JUNE VHF/UHF CONTEST starts Today 6.9.2018

[BJ radionut]

http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf
http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-arrl-contests-above-50-mhz

For amateurs in the US and Canada (and their possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US & Canada (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions) and Canada.

The second full weekend in June. Begins 1800 UTC Saturday, runs through 0259 UTC Monday (June 9-11, 2018).

Hope for Good Opening...I will be operating, but not Contest mode per-se...
Actually hoping just to pick-up Grids never worked.
Make SURE you know your correct Grid Square before contest starts.
Don't think you need to be a BIG GUN to have fun...I chat with a VE3 many morning on 75m.
I convinced him he needed antenna on 6m. He built a SIMPLE Dipole 4' 8" long each side feed it with RG6 75 ohm Coax placed on roof about 20ft up.
He is 200 miles NW of Ontario, Canada....With 100w
FIRST Day was overjoyed to work CALIF. and Washington State!!!!

I worked an Op this morning 70 miles away 100w INDOOR ATTIC 6M LOOP...When the band is GOOD a Coat Hanger will work...!

So listen in and Enjoy, and have FUN
All the Best
Gary/W9FNB >EM79

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Well doesn't that just make me want to go seek a high spot and see what is happening on 2m/70cm. I just finished the antenna installation in the truck today after loosing the floor pan grommet inside the frame rail last night and giving up in frustration. I just have a vertical antenna but I do have a multimode. Only 50 watts 2m and 20 watts 70cm but miracles do happen. On second thought maybe I'll pull the OTHER FT=857 out of the shack and that will give me all bands including 6m. Yeah I have two of them. One is fine while the other which I have decided to put in the truck has issues on HF/6m but works fine on 2m/70cm and would be fine for a mobile VHF/UHF radio. If I was more ambitious I would throw one of my fully assembled 13B2's on the truck just for fun. Hmmmmmmmm...............

 

[BJ radionut]

GET'r DONE

 

[Blackcat630]

I have been looking forward to this weekend. I am always in the hunt for new grids on 2m ssb. I'm off work at noon and will be monitoring 144.200 the rest of the afternoon/evening today. Still haven't had the time/$ to finish my 6m 5el beam project. Oh well

 

[BJ radionut]

I have 2m SSB but will be limited to 100w and a Big 17ft Diamond vertical @ 50ft...so the guys with-in a 100 miles or so...I can give a point...I did work to St. Louis from Indy last yr during a really good opening with that set-up...but that is a reach unless we get some really HOT TROPO.
GL Hv Fun
All the Best
Gary

PS: I hear more 2m SSB here during FD and contest time on 144.190 and 210

 

[Blackcat630]

I have 2m SSB but will be limited to 100w and a Big 17ft Diamond vertical @ 50ft...so the guys with-in a 100 miles or so...I can give a point...I did work to St. Louis from Indy last yr during a really good opening with that set-up...but that is a reach unless we get some really HOT TROPO.
GL Hv Fun
All the Best
Gary

PS: I hear more 2m SSB here during FD and contest time on 144.190 and 210

I will have to roll through the band +/- the call (.200) and see what I hear. I run a simple set up over here in EM59. TS 2000 to a 13b2 about 58 ft to the boom. No amp or pre amps... I works decent for what it is. I worked Ontario and western Colorado with it last year...all with good Tropo. At last count I think I've (QSL card) confirmed only 18-20 grids and 9 states on 2m ssb. When winter hit and when summer time tropo stopped I switched my focus to working toward my dxcc. Now with tropo back especially in the mornings. When I'm not at work or with the family I'm back to try and pick up some new grids! Unfortunately 2m ssb is pretty quiet for the most part. I just unhooked for a couple hours... storms in the area.

 

[BJ radionut]

yea T-Storms rolling thru here...They hit just as Contest started...Pass now 20:30z but still getting 20 over CRASHES...So RX still dead for now until they get away or break down...BUMMER

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I drove around most of the afternoon doing "stuff" and monitored 144.200+/- and heard nothing except what I think was someone whistle into the mike for several seconds. it just sorted of faded in then out again. I came home and switched the antenna out to the 6m quarter wave and monitored 50.125. nothing again. I can bring up the local 6m repeater so no problem there. I just looked at the VHF propagation maps and see squat for openings in my area. The past WEEK it was smoking every day around this same time of day. Today nothing. Sorry guys but it looks like I screwed propagation by installing a radio in the truck today.

 

[BJ radionut]

Well Tough weekend here for VHF/Contest. 6m/Single band category...
I was only able to really get maybe 3-4 hours of honest operating time in, due to the constant T-Storms rolling thru both days.
The band was really good several times, but was hampered by huge lighting crashes on my receiver.
Had fun regardless, just a shame at peak band times, I had to shut down.

Picked up some nice Grids...but missed all the good "Double Hop" opportunities to West Coast due to storms.
RED X's were Grids worked during Contest time....Green * (me)....
Green X's contacts just prior to contest hours.
Hope some of you had time to enjoy a little RadioFun.
All the Best
Gary

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

Working the grids looks like fun. Taking notes.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Conditions in FN75 were in the toilet.

 

[w9cll]

Conditions here at EN61cr were crappy at best.

 

[Blackcat630]

Had some time Saturday afternoon and evening from EM59.. picked up 7 contacts 2m ssb. 4 were guys I have worked and confirmed already. 3 were new.. 2 new grids. One new grid was a rover in EM47 & dude was like s9. No good tropo just slight enhancement. Worked 106 air miles north on FM 146.52 & 223.50 on my vertical... Wishing I had the beam up for 6!! All in all I had some fun even with the limited # of contacts. Always cool to hear a couple of the big gun contest stations come on line.. seeing 5/9 +20 from 100-200 miles out always puts a smile on my face. It's just great to hear something other than silence on 2m ssb...

 

[BJ radionut]

6.11.18
DM05 / DM26 / DM79 / DN70 / CM87 (FIRERUNNERS BACK DOOR) / CN86 / EL39 / EM30
So fun evening...band still open to 7 land but fading...I headed to the flatside
All the Best
Gary/W9FNB