[NLRS] Get Ready for the ARRL June VHF Contest!

[Jon Platt]

Hello NLRS land

Below is a forward of an email from N1SFE, the ARRLs Contest Manager, regarding the June contest.  Please note the paragraph towards the bottom that discusses the new Analog Only categories and how to handle digital contacts (if you make any).  Note that for the first time in VHF contesting that recording the contacts mode is important, so if you work a station on digital its "DG", otherwise on analog its "CW", "PH", or "FM".  Note that analog only participants can still contact fellow contesters on the digital modes but they will not count towards your analog only score.  In summary, and as always, log all your contacts made (regardless of mode).

73, Jon
W0ZQ


-----Original Message-----
From: Bourque, Paul, N1SFE <n1sfe at arrl.org>
To: Contest <contests at arrl.org>
Sent: Thu, Jun 9, 2022 2:44 pm
Subject: Get Ready for the ARRL June VHF Contest!

The ARRL June VHF Contest is coming up this weekend, starting at 1800 UTC on Saturday, June 11, and concluding at 0259 UTC Monday, June 13
 
The late spring weather brings enhanced propagation including sporadic E, tropospheric ducting, and meteor scatter. And don’t forget EME, rain scatter (on the microwave bands), and even ground-wave propagation!  Be sure to take advantage of these propagation enhancements, especially E-skip, where QSO totals on SSB, CW and FM can add up fast.
 
Don’t forget the ARRL Affiliated Club Competition.  Contest Clubs can complete in the Local, Medium, and Unlimited Club categories. Seewww.arrl.org/contest-club-tools/ for the Club Competition rules.  It’s a good idea for your club to discuss how they plan on helping newcomers to get on the air, even if they only operate using handheld radios and FM simplex.
 
See where the activity is on the bands by visiting DXmaps (www.dxmaps.com/spots/mapg.php) for propagation mapping by band and mode. You can also see what is being offered by the VHF Propagation Map at http://aprs.mennolink.org/, as an indication of conditions on 144 MHz and up. Lastly, don’t forget to check out the Hepburn Tropospheric Ducting Forecast atwww.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html.
 
Using the ON4KST chat, club, or other reflectors can connect you with other participants, near or far. All ARRL VHF contests allow participants to schedule, spot, or coordinate contacts,  but these tools may not be used to facilitate the completion of any contact once the contact has commenced. Consider live streaming your on-air activity to promote VHF contesting via social media!
 
This year’s event includes the addition of new Analog-Only categories for Single-Operator participants.  Single-Operator entrants can now enter as either: All Mode (which includes all digital modes), or Analog-Only (CW/SSB/FM) subcategories.  Be sure you log all QSOs by referencing the specific mode being used (remember digital modes are defined as “DG” and analog modes are defined as “CW”, “PH”, or “FM”.)  Analog-Only category participants can still contact fellow contesters on the digital modes, but they won’t count toward your score.  When submitting your log, be sure to include all contacts made, regardless of the mode.
 
See the complete rules for more details at www.arrl.org/june-vhf.
 
The June VHF Contest is the crown jewel of the VHF contest season. Don’t let this event pass you by!
 
73,
 
Paul Bourque, N1SFE
Contest Program Manager
 
  
 
ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®
 
225 Main Street
 
Newington CT 06111-1400
 
Telephone: 860-594-0232
 
Fax: 860-594-0346
 
n1sfe at arrl.org
 
www.arrl.org