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Hello all,

It's been a week since we started the member activation process for the 2024 WIQP.

1.) The process started with a presentation at the January's meeting.

2.) Followed by 160 emails sent out to current & past members to join us in our effort to retain our 1st place WIQP status from 2023.

3.) Prepared a database to keep track of all the data from the emails sent.

4.) Setting up calculations on the database to measure the success of the email effort.

Here are some of the results:

1.) NOTE: 2023 we had 26 members participate in the WIQP
2.) Sent out 156 emails for the 2024 WIQP
3.) So far, 30 have responded or 19.23%
4.) Of those 30 responded, 28 have indicated they will participate, or 17.95%

Yes, 28 members so far to date will be participating in the 2024 WIQP

In summary, the FCARC is off to an excellent start for the 2024 WIQP.

Good Luck in the Contest Old Man!

73, de KB9LRD

Great news for the 2024 WQP!

The FCARC’s January meeting was a huge success for the 2024 WQP!

The FCARC’s club station will be available for use during this 2024 WQP.

Secondly, Rod KD9WCK (Extra Class) will be our first Station Manager that has volunteered for this event.
Rod KD9WCK and the FCARC would like to extend an open invite to any FCARC club member, General Class or higher, to share some time as Station Manager during this 7-hour event.

The W9ZL station will be using UHF/VHF/HF frequencies throughout the contest.

If you need a location and equipment to operate from during the 2024 WQP, please feel free to contact me for time slots at the FCARC station that you are interested in operating. The contest starts at 1:00 pm and ends at 8:00 pm on Sunday March 10th.

Good Luck in the Contest Old Man!
73 de KB9LRD

American Cancer Society - Sole Burner 2023 5K 

Saturday May 13th
Breakfast: 7:30am
Roll Call: 8:30am SHARP.
Event starts: 9:00am
Event ends: Close to 11:00am

The FCARC needs operators to help provide Logistics & Communications for the 2023 Sole Burner 5K walk/run. The Sole Burner 5K event has been a traditional community service event for the FCARC providing event support for over 25 years.

This year we'll be looking to cover 25+ locations for communication needs, these locations are primary corner positions, bike mobile, medical support, net control, assistant net control and assistant corner positions.
Thank you to the returning operators from previous years, and looking forward to adding new operators as well. If you feel you want to join in and participate but would like a secondary role vs a primary role, you can assist a corner position until you feel you are ready to take control of a primary corner position.

This year we'll start out with a complimentary breakfast at 7:30am, at 7 Angels restaurant, 1401 John st. 
Check'ins will start at 7:30am, please have your equipment ready and be on location at 8:30am sharp, we'll have 1 minute per check in at best!

The Runners will start promptly at 9:00am with the walkers to follow.

The event will close when the Sole Burner committee makes the call to remove the police from the secured intersections. We then rely on the remaining volunteers to finish up the event by shadowing the remaining walkers.
If you do not have APRS on your radio equipment, please consider downloading the app from https://aprsdroid.org/ for your Android phone. Iphone users, please contact me for additional information.

We do encourage all operators to have APRS running at check'in time and while your station is activated during this event.

I would like to thank our returning Net Control station Kyle WX9KGV, and please welcome Matthew Surprise KD9WAW as our Assistant Net Control.

Additionally, please welcome EMT/Medical staff KC9LFQ Nate Van Da Huvel.

Best Regards,
Brian Long KB9LRDFCARC 2023 Sole Burner Event coordinator 

Pizza!!

Pizza !! Pizza !!

The 2023 WQP planning party!

Saturday February 25th!

4:30 pm for 17 -18 FCARC members

LUIGI'S Pizza Place
332 Ahnaip St,
Menasha, WI 54952

Note: Pierre Pizza couldn't accommodate our size of a group.

Amateur radio operators have always said, "We're prepared for a disaster by providing the community with a back-up communication platform that will always work". The Ham radio community has invested, maintained and practiced to provide a system that will work. We will get the message out, either through CW, Voice or Digital modes of communication.

This contest was partially designed for Emergency Preparedness in mind, challenging the skills of individuals and organizations as if it were a WWII era invasion. It would be the same today, during an Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) blast from above destroying our current communication system. Or simply a severe ice storm, a tornado, mud or snow landslide, earthquake or some other natural event that would cause communications in a wide area to no longer function.


The WQP is designed for Hams to practice this preparedness as if our repeater structure was damaged, and we all use simplex to communicate. It's not as easy, it takes a good tuned system, and a dedicated operator to get many contacts.

The 2023 WQP is Sunday March 12th, the contest begins at 1:00pm and ends at 8:00pm.

The WQP is a contact contest were both the "Individual" and a "Club" compete in an event. The individual submits points in the category competed in. Then those points are assigned to a club of choice (rules apply). This is your chance to compete with all the participating Wisconsin clubs for the FCARC.

I have many posts on Face book as a Public Document Format (PDF) for you to review or download and print for your use. Hopefully, I have provided you with enough information that this event will be successful for you, and therefore the FCARC.

We have a group 2023 WQP discussion set up for you to attend. We will discuss strategy, routes, bands, modes and other suggestions for your benefit.

Pierre Pizza
815 W. College Ave.
Appleton
4:30 pm, February 25th

Pizza and drinks will be provided.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or suggestions.

Brian KB9LRD
920-205-2366

Hello all,

The 2023 WQP is a few short weeks away!

It's really looking good for the FCARC this year in the WQP contest. The following is a run down so far!

Emails sent: 83 = 94% of the FCARC membership.
Of the 25 that responded 13 will be attending (still very early): 16%

Here is the breakdown of the responses so far:
Indicated working the WQP this year: 13
Indicated the 'Maybe": 6
Indicated "No": 8

Please respond to the original invite email. That would be great!

What this means compared to last year.

2022: 3 members participated
2023: 13 members indicate participation. This is over a 300% increase so far from 2022

2022: Average pointes by the 3 members = 29,417 / 3 =9,806
2022: 15th Place

2023: If each of the 13 meet the average points from 2022 we could earn 127,478 points
2023: using the 127,478 score to the 2022 WQP results we would have placed in 8th place.

Using that same scenario of numbers, we need 53 members to meet the average for a 1st place win!

I hope to get 20 members with an above average score of 12,000 points for 5th place.

This is where we generally place on an average year.

Each year the point spread from last place to first place seems to increase, so we could still have at lease a solid 8th place in 2023 with this scenario.

I am predicting a much larger number of participants this 2023 WQP than 2022 WQP!

Understanding that only 16% of the membership has responded "YES" to this point, we have many more to add to the list of participants!

Help us (FCARC) make an incredible score this 2023 contest.

Remember, you don't have to be a FCARC club member to assign your points to the FCARC.

Keep in mind...... we are just getting started!!!

Good luck in the contest OM!

Brian KB9LRD

Image File: WQP 2017 Mobile VHF/UHF

Once again the Wisconsin Ham clubs battle it out for the 1st place position in the Wisconsin QSO Party - WQP for 2023.

The WQP is for ALL HAMS & for ALL FCARC club member who want to give their radio skills a try. Each year, we have new & old members participating in the contest as individuals, then they assign their points to the FCARC for our club score.

Each year there is a spot specifically for the new entry. Rooky category (see rules) is for those who want to give it a try and just have fun! As always, there is a multitude of categories for single, multi, fixed and mobile entrants.

Come on and join the fun and help the FCARC move up in the ranks to the number 1 spot!

The following are recommended frequencies for the contest:

CW: 1.820, 3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050
Phone: 1.870, 3.860, 7.230, 14.260, 21.350, 28.400
VHF: 6 meters 50.140(SSB), 52.530(FM)
2 meters 146.550 146.580 (No SSB)
1.25 meters 223.520
70 cm 446.025

Hopefully the FCARC Face Book page will contain up to date information prior and during the event as this will be a very dynamic and fluid event.

Please use the "Event" page where I have created an event "WQP" for all things current. On the event page we'll consider your "Going" as your sign-up and use it for the FCARC 2023 Awards Banquet for a certificate* or plaque*.

As in previous years, award to any FCARC club member (who submits their points to the FCARC) with a 1st place position in any category will receive a Plaque*.

Additionally, any FCARC club member (who submits their points to the FCARC) who is mobile will be considered for a $50.00 gas card drawing to supplement their gas bill*.

There will be the traditional "Pizza (and beer) Party"* prior to the event for anyone wishing to be involved as an Elmer or to those who seek an Elmer for this event*!

Finally ending with another long standing tradition, burgers & beer at a location TBA following the event at 7:30pm.

Good luck in the contest OM!

Brian KB9LRD

Once again the FCARC has been requested to provide Communications & Logistics for the Appleton Soleburner Run/Walk this year. The event will be held at its normal location with the start/finish at City park in Appleton. I would like to continue with the traditional breakfast meeting prior to the event.

This communication event is for beginners and experienced operators to work together to understand and further your skills in a controlled communication net. Working with a net control operator builds the necessary communication discipline needed to provide our community with another awesome community service event.

This even will last approximately 3 hours for the duration, but we can accommodate short timers with less than an hour or so.

If you haven't participated in a community service event in the past, no worries, we can pair you with someone if needed. If you feel comfortable with an Elmer we can assign one to you, or we can use the buddy system if you already have an Elmer picked out.

Community servicer events provide us all with valuable real time experience working in a controlled environment. These events will prove to be of great importance as you make your journey into and the Ham radio world.

Saturday May 07th, 2022
Event starts at 8:00am with a breakfast meeting prior

Sign-up's will be taken at FCARC club meetings, an Event has been created on the FCARC Facebook page.

You may contact me directly by phone or email.
92(zero)-2(zero)5-2366 text/phone
(mycall)@gmail.com email

KB9LRD
Brian Long

The American Cancer Society has estimated over 5,000 participants for this years event.

This event will require a significant number of volunteers to adequately cover and complete the communication and logistic demand on the FCARC and it's membership.

This event will take about 4 hours in its entirety with some operators checking out early.

It will be helpful if you would indicate you have the time to cover a begining and end location this year.

There will be a breakfast meeting prior to the event, here I will distribute operator locations and a rules briefing.

Thank you for those operators whom have signed up currently and I encourage those that are considering to do so as soon as you can confirm your commitment.

Thank you,
Brian KB9LRD
Brian Long FCARC Soleburner coordinator

Hello all,

As many of you know there will not be a February meeting and the March meeting will be after the WQP event on Sunday March 10th, so over the duration of time remaining we'll coordinate this event in the digital world of email, FCARC website, text and through the FARC Face book page.

Please signup on the FCARC Face book site where there is an event posted by me and updates will be listed regularly.

I hope everyone attending the WQP this year will get a chance to signup early and participate in the Google map I've created for this event.

Some of the features of this map include:

1.) There is a link to WARAC for historical information. Also an entry form and the rules are provided by the contest host. Also, a receipt of your log submission and the final results will be posted by WARAC for your view or download.

2.) The FCARC routes (members upload) will be listed for you to see that each Mobile Station will take during the contest including their Start and End points.

3.) Fixed Stations and their operating locations will be listed.

4.) A list of each band that members (members upload) will operate during the contest.

5.) Supporting Calls for Multi-stations.

6.) A link to real time APRS tracking (equipped mobiles/Fixed Stations).

7.) Propagation chart link by WA9TT.

8.) HF band activity link.

9.) FCARC information link.

Please upload your information on the map. Just follow the example listed. If you need assistance adding your route or location to this map please feel free to contact me.

I hope this will be another exciting year for the FCARC and the members whom participate. If anyone has a suggestion on how we can improve passing and recording information please feel free to share with the group or send me an email/text.


Good luck in the contest!

Brian Long KB9LRD
FCARC - WQP coordinator 2019
920-205-2366 Voice/Text
kb9lrd@gmail.com
Face Book

The Wisconsin QSO Party (WQP) is the first event of each year for the FCARC and its membership.

In the past we've place mostly in the top 10 for the last 2 decades, many of those years we we're in the top 5.

What makes the difference in placing 9th vs 3rd is your participation.

There is a direct relationship with the number of participants from our club and our point standing.

This event (contest) is held in Wisconsin for the sole purpose of the Wisconsin Amature Radio Clubs to compete with all the clubs in Wisconsin for participation and points. The rules do allow for other clubs in the USA to be scored as well in a non-Wisconsin club category.

But... back to us and how the FCARC membership can help!

We need you to participate from your home, your mobile, from your cottage or wherever you feel comfortable to operate from and for as long as you have time to participate.

Again, there is a direct relationship in the length of time operating and your score.

FYI... most FCARC club members plan to operate for the entire 7 hours of the contest, this allows them the greatest opportunity to earn the most points during the contest.

Yes... VHF/UHF is a great place to start!

However, CW operators and HF voice along with VHF/UHF will generate the highest scores for the FCARC.

You can operate from you home as a "FIXED STATION" or you can operate as a "MOBILE STATION".

We just need YOU to help us out during the contest!!

Let's have fun!!

For more information and different strategies for the contest, please feel welcome to call, email or post questions.

Sincerely,
Brian KB9LRD

Hello all,

Working on a mapping system that will overlay fixed and mobile stations to help us with our locations during the WQP contest.

The mobile stations that have APRS will be listed and you will have a linked access to view their route progress in realtime.

Each station will list their bands working during the 2019 WQP.

I will need specific information form each constester prior to uploading their pin and data information.

Good luck in the contest!

Brian Long - KB9LRD