The 1998 Tennessee QSO Party was a great success, with record participation. It'll be even better in 1999. There are a few changes to the rules this year, mostly in team competition. Several of last year's highest-scoring entrants used the VHF bands. You can work a lot of local stations this way, and earn some bonus multipliers. HF operators: turn off your packet gear, hook up a microphone, and dial up 146.55! Also, don't forget to look in the Novice bands. One entrant made 17 contacts in the 40m Novice band, including one county nobody else worked. Don't assume that you can't use a frequency just because it isn't on the recommended list - all legal amateur frequencies (except the 10/18/24MHz "WARC" bands and repeater frequencies) may be used for TQP contacts. Good luck!

When: 1800z Sunday, September 19 until 0100z Monday, September 20.

Exchange: RS(T) and Tenn. county/state/province/DXCC country.

Tennessee stations may work anyone; those outside Tennessee work only Tennessee stations. Stations may be worked once per band/mode. Mobiles may be worked again if they change counties. No repeater contacts (or contacts on repeater frequencies) allowed. Datamode QSOs must have a licensed operator present at both stations. (No "robots")

Scoring: One point per QSO on HF phone; two on HF CW or digital modes.

Two points on VHF/UHF phone & digital; four on VHF/UHF CW.

Multipliers are Tennessee counties. (95 max.) Stations in Tennessee may also add U.S. states, Canadian provinces/territories, and DXCC countries. Don't forget to count USA, Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii as countries, and Tennessee, Alaska, and Hawaii as states.

Bonus points: All entrants may claim 100 bonus points for each QSO with TCG headquarters station K4TCG. Tennessee mobile operators may claim 500 bonus points for each Tennessee county from which they complete at least 10 QSOs. All bonus points are added after the geographic multiplier.

Where to look:
CW: 1815, 3540, 7040, 14040, 21040, 28040
SSB: 1855, 3900, 7240, 14280, 21390, 28390
Novice/Tech: 3700, 7130, 21140, 28140, 28390
RTTY: 3620, 7080, 14080
VHF/UHF: 50.195, 144.195, 146.55, 223.50, 446.0

All bands may be used except the 10/18/24MHz WARC bands.

Awards:

Certificates will be awarded to the five highest scoring Tennessee stations in each category. Certificates will also be awarded to the highest scoring station in each U.S. state, Canadian call area, and DXCC country. And, a certificate will be awarded to the first-place team entry. (The certificate will be sent to the leading entrant on the team) TCG Headquarters Station K4TCG and the TCG itself are not eligible for awards.

Teams: There have been some changes to team competition in 1999.

A team consists of between two and five stations, with any number of operators. Teams do not need to be registered in advance, and team members do not need to be members of any radio club. Team members must indicate the name of their team on their entry.

There is separate competition for teams whose members are in Tennessee, and for teams whose members are outside the state.

Multiple-operator stations may participate in team competition. If more than five stations in a club would like to participate in team competition, they may form more than one team. ("Podunk Radio Club - Team #1", "Podunk Radio Club - Team #2", etc.)

Logs: Indicate band/mode, time, call worked, and QTH. Dupe sheets are not required.

Be sure to indicate your callsign, mailing address, and (if you're in Tennessee) county on your summary sheet. Mobiles must indicate county changes on their log.

Computer logs are encouraged, on MS-DOS formatted floppy disks or via mail. Logs must be in ASCII text format and include all required information listed above. Please be sure your callsign and mailing address are on your entry.

Template files for the TRLog and NA contest programs are posted on the TCG Home Page at .http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/tqp/tqp.htm . If you don't have Internet access, write W9WI at the address below for a copy.

Address:

Tennessee QSO Party
C/o Douglas Smith, W9WI
1385 Old Clarksville Pike
Pleasant View, TN 37146-8098
W9wi@bellsouth.net

Logs must be postmarked before November 12. Enclose a business-size SASE for results, or watch the TCG Home Page at the address above. Thanks!

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