Vienna Wireless Society
North American QSO Party
January 17-18, 2004

Revised December 12, 2003

Our reservation for the house is complete. We will be able to operate NAQP from the Highacre house in Harpers Ferry.

On January 17 and 18, 2004, the Vienna Wireless Society will be operating in the North American QSO Party, at the Highacre house at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. This site is located on a hill overlooking the scenic confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. The panoramic view from the house's front porch, dining room and living room is very nice. We will be operating Multi Operator Two Transmitter (this contest limits entrants to two transmitters.)

This is where we'll be operating NAQP January. (Click on the photo for a better view.) The Highacre house is the house in the clear near the upper left in the photo. The barn to its right is still there today as well. The church building directly below the barn is now in ruins. The Potomac River is in the upper right, and the Shenandoah River is out of the photo across the bottom. We'll be having breakfast in the hotel at the top of the picture.
This photo was taken in 1895.

Rules for the contest are available here on the VWS page or on the National Contest Journal web page. Please note that the rules on the NCJ web site are currently last year's rules. The copy on our site is the updated version for this year.

The contest starts at 1:00 PM local time on Saturday, January 17 and ends at 1:00 AM local time on Sunday, January 18. We will start gathering in Harpers Ferry starting at 9:00 AM on Saturday to set up the operating positions, antennas, etc. Food details are yet to be worked out. At 1:00 AM when the contest stops, some or all of us will sleep in the house, pack up the equipment in the morning and head out to the breakfast buffet at the Hilltop Hotel in Harpers Ferry. Here is a direct link to the Hilltop Hotel's web page.

A map and directions to the house in Harpers Ferry are available from the PATC here.

For information on two close-by hotels, please click here.

On November 15, Len, KG6ZR, Matthew, KG4URU, and Pete, KG4OJT made a reconnaisance mission to Harpers Ferry, WV, to look at the Highacre House and the surrounding trees, etc. The Highacre House is owned by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and is made available to its members. Rental on the house for the event is $225.

This event is being coordinated by Linda Thomas, AC4LT, and Pete Norloff, KG4OJT. Email addresses are [call sign] at arrl.net. Please contact Linda or Pete if you're interested in participating.

The view from out by the front of the house, looking down on the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. West Virginia below our feet, Maryland off to the left, and Virginia off to the right.

Looking past the house down toward the Shenandoah River.

Panoramic view of the house from up hill, looking down at the confluence. There are a number of trees which look like they'll support our antennas just fine.

From the downhill side of the house, looking up at the windows in the dining room (bay window on the left) and living room (looking on to the porch.)

The dining room operating position. It's hard to see the view outside, but it's really beautiful.

The view from part of the porch. The living room windows are near and the dining room bay window is farther away.

The other half of the porch facing the parking area (taken from the same spot as the other porch photo above.)

Ruins of a church just below the house, with another church visible in the distance.

Past NAQP operating events:
August 16, 2003, Lake Fairfax Park