[AK-VHF] Alaska VHF-Up Group News

[Brandon Clark]

Re-sending this to the email list in case I don't have anyone's direct email for the email blast.

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CQ VHF

Happy springtime everyone! The sun is out, the snow is melting, and it’s time to play with radios!

[kl7vhf.org](https://kl7vhf.org/) goes live

Our QSL.net site served us well for years, but it was time for a fresh look. The new website is a major upgrade with extensive graphics, tutorials, and new content:

- Check out the [Blog](https://kl7vhf.org/blog/)for the latest club news
- The [Activities](https://kl7vhf.org/activities/)https://kl7vhf.org/activities/section links to nets, awards, and a google-integrated [Calendar](https://kl7vhf.org/activities/calendar/)

- The [Special Events](https://kl7vhf.org/special-events/) section covers contests, Parks on the Air, Summits on the Air, and even Moonbounce

A big thanks to everyone who helped with the new website.

Workshops are back

This year we are resuming our in-person workshops with two PORTABLE OPERATING WORKSHOPS planned. The first will take place at 1000 on Saturday, May 1st at [Finger Lake State Recreation Site](http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/fingerlksrs.htm)in Wasilla.

This won’t be your grandpa’s dry ham radio lecture either. We will be getting hands-on under field conditions and setting up a variety of stations (including HF). This is fast-and-light field radio at its best, and will be held rain or shine.

See just how portable a [backpack HF](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/example-stations/#sota) station can be. Learn to set up a [single-operator portable VHF](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/example-stations/#sop)contest station. Or if local parks are your thing you can see how a combined HF-VHF [Parks on the Air](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/example-stations/#pota) activation works. Don’t miss out!

Welcome to the Knowledge Center

Let’s face it, getting started in weak signal VHF/UHF can be intimidating. We’ve all been there! The [Knowledge Center](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/) is an Alaska-specific primer on how to wade into the deep end of VHF/UHF:

- Introductions to the major [Bands](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/bands/)

- Descriptions of [Radios](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/transceivers/) (new and used) for weak signal work
- Choosing [Antennas](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/antennas/) and polarization

- Learn the critical role [Coax](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/coax/) plays

- See [Example Stations](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/example-stations/) showing how everything comes together

- And [Useful Links](https://kl7vhf.org/knowledge-center/links/) to help you research further

Summer events planned

First up is the June VHF Contest on June 12th. The KL7VHF rover station will be burning rubber and activating grids from Anchorage to Kenai; a tentative [timetable](https://kl7vhf.org/special-events/contests/2021-contests/) is posted online.

You can join in from home, as a rover, or even set up portable. The [Contests](https://kl7vhf.org/special-events/contests/) page has a list of known good operating locations where you can set up portable for the day. Or, consider setting up in one of the [Parks on the Air](https://kl7vhf.org/special-events/parks-on-the-air/) units. You can run HF and VHF, using the VHF contacts for the contests, and all contacts for the POTA activation!

Training also comes up again in June. If you can’t make it to Wasilla for the May 1st workshop don’t worry, we will be holding an identical workshop in Soldotna on June 13th. Stay tuned for final details.

July, August, and September also have major events coming up, so be sure to check the [Calendar](https://kl7vhf.org/activities/calendar/) for more (clicking on each event opens up more details)

73,

The Alaska VHF-Up Group

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Brandon Clark, KL7BSC
https://brandonclarklabs.com/

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