[WARC] Remember the ARRL Jan VHF Contest from last year?

[Todd Sprinkmann]

    The ARRL Jan VHF Sweepstakes is Jan 23-24th. 
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2010/jan-vhf-ss.html  

     Just like last January, there is a nice-looking plaque on 
the line.   The father/son team of W9HQ/KC9JTL in Vernon 
County won it last year.   Who will win the plaque this year?
More about the plaque in a future email.   What you folks in 
SW, W-Central WI and far SE MN need to do right now is 
get the troops stirred up.   You know your local club buddies  
far better than I do.   Be friendly, encouraging, and let anyone 
(regardless of individual club affiliation) in your entire area 
know to save some time on Jan 23-24th to play radio.    

    I am a firm believer that many hams can enjoy a V/UHF 
contest if they give it a try.   Toward that goal, I encourage 
newer guys and gals to Get On With Whatever They Have.   
Since 60-80% of the contest activity is on common bands 
like 6 and 2m (70cm, too) many of you are able to participate. 

    Even if your station is FM-only, you have a numbers advant-
age if you spread the word in your region.   Talk up the contest 
and then get on the air Jan 23-24.   We've had good success 
around WI getting FM'ers to call "CQ Contest" and some have 
now improved their station, added bands, or SSB capability. 

    In the Jan QST, on Pg. 79, there's a great article about FM 
simplex being a good training ground for VHF contesters.   
Check it out and see if it motivates you.   It has some nice 
publicity for Milwaukee's MRAC club, who sponsors an 
FM simplex contest every February.  

   146.55 and 146.58 FM simplex is customarily used in 
contests.   52.525 on 6m FM; 223.500 on 1.25m FM and 
446.000 on 70cm FM.  We will again be focusing the FM 
activity toward (roughly) 3-6pm on Sat. and 7-9am on Sunday. 

   If you want to know more about how to "do" a VHF contest, 
I've got a ton of info on my website.   I'll be updating it this 
week, but if you want immediate results, go to posts dated June 
7th on my blog.    

   73,
   Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee
   http://www.kc9bqa.com For Frequent VHF/UHF Updates