[RSM] VHF Activity and Upcoming Contest

[ed_richardson at shaw.ca]

Well if I can be so bold as to make a prediction about propagation.  What I have notice over the last 10 years or so is that during the week leading up to the ARRL June VHF contest…This week,  we almost always have great sporadic E openings… right up to the start of the contest.  Conditions will peak right on Friday night.  😊

 

So get on and be active this week. I have seen several openings with folks on CW and SSB the last couple of days. Make some noise on these modes as well as FT4/8/MSK.

 

Incidentally both WSJT-X and JT-Alert have released upgrades this week.  If you are going to operate in the VHF contest this coming weekend, you may want to update your programs.

 

With my 6m beam stuck facing north (at least until the next big wind storm) I am still amazed what I can work.  However I find that the 80m sloper beats the 6m yagi  for much of the north American grids.

 

Oh—and don’t forget about 10m!  As I type the band is wide open to QC, ON, New England, SE states and the Pacific NW,

 

Ed Richardson