The Spring QSO Party was underway at 0000Z on April 11th, and it ran until 0600Z. Thanks to the efforts of QRP-ARCI members Jim Stafford W4QO, Ron Stark KU7Y, and Brian Murrey KB9BVN the event got a big advertising boost covering the numerous QRP reflectors, QRZ and eHam, and just about anywhere we could find to mention it.
At the time of this writing, 60 logs have been reported on the wonderful website that QRP-ARCI member Diz Gentzow W8DIZ created and runs for all QRP contesting that wants to use it. If you participated in the event and have not yet recorded your log and comments, please do so at once. The website is
https://qrpcontest.com and it very easy to use.
This year the Spring QSO Party was converted from a 24 hour format to 6 hours. Several reasons for this exist, and it appears that the majority of those that have posted logs and comments enjoyed the 6 hours format.
The best band this time was the 40m band, and then the 20m band. Conditions were up and down but contacts were being made.
Jack Reed WA7LNW made almost 80 contacts and left these comments:
"K3 running 5 watts to a 40 meter inverted-v on 65 ft. tower, anchored to a sandstone cliff edge at 5,300 ft. elevation ASL. This HF remote overlooks the Virgin River and Zion National Park in southwestern Utah."
I worked him from Indianapolis with my K2 and dreadfully horrid attic dipole antenna! Jack has some great receive out there!
Jim Stafford W4QO made 64 contacts, with 53 of them being ARCI members. He was using his KX3, 80m Loop, and a 3 Element Yagi on 20m.
Rick McGaver NK9G managed contacting 39 ARCI members and had this to say:
"Nice to make some QRP Q's. I would rather go back to 24 or 36 hour format, but I understand lack of participation is a big factor in a longer format. All these members and so few operators. I figured with the lock down the band was going to be really hopping. Not!"
Jerry Scherkenbach N9AW contacted 41 ARCI members with his set up left these comments:
"Had fun in the Spring QSO Party. Was hoping for more activity. Would like to see better hours for operation, some daytime into evening hours, not 7 pm to 1 am local. No propagation on 20M and up at current contest times."
John Harper AE5X worked the contest from TX and made contact with 27 ARCI Members and had this to say:
"20& 40m were pretty good here; 80m was very noisy. I used the mcHF at 5 watts on battery power. Good to work familiar call signs!"
Paul Womble operated from Florida, and had this to say after working 29 ARCI members:
"Good amount of activity on 20m and 40m tonight. 20 shut down here after about the first 20 minutes then I went to 40. 80m was full of static. I worked several member numbers below 5000 and one 3 digit! Be sure to check out
https://www.floridaqsoparty.org April 25-26th. QRP categories and awards."
Gerald Hertle WA9AGG was operating from the Hoosier state, he contacted 22 ARCI members, and had a great time. Here are his comments:
"My first ever QRP contest. Had a lot of fun but hated those high power 40 mtr guys not in the contest QRMing right on top of my CQ.

They have a right to be there so No Harm, No foul. I learned a lot about contesting with less than one watt and look forward for the next QRP contest."
Larry Makoski W2LJ worked from New Jersey and contacted 18 ARCI members in the few hours he was able to work the event. His comments are below:
"That was a lot of fun! Only able to stay awake for a couple hours, but there was a decent amount of activity! Thanks, QRP-ARCI, especially Brian KB9BVN and Jim W4QO who got the word out. 72 de Larry W2LJ"
Well that's it in a nutshell. You can view all the log reports and the soapbox comments by visiting the website at
https://qrpcontest.com and selecting the ARCI Spring QSO Party. Also if you want to stay informed of upcoming events, you can visit the club website at
https://qrparci.org and join the QRPARCI reflector by sending an email to qrparci+subscribe@groups.io and Jim Stafford will get you added to the list.
The next QRP-ARCI event is the Hootowl Shootout. A one hour shootout on May 25th from 0000z to 0100z - don't miss it!