Idaho Team Completes Successful Military Radio Competition

The Idaho Wing’s Coeur d’Alene Composite Squadron mounted a solid performance in the recent QRPX HF military radio competition, placing in the top 15% – 36th – of the 250 military and auxiliary stations participating.

Using call sign Q240, the 22-member team contacted 44 stations across the U.S. and Canada. The competing stations were allowed to use only their radio’s lowest power settings and only field expedient antennas.

The team leader was Cadet Capt. Daniel Moser, with 1st Lt. Richard Coffman – assistant communications officer for the Idaho Wing as well as the Coeur d’Alene squadron – in charge of antenna installation. 

Several modes of communication were available, including single side-band (SSB) voice, Tac Chat (Tactical Chat), ALE (automatic link establishment), 3G, and other digital modes.

The only mode of communication the team used was SSB voice.  

Participating members gained extensive experience throughout the activity as well as knowledge about how HF systems work. They proved able to cope effectively in complicated and stressful environments.

Several team members also completed their Introductory Communications User Training qualification and had Mission Radio Operator tasks signed off during the event.  
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Cadet Capt. Daniel Moser
Coeur d'Alene Composite Squadron
Idaho Wing