[VHFcontesting] Start shining up your VHF antenna elements.

[k3sk at buckwalter.co]

Dave,

This is by far the worst news I could have received today.   I had a blast during the last opening, and I was one of the ones that boosted state totals on several bands.   I have been watching the predictions closely hoping for another great time.  However, this coming weekend (Thursday eve thru Sun afternoon) I will be away from home attending the Shelby Hamfest.

But for the rest of you, don't despair.  It won't be the first time I don't end up in your log.  Some of the most fabulous band openings since I became a ham way back in the last century have occurred while I was away from the shack and any radio equipment.    

de K3SK
FM07th  VA


-----Original Message-----
From: David Olean <k1whs at metrocast.net> 
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2023 9:34 AM
To: 222 >> 222Activity at groups.io <222Activity at groups.io>; vhfcontesting at contesting.com; NEWSVHF at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Start shining up your VHF antenna elements.

The latest VHF opening that affected the entire midwest down to the Gulf and over to the Virginia and mid Atlantic states was quite a fantastic period and many ops added a huge number of states to their totals on VHF and up into the microwaves. In New England, only portions of Connecticut got in on the festivities. For us goobers up in northern New England, the result was zilch nada nothing. We were skunked big time.

In looking at the Hepburn maps, it looks like another slow moving high pressure area is setting up for Friday night and Saturday coming up on the Memorial Day weekend.  I have already informed the family that I will not be at our camp on Friday evening and Saturday morning. This time it looks like  Northern New England will be included if things stay as they are. Areas of the midwest are included from Michigan down into Missouri and Arkansas. The East Coast will be totally involved  so, if things continue, we could be in for another good bout of enhanced conditions.  I am also reminded that these things can fizzle out as we get closer to the appointed times.  Note that there will be a hurricane moving up the Atlantic just off the US coast. Hurricanes are always worth watching for enhanced tropo. They bring a huge amount of humidity into the equation.

Tuesday evening is coming up, and I will be on 222.100 starting just before 2300 UT. The conditions here in the NE will be typical with rain, drizzle and fog. No thunderstorms are predicted, so I am hoping there is no rain static.

Stay tuned!

Dave K1WHS