[KL7AA] ARRL VHF Plus Contest 10 Sept

[ron]

This contest occurs three times a year, Jan, June and Sept.  The 2016 
Sept event happens on the weekend of the 10th.   We usually get someone 
on the upper hillside operating rover/mobile which helps quite a bit.  
One or two will head out past the Airport to get into the edge of BP41 
as well.  Most activity occurs on Saturday of course and peaks by noon.  
Then its a scattering of contacts through the afternoon.  Sunday sees a 
few folks still looking for contacts to log.  So if you can come on and 
give your call out for a contact.  Hoping we see a rise in stations for 
this one, this has been a slow event with mostly only a handful of 
operators active.  In the lower 48 this is a big event, but they enjoy 
longer distance contacts than we do with all these mountains around us.

Just because you do not hear anyone does not mean you should not try 
yourself.  Just call out "CQ CONTEST THIS IS (your call sign)" on one of 
the frequencies below.  You might be surprised.

If your in the South Central area and want to make a contact look for 
contest operations close to these frequencies.

52.525 mhz FM Simplex

146.58 mhz FM Simplex

223.5 mhz FM Simplex

446.0 mhz FM Simplex

927.5 mhz FM Simplex

1296 mhz FM Simplex.

There will be additional activity on Upper Side band at 50.125, 144.200, 
432.1 etc..

Start time is 10am Saturday morning 10 Sept and it runs until 7pm 
Sunday.  You can find more info at ARRL and on the Alaska VHF+ Group 
website at http://www.qsl.net/ak-vhf/.

Try listening on 146.58 to start, we tend to announce who is going where 
when looking for contacts.

You do not need more than an HT to make contact on FM.  Get on high 
ground and make a few CQ CONTEST Calls!

Basic exchange is your grid square and a signal report.  For Anchorage 
that's BP51, in the valley its BP51 until you get above Nancy Lake 
area.  The Kenai Peninsula that we might work on VHF reports as BP40.

If in doubt check the Grid Square maps online.  Generally speaking from 
the Anchorage Area your only going to be able to work those 3 grids on 
VHF.  You do not need to keep a log if you do not intend to submit your 
results to ARRL.  Most serious contest operators will be submitting logs 
for credit if a non contest op does send in a report it will help verify 
contacts for the contest guys.  So that is appreciated, it also goes to 
show the lower 48 we are active up here.

As with most contests using a 59 report has become the standard 
regardless of the fact the contact might be marginal (weak readable).  
Report real signal reports if you like of course, most will simply us a 
flat 59 report to make it simple.  Since a majority of the simplex 
contacts will be in FM, 90% of the time your good readable anyway.

Enjoy!


Ron, KL7YK
President, Elmendorf Amateur Radio Society
JBER, AK