The 2026 KY QSO Party was a great success by the numbers.
- As the above link shows, scores and participation increased everywhere, with 13 All-Time records set,
- Despite the terrible solar conditions that coincided with the KYQP. Hopefully better next year!
Stations outside KY:
- All 4 USA categories had new records set in 2026:
- Ed W5TM won the USA CW plaque, with a 6th place USA finish..
- Sandra WA1SAY claimed the USA Phone plaque.
- Freddy AA3R won the USA CW plaque, AND was 1st place USA.
- Dave K2YG claimed the USA QRP plaque, coming in 4th in the USA.
- Honorable mention goes to K1RO and WØPI for finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively in the USA.
- Thanks to ALL of you for working us Kentuckians.
- There were 14 Canada stations this year:
- Art VE3CT set a new Canada CW record, and was 1st place Canada.
- Stan VE3TW claimed the Canada Mixed plaque, and was 2nd place Canada
- Larry VE3LRL was awarded the Canada Phone plaque.
- We appreciate you guys “up north” for taking time on Saturday to work us.
- DX stations Laci OM2VL and Dietmar DL3DXX set new records winning the DX Mixed and DX CW plaques, respectively. Thank you both for working Kentuckians across The Pond again this year.
KY Mobiles:
The lifeblood of the KYQP depends on mobile activity, and we were not disappointed!
- Jim AD4EB and QSO party newcomer Ryan AC4NK teamed up to take the new Mobile Multi-Op plaque by making an amazing 1611 CW Q’s in a sweeping run through 26 counties in Western KY. This was their first-ever KYQP and we hope to see them both again! https://www.qrz.com/db/AD4EB
- Juan AC6ZM set a new record and claimed the Mobile Assisted plaque in a 70mph cannonball run through 35 counties in Central KY, with 1097 CW QSO’s, the most counties ever activated!
- Special callsign K4Y (Rich NØHJZ) from Minnesota, who gave out 1620 Phone QSOs from 28 counties in Central KY. Thanks for coming down to KY, and you claimed the Mobile Unassisted plaque!
- James KK6MC and Susan WØAEN from New Mexico who traversed 18 counties, making 390 CW and 43 Phone QSOs while picking up a Goin’ Mobile plaque for their efforts — thanks for coming to KY, we hope you return next year!
- Dwight KM4FO and XYL Suzette KJ4SYZ, longtime KYQP mobile participants, who activated 11 counties in Western KY with 315 CW QSOs, and this longtime duo earned a Goin’ Mobile plaque.
- John KM4CH, another KYQP stalwart who made 439 QSOs in 24 counties in north, east, and central KY, with son Chandler KJ6SVE driving. This duo also earned a Goin’ Mobile plaque.
- Roland AF4Y who made 79 Phone QSOs in 5 counties, and…
- Paul N9PMI who activated Jefferson with 46 Phone QSOs.
- And your scribe Tyler N4TY with driver XYL Deb — we got lost and quit early, but made 551 CW QSOs in 18 counties.
- Finally, THANKS to KC8FDU, K2UA, and the New York QSO Party for providing the new KY Live QSO Party APRS Tracker, a wonderful resource for participants tracking KY mobiles.
KY Expeditions:
This year there were 4 Expedition categories:
- Single-Op, Single County, claimed by Paul W4WKU, who hung out in Trigg county, making 199 CW and 252 Phone QSOs.
- Single-Op, Multi-County, won by Bill K8UY, who setup on the tri-county corner of Allen, Barren, and Monroe, making 182 Phone QSOs.
- Multi-Op, Single County, won by Ray N4NP and Steve KC3SJ who activated Jackson county, leading all the Expedition categories with 371 CW and 134 Phone QSOs. Well done!
- Multi-Op. Multi-County, won by Bullitt ARS club call KY4KY, manned by Buddy KC4WQ, Rich KC3WNX, and John N3XKD, who setup their station in 5 counties.
KY Fixed Stations:
- The N4SS superstation piloted by Bryan W5MX and Clayton KJ4YLR, who claimed the KY Fixed Multi-Op plaque making 349 CW and 731 Phone QSOs from Rockcastle county.
- Dennis KM4RO at the top of the KY High Power category, who won KY Phone High Power with 795 Phone QSOs.
- Jay N4GO who claimed the KY CW High Power plaque with 207 CW QSOs.
- Special callsign K4K manned by Charlie K8IJ, who topped the KY Low Power category with 396 CW QSOs, winning the KY CW Low Power plaque.
- Glenn KO4OL a longtime KYQP supporter won the KY Mixed Low Power plaque with 163 CW and 1 Phone QSO.
- Curtis WX4W who claimed the KY Phone Low Power plaque with 274 Phone QSOs, and…
- Tim AD4TA, who again won the KY QRP plaque with 244 CW QSOs from Mercer county.
- The Unbridled Spirit plaque was awarded to Vernon N4UL for 186 CW QSOs, coming in second in the KY Low Power category.
K4KCG Bonus Station:
We thank again Glenn KE4KY and David ND4Y for providing 100-point bonuses to participants, by making 452 CW and 879 Phone QSOs respectively. Thanks guys!
73, Tyler N4TY
KY Award Wrangler and Chief Gopher
