The 2026 Virginia QSO Party (VAQP) took place over the weekend of March 21-22. The sun experienced a coronal mass ejection (CME) on March 16 that drove geomagnetic storms to reach Earth in time to disrupt HF communications around the world by the weekend. Some hams watch websites that track solar activity and don’t bother using their radios if the forecast doesn’t look ideal. Well, the bands will certainly be “dead” if everyone leaves their radios off or stays home.
I was unaware of the solar activity when I left home, but I still would have gone out even if I knew the details. It was a tough weekend of mobile contesting for sure, with plenty of noise and “dead” times! But I guess it’s like fishing: “A bad day of radio is better than a good day at work.” 😉
Prepping the car for VAQP was easier than ever… well… almost. The car usually has most bands installed. Last year, I regretted not having 6m/2m horizontal loops in case I wanted to run bands with someone. So I mounted my HO Loop combination as well as my Scorpion mobile HF antenna with its new “Frankenhat.”
This setup is not as comprehensive as my full Rover setup, but still more than the average mobile radio station. I said, “easier than ever” above… almost. It seems I’m never finished with the upgrades to my station. VAQP was no exception!
I found myself wishing that I could monitor the SSB section of the 6m band while working FT8 mode during January’s VHF contest. I had an “SDR receiver” with me, but it was a total waste of my time and money. Thankfully, Amazon’s excellent return policy made returning it a cinch.
I replaced that receiver with an RSP1B by SDRPlay. It’s a small box with USB-A and SMA ports that runs with SDRconnect or SDRuno software. I connected it to my hood-mounted NMO50 antenna by Pulse/Larsen since I only planned to watch 50 MHz.
Later, while searching for a T/R switch to protect the receiver during transmit, I learned that SDRPlay’s receivers are far more capable than what I had planned. I’ll share a separate article after I explore the vast capabilities of this receiver!
I also made changes to my computer setup. The most recent includes a monitor upgrade. I installed a 14-inch monitor the morning of the contest. This photo shows the new monitor on the steering wheel, along with a wireless keyboard/mouse, and an old tablet near the computer.
The tablet passively displayed either QSOParty.com‘s spotting network or the VAQP APRS Mobile Tracker. The tablet was a little annoying because it dimmed the display after just 10 minutes of inactivity. The display also is not scalable, something that my aging eyes can appreciate. I have since mounted my older 12-inch monitor in place of the tablet. Between three displays, two keyboards, and two mice, I have plenty of options for viewing contest related content and increasing the fonts to suit me.
The QSO Party started at 10am local time. I used the morning to install the new monitor and to drive to a starting point. As planned last year, I began my route in Tappahannock, VA with a goal of working from Northern Neck counties along a southerly route back home. That plan got me home at a reasonable hour.
There was a mandatory break from midnight to 8am, a somewhat recent change that I appreciate. I began Sunday’s route close to home and drove a loop that explores counties to my northwest. I’ve made small tweaks to my various routes over the years. This one is very close to what I like best!
I drove a total of 300 miles over the weekend. A fuel stop was a must while averaging around 27 mpg rural areas with my topside equipment. My car requires premium fuel, so these roves are more expensive than if I drove something less performance-oriented.
Still, I’m fairly certain that I’m averaging better fuel economy than most trucks that often act as mobiles and rovers. Operating the radios only while parked would seem to penalize me for not being able to operate and collect QSO points while commuting to each new county, but I earn 100 bonus points for each county in which I make a contact.
I don’t usually pursue out-of-state stations, but I work them when they find me. This year, though, I’m surprised to say that nearly half of my 276 contacts were from out of state! I also “ran the bands” from two counties thanks to a local station who found me working on 40m. We made contact on 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m, 6m, 2m, and 70cm while I was in Newport News (NNX) and York County (YOR).
I worked from 16 counties (1600 bonus points) and reached the six “LOVERS” bonus stations (300 bonus points) as well as two of the club stations (40 bonus points).
My final score was 18,932 (bonus points not shown on this screen). This was not a top mobile score, but a decent showing when considering the band conditions. The top mobile stations worked CW (Morse code), a mode that’s detectable in nearly any condition.
I think about learning CW all the time. I bought a CW key for troubleshooting and adjustment purposes last year… I even have a program that I can use to relearn code by ear this time. VAQP-time is when I’m most motivated to learn, but that desire subsides once I’m working contests where FT8 rules the roost.
I know, I know: I can hear the comments already! Personally, I’d rather work SSB than FT8, but I also recognize that I have to go to the action instead of wishing it would come to me.
I’ve shared a related video here. This is one of my longest videos. I don’t like creating long videos, but this one details my station, setup process, and general flow of the QSO Party. It also shares a few QSOs.
No Flats This Year!
Scott
