Time:
Contest runs on the first Saturday of February from 1400 through 2359 UTC (8 AM through 5:59 PM CST).

QSO Rules:
MN stations work everyone; all other W/VE & DX work MN stations. Work stations once per band & mode. MN mobiles and rovers may be worked once per band & mode from each county, & MN mobiles and rovers may work stations once per band & mode from each county.

Bands:
HF classes: 160m - 10m (excluding WARC bands).

Modes:
Phone (SSB/FM both count as Phone)
CW (CW/RTTY/PSK all count as CW)
A station may be worked once on CW and once on Phone on each band.

Spotting Networks:
Use of Packet or Telnet spotting networks is permissible in all categories. No self-spotting is allowed.

Exchange:
MN Stations: First name & county (three letter designator).
W/VE Stations: First name and state / province (two letter abbreviation). DX Stations: First name only. Section should be logged as DX.

** NOTE **
MN Mobile and Rover stations must sign their call sign with the county three letter designator, in addition to the exchange. For example KØAD/DAK for Dakota County.
MN Fixed stations should not sign their call sign with the three letter county designator to avoid being confused as a mobile or rover station.

Multipliers:
Multipliers for Minnesota Stations: 87 Minnesota counties, 49 states (does not include Minnesota), 1 District of Columbia, 10 Canadian provinces, 3 Canadian Territories, and 1 DX; 151 maximum.
Minnesota stations may work DXCC countries for points and receive 1 multiplier for working a DX station.
Multipliers for W/VE and DX (outside Minnesota): MN counties: 87 maximum.
Multipliers count once overall - not once per band or mode.

Scoring:
Score 2 QSO points for all QSO’s, i.e. both Phone and CW QSO equal 2 QSO points each. Final score is QSO points total times multiplier total.

Operating Classes-MN:
• Single Op Low Power
• Single Op QRP (5 watts or less)
• Single Op Phone Only
• Multi-Op (One or Two Transmitters - Multiple Operators)
• Mobile - Single Transmitter (No Limit on the Number of Operators)
• Mobile - Unlimited (Two or More transmitters Operated Simultaneously)
• Rover - Single Transmitter (No Limit on the Number of Operators)

All classes (except Phone Only) are mixed modes only. All classes are restricted to 160 through 10 meters (exclusive of WARC Bands). Mobile entries are strongly encouraged to have a separate driver and operator. Drivers and operators in the same vehicle may not work each other.
Mobile and Rover categories are stations that operate from two or more counties with the same call sign.
Mobile stations, including antennas, must be self contained in or on a vehicle and capable of operating while moving.
Rover stations must operate stationary from at least two counties using portable, temporary or permanent antennas.
In addition Rovers may operate while mobile. An antenna used for mobile operation cannot be used for stationary operation. The intent of the Rover Category is for stations to operate primarily stationary and to use mobile operation while moving between stationary positions. Stations deemed to have operated outside the spirit of the category, such as primarily mobile while operating a minimum number of counties stationary, may be reclassified as a Check log by the MNQP committee. Any station claiming Single or Multi-operator category that operated from more than one county with one call will be reclassified into a Mobile or Rover Category. Operating in two or more classes requires separate unique call sign to be used for each class. Any station submitting a log who’s operating method does not meet one of the above categories will be reclassified as a check log.

Note: Output power for all Minnesota operating classes is limited to 100 watts except QRP (5 watts).

Operating Classes-W/VE:
• Single Op Low Power (100w or less)
• Single Op High Power
• Single Op QRP (5 watts or less)
• Single Op Phone Only
• Multi-Op (One or Two Transmitters - Multiple Operators) All classes (except Phone Only) are mixed modes only.

All classes are restricted to 160 through 10 meters (exclusive of WARC Bands).

Operating Classes-DX:
• Unlimited

Suggested Frequencies:
CW: 1.850, 3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050.
CW QSOs in the SSB Portion of the HF Bands are not allowed. For CW on VHF bands, follow common practice.
SSB: 1.870, 3.850, 7.250, 14.270, 21.350, 28.450.
RTTY: Within the ARRL suggested band plans for all bands.

Logs:
Logs must be submitted by March 15. Electronic logs are strongly encouraged and should be sent to mnqp@w0aa.org according to the following guidelines:
• Cabrillo format is preferred (CALL.LOG or CALL.CBR extensions, i.e. KØAD.LOG) using the NAQP templateleaving QSO number field blank (see example below). Other text editor readable files are accepted. .BIN files should not be submitted.
• Separate summary sheet not required with Cabrillo submitted logs (standard for major contests).
• The subject line of the e-mail submitting the log should contain only the call used in MNQP.
• Confirmation e-mails will be sent out to those who supply an e-mail address, however you should check the MNQP website to verify that the log has been received.

Cabrillo format template:
----------info sent-------------- ----------info rcvd---------------
QSO: freq mo date time call nr ex1 ex2 call nr ex1 ex2 t
QSO: ***** ** yyyy-mm-dd nnnn ********** nnnn aaaaaaaaaa aaa ********** nnnn aaaaaaaaaa aaa n
QSO: 14042 CW 2010-02-06 1200 AC0W BILL MOW N2CU TOM NY

nr: Serial number, not used (field must be blank)
ex1: Name
ex2: 3 letter county designator for MN, Two letter QTH designation for W/VE, DX for non-W/VE

Paper logs can be sent to MNQP, 4745-170th Lane NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304-5233 by 15 March. Log and scoring summary sheets are available on the Internet at WWW.WØAA.ORG/MNQP under the Resources link. Paper logs generated by a logging program will require submission of electronic file to be considered for awards.

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