The Bill Windle QSO Party (BWQP), named after the prominent British-based First Class CW Operators’ Club (FOC) member Bill Windle, G8VG, Silent Key 1983, continues to build in popularity, even though propagation conditions seem to become more challenging.

The next one, on October 18th,  should find better HF conditions worldwide. Put the date on your calendar now so you will be ready to work members and non-members.

What so many participants seem to really appreciate is that you just make a few QSOs with some of the gang or spend several hours on the bands and work hundreds of stations. You can make this event whatever you want it to be. Just get on the bands and make a handful of contacts, work Windles, or make it your own ‘contest’ by working most of the 24 hours. It is your choice.

Operate on any or all bands, except the WARC bands. Just call CQ BW or answer someone calling a CQ. The minimum exchange is RST, name, and FOC number (non-members will only send RST and name). However, feel free to engage in longer QSOs if you so desire. Operate anywhere in the CW portion of the bands, but most generally concentrate on the 015 to 040 kHz segments. On 160 meters, please avoid the DX window. 

There’s no requirement to send in a log but if you want to report your activity to be included in the report in the News Sheet and FOCUS magazine, e-mail your total number of QSOs and FOC member QSOs to kz5d@aol.com.

There will be achievement certificates awarded to the member and non-member in each continent who reports the highest number of QSOs during the event. 

Let’s try to make this one the biggest and best BWQP yet. Help promote activity by telling your friends and club members about it!