[VHFcontesting] VHF Contest from Out in the Boonies

[Howard Reynolds]

I figure FM09jo qualifies for being in the Boonies; especially running SOLP
and, recently, Analog only.  Making a lot of contacts was made even harder
this year since my 6m station experienced a feedline/antenna problem
(again) and took me off that band.  One of these days I'll figure that out
and fix it for good!

Anyway, here in the Boonies, I usually fail to work my own grid, especially
above 2m.  Being able to use ON4KST chat has been a real asset to get
stations to know I exist out here instead of hoping someone will aim their
antenna this way.   There are a handful of stations who will ping me on KST
knowing that FM09 is a new grid, however, too many are not interested in
digging signals out of the noise.  As the late W3IY always said, "Listen
for the weak ones."

With all the hurdles, I have managed to win the Atlantic Division a few
times and even get into the NA Top Ten (SOLP, of course). So, it can be
done.  My 2 cents worth.  WA3EOQ