[VHFcontesting] Ontario QSO Party

[Steve Kavanagh]

Keep in mind that the Ontario QSO Party, happening this weekend, includes a VHF component (50 and 144 MHz, CW and phone).  I expect there to be some activity on these bands, including CW, SSB and FM on 2m.  No digital modes are allowed.

The contest runs from Saturday at 1800 UTC to 0500 UTC on Sunday and then again on Sunday from 1200 to 1800 UTC.  Exchange is signal report and county/region/city for Ontario stations, state/province/country for everyone else.  Stations located on county lines can give more than one county in an exchange - but log it as two QSOs.   Suggested VHF frequencies are 50.130, 52.540, 144.205 and 146.550 MHz.  You can work each station on phone (SSB or FM) and again on CW.  Rovers can be worked again in each county visited.

Full rules and list of Ontario multipliers with their standard abbreviations are at

http://www.va3cco.com/oqp/index.htm

I plan to be involved in a rover entry by members of the Burlington Amateur Radio club, operating as VE3ODX/R.  We plan to be in Halton and Hamilton (FN03) on Saturday afternoon, then Oxford, Waterloo and Brant Saturday evening (EN93), Wellington first thing Sunday morning and then Dufferin and Grey (EN94) in the last 3 hours or so.  Due to operator schedule limitations VHF will be somewhat limited Saturday evening.  Saturday afternoon will be on the top of the Niagara escarpment so it should work very well on VHF.  Sunday sites are non-descript VHF-wise but some QSOs should be possible.

We hope to work you!

73,
Steve VE3SMA