all eight counties. If you look at his QRZ page, you'll see why he was successful. AC0W, Bill, in MN found us n mixed modes in seven of the eight as did KI6RRN, Axel, in CA and W6TDX, Chris, in OR. Other honorable mentions with five or more band-mode-counties were N6QZS, VE5KS, W0PI, and AA2Q. It is really nice to have the same customers in each county.

Thanks to all who worked us and to those who tried, but we didn't hear.


Pictures and comments from along the route.


This was our view overlooking the Clearwater and the Snake Rivers far below. The location was good for 68 Qs.


A frozen mud snowmobile unloading area in the town of Elk River was our operating location in Clearwater county where we made 23 Qs.

A pullout off Idaho State Route 3 in the mountains near St. Maries provided us with an operating location in Benewah county. This location and time of day yielded 46 Qs.

The Plan

Jay, N7ZUF, and I will activate eight counties in the Idaho QSO Party on March 13 and 14 using the Idaho DX Association's call of NI7DX. Jay's truck has dual radios and dual antennas so when we are stopped Jay will operate SSB and I will operate CW. When we are in motion, I will operate CW. Jay will try to be around the IDQP suggested frequencies of 3.855, 7.260, 14.260, and 21.335 MHz, subject to QRM. I will be try to be near 14.036, 7.036, and 3.536 MHz. Watch the RBN and spots to find which band and mode we are on.

You can work us each time we change modes, counties, or bands.

If you would like a QSL card or MRC, please send SASE to my, K7TQ, QRZ address.

Saturday will see us in Idaho, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Latah counties. Sunday we'll be in Latah, Clearwater, Shoshone, Benewah, and Kootenai counties. Planned times are

Saturday March 13, 2021 (UTC)

  • Idaho (IDA) 1900 to 2000 Z

  • Lewis (LEW) 2000 to 2122 Z

  • Nez Perce (NEZ) 2122 to 2330 Z

  • Latah (LAT) 2330 to 2359 Z

Sunday, March 14, 2021 (UTC)

  • Latah (LAT) 0000 to 0100 Z

  • Latah (LAT) 1315 to 1417 Z

  • Clearwater (CLE) 1417 to 1528 Z

  • Latah (LAT) 1528 to 1546 Z

  • Shoshone (SHO) 1546 to 1643 Z

  • Benewah (BEN) 1643 to 1824 Z

  • Kootenai (KOO) 1824 to 1859 Z