[SCCC] My Plans for the ARRL VHF Contest this Weekend June 10-11

[Tim Goeppinger]

The excitement is building again for the Grandaddy of VHF all contests, the ARRL June VHF.  Saturday 11AM 1800Z
to Sunday night at 0300z (8PM). I will be roving again, this time in the common 4 L.A. basin area grids.  As usual, I will be on the 4 low bands
 as a Limited Rover (6, 2, 222 FM, and 440).

I plan to start the contest in DM04 on Signal Hill.  Late afternoon I plan to be in DM04 either in Montebello, or high up
in Pasadena.

Sunday morning I look to start in DM13 Diamond Bar, and DM14 there as well.  In the afternoon I hope to head to
Table Mountain near Wrightwood, if there are no thunderstorms.  Going to Grapevine is a remote possibility if
I had a shutout on 6 meters

Are you mad about FT8 being in VHF Contests?   Get on the air in the new Analog Only category Single Operator class!
Because of this rule change last year there was LOTS of CW stations from W4 land.  Look for me around 50.095 if things
get slow.  I will be spending the bulk of my time on 2 and 440 FM, vertically polarized, rather than SSB.
 I will see you on 146.52, and .55 simplex and 446.0 Simplex, vertically polarized.  I will check 144.200 and
432.100 occasionally on the vertical.

Lets try to kick the contest off well the first 2 hours by contacting each other on 6 meter SSB in the
range of 50.125 and 50.140.   We can QSY to 2 , 220 and 440 to "run the bands".  This way we won't get
bogged down on FT8 with its slow rate.

If I remember to turn the APRS tracker on my phone you can track me at
https://aprs.fi/   I will be N6GP-10


We will see if Austin is able to make some QSOs in during his work schedule from DM02 - San Clemente Island.  This is a rare grid!
The San Clemente Island Radio Club callsign is KN6UWK and they have a BIG SIGNAL!

Remember, a rover can be worked each time they are in a new grid.  I will appreciate the contacts.
It often takes 2 hours drive time and setup between grid changes.  Be patient while I fight the L.A. traffic. Hope springs eternal for
 6 meter openings, but I'm not counting on it.  Sporadic E on 6 seems below normal this year.

The competition is fierce in the Limited Rover class, and any QSOs you can send my way would greatly help.

Please join the Facebook Group for So Calif VHF Contesters here https://www.facebook.com/groups/237955553774654/
We have a chat feature where we can coordinate via Facebook messenger.

I dedicate my participation in this contest to the memory of Chip Margelli, K7JA who was my wingman in VHF Contests.
Godspeed Chip!

Tnx & 73, and see you on the VHF Bands!


Tim Goeppinger,  N6GP/R