[NLRS] Move January VHF contest earlier in the month

[Jon Platt]

Currently the ARRL RTTY Roundup is the first full weekend in January while the ARRL VHF contest is generally the third weekend in January, a two week difference.  From a NLRS regional perspective, I don't see any significant differences between these two dates as it relates to 2m and up propagation; there is no foreseeable advantage one way or the other.   K1TO suggests that the earlier date may offer better 6m mid-latitude sporadic-E propagation than the current later date.  There is a (minor) December/January E's season, so without specific data it may make some sense to move the VHF contest closer to that window.  How much better would it be for 6m E's? That's a good question.  Perhaps someone like K9LA could comment on that.  K1TO is in Florida, so from latitude 27 or 28 degrees, his suggestion to move the contest to improve 6m conditions may make some sense.  However, from 45 degrees north latitude, I don't think it would have much of an impact for NLRS-land albeit it would be closer to the statistical minor December/ January E peak season.   In summary, not a big deal one way or the other for us.  With such a change there may be slightly better 6m E's conditions for those to our south.
I think W0UC's comments about working around the football playoff schedule has more impact than being two weeks earlier.
73, JonW0ZQ

-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Holden <mtholde at gmail.com>
To: NLRS Reflector <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sun, Apr 19, 2020 9:35 am
Subject: [NLRS] Move January VHF contest earlier in the month

K1TO has an interesting idea to move the ARRL January VHF contest earlier
in the month.  Perhaps swap weekends with RTTY Roundup?
Would this benefit the VHF+ operators in Florida?  Would it
enhance activity in the Northern United States and Canada?  Would it
increase your participation in the ARRL January VHF contest?  Is there data
somewhere that illustrates just how dramatically the Es openings fall off
by later January?
A note from K1TO on 3830:
https://3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=PRapz4iqmvmiJ
Your thoughts?
73,
Matt Holden KØBBC
Director, Dakota Division, American Radio Relay League
Director, Association of Emergency Radio Organizations
President, Bloomington Amateur Radio Association
Deputy Director, Bloomington AUXCOMM
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