County Hunting Larry Benko, W0QE Dec. 2007

2 County Hunting Where county hunting fits into ham radio Where county hunting fits into ham radio Operating awards Operating awards Award history / USA-CA Award history / USA-CA County hunting basics County hunting basics Getting started Getting started Importance of the mobiles Importance of the mobiles What to expect What to expect References References

3 Where county hunting fits into ham radio DX, rag chew, contest, nets, emergency service DX, rag chew, contest, nets, emergency service HF, VHF, UHF, microwave, LF,VLF HF, VHF, UHF, microwave, LF,VLF CW, SSB, AM, FM, RTTY, digital CW, SSB, AM, FM, RTTY, digital Experiment, build equipment & antennas Experiment, build equipment & antennas Fixed, portable, mobile ops Fixed, portable, mobile ops Operating awards Operating awards

4 Operating Awards County hunting is primarily an operating award County hunting is primarily an operating award ARRL Awards: WAS, DXCC, WAC, 5-Band WAS & DXCC, VUCC ARRL Awards: WAS, DXCC, WAC, 5-Band WAS & DXCC, VUCC CQ Magazine awards: WAZ, USA-CA, WPX CQ Magazine awards: WAZ, USA-CA, WPX Clubs offer county awards Clubs offer county awards MARAC (Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club) has many county awards MARAC (Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club) has many county awards

5 Award history ARRL (QST) and CQ Magazine both have operating awards ARRL (QST) and CQ Magazine both have operating awards The USA-CA Award began in 1962 and the current custodian is Ted, K1BV The USA-CA Award began in 1962 and the current custodian is Ted, K1BV The first to complete USA-CA was K9EAB in Aug The first to complete USA-CA was K9EAB in Aug As of Dec. 1, 2007, USA-CA has been earned by 1164 people As of Dec. 1, 2007, USA-CA has been earned by 1164 people

6 USA-CA USA-CA award is the starting place USA-CA award is the starting place USA-CA award can be applied for in increments of 500 counties with band, mode, mobile and other endorsements USA-CA award can be applied for in increments of 500 counties with band, mode, mobile and other endorsements Counties must be confirmed either by QSL card or MRC (mobile reply card) Counties must be confirmed either by QSL card or MRC (mobile reply card) Many MARAC awards can be worked for at the same time Many MARAC awards can be worked for at the same time

7 County Hunting Basics Tracking 3077 counties requires careful record keeping Tracking 3077 counties requires careful record keeping Computer logging, paper notebooks, spreadsheets have all been used Computer logging, paper notebooks, spreadsheets have all been used Specialized logging programs KwikWin and Logger (must be MARAC member) Specialized logging programs KwikWin and Logger (must be MARAC member) ALL your contacts count with no time or geographical constraints for USA-CA ALL your contacts count with no time or geographical constraints for USA-CA Confirmations must be unambiguous Confirmations must be unambiguous

8 Getting Started Determine your tracking method Determine your tracking method Process all your existing QSL cards (everything counts) Process all your existing QSL cards (everything counts) There are CW nets on 3+ bands, SSB nets on 2+ bands, and PSK31 nets There are CW nets on 3+ bands, SSB nets on 2+ bands, and PSK31 nets Listen to the nets and understand the protocol Listen to the nets and understand the protocol

9 Getting Started (cont.) Begin working counties on the county hunting nets, state QSO parties, contests, general contacts, any other nets, etc. Begin working counties on the county hunting nets, state QSO parties, contests, general contacts, any other nets, etc. Use the spots and consider operating on multiple bands and modes Use the spots and consider operating on multiple bands and modes Go mobile with a regular county hunter Go mobile with a regular county hunter

10 Importance of the mobiles 3077 counties and only ~800 are on interstate highways 3077 counties and only ~800 are on interstate highways Not all counties have active hams on HF Not all counties have active hams on HF HF mobile is a lot of fun HF mobile is a lot of fun HF mobile on multiple bands and modes can be very challenging HF mobile on multiple bands and modes can be very challenging Those who help others get helped more quickly Those who help others get helped more quickly

11 What to expect Time to work all 3077 counties can vary from under 1 year to forever Time to work all 3077 counties can vary from under 1 year to forever Using multiple bands, state QSO parties, and being quite active ~2-4 years Using multiple bands, state QSO parties, and being quite active ~2-4 years Use MRCs, MRC/QSL bureau, SASEs if direct, & QSL with first MRC Use MRCs, MRC/QSL bureau, SASEs if direct, & QSL with first MRC Remember to do what it takes to have fun Remember to do what it takes to have fun

12 References CQ Magazine CQ Magazine MARAC (Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club): award rules, general reference, database, nets, spots MARAC (Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club): award rules, general reference, database, nets, spots K3IMC: forum, planned trips, needs lists, award holders K3IMC: forum, planned trips, needs lists, award holders KK7X: forums, links to chat rooms, MRC bureau and spots KK7X: forums, links to chat rooms, MRC bureau and spots

13 References (cont.) W5UGD and W6RK: IRC chat rooms, IRC spots, web spots, cluster spots, cell phone text alerts (both networks share spots) W5UGD and W6RK: IRC chat rooms, IRC spots, web spots, cluster spots, cell phone text alerts (both networks share spots) N4UJK: “Coloring Book” and MRC’s N4UJK: “Coloring Book” and MRC’s PDF wall map: Can zoom and print us_base/stco2003/stco2003.pdf PDF wall map: Can zoom and print us_base/stco2003/stco2003.pdf us_base/stco2003/stco2003.pdf us_base/stco2003/stco2003.pdf PDF state maps: PDF state maps:

14 Questions?