New England QSO Party Contest (May 6-7, 2017)

We just want to update our members and let them know that the New England QSO Party is coming up on the weekend of May 6-7, 2017.

This contest is great way to make contacts quickly from around the world.  Especially if you are located in one of those hard to get counties or grids.

For more information see the official New England QSO Party web page at:

Rules

Object: To contact as many New England stations (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) in as many New England counties as possible on 80-40-20-15-10m. (New England stations work anyone)

Date: First full weekend of May (May 6-7, 2017)

Contest Period: 2000Z Saturday until 0500Z Sunday (4pm EDT Saturday until 1am EDT Sunday) and 1300Z Sunday until 2400Z Sunday (9am EDT Sunday until 8pm EDT Sunday).

Categories: Single-operator high power, low power(150w or less) and QRP(5w or less) categories, plus multi-operator, single transmitter. Same four categories for mobiles.

Contest Exchange: Send signal report and state/province (DX stations send signal report and “DX”). New England stations send signal report, county and state.

Valid Contact: Work New England stations once per band/mode. New England stations work anyone(and must copy the county for New England stations worked. CW contacts must not be made in the phone band segments. Mobiles that change counties are considered to be new stations, and can be worked for both multiplier and QSO Point credit. County line QSOs should be logged as two separate QSOs. Crossmode, crossband and repeater QSOs are not permitted.

QSO Points: Count one point per phone QSO, two points per CW (includes digital modes)QSO.

Multiplier: Stations outside of New England use counties as multipliers for a total of 67 (CT/8 MA/14 ME/16 NH/10 RI/5 VT/14). New England stations use states(50)(Count DC as MD), Canadian provinces(14) and DXCC countries as multipliers.

Scoring: Total score is QSO points times the multiplier. Mobiles count QSO points per county and multipliers from all counties (counted once).

Suggested frequencies: CW – 3540 7035 14040 21040 28040, SSB – 3850 7180 7280 14280 21380 28380.

Reporting: Logs should indicate times in UTC, bands, modes, calls and required contest exchange. All stations include your club’s name in the log header or summary. Entries must be submitted within 30 days and sent to NEQP, P.O.Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 or via e-mail to logs@neqp.org (Cabrillo format preferred).

Awards: Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers (25 QSO minimum) in each New England county, U.S. state, Canadian province and DXCC country. A number of special plaques will also be awarded to top scorers (check the Web site for a current list).

More information: The New England QSO Party Web site is at http://www.neqp.org. Check there for information on planned fixed-station and mobile activity from New England counties, contest software information, county abbreviations, plaques to be awarded and information on New England state county awards. NEQP results will be posted on the web site when they are complete. Questions can be addressed to info@neqp.org.

Rules updated 4/2/17

WA1KDD Report – March 2017

From Tom, WA1KDD, in Acushnet MA

A much colder than normal March here in the northern part of Acushnet, with below normal precipitation.  Snowfall was a little above normal for the month.  Cold and windy made go fly a kite out of the question.

March 2017 with a mean temperature of 34.6 degrees was slightly colder than any of the previous Winter Season months.  Winds gusted to over 40 mph three times during the month and almost half of the month saw winds gusting above 25 mph.  Plenty of pick up sticks.

The low barometer of 28.86″ during the March 14th. snow by rain by noon event at my location was the third lowest March barometer reading on my records.  The March 14th.Blizzard of 1993 saw a 28.50″ low barometer and a rain to snow event on March 8th.. 2005 saw 28.68″

March 2017 Acushnet, Mass.     41deg,44min N     70deg,55min W

Ave High     43.5 deg.  Ave Low     25.6 deg.  March Mean     34.8 deg. is 3.8 deg. below normal

High Temp     57 deg. on March 21st.  Low Temp     08 deg. on March 12th.

Days 0 or below     0

Total Precip.     3.71″ is 1.80″ below normal

Max 24hr. Precip.  1.53″ on March 14th.

Snowfall     9.0″ is 2.3″ above normal

Max 24hr. Snowfall     5.5″ on March 10th.

Total 2017 Precip.     12.51″ is 1.29″ below normal

Season Snowfall  (dec-mar)     46.3″

T-Storm Days     1

High Wind Gust     49mph on March 11th.

Heating Degree Days     952

Cooling Degree Days     0

High Barometer     30.53″ on March 24th.

Low Barometer     28.86″ on March 14th.

Tom Carr

WA1KDD Report – January 2017

From Tom, WA1KDD, Acushnet, MA

A warmer, wetter, and snowier than normal January 2017  here in the northern part of Acushnet.  The mean temperature of 34.8 degrees was 5.0 deg. above normal making it the warmest January since 2002 saw a mean of 36.1 deg..   A string of 8 days Jan. 21-28th never saw the temperature fall below the freezing mark.

The first 10 days of 2017 saw rain then snowy then cold producing 2.39″ of total precipitation including 19″ in the form of snow and single 1 deg. temps. on 2 mornings.  This was followed by more rain and wind with 3 days into the low 50’s and poof the snow was gone till the last day of the month.    A nor’easter lacking cold air filled the swamps with over 2.60″ of water during the final third of January.  It was our wettest month since December of 2015.

January 2017 Acushnet, Ma.      41deg,44min N     70deg,55min W

Ave High     41.9 deg. Ave Low     27.6 deg. Jan Mean    34.8 deg. is 5.0 deg. above normal High Temp    56 deg. on Jan. 12th. Low Temp    1 deg. on Jan 9-10th. Days 0 or below  0.

Total Precip.     6.27″ is 2.00″ above normal  Max 24 hr. Precip.    2.12 ” on Jan. 24th.Snowfall     21.3″ is 10.8″ above normal.  Max 24 hr. Snowfall    14.0″ on Jan. 7th.  Total 2017 Precip.    6.27″ is 2.00″ above normal.  Season Snowfall  ( dec – jan )   24.4″

T- Storm Days  0.    High Wind Gust     32 mph on Jan. 11th.  Heating Degree Days  946.  Cooling Degree Days  0.  High Barometer   30.69″ on Jan. 14th.  Low Barometer  29.19″ on Jan. 24th.

WA1KDD Report – December 2016

From Tom, WA1KDD, Acushnet, MA

A slightly colder than normal December 2016 here in Acushnet with below normal precipitation and snowfall.  It was the driest December since 2006.  Two meager snow events saw snow quickly change to rain.  It was another brown Christmas.  Several high wind advisory events produced 4″ pine branches down and a power outage at my location.  Only one day saw a little snow left on the ground at observation time.

The year 2016 was the driest in 36 years.  The driest year on my records is 1980 with only 36.94″.   2016 produced 41.06″ of precipitation.  The year was warmer than normal and a little snowier than normal.  The Summer Season of 2016 was the warmest on my records.

December 2016 Acushnet, Ma.    41deg,44min N     70deg,55min W Ave High     43.0 deg.

Ave Low     26.3 deg.

Dec Mean     34.7 deg. is 0.6 deg. colder than normal

High Temp    61 deg. Dec. 1st.

Low Temp    6 deg. on Dec. 16th.

Days 0 or below     0

Total Precip.    3.51″ is 1.34″ below normal

Max. 24hr. Precip.    0.96″ on Dec. 29th.

Snowfall    3.1″ is 4.1″ below normal

Max 24hr. Snowfall     2.3″ on Dec. 17th.

Total 2016 Precip.     41.06″ is 11.82″ below normal

Total 2016  Snowfall    42.0″ is 4.2″ above normal

T-Storm Days     0

High Wind Gust     44mph  on Dec. 15th.

Heating Degree Days    948

Cooling Degree Days    0

High Barometer     30.76″ on Dec. 26th.

Low Barometer     20.28″ on Dec. 29th.

The Year 2016

Ave High     62.9 deg.

Ave Low     43.6 deg.

2016 Mean    53.3 deg. is 2.1 deg. above normal

High Temp    97 deg. on Jul. 26th & Aug. 14th.

Low Temp    -10 below on Feb. 14th.

Days 0 or Below     2   is normal

Days 90 or  Above    20  is  13 above normal

Total 2016 Precip.     41.06″  is 11.82″ below normal

Max 24hr. Precip.     2.09″ on Oct. 9th.

Snowfall     42.0″  is 4.2″ above normal

Max 24hr. Snowfall     9″ on Feb. 5th.

Monthly Snowfall    Jan 11.1″ Feb 15.5″ Mar 3.3″ Apr 9.0″ Dec 3.1″

T-Storm Days    13   is 6 below normal

High Wind Gust     47 mph on Nov. 21st.

Heating Degree Days    5311

Cooling Degree Days    1015

High Barometer     30.76″ on Dec. 26th.

Low Barometer     29.10″  on Apr. 3rd.

Jan. warmer than norm, a bit drier, snowfall a bit above, 6.5″ on the 23rd.

Feb. warmer,wetter,snowier, coldest temp in decades minus 10 below on 14th.

Mar. much warmer than norm, below norm rain & snow, peepers on the 10th.

Apr. colder & drier than norm, above norm snow, 16 deg. on 6th. peach crop hit bad

May  warmer than norm, rain near norm with help from T.S.Bonnie moisture

Jun. driest in 17yrs. warmer than norm, no 90’s, nice month

Jul. hot & dry, 10 days 90 or plus, 6 day heat wave Jul 23-28th.

Aug. warmest on my records and dry, 9 days over 90, limp vegetation

Sep. warmer than norm, a bit dry, tease from T.S. Hermine early in the month

Oct. wettest month of 2016 and warm, moisture plume remnant from Hurr Matthew

Nov. a bit warmer and drier than normal, no snow

Dec. a bit colder & drier than norm, snow goes quick to rain, windy, a brown Christmas

WA1KDD Report – November 2016

From Tom, WA1KDD, Acushnet, MA

A warmer than normal November here in the northern part of Acushnet, with below normal precipitation.  It was the 10th. month this year averaging above normal temperature wise.  11 days saw temperatures 60 degrees or better.  November did not live up to being on average ( 4.86″ ) the second wettest month on my 37 years of record.  Only 1.05″ of rain had fallen during the first 28 days of the month.  1.90″ fell during the last 2 days to help fill the void. No snow fell at my location this November.

The Fall Season ( sep,oct,nov )  was above normal in temperature and below normal in precipitation.  A little windy at times but a nice Fall Season.

November 2016 Acushnet, Ma.      41 deg,44min N     70 deg,55min W

Ave High    55.2 deg.

Ave Low     35.0 deg.

Nov Mean     45.1 deg. is 0.8 deg. above normal

High Temp     68 deg. on Nov. 2nd.

Low Temp     25 deg. on Nov. 29th.

Days 0 or below     0

Total Precip.     2.95″ is 1.91″ below normal

Max 24hr. Precip.    1.35″ on Nov. 29th.

Total 2016 Precip.     37.55″ is 10.48″ below normal

T-Storm Days     0

High Wind Gust     47 mph. on Nov. 21st.

Heating Degree Days     605

Cooling Degree Days    0

High Barometer     30.42″ on Nov. 7th.

Low Barometer     29.30″ on Nov. 20th.

Fall Season ( sep,oct,nov )

Ave Temperature     56.1 deg. is 2.0 deg. above normal

Total Precipitation     12.11″ is 1.36″ below normal

Total Snowfall     0 is 1.1″ below normal

WA1KDD Report – October 2016

From Tom, WA1KDD, Acushnet, MA

A wetter and warmer than normal October 2016 here in the northernpart of Acushnet. October was the wettest month so far this year with 5.80″of rain falling at my location.  A moisture plume remnant from HurricaneMatthew helped quench our rain starved area on Oct. 9th. as 2.09″ fell.   A 10 day stretch of nice Fall weather followed with chill mornings warming into the 60’s then 70’s then beach day 80’s.  Unsettled conditions ended the last third of the month with wind and more welcomed rain.  A 28 deg. killing frost on the morning 27th. and the arrival of the snowbird Juncos on the 29th reminded us to prepare for the Winter ahead.

October 2016 Acushnet, Ma.      41 deg,44min N    70 deg,55min W

Ave High    65.5 deg.

Ave Low     45.9 deg.

Oct Mean     55.7 deg. is 2.1 deg. above normal

High Temp    82 deg. on Oct. 19th.

Low Temp     28 deg. on Oct. 27th.

Days 90 or above     0

Total Precip.    5.80″ is 1.40″ above normal

Max 24hr. Precip.    2.09″ on Oct. 9th.

Total 2016 Precip.    34.60″ is 8.57″ below normal

T-Storm Days    0

High Wind Gust    35 mph on Oct. 23rd.

Heating Degree Days    313

Cooling Degree Days    19

High Barometer    30.46″ on Oct. 11th.

Low Barometer     29.17″ on Oct. 22nd.