[NLRS] January VHF at VE4MA/ K7 AZ

[Barry Malowanchuk]

GE All, 

I know the weather back home was much less than cooperative. It was the opposite here ( ~ 70 degrees) and experiencing a VHF contest here is January is really something! I know of some stations claiming their best scores ever and they were in the top 10 nationally last year. 

Its really hard to imagine so much activity on "all the bands" through 1296. There was at least 5 rovers including KK6MC from NM . Tom K7GP ( x WA8WZG an avid rover missed to a family matter in Ohio. Today there were no less than 11 "backpackers" who go up on adjacent mountain tops and operate all the way to 1296, often just with FM hand helds but many on SSB. 

At least 3 stations were worked up through 2304, one on 5.7 and there were 3 or 4 on 10 G including K0KFC. Jim and I had short distance 78 GHz QSOs with another local. Two stations operated 1296 EME overnight with poor moon conditions but worked at least 9 stations. 

You cannot imagine having to spread out on 1296 , 432 and 144 ...having to check for an open spot because 1296.1 has multiple QSOs going on. Rovers get pounced on with a big crowd moving up the bands with them . 

The new Icom 9700 has had a major impact on activity. I know of at least 6 stations that have them, one close to me that showed up on 1296 on the first day of the contest with a new 9700 on a vertical...never had been on the band before. Another station has rotatable yagis for 2, 432, 1296 inside his attic and he gets out pretty well ( 200 mi QSOs without tropo ) with his 9700. 

I know there are a few retired NLRS contesters/ rovers that really need to plan a roving vacation in Arizona for the January VHF contest! 

Best 73 
Barry VE4MA/ K7