[FQP] [FCG] KU8E FQP Observations

Wed May 2 11:35:55 PDT 2018

Hey Jeff,
Considering this was your first 'rover' outing with a totally new route I'd
say you did very well!  Your analysis is very detailed and enlightening not
just for you but for us all.
Thanks for putting so many rare counties on the air! You and so many other
stations - Fixed, Mobile and Portable alike - made sure it was easier to
get the sweep!

I like the idea of activating rare/semi-rare counties, even at the
(limited) expense of score.  Our team had to drive 1.25 hours through what
we call the "Dragon County" - CLR - to add MON and DAD to our route, but we
are always glad we do so each year.

Looks like you have some fun planning activity ahead to optimize the route
next year!

*Hey Out-of-State players -*
If one of our Fixed, 1x1, mobile or portable stations made your sweep morph
from desperation to achievement, please consider dropping them a QSO card
or email to let them know; always nice to get the positive feedback!

73/OJ/AHZ,
Chris, NX4N

On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 12:48 PM, Jeff Clarke <ku8e at ku8e.com> wrote:

>
> After looking at K8MR's score I'm totally disappointed with my effort.
> But after looking at my log I see why he beat me so badly. I totally
> screwed up on Sunday and did way too much driving compared to operating.
> I kind of winged it on my Sunday route because so many people asked me
> on Saturday if I was going to Gulf county. I decided to can my Sunday
> route and head over to Gulf. I gave up 5-6 counties by doing this. BIG
> MISTAKE ! It was really too far out of the way from where I was staying
> on the east side of Tallahassee on Saturday night and shouldn't have
> done this.
>
> I had actually planned to do Gulf on Saturday night. I spent too much
> time in Liberty. It was hard to leave because I had a huge pileup on CW
> and the same thing happened when I went to SSB. It was about a 25 mile
> drive from where I was in Liberty to Gulf and then back to FL 20 which I
> was going east on to get to Tallahassee. I really didn't want to get to
> my hotel in Tallahassee really late. So I skipped going to Gulf.
>
> After I checked my log today I realized that I only operated 4.25 hours
> on Sunday and spent almost 6 hours driving ! Ouch!!!! So if you add up
> everything I really only operated 1/2 of the FQP - about 10.25 hours.
> 1100 QSO's in 10 hours isn't bad I guess.
>
> I now think the best strategy for me to maximize my score (and operating
> time) is to just operate from fewer counties. Maybe concentrate on those
> rarer counties west of Tallahassee to minimize driving time and then
> stay overnight in Panama City. Even though I spent a significant amount
> of time in HOL and WAG on Saturday I saw many people missed those two.
> Maybe if I had been there at the end on 40 meters, they would have
> worked those two counties.
>
> I'm very uncomfortable about operating while driving.  It's nice K8MR
> records the contest and operates when he's driving but I have no desire
> to spend hours transcribing an audio file and entering QSO's manually.
> I really wish there was a separate true rover category in FQP where you
> could setup an real antenna, make a bunch of QSO's and then move on to
> your next county.
>
> Truthfully the best outcome for me would be that I could find a 2nd
> driver and the W4AN team would be on the air again. But until that
> happens that will not be possible.
>
> 73's Jeff
>
>
> County  Operating Time  Driving
> JAC     38.00
>
>
>         25.00
> HOL     60.00
>
>
>         27.00
> WAG     46.00
>
>
>         66.00 LUNCH
> BAY     53.00
>
>
>         35.00
> CAH     43.00
>
>
>         42.00
> LIB     75.00
>
>
>         32.00
> LEO     58.00
> Day 1 TOTAL     373.00  227.00
>
>
>
> County  Operating Time  Driving
> WAK     31.00
>
>
>         38.00
> WAK     20.00
>
>
>         39.00
> FRA     62.00
>
>
>         81.00
> GUL     41.00
>
>
>         109.00 LUNCH
> CAH     22.00
>
>
>         15.00
> LIB     16.00
>
>
>         38.00
> GAD     15.00
>
>
>         30.00
> JAC     35.00
> Day 2 TOTAL     242.00  350.00
>
>
> --
> *Jeff Clarke*
> Information Technology Professional
> Ellerslie, Georgia
>
> My LinkedIn Profile <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-clarke-ga>
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