2022 PA QSO Party Bonus Station
The 2022 Bonus Station is operated by the Stepansky brothers: Joe (KQ3F), Steve (KC3WX), and Andy (N3VZ). The operation will be located in Lehigh County using the callsign of KQ3F, and aims to provide as many Bonus points to Party participants as possible. This is probably the first time in PA QSO Party history that the Bonus Station has been operated by 3 biological brothers.
From the brothers:
We will operate as a portable station in Coopersburg, Lehigh County. The station elevation is about 1,000 feet above sea level, with excellent views in all directions. The three of us will operate three networked radios and computers during the entire contest period both Saturday and Sunday. We will operate low power on the 160-6 meter bands, using both CW and SSB and possibly 2 meter simplex if there’s activity. We also intend to self-spot frequently via DX clusters and qsopartyhub.com, especially when making band or mode changes.
We have one overriding goal, which is to provide as many 200 point bonus station contacts as possible. We have over 100 years amateur radio experience combined, and have been operating major contests, including the PA QSO Party, for decades. In past PA QSO Parties we’ve operated fixed, portable, and mobile, both single and multi op. We made over 2,000 QSOs in the 2021 Party using the same location and equipment we’ll use for 2022.
All QSOs will automatically be uploaded to LOTW and eQSL. Paper cards will also be available to those who request them with an SASE.
Above all, let’s have fun. We certainly intend to do so and look forward to working everyone on as many band/modes as possible.
After-Party Comments from the Stepansky Brothers
Outstanding weekend with my brothers being the bonus station for 2022 PQP. We were portable low power near Coopersburg, PA. LEH. Murphy struck a few times but nothing insurmountable. It's a TON of work to set up and take down everything but well worth the effort. We also met our goal of "stalking" the bands to provide as many bonus points possible. Thanks for the tremendous feedback!!!
73 from Joe (KQ3F), Andy (N3VZ), and Steve (KC3WX)
Some things to keep in mind if you are interested in applying to be a PA QSO Party Bonus Station:
- If a group or club wishes to be considered for a particular year's Bonus station, they should contact the PA QSO Party Association to indicate their interest, and prepare an Operation Plan for the proposed Bonus Station.
- There are often several groups applying for the bonus station every year. By the very nature of a bonus station, we can select only one. There have been times in the past, when people or groups, not selected, have become so upset that they have boycotted the party because of it. Please do not do that. The decision is very difficult; there is no reason to make it more so. If not being chosen as the bonus station will cause you to become so angry with the administrators of the party that you refuse to participate, reconsider the application.
Past PA QSO Party Bonus Stations
1992-1995 – Nittany Amateur Radio Club
1996 – W3OK Delaware Lehigh Amateur Radio Club
1997 – W3SGJ Beaver Valley Amateur Radio Association
1998 – K3YTL Murgas Amateur Radio Association
1999 – W3HA Carbon Amateur Radio Club
2000 - W3YA Nittany Amateur Radio Club
2001 – K3CSG Scranton Pocono Amateur Radio Club
2002 – W3FRC Frankford Radio Club
2003 – W3KWH Steel City Amateur Radio Club (first multi-station effort)
2004 – W3UU Harrisburg Radio Amateurs Club
2005 – K3YTL Murgas Amateur Radio Association
2006 – N3SH Wireless Association of South Hills
2007 – W3P – Nittany Amateur Radio Club 50th Anniversary
2008 – W3OK Delaware Lehigh Amateur Radio Club
2009 – N3KAE The KQX Group
2010 – K3MJW Skyview Radio Society
2011 – K3SMT
2012 - W3SC Schuylkill Amateur Repeater Association
2013 – W3ZGD Hilltop Transmitting Assn
2014 – W3TDF QCWA Chapter 17 Ray Bilger Celebration
2015 - W3C by the KQX Group
2016 - W3UU The Harrisburg Radio Amateur Club
2017 - W3FRC, W3F, W3R, W3C The Frankford Radio Club
2018 - N3LI Operated by the Nittany Amateur Radio Club