Vienna Wireless Society
North American QSO Party
January 21-22, 2006

Revised January 20, 2005

Our reservation for the house is complete. We will be able to operate NAQP from the Highacre house in Harpers Ferry. Our thanks to John Birch, KA4YMA, for obtaining the use of this wonderful historic house.

On January 21 and 22, 2006, 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.
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.

The contest starts at 1:00 PM local time on Saturday, January 21 and ends at 1:00 AM local time on Sunday, January 22. Some of us plan to head up on Friday, possibly in time to get antenna or two in the air. Others will start gathering in Harpers Ferry starting at 9:00 AM on Saturday to set up the operating positions, remaining antennas, etc. Food will be pot luck with everyone bringing something. 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 breakfast. We may try the buffet at the Hilltop Hotel in Harpers Ferry again, but need to make sure they're more accomodating than they were two years ago first. Here is a direct link to the Hilltop Hotel's web page.

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

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

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 Pete Norloff, KG4OJT. Email address is [call sign] at arrl.net. Please contact 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
January 17, 2004, Harpers Ferry, WV
August 21, 2004, Lake Fairfax Park
January 15, 2005, Town Hill, Maryland
August 20, 2005, Lake Fairfax Park