Category Archives: Contests
2026 Virginia QSO Party (VAQP)
The 2026 Virginia QSO Party (VAQP) took place over the weekend of March 21-22. The sun experienced a coronal mass ejection (CME) on March 16 that drove geomagnetic storms to reach Earth in time to disrupt HF communications around the … Continue reading
2026 January ARRL VHF Contest
It was just a few weeks ago that I finished installing my big battery upgrade. January’s contest is always a challenge: Unpredictable weather can make working on the car outside unpleasant, the evolving long-term weather forecast can make route planning … Continue reading
2025 Virginia QSO Party
I don’t participate in HF contests with one exception: the Virginia QSO Party (VAQP). Mobile HF stations are at a disadvantage when compared to home stations, especially those with HF Yagis and 220V amplifiers. The disparity can make operating during … Continue reading
2025 ARRL January VHF Contest
Contrary to what online photos may suggest, I do not drive year-round with my micro-tower and VHF contest setup on the car. There are places where I drive that a 10.5-ft tall vehicle can not go, especially during the months … Continue reading
2024 Solar Eclipse Road Trip, Including SEQP and POTA
I had loosely planned this trip in 2017 when a partial solar eclipse passed over Virginia. I was at work and got a brief glimpse of the ¾-eclipsed sun through an office window with a set of borrowed safety glasses. … Continue reading
January VHF Contest: Trailer Tower Retired
Happy New Year! Yes, I know I’m a bit late. I’ve been both busy and distracted. I mentioned my decision to build a tower trailer in November. I can’t believe it’s been so long already! What have I been doing … Continue reading
2023 CQ Worldwide VHF Contest
CQ Magazine’s Worldwide VHF contest takes place each July and seems to get mixed reviews. It takes place only on 6m and 2m, or 50 Mhz and 144 MHz. Those who like to work the higher bands often skip this … Continue reading
June 2023 ARRL VHF Contest
My plan for June’s ARRL VHF contest was ambitious: 10 grids and 700 miles of driving! I started my rove at Red Wing Park in Virginia Beach, grid square FM26. That park is usually a bust for me; and that … Continue reading
VHF Contests – KE4WMF/R
I took an interest in VHF/UHF contesting in 2022. My interest isn’t with sitting at a desk and contacting stations all over the world. Instead, it was natural for me to try contesting as a “Rover.” Rovers are not just … Continue reading