[VHFcontesting] June VHF Q P "Contest Announcement" in QST

[jon jones]

On page 101 of the May 2003 issue of QST is the "ARRL June VHF QSO Party 
Contest Announcement." It is different than the contest rules 
(http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms), and seems geared towards generating 
interest in the contest by casual readers.

Example "Relative challenge:  VHF/UHF/Microwave operation presents unique 
challenges that test the best equipped operators, but it is also possible 
for someone to participate in this even with modest stations. You will get 
better results utilizing SSB or CW instead of FM. The more bands you are 
able to utilize the better your results." Makes sense.

Another was "Special interest:  If the solar flux index is high, be sure to 
check out activity on 50 MHz."  This one seems odd to me as the primary 50 
MHz DX prop. mode in the June contest is Es, which has no statistical 
relation to the solar flux. F2 prop. on 6 Meters, which is related to the 
solar flux index, almost never occurs in the June VHF QSO Party no matter 
how high the solar flux index, due to the winter anomaly.

Interesting effort by the ARRL to encourage interest in the June VHF QSO 
Party, though the statement regarding the solar flux index may be 
misleading.

- Jon NØJK








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