ARRL VHF Contest September 2025

Thanks to Dave, K1TTT, for the use of his First Class station!

Used Vertical on top of Mt. Washington - big mistake should have read:
https://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/my-articles/how-to-work-a-vhf-contest/

I know 1 of the 2m contacts is labeled wrong. it was FM but I don't remember which. sorry.

Not doing this instance of the contest competativly.

This was a good contest with nothing failing or letting out of the magic smoke.  Propagation was
near non-existent making it difficult to break my September 2024 score.  Had it not been for EME
contacts and struggling to stay awake down to the last minutes on Sunday night, I would not have
come close.   Final results put me 448 points above last year's total.

Poor conditions and low turnout. Rovers made the contest.

Good contest, improved my score, see my blog for more at
https://k5nd.net/2025/09/september-vhf-contest-2025-butt-in-chair/

Dismal conditions.  Worked the only two stations heard--both locals.

6M never opened the whole weekend.

My treasure hunting club had a treasure hunt before the contest started. I started the contest from
CN87 at woodland park it was in a hole. Then I went to Horizen View Park in the Lake Forest Park
area in CN87 that park is up about 550 feet

Then on Sunday I went to Green Mountain in the Granite Falls area CN98,and then I went to CN97 in
the Ross Lake Monroe area. there are a couple of areas that are ok but I'm looking for a better
location for CN97

The small problem I had I forgot to put my 220 radio in the car so I did not have 220 with me

First time operating a portable station and an analog only station for the VHF contest.
The portable operation was unplanned but I had a great time and made a few contacts.
The bonus was a VHF/UHF POTA activation of US-1352.

I am a newer ham and this contest has been helpful to me in working on
the different bands.

Despite the seemingly slow pace and little SSB activity, this contest may have been my best outing
yet! I felt organized, left home plenty early to reach my first operating position (which was a
different spot than I had planned), and seemed to have a consistent following of operators even
though only 2-3 had my phone number. I may have some duplicates out of the 143 entries in my log.
Regardless, I made more contacts on 222 and 432 than I ever had before. A couple of stations told me
that 222 was my strongest band. I'm sold on 222! This was my first trip with a new, lighter tower
setup on my car. I'm pleased with it! Until next time... KE4WMF/R

PLEASE FIX YOUR LOG SUBMISSION, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2025 IT SHOULD NOT BE SO DIFFICULT TO
SUBMIT A SILLY LOG FOR A SILLY CERTIFICATE. 

PLEASE LOOK INTO TURNKEY ALTERNATIVES LIKE MICROSOFT SUITE OR GOOGLE SUITE. 

otherwise i enjoyed the contest, though i wish i had more activity in my area on 2m & 6m, calling cq
on ft8 for an hour straight with no response except for PSK reporter is INFURITATING.

Limited time (9 hours)-very limited propagation (almost none).

KO6EFG/R contested as a rover from Mission bay boat race and his house.

First contest I participated in.

Casual operating just for fun ;)

Unfortunately, I didn't have much time for this contest due to family
conflicts, but I was able to get out briefly. I went to a POTA park
in
the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (US-6532) and operated
Single Op Portable (QRP, Analog Only) for about an hour. While setup
and take-down took about as long, it was still a lot of fun and a
great opportunity to make contacts on these bands. Leave no band
behind! 73, Mike N2MAK

75% of my QSOs were local in the Mobile, AL area

WX was sunny and warm Saturday, had some interesting tropo to start.
Sunday was wet in the morning and cool/dry in the afternoon.
May have discouraged some Rovers making an effort this weekend.
Sunday AM had some intersing MS, considering it was September.
Last hour was a suprise with some strong AU. Just a couple stations
on. Never know what might pop up at the end of a Contest.

Above usual activity on analog which was fun!

One of the most disappointing September contests ever.  Near the
end, there was a fairly big opening into FI07, EI97, etc.  But
none of them would answer me.

Probably the lowest Rover Score ever submitted. But I learned a lot and had fun. Thanks to  the XYL
for setting up portable in the hot sun to give me a few QSOs.
Highlight of the weekend was a tour of the KG9OV/R rover-mobile. Saturday roof of parking  garage
near IL State Capitol, Sunday EM49/EM59/EN40/EN50 corner area.

N3FJP logger says 3 hours on. Lots of dead time between contacts. It
was really 6 hours of BIC time in terrible conditions. I really miss
being in a enthusiastically  populated V/UHF area like it was in EN52.
At least there were rovers galore and FM activity to keep one occupied.
I'm glad I made the desision to not invest in 2m/1.25m/70cm weak signal
antennas and all that goes with that installation when I retired and
relocated to the sticks of TN. Would have been a waste!
73 Gene N9TF

Wish 6m was open more from IL.

Only did a few QSOa to help out others.

New tower and antennas from 50-1296 MHz operational,
except 432 not working and 902 / 1296 weak.
Needs more work I guess.
Just barely broke 1000 points 40 contacts.
Saw many friends from local area on air.
Unfortunately no 6m opening when I was on

Mountaintop portable from peak of Sassafras Mtn- highest point in SC.
XCVR 5w HT, ANT extended double zepp

Thank you everyone for all the contacts!

Good activity but mediocre propagation; little tropo, no Es on 6 meters.

Conditions not so great here this year on all bands.

Only a few contacts on 6 meter Es; lots of one and done
decodes though.

I did work a few more on 432 than in any previous contest
though.

Conditions were not particularly great and participation in the
Tristate NY area was low.  I sincerely hope that the ARRL considers
changes to the contest format for the September and January VHF
contest events to encourage more activity.

Loops on 2 meter and 70 CM

Made 19 phone contacts activating rare grid square FN51 on Cape Cod on the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 432
MHz bands:)

It was back to my usual portable activating plan,  after skipping
June, at Blue Mount State Park and summit references: US-1441,
KFF-1441, and W9/WI-010. Summer was back in Wisconsin with conditions
mostly sunny and warm for my operating periods. I could have been out
in the field earlier for this two-day operating adventure, but this
year's September was worth it picking up new somewhat-local callsigns.
No major openings, but I was able to better understand how my
equipment works in this setup.
Equipment was KX3 with homebrew 6m full-wave rectangular loop, FT-818
and KG-UV8T with Elk 2M/440L5 and homebrew copper pipe 222 Moxon, and
TH-350 with stock tri-band whip. Again! A solid setup I'm now
well-practiced with.