Planning the next transatlantic S2S QSO party (2019)

[GM4TOE]

@DD5LP

how about Easter and Good Friday or Easter Monday? April 19th or 22nd.

Will that not negate your point number 2?

I can see where you are coming from but public holidays might not be the best solution

[N1EU]

@DD5LP

I personally, would prefer the event NOT to be on a weekend

Now that I’m retired, I agree

73 Barry N1EU

[VE6VID]

Not retired but rotating shifts so I like the mid-week idea.
Malen
VE6VID

[DD5LP]

That’s interesting, I thought the mid week (not a public holiday) option would be blown out of the water but here we have two people able to fit with that already (three with me).

In answer to your question Barry, if I still go on a busy day, perhaps I need to find a point away from the actual summit in the future. Don’t get me wrong - I’m very happy to explain the hobby to anyone who is interested, but the “young lady” deliberately damaging someone elses property seriously annoyed me off.

Here’s my completed activation report in any case:

DD5LP/P – November 3rd 2018 – DM/BM-135 Hesselberg (NA-EU S2S) an activation...

73 Ed.

[G4OIG]

@DD5LP

…perhaps I need to find a point away from the actual summit in the future.

Is this not obligatory on summits where the public number more than an occasional hiker? You need a pair of headphones and dark glasses as a defence against interrogation Ed. Seriously, the best summits are those on which I am virtually guaranteed to be alone or with other activators. Unfortunately these tend to be more remote and so not particularly suitable for early or late activations on account of the access or egress in the dark.

Weekday vs weekend - personally it matters not to me, but having it on a weekday inevitably will rule out some wishing to take part. I can see a summer event, probably on a weekday, working well when the solar cycle has improved.

[VE2DDZ]

@G4OIG

Feedback on whether the earlier date was helpful would be appreciated, but again that is subject to location and the onset of “winter”, whenever that might be. The fact that we had Malcolm and Malen out on the summits was encouraging.

Personally the limiting environmental factor this time of year is freezing rain. It can make driving and hiking next to impossible and operating quite difficult. … But that can happen here any time fron mid-October to mid-December so probably not a consideration for the timing of the Fall event. On the other hand one of the frequent VE2 operators has hung up his trekking poles for the winter. Perhaps an earlier date would encourage him to participate next year

There are a lot of considerations, adverse weather, propagation, hours of daylight. This time of year hunting season keeps me off some trails. I think Gerald, Ed, and Barry have done a great job choosing the timing so far.

@G4OIG

For me, the autumn Trans-Atlantic S2S event has been generally more successful than the one held in the spring. I think it is worthwhile continuing with two events per year to keep the level of interest up. I am also looking forward to a return to the good times when working across the pond is a regular occurrence. The question then will be whether we need these S2S events. My personal view is that it would be good to keep them going as with a specific timeframe it does concentrate the opportunities for S2S contacts.

I really enjoy these S2S events, please let’s continue them - at least until trans-atlantic S2S becomes commonplace.

@N1EU

Just for a baseline, we’ve historically been holding the Spring event on the same day as the QRPTTF event. But we can always move it. Last year it was April 21.

I originally voted to have the Spring event on the same day as QRPTTF. I have changed my mind as I now realize that my goals are different for the two events. For example, I would like to run higher power for the S2S event and maybe a more directional antenna. So I would like the Spring event moved away from QRPTTF.

@MM0FMF

I believe a reason these events are so well supported is they are relatively infrequent and I feel that makes many people more determined to be QRV so they don’t miss the event. If you have them too frequently then you may well find the “if I miss this one there is another in a few weeks” attitude will become a lot more apparent.

I am in this category. I worked Friday and was back in at work Sunday, so I had to push myself to get out for Saturday’s event. If there had been another S2S event next weekend, I probably would have given this one a miss. I don’t know what event frequency hits the sweet spot either.

@DD5LP

My take-away from this years event is, that I personally, would prefer the event NOT to be on a weekend

I am in the work Monday to Friday camp and my vote is to continue to hold the events on weekends or holidays.

Thanks,
Malcolm VE2DDZ

[MM0FMF]

The weekend or non-weekend issue is solved by having one event over a weekend and one on a weekday, assuming just 2 events per year.

[WA7JTM]

I prefer the weekends as many of the Arizona ops are still working (like me). Week days would reduce the number of ops that could participate.

November works well here in Arizona for this event. Historically November is our best month for EU-NA DX (based on my 53 years worth of logs).

When the solar cycle improves we could move the event a bit, but I believe we are a few years out from “good” conditions in September or October.

For now I would leave it as is.

Pete
WA7JTM

[DD5LP]

@G4OIG

Is this not obligatory on summits where the public number more than an occasional hiker?

No.

Some of the visitors were a pleasure to talk with. I haven’t had such issues in the past but in the future I will be trying to avoid “the madding crowds”.

[G4MD]

@VE2DDZ

I really enjoy these S2S events, please let’s continue them - at least until trans-atlantic S2S becomes commonplace.

I’ll second that but why stop when transatlantic S2S becomes commonplace (if ever!) the events with widespread high levels of activator participation will always have a special “buzz” about them - twice a year per event is just right to balance novelty and opportunity

73 de Paul G4MD/G6GGP

[DD5LP]

Hi Mario,
I think your post about your activation would be better in this other thread:

Trans-Atlantic S2S QSO Party - 3 November 2018- Activation Reports

(moving my activation report to this thread) I managed to get my 40/20 EFHW about 30ft above the summit at W2/GC-026 and oriented toward EU. It was definitely tough going on ssb and only managed a few ssb S2S with my KX2 but had much better luck on cw. The level of participation over in EU seemed very good and was much appreciated. I fear that it was a bit lopsided, with many fewer NA activators, perhaps due to the bad weather in many areas of the US. 17M seemed to have better propagation than …

[G4OIG]

Over a pint in one of the local hostelries this evening, I discussed some of the questions raised so far with Paul G4MD. The following proposal came into my mind - three S2S events for 2019 as follows:

1. Spring event in late March at a weekend
2. Summer event in mid July on a weekday
3. Autumn event in early November at a weekend

As they say… discuss!

73, Gerald G4OIG / G8CXK

[VE6VID]

That to me sounds like a good idea.

Malen
VE6VID

[N1EU]

I like the summer event but would vote to move the Spring event a couple of weeks later and the Autumn event a couple of weeks earlier due to weather concerns in the NE USA/Canada. It’s likely that the road to my usual summit will still be unpassable in late March.

73 Barry N1EU

[SM0OEK]

I agree on Geralds proposal. In March there will be snow but the sun is warming in July we have plenty of daylight and in November we will not freeze our buts off.

73, Jaan SM0OEK

[G4OIG]

Hmm, not many opinion so far, but we have plenty of time to resolve dates for 2019.

@N1EU

It’s likely that the road to my usual summit will still be unpassable in late March.

I wonder whether there are alternative summits without late autumn / winter / early spring access issues. Maybe even it involves a little more travel? Besides, I would like to work you on a different summit.

[VE3FI]

I agree with Barry, most of our summits here in VE3 are not accessible until sometime in April and by November weather concerns are a pretty big concern, especially the freezing rain we get around then.

73, Bill VE3FI

[VE2DDZ]

I’m in the midst of planning my radio activity for the spring. Has anyone had any further thoughts on the date of a spring NA-EU S2S QSO party?

Really I’m just bumping the thread

[EA2IF]

@G4OIG

The following proposal came into my mind - three S2S events for 2019 as follows:

1. Spring event in late March at a weekend
2. Summer event in mid July on a weekday
3. Autumn event in early November at a weekend

This proposal sounds very good to me, as I’ll hopefully be able to take part on all three, assuming I’ll be on my summer holidays in July.
73,

Guru

[N1EU]

We had some offline discussion today - I suggested April 20 for the spring NA-EU S2S but Gerald G4OIG has some concerns and is still considering the options.

(fyi, April 20 is also the day for QRP to the Field 2019)

73, Barry N1EU