The third annual Coast-to-Coast FISTS Club QSO Party was another big success for all involved. Thanks to some “unregistered” clubs participating, most notably VK4RC from Down Under, W8NCK, and KC7EQW, we exceeded our goal of 30 clubs total on the air. Of course, some clubs were not on for the entire 20 hours, so we didn’t all have an equal chance at all clubs, but the overall activity and participation level was superb. From the logs I have seen, it also appears that the multi-band bonus point feature was well used, with lots of multiple band QSOs racked up for clubs and individuals. Fortunately, the sunspots were our friends this time around and all bands from 80 to 10 meters had good reports. Despite the number of clubs and good band conditions, however, we didn’t receive nearly as many orders for Platinum level certificates as last year. Also, it was a bit disappointing that we were unable to muster much in the way of DX clubs, which is becoming a perennial challenge. However, there appeared to be quite a bit of individual DX exchanges.
Some results follow:
Table 1 - Top Reported Individual Scores
|
Call |
Name |
FISTS
nr |
#
Clubs |
Certificate
Level |
Bonus
Pts. |
Total
Points |
|
WB0PYF |
Raymond
A. Myers |
7986 |
20 |
Platinum |
11 |
31 |
|
KD5GRF |
Carl
Headrick |
8033 |
17 |
Gold |
11 |
26 |
|
WA3GNW |
Bruce
Gibson |
7878 |
20 |
Platinum |
0 |
20 |
|
WD9EMF |
Vic Maue |
8574 |
19 |
Gold |
0 |
19 |
|
NG7Z |
Paul
Beringer |
5368 |
11 |
Silver |
6 |
17 |
|
K4UK |
Stan Reas |
2934 |
16 |
Gold |
0 |
16 |
|
W5AJX |
Donald C.
Zelenka |
9361 |
16 |
Gold |
0 |
16 |
|
AC7QG |
Paul
Davis |
8697 |
10 |
Silver |
4 |
14 |
|
KS7J |
Casey
Bahr |
3648 |
10 |
Silver |
3 |
13 |
|
W4YE |
Buddy
Smith |
3929 |
7 |
Bronze |
0 |
7 |
|
K4ORD |
Riley
Dudley |
4272 |
6 |
Bronze |
1 |
7 |
Table 1 shows the top ten total point scores (number of clubs plus bonus points for working clubs on a different band). WB0PYF, Ray Myers, came in with 20 clubs and 31 points total to take the #1 spot for individuals. As promised in the C2C awards section, all these folks (with the exception of myself, hi) will be receiving small prizes in the form of credits for FISTS Club Supplies. The top three will receive $5 each and the remaining top scorers will get $3.50 each to be used for ordering any of the fine logo products, etc. available from FISTS NA HQ.
Table 2 – Top Reported Club Scores
|
Call |
Club
Name |
FISTS
nr |
#
Clubs |
Certificate
Level |
Bonus
Pts. |
Total
Points |
|
K7FFF |
FISTS
Northwest |
4400 |
21 |
Platinum |
15 |
36 |
|
W4FCR |
FISTS QSL
Bureau Club |
7007 |
19 |
Gold |
13 |
32 |
|
W5DAR |
Deming
ARC |
7500 |
16 |
Gold |
5 |
21 |
|
W4MVZ |
The
Working Class Telegraphy Club of West Central Florida |
7600 |
12 |
Silver |
6 |
18 |
|
W3GR |
Historical
Electronics Museum ARC |
9275 |
13 |
Silver |
3 |
16 |
|
W7PXL |
The
Valley Radio Club |
8800 |
15 |
Gold |
0 |
15 |
|
KC7EQW |
Imperial
Valley ARC |
8675 |
10 |
Silver |
4 |
14 |
|
W8PIG |
Flying
Pigs QRP Club |
7373 |
9 |
Bronze |
0 |
9 |
|
VK4RC |
Redcliffe
Radio Club |
9066 |
6 |
Bronze |
0 |
6 |
Table 2 shows some club scores as reported to me informally, and probably does not represent all the top scorers necessarily, but I thought them worth noting (especially since FNW comes out on “top” in this tabulation, hi hi). Informally, it looked like W4FCR came in with the most QSOs total, 180, with K7FFF not far behind with 155. In all fairness, many of the clubs only have one op to man the key, whereas K7FFF had 5, so scale accordingly.
Finally, let me just share a few anectodal post-event comments made from individuals and clubs.
From Stan Reas, K4UK:
Greatest kick I had was this morning at 1107 UTC when I got on 20 Meters and tuned the "dead" band. So I gave out a "CQ-C2C" and was immediately answered by VK4RC the Redcliffe Radio Club station and got - 579, George, VK, 9066. George wanted a contact with his own call VK4XY so I obliged and got - 579, George, VK, 9069. And then all H--- broke loose. George must have been called by 10 other stations after we had signed. - Hi! Another case of: "The band must be dead, I don't hear anything on it."
From K8FST, Fairborn
FISTS Club:
“K8FST made quite a few
contacts from Ohio.
One of our operators was having so much fun, he just kept going after the event was over. Said he had not had that much fun in years. Lots of QRN here on Friday night on the lower bands due to storms in the area, but 20 was going good. Great fun and met a few new FISTS also…”
From K7FD, trustee for K7LOW QRPacific FISTS Club:
K7LOW
QRPacific QRP Club worked 34 FISTS members, with the lion's share being on 20m.
Forty meters made up for the rest, sans 2 on 75m.
Biggest
complaint: the event is TOO SHORT! :) This was so much fun, we
should
have gone until 9PM instead of 9AM. I would've loved a full Saturday
on
20m...”
I would presume that by the time you read this article, that if you had ordered a Coast-to-Coast award certificate you have received it by now. In any case, no more orders can be taken for this year due to Robin Faulkner, N7GSU, having run out of the special supplies for these fine awards. Much thanks goes out to Robin for once again supplying the skill and know-how to produce these heirloom quality certificates.
Also, special thanks to all the clubs and individual participants in this unique event, you are what make it so special. I hope that next year will be an even bigger success. 73 to all!! - Casey, KS7J/K7FFF, FISTS Northwest