If you’re planning to activate a county in the Salmon Run (even if it’s your normal fixed station), please click here to fill out the Activation form. The results will be tabulated every few days into the Activations list below.  The Activate a County list is a way to inform hams around the world where to find operators in the different Washington counties – and to let those who plan who go out as mobile stations know which counties may not be covered.  There are no exclusive reservations.

For rovers, you’re welcome to either fill out this form once for each county or send your activation plan (ideally answering the questions below for each county planned) to the Salmon Run Committee.

In addition, we’ve done some analysis on the logs from 2021 to aid expeditions and rovers in picking counties that weren’t very popular last year.  The following table shows the number of QSOs in the submitted logs for each county by mode.

The Salmon Run 2022 Rules are out and published on the Rules Page. This year the WWDXC Salmon Run Committee did an extensive review of the rules and made a number of updates to help the Party run smoother and encourage as many stations as possible to participate. We also added a couple of new Awards to encourage participation and friendly competition among entrants.

Here are the main changes that might impact your operating plans:

No Digital Contacts

While we understand this may feel like a step backwards for some, digital mode participation has been languishing substantially in recent years.  With most digital activities moving to the “FT” modes, stations like the W7DX Salmon have spent hours calling on digital calling frequencies for RTTY or PSK with very few responses. We didn’t want to tire out any of the salmon swimming the wrong way, so until the WSJT-X team is able to incorporate more flexible contest exchanges, we’ve decided to sideline digital modes and encourage operators to put their energy where it makes the most contacts.

Multi-Operator Geography

In accordance with many other contests, we require that multi-operator stations, with the exception of those operating in the Unlimited category, to reside entirely upon the same premises (including all transmitters and antennas) and within a 1000-foot diameter circle. We love Multi-Op entries, and while the past few years have show us there are a number of different and unique ways to operate Multi, we want to make sure the rules are explicity for this category.

That being said, stations that want to participate as “Distributed Multi-Ops” are encouraged to enter into the Unlimited category. Equipment used by multi-op operators in this category does not need to be on the same premises, It is only necessary that all radio equipment and antennas be located in the same WA county (or state/province/DXCC entity for non-WA multi-ops). All stations must use the same callsign, and only one station may be on any band+mode at any given time. Simultaneously operating different modes on the same band is allowed.

We also encourage other entries that may not fit our rules to enter the Unlimited Category and please do drop the Salmon Run Committee a note with your ideas.

Eliminate 2M contacts entirely

WWDXC members have a great history in VHF and up operations, and the mountains around Washington provide some great opportunities for hill toppers, mountain goats, and the like. However, we found that the 2M band was used almost exclusively by Puget Sound area entrants to work each other over short distances on another band, and we want to encourage that time spent moving stations to and from 2m to be used working more counties, states, and entities.  6m will remain available, and while it can be used for local line of sight contacts as well, we always hope for a nice regional, national, or international 6m opening to liven up the party and add some 6m hooks to the water.

DXCC entities are counted for up to 10 multipliers

Previously, DX credit for DXCC entities was unlimited for WA credit, but to level the playing field across the classes and modes, we’ve decided to limit the WA station multipliers for DX to a maximum of 10.

Expeditions can operate while mobile

Historically the expedition class encourages operators to set up portable stations field-day style at one or more locations, while the mobile class requires operating from a station that’s capable of motion at all times.  Expeditions that wanted to operate two or more counties had the penalty of down-time while driving between the counties.  To encourage more time on the air, expeditioners (especially multi-ops) are encouraged to consider (safe) operation while mobile if moving between counties or between your home and an expedition site.  However, the 1000-ft rule still applies, so a multi-op driving to an expedition site which is actively participating needs to wait until they arrive on site to participate.

Awards

Finally, for awards, we’ve added two “horse race” awards that can be won by working a group of multipliers first.  For stations outside of Washington, the first station to get a clean sweep of WA counties will be entitled to a plaque.  For Washington locals, the first station to work all of the U.S. and Canadian multipliers will win the race.

73,

Justin, K5EM, on behalf of the WWXDC Salmon Run committee. Special thanks to Rob N7QT, Rusty W6OAT, Tom NU7J, and Kirk N7UK for their work on this over the past months and to Dink (N7WA) for his past work administering the contest and his continued support in scoring. A special thanks to John (W7CD, SK) for all the tireless work he put into the Salmon Run over the past few years especially to bring our logging into the digital ages.

Please read the Rules, recently republished.  Changes for the 2021 Salmon Run, to be conducted on September 18th and 19th, include:

• • We now support Cabrillo v3.0 as well as v2.0

If you’re going to activate a county in the Salmon Run, email the information from the blocks below to salmonrun@wwdxc.org, and we’ll add it to the list!  Please remember to tell us which days/hours, bands, and modes where people can find you.  The Activate a County list is a way to inform hams around the world where to find operators in the different Washington counties – and to let those who plan who go out as mobile stations know which counties may not be covered.  There are no exclusive reservations.  This list and the map will be updated until the 14th.

# ROVER!  Manfred/AG7NR will be operating from 8 different counties in WWA.  For details, click here.  

% ROVER!  Lloyd/W7LRH and team will be operating SSB from 13 different counties in both WWA and EWA.  For details, click here.  

$ ROVER!  Bill/W7VAS will be operating from 4 different WWA counties on Sunday.  For details, click here.  

Watering Holes – Where To Find More Fish

Cabrillo logs are required and most logger apps can create them.  Use this form to create a Cabrillo log if you kept a manual log or if your software cannot produce one.

The first Washington State QSO Party, sponsored by the Boeing Employee’s Amateur Radio Society (BEARS) took place on September 17-19, 1966, as reported in the Sep ’66 QST, p. 126:

“The First Annual Washington State QSO Party sponsored by the Boeing Employee’s Amateur Radio Society, K7NWS, will start at 2300 GMT September 17 and end at 0500 GMT September 19, 1966, and all amateurs are invited to participate.

“All bands may be used, c.w. and phone (phone classified as both a.m. and s.s.b).  Stations may be worked once each band and each mode.  Washington stations score one point for each contact (including contacts with other Washington stations).  All others score two points for each contact with a Washington station.  Washington stations multiply total QSO points by number of different states, Canadian Provinces and countries worked.  All others multiply total QSO points by the total of different Washington counties worked. Washington stations send QSO number, RS(T) and county.  All others send QSO number, RS(T) and state province or country.  General call “CQ WASH”.  Washington c.w. stations should identify themselves by signing de (call) WASH K.  Phone say “Washington calling”.  Certificates will be awarded to the highest scoring station in each state, province, country and Washington County.  Worked Five Bears certificates are also available to anyone working five club members before, during or after the QSO Party.  Working club station, K7NWS, will provide gold seal endorsement sticker for either certificate.  Suggested frequencies: c.w. 3560 7060 14060 21060 28100, a.m. 3990 7260 14230 21310 28600, s.s.b. 3960 7220 14290 21290 28700, Novices 3735 7175 21110.  Logs must show dates, times in GMT, stations worked, exchanges sent and received, bands and modes used, and scores claimed.  Each entry must include a signed statement that the decisions of the contest committee will be accepted as final.  No logs can be returned.  Log sheets and scores must be postmarked no later than October 8, 1966, and sent to: Boeing Employee’s Amateur Radio Society in care of Contest Chairman Willis Props [sic], K7RSB, 18415 38th Avenue, South Seattle, Washington 98188.”

The last QSO Party announcement for the Washington State QSO Party was in the September 1987 QST, p. 86.

“Washington State QSO Party, sponsored by the Boeing Employees ARS, from 0100Z Sep 12 until 0100Z Sep 14.  All bands and all modes [although there were no suggested WARC, VHF/UHF, digital, AM, FM, or SSTV frequencies, see below].  Work stations once per band and mode. CW contacts in CW subbands only.  Work WA stations again as they change counties. WA to WA QSOs allowed.  Exchange serial number, signal report and state/province/country (county for WA stations).  Suggested frequencies: CW — 3.560 7.060 14.060 21.060 28.060; phone — 3.925 7.260 14.280 21.380 28.580; Novice — 3.725 7.125 21.150 28.160. Count 2 points per phone QSOs, 3 points per CW QSOs and 5 points per mobile QSOs.  WA stations multiply by total counties/states/provinces/countries.  All others multiply by total WA counties worked.  Certificates to the top scores in each state, province, country and WA County.  Mail logs (SASE for results) by Oct 15 to BEARS, c/o David Long, N7FNO, 2117 N 52nd St, Seattle, WA 98103.”

Washington had no QSO Party from 1988 to 1990.

With permission from the BEARS, the Western Washington DX Club (WWDXC) assumed the hosting of the QSO Party in 1991.  K7WA, N7EPD, N7LOX and W7TSQ got together and decided that a prize should be offered and as N7LOX had a close friend who owned part of Portlok Salmon at that time, they opted to go for a package of Salmon – easier to send than a bushel of apples.  Thus with the party in September 1991, they decided that Salmon Run was a good name.