*Hello FQP Friendly Fun-seekers,*
*This is your **2024 Florida QSO Party Almanac* *for our Out-of-State
partners and FL Fixed and Mobile/Expedition stations.*
*FL Ops - Final Reminder:*
*Please register your Fixed, Mobile and Expedition county activations for
each day; the forms can be found at **https://floridaqsoparty.org/counties/
<https://floridaqsoparty.org/counties/>*
*The deadline is 0000z EDT Friday to ensure NO5W and K0RC super-duper
county tracking tools will include your operations.*
*Please note- folks across all continents use these tools, so be sure your
county activation is included.*
*Out-of-State Ops:*
You have many ways of having fun in the FQP that will keep you glued to the
radio:
A) Enjoy all the bands **Chock-Full** of FL stations; with 15m and 10m now
open in addition to 40m & 20m there will always be open bands for you to
hunt for us here in the Sunshine State. Stations big and small at each end
will enjoy the fun. We have scores of registered stations and *many* more
not registered making Florida truly radio-active this weekend.
*FQP Rules:* *https://floridaqsoparty.org/rules/*
<https://floridaqsoparty.org/rules/>
B) Go for a *County Sweep*! All 67 counties will be active on both modes;
we will have *350+* county activations by our Fixed, Expedition and Mobile
ops! Every county will be activated no less than two times with the vast
majority five or more times. But you have to be in the right place at the
right time - BIC time does make a difference. See 'Cool Tools' below...
Where: *10, 15, 20 and 40 Meters*
*SUGGESTED OPERATING FREQUENCIES:*
CW: 7.020-7.045, 14.025-14.055, 21.030-21.050, 28.030-28.050 MHz
Phone: 7.185-7.245, 14.240-14.295, 21.320-21.350, and 28.450-28.480 MHz
Contacts outside these frequency ranges are still valid; see rules for
details.
*MOBILE WINDOW:*We expect eight or more Mobile stations will be on and most
can be found here:
*CW: 7.025-7.035, 14.040-14.050, 21.040-21.050, 28.040-28.050 MHz*
****If you are not mobile, *please* refrain from calling CQ in these
windows****
C) *2024 FQP SPELLING BEE:*
We will have a total of *12 special 1x1 stations* whose suffixes spell
*KEYS. *There will be three stations per suffix. Contact at least one
station of each suffix letter spelling KEYS to earn this award. These
stations will be on both modes and should be very accessible. QSL these 1x1
calls active in FQP via KU9C Direct or via LogBook of The World (LoTW).
The call signs and hosts are:
*CALL HOST CTY *
*K4K AI4WW BRO*
*N4K N4WW ORA*
*W4K N4OX ESC*
*K4E K4EJ PAS*
*N4E N1TO IDR*
*W4E NF4A BAY*
*K4Y K3QH PAL*
*N4Y N4UU ALC*
*W4Y WO4O LAK*
*K4S K2SG HER*
*N4S N4SVC SUW*
*W4S NN7CW LAK*
D) *Compete for a plaque or earn a certificate:*
We perennially offer nearly 50 plaques, with more than two dozen for
stations outside FL. We also have printable certificates and the Worked
all Florida Award (tnx manager Charlie NF4A). See the Awards tab pull-down
menu on the FQP website for details.
E) *Way-Cool Tools* to maximize your fun and awards!
We suggest you use the following Super-Duper FQP tools to track FL
stations, maximize your score, complete the Spelling Bee and earn a County
Sweep on one or both modes:
- *Bob K0RC* provides a very detailed tracking analysis spreadsheet tool
*Here*
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wyet5pnvkxg3ogx16y60g/h?dl=0&rlkey=j1e23au5ke1dl25tygrmm8vad>
to
help you really fine tune when and who to look for to get those counties in
your logs...Fixed, Expedition and Mobiles all listed with tons of cool
analyses. Spend some time here; *it's worth it*. Simply Terrific tool
- Tnx Bob!
- *Chuck NO5W* provides a fabulous *Website*
<https://www.no5w.com/FQP_AnnouncedPlans.html> with higher level station
listings and visual maps of our FQP county activity. Take some time to
explore - if you want to get the overview of County activation each day
just click on a county on the map - this is a mighty FB site. Be sure to
click on the Counties Available links at the top for each day.
*Outstanding* - Tnx Chuck!
- *For Assisted stations use only*: *Chip, N3IW* has kindly provided a *FQP
Spotting Website* <http://qsopartyhub.com/fqp-spots.php>.
Please remember that FQP Rules **do not allow** self-spotting or asking
to be spotted; the only exceptions to this rule are the 1x1 FQP Spelling
Bee stations, who can self-spot. Tnx much Chip for adding a FB tool for
pack-hunting.
- A list of printable CW County Abbreviations is located *here
<https://www.floridaqsoparty.org/files/countabb.pdf>*.
F) *Catch Us If You Can!* In addition to our mighty armada of Fixed
stations, 8 Mobile and 8 Expedition teams have worked together for an
exciting game of cat and mouse. You can work each one over and over as
they change to a new county - and on each band and mode too. HOLD ON TIGHT
- it's fast and furious on both ends!
G) *Be kind and encourage* our many new Florida Ops - pay it forward with
patience, guidance and QRS. "Please copy" can be an instructional moment.
*PROPAGATION FORECAST:*
*Courtesy **https://solar.w5mmw.net/ <https://solar.w5mmw.net/> and *
*https://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html* <https://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html>
*Fingers crossed - all bands "good" to "fair" throughout the weekend. Be
sure to check 10m - it was open last year! Please see current conditions
at these websites.*
*FL WX FORECAST:** (from **https://www.theweather.com/florida.htm
<https://www.theweather.com/florida.htm>)*
*Nice! Winds mostly from the East both days generally should keep us drier
than the past two years (fingers crossed). Saturday will be a bit more
rainy (North, Panhandle and West coast); Sunday generally clearer.*
*ROAD CDX:*
-
*MOBILES and EXPEDITIONS: *The FQP Almanac is predicting *EXCELLENT to
GOOD *road conditions. Some construction areas and isolated small
pockets of rain will be signs to slow down and keep your eyes/ears open.
Please watch those low overhanging obstacles and be careful out
there - *safety
first!*
- Refueling stops for cars/ops should be quick and easy due to pleasant
temperatures and limited rain. Reported gas prices can be found here
<https://www.gasbuddy.com/gasprices/florida> for most Florida areas.
- Before you hit the road, be sure to check out the “QRQ Police
<https://www.speedtrap.org/florida/>“ listings beyond the usual places
we all know...
*LOVE BUGS:*
It's so hard to predict these critters that no report will be accurate.
None seen near my QTH in SFLA.
Take steps to be ready:
Road Warriors, please remember to *fill your windshield wiper fluid and
bring a spare bottle*. If you run out then a regular Cola will work in a
pinch but should be washed off with water.
Consider a front grill protector or spread a thin film of oil cooking spray
or baby oil on your car's front facing features (grill, roof, side mirrors,
etc.) and wash off bugs asap.
- Lou KE1F reports his XYL uses "Bounce" type dryer sheets to
effectively remove the critters.
- Jan K4QD reports McGuire’s Marine and RV wax on the front shell as
more industrial prevention.
Going dark soon to finish the K4OJ/m installation - see you all on the air.
Tnx and Enjoy the Party!
*FQP - So Bright, you gotta wear Shades! *
*73,*
*Chris, NX4N*
*FQP Fully Fallible Forecaster*
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