[VHFcontesting] January VHF

[PAUL ROLLINSON]

GM all,
I have to check previous logs but I think that was one my best scores ever for the January contest with "Luke warm" propagation.
I'll say it before anyone else.... digital dominated activity. It is what it is.
The ease of making q's is intoxicating. Pushing the limits and reach of normal non-enhanced propagation is the reason why.
For instance: I had worked K1DY way up in ME (FN55) on phone and CW until we got to 432. Nothing was heard on CW but switched to FT8 and got the Q and multiplier.
There will always be pros and cons about the mode and I'm not here to decide which side is right. I still love to rag chew when it's slow and you just can't do that with digital.
But, after this weekend, it is a force to be reckoned with if you want to be competitive.
The q's came steady even during previously soft hours on Sunday afternoon.
My ops did well. Need to cultivate more as we always seem shy towards the end of Sunday.
Thanks to those we logged and always thanks to the few rovers that were out...brave souls indeed as we had some bad WX in the northeast.
73,
Paul Rollinson, KE1LIFN41AU6-1296M