[VHFcontesting] Busy times during VHF contests

[Leandra MacLennan]

My recommendation is to ask around, or check last year's results, to find at least 3 or 4 fixed location stations in your area who will be working the contest. Contact them before the contest to get their telephone numbers, so you can call or text them during the contest whenever you have moved and set up in a new grid. This will be a big help if you are planning to operate from a grid where the contestants are not generally pointing their antennas. And once you make contact with a couple of contestants, you will attract others who see the activity in their waterfall.

Last January I drove 2 hours out to a rare grid, FN51, on Cape Cod, set up my antennas in the blowing snow and . . . contacted no one despite calling CQ on 6M and 2M for 45 minutes. No one was pointing their antennas at the ocean.
In September, I again drove out to FN51, but this time I had some phone numbers and handed out FN51 to 11 lucky contestants, most who found me from the activity I started with the first contestant I called on the phone.

Phone calls to spot yourself are allowed for the ARRL VHF contest, but are not allowed for other contests.

   -Leandra AF1R


-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jeff Townsend
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 10:36 AM
To: Chris Lumens <chris at lumensoutdoors.org>
Cc: VHFcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Busy times during VHF contests

I will be the rover.

I am planning on working from 6 grids north and south of Atlanta.

I wanted to make sure I was in my best spots during the busiest times.


> On Dec 16, 2019, at 10:32 AM, Chris Lumens <chris at lumensoutdoors.org> wrote:
> 
>> I will be operating my first contest during the January VHF Contest.
>> 
>> I was wondering when the busy times were.
>> 
>> I know the start will be,
>> How about Sunday?
> 
> Two thoughts...
> 
> (1) Here in New England, we have noticed that if there is a football 
> game on, activity will be way down.
> 
> (2) If there's some rovers in your area, they will help generate 
> activity.  You can work a rover every time it enters a new grid.  If 
> there's going to be one or two within range for you, there will be 
> periods throughout the day where you can grab some more contacts.  
> More rovers and more bands will make that period longer.
> 
> --
> Chris Lumens - KG6CIH
> Hike * MTB * XC Ski * Haskell
> Research - Experimentation - Testing - More Testing

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