What is a VHF Contest?
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The VHF contest involves operating radio stations across different frequency bands from 50MHz and above to contact as many other stations as possible located in different grid squares. Participants set up stations on mountains to get better propagation and extend their radio range. It takes significant effort over a few days to transport equipment, erect antennas and towers, and operate continuously through the weekend contest period to catch brief propagation openings. The challenging conditions of weak signals and directional antennas require dedication to make contacts.
What is a VHF Contest?
- 1. What is the VHF Contest
- 2. What is the VHF Contest The point is to work as many stations as possible in different Grid Squares.
- 3. What is the VHF Contest What’s a Grid Square?: A Grid Square is a 2 degree by 1 degree geographic block. The entire earth is broken down into these blocks. We (W2LV) are located in FN21. For example Norfolk, VA is in FM17 and Cleveland, OH is in EN81. What is your grid square? We can ask for the entire 6 digits when working some locations. W2fdb = FN21rd
- 4. What is the VHF Contest Why the Mountain?: This contest is for frequencies 50MHz and above. We need as much height as possible to extend our radio horizon as far as possible. Height is everything! The mountain location is located at the base of the Normanock Fire Tower on the Kittatinny Ridge just north of Culvers Gap.
- 5. What is the VHF Contest Dedication: Mountain Topping requires more effort than most contests. It necessitates someone to be in the chair in front of a radio at all times to catch a station also calling CQ or working a scheduled contact.
- 6. What is the VHF Contest Dedication: The antennas are very directional so incremental adjustments and patience is always necessary. The signals are generally weak and some effort is needed digging the signals out of the noise.
- 7. What is the VHF Contest The Effort: Some club members arrive on the mountain Thursday afternoon to put up tents and tarps. Friday more individuals arrive to erect towers, antennas and install radios into the operating tent. Friday is the big manpower day. We also test the stations and debug them if necessary. Saturday the contest starts at 2pm local time and lasts until Sunday at 11pm local time. Monday, everything comes back down.
- 8. What is the VHF Contest Equipment: Radios, antennas, towers and computers are provided by some of the club members or is club property.
- 9. What is the VHF Contest Equipment: We set up four stations on 6M, 2M, 222MHz and 432MHz. If we had more people we would consider adding 1296MHz and 10GHz to the mix as well. Work us on 146.58 FM at the top of every hour on Sunday. Include 6m, 440 and 222
- 10. What is the VHF Contest Equipment: The radio gear is designed to be high power (1000W) and high sensitivity which is mandatory for this type of event.
- 11. What is the VHF Contest Who can Participate?: Anyone, but be advised that to get to the top of the mountain requires a robust vehicle as you will be traversing up and down a rough and steep dirt road. We prefer that once you come up, you stay up for a while. We want to keep the traffic on the dirt road down to a minimum.
- 12. What is the VHF Contest Propagation: VHF propagation is nothing like HF. VHF propagation conditions are generally weak and/or occur seasonally. Enhanced conditions are rare and if you’re not in the chair, you could miss these short openings. Propagation mode types are Tropospheric Scatter, Temperature Inversions, Aurora or Sporadic E (look them up).
- 13. What is the VHF Contest The Challenge: The VHF contest is a challenge but that’s part of the fun. Camping, playing radio and being outdoors add to the excitement of this contest. The weather and the hikers walking along the Appalachian Trail almost always adds an additional level of enjoyment to the mix. Work us on 146.58 FM at the top of every hour on Sunday. Include 6m, 440 and 222
- 14. What is the VHF Contest http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf Work us on 146.58 FM at the top of every hour on Sunday. Include 6m, 440 and 222 Thank you N2HMM for the presentation content.