Why QUA?
It’s a way to increase fun and activity on CW. It solves the boredom of repeating the same information in QSO with the same CW operators if there is a limit to language for longer QSO. It’s also a way to hear news about the activity of other CW operators and your own to be circulated.
What is QUA?
QUA means “I have news of…” and QUA? means “Do you have news of…”
After creating this activity, it took me long to realize that QUA is also the first 3 letters of Quality!
How does it work?
During a QSO ask QUA? if you want to receive a QUA. To send a QUA look at your log, and send the last (5) callsigns of stations that you had a real QSO with including real report, QTH, Name, PWR, ANT (not just a 5NN TU — these should NOT be included!). For example: QUA JX2UJI AJ2KSO BY1CDA M4ALM KV4BGR. You may even add the name along with each callsign if you wish, this also shows that it wasn’t a mere “5NN TU” QSO.
The other station receiving this, might ask for further information, in the above example, maybe KV4BGR is known to him or a friend. He may then send <INT>QUA KV4BGR or QUA KV4BGR? BK in which case you then reply with further info from your log QUA KV4BGR BOB TAMPA, FL 21067kHz.
For those who are known to each other and so do not need to repeat their QTH, Name, PWR, ANT, an honest report and an exchange of QUA qualifies to be included in the QUA report.
Where and When?
Especially (but not only) at the top of the hour on the 12, 15, 17 or 20m QSX/Calling Frequencies, or on the bottom of the hour (30 minutes past the hour) on the 30m QSX/Calling Frequency – and during CW Bash and Chinese Whispers!
Or at any time, just as part of your normal operating, or within the 30m daily “QTT Hour“.
Any Scores or Awards?
If you make QUA sharing part of the fun “Chinese Whispers” activity, you can send in your “QUA List” at the start of each month and at the end of the month send in your Chinese Whispers received. It will be fun to see how these QUA lists were shared on air, which paths they took, perhaps even around the world, and how many errors creeped in during relay of the callsigns!
See Chinese Whispers for details.
Conclusion
QUA is an activity which compliments QSO by adding an additional possible information exchange beyond QTH, NAME, RSN, PWR, ANT, KEY. You can also make use of QTT to include your club(s) membership (and numbers) if you wish, or, previously held callsigns even from other services. QUA can also be used as part of the fun Chinese Whispers activity and during CW Bash.