As we receive repeated questions we will put answers here. Please send questions to us at atlcanqp@gmail.com
Contest Updates
AC0. N1MM CountyLine Entries
In the N1MM Exchange Window put TWO or more entries separated by the ‘/’ character. For Example: NSCOL/NSHRM or NBYOR/NBSUN/NBNOR. This will create separate log entries for each of the received counties with one entry.
N3FJP uses a + sign between counties on county lines (note that N3FJP does not support the ACQP directly so you may have edit your CABRILLO log file).
AC1. Bonus Stations
Valid Bonus Stations are: VE1RAC, VE9RAC, VO1RAC, VO2RAC, VY2RAC, VE0CNM VE0MMA, VA1ACQ, VE9ACQ, and VO1ACQ
AC2. Log Submission
We will be using https://acqp.contesting.com/acqpsubmitlog.php as our log submission page. The rules point to https://acqp.ca/logs/ which redirects to the https://acqp.contesting.com/acqpsubmitlog.php site.
AC3. Logger Support
The following loggers have support for ACQP: N1MM, DXLog, Ham2K Polo, WRL, CloudLog, Skookum (MAC)
N3FJP specifically does not.
AC4. How can I create a CABrillo file if I don’t have one of the supported loggers?
Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, has created many tools to support various QSO Parties, including a form to take paper or non-supported logs and create a properly formed CABrillo log for the ACQP. You can find it at:
https://www.b4h.net/cabforms/acqp_cab3.php
If you have an ADI or ADIF file from your log you can create a CABRILLO file using the following link. You may need to edit it to make it follow the CABRILLO format properly but it is a great help.
https://adif2cabrillo.kq4mhe.com/index.php
General
1. Why Counties/Divisions?
Provincial/State QSO parties often use some geographic scheme to differentiate contacts between various areas in provinces/states. Some out of region operators are looking to hunt counties. Two provincial radio associations or clubs (NS and PEI) offer Work All Counties awards for their province. We considered other multipliers, such as Federal Electoral Districts. These are harder to map and determine exactly where you might be operating from.
Newfoundland does not have Counties per se, but has Divisions, which we have chosen to use.
The codes for each county or division were created by the ACQP organizing committee and are not related to any other source.
2. County/Division Maps
Newfoundland Division Maps - https://www.stats.gov.nl.ca/maps/PDFs/CD_NL_16.pdf
Prince Edward Island Counties - https://www.worldatlas.com/upload/58/a7/e9/prince-edward-island-map.png
New Brunswick Counties - https://images.mapsofworld.com/canada/new-brunswick-county-map.jpg
Nova Scotia Counties - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Nova_Scotia_counties_2015.png/960px-Nova_Scotia_counties_2015.png
2. Who is behind the ACQP?
The ACQP was created by three individuals in the fall of 2024. VE1RGO – Stuart Hayes, VE1RPX – Rich Peirik, VE9CZ – Peter Siemsen. In December an additional amateur joined the team, Michael Ryan — VO1OP. Also briefly in 2025 Stuart Crawford — VE9CF, who helped us build the ACQP webpage. The idea of an Atlantic QSO Party is not a new one and a previous Maritime QSO Party was run by the Maritime Contest Club in 2012, 2013.
3. Can I help / get involved?
Yes. We are looking for local contacts in each of the four provinces of the Atlantic Canada QP region to act as Provincial Leads/Captains to help us attract more in region ACQP operators. Also advising us on rules and helping be local area experts. Please send an email to atlcanqp@gmail.com
4. What loggers support ACQP?
Currently support for ACQP has been created for N1MM (as of March 11, 2025). DXLog has also added support for ACQP (as of March 10, 2025). additionally, both Ham2K POLO (KI2D) and World Radio League (WRL) have indicated interest in providing support in their excellent loggers before our contest.
There will not be support in N3FJP for ACQP. We are hopeful future versions of N3FJP will support ACQP and other contests.
5. How do I get support in N1MM for ACQP
When creating a new contest log in an N1MM database choose QSOPARTY and in the RIGHT corner of the new contest dialog box you will see a pulldown for QSOPARTY that should be 7QP, change this to AC (Atlantic Canada QP) for our ruleset.
Full instructions are posted on the https://www.acqp.ca/resources page.
6. What is the scoring methodology
The callsign is not the basis of the score, any station in the region can participate, we welcome mobiles from outside of Atlantic Canada to come and experience the Atlantic Canadian scenery while racking up points. Our ACQP scoring looks for an exchange indicating one of the 47 land counties or divisions of the provinces in Atlantic Canada (AC).
ACQP provide multipliers for AC stations working other stations at the provincial, state, or DX level only. The goal is to work as many stations as possible, from both in and out of region for AC stations.
Non AC stations are rewarded with a mult by band and mode for each of the 47 counties/divisions in the AC provinces.
7. What about CY0, CY9 stations?
In both cases permission is needed to operate or even go there. At least a tour for CY0 and prior registration/permission from the Canadian Coast Guard for CY9. Any dx expeditions who wish to participate in the Atlantic Canada QSO Party should arrange ahead of time with the ACQP Organizing Committee. We would welcome participation as bonus or even special bonus station status. CY0 is part of Halifax Regional Municipality (NSHRM) so that would be its exchange. CY9 is part of Victoria County (NSVIC) for its exchange.
8. What about VE0 or /MM Calls?
We did not specify or provide a mult for working VE0 or /MM that are not in port in a county. We have had the pleasure of the two museum ships in Halifax (VE0MMA and VE0CNM) acting as bonus stations. Those will use the NSHRM exchange (Nova Scotia Halifax Regional Municipality) as their exchange.
Other VE0 and /MM stations are a different consideration. For those vessels in port you should use your non nautical callsign (non-VE0) and the exchange of the port (Atlantic Canadian county/division) for their exchange and use that for the duration of the contest.
If during the contest, the vessel is in transit within the 12 mile nautical limit, and the MOBILE category is chosen, may choose multiple "port" counties and activate and log them as transit is made. It will be on the operator to be within realistic distance of a “port” operating position to claim a county.
Vessels outside the 12 mile nautical limit or otherwise not in Canadian territorial waters should use DX as their exchange.
Above all it is upon the operator to operate within ISED’s rules for the use of the VE0 and/or /MM designator for ships at sea. The 12 nautical mile limit as recognized by this document, Defining Canada’s Maritime Zones.