Welcome to the Maryland-DC QSO Party!
The next MDC QSO Party: 14-15 August 2010

On behalf of our Club President, the Board of Directors and the members of the Anne Arundel Radio Club, Welcome to the new home of the Maryland-DC QSO Party.  As the largest amateur radio club in the state of Maryland, we are pleased to be the sponsor of the Maryland-DC QSO Party for the next 10 years or so. 

 

This website will be your primary source of information about the MDC QSO Party so please bookmark it and come back often for news and updates.  On the right side of this page you’ll find links to:

 

a.  Previous MDC QSO Party results dating back to 2002

b.  MDC QSO Party logging software vendors (Buy/use at your own risk –           We offer no actual or implied endorsement of any software in case you        were wondering)

c.  The 2010 MDC QSO Party rules – without rules chaos reigns supreme

d.  The MDC QSO Party Summary Sheet which you must submit with

      your  log 

e.  Instructions for completing the MDC QSO Party Summary Sheet

 

Rest assured we don’t want to mess with success but inevitably, change follows new management like a bad habit.  Here’s a list of the changes to the MDC QSO Party that we are implementing effective 2010:

 

1.  All participants in the MDC QSO Party are required to have fun.  That’s why we call it “The Fun Contest”.  In the past it’s always been implied that the participants would have fun.  Effective with the 2010 MDC QSO Party, all participants are required to have fun. 

 

It really quite simple:  During the second weekend in August turn on your rig and make contact with stations in Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Amateur radio operators in every county within the state of Maryland and the cities of Baltimore and the District of Columbia will be eagerly awaiting your call.  And the exchange is quite simple:  Your location and operating category.  Check out the rules for more information. 

 

2.  We’ve added a new endorsement and it’s available to participants under the age of 18.  All participants may apply for the YL and Youth endorsements (as long as you qualify) to the four operating categories.  However, the VHF/UHF endorsement is restricted to MDC participants only.  Indicate your endorsement on the Supplemental Sheet that must accompany your log.

 

3.  For Maryland-DC participants, we’ve updated the MDC QSO Party Summary Sheet so that it now includes the Canadian Provinces (Similar to the list of Provinces and Territories used during Field Day and the November Sweepstakes).  We’ve also included instructions just in case.

 

That’s all of the changes for 2010 MDC QSO Party. 

 

The MDC QSO Party will continue to be held during the second weekend in August; the current operating categories will remain the same; and the scoring system will remain unchanged for the time being. 

 

It is our intent to announce the winners NLT 31 October.  The winners in each category will be invited to the annual AARC Christmas Party in mid-December to receive their award.  Those who cannot attend will receive their award in the mail.

 

Whether you are a loyal and long-time participant in the MDC QSO Party or new to “The Fun Contest”, we want to hear from you.  Send us your ideas on how we might make it more interesting and more fun.  We can’t promise you that we’ll implement every recommendation we receive, but we do promise we’ll review and carefully consider each and every one we receive. 

However, we can promise you this:  You will receive absolutely nothing for your good ideas except our gratitude.

 

Send your ideas, comments and questions to:  MDQSOP@w3vpr.org.

 

Thanks to the old-timers for your loyal support and participation in the past and welcome to the newcomers!

 

See you on the bands!

 

Good luck and 73

 

Bob Rose/AA3RR

2010 MDC QSO Party Chairman