144 MHz VUCC Completed

I’m pleased to note that I’ve finally achieved 144 MHz VUCC. Hurrah!

My 144 MHz Journey

My journey to 144 MHz VUCC got its start with a tropospheric ducting event in March 2016. With my cheap Yagi at 20 feet or so, I was able to work from here in Texas to the Gulf Coast including Florida. I ended up with 13 grids and five new states.

Of course, when you’re roving during VHF contests it’s impossible to add new grids to your home station’s logbook. But I’ve been fortunate recently with some excellent Tropo and even Sporadic E openings. In nearly every case, I saw the opening and ran out to my patio push-up mast to set up my Directive Systems 2 meter rover yagi.

In September 2020, there was superb Tropo opening into the upper Midwest. I added 20 grids on 144 MHz during that opening, with FT8 making all the difference. That brought my total to 72. Another opening in December 2021 got me to 79 grids.

In June 2021 during ARRL Field Day, a spectacular two-meter Sporadic E opening broke out. I added 20 new grids that day, thanks not only to the opening but to the fact that so many stations were already on the air for Field Day. That brought my total to 99 grids worked.

In the September 2021 VHF Contest I elected to stay home. As a result I was able to add five new grids during some short Tropo openings during that high activity. It also helped that I was able to work a few rovers and some high power contest stations.

Another thing that’s helped my VUCC journey is a new interest from a few rovers in activating rare 2 meter grids in addition to the FFMA 6 meter grid activators. Those efforts added a few MSK144 contacts to my total.

144 MHz Equipment

My equipment power level throughout this journey has generally been at 100 watts. That started via an Icom IC-910H and then an Icom IC-9100. In February 2021 I added a RF Concepts 170 watt amplifier, but mostly operate this at 100 to 150 watts.

For antennas, as noted above I’d previously been using Cheap Yagis and following those a couple years later with a Diamond 5-element Yagi and then 10-element Yagi. In 2018 I added a Directive Systems 2 meter 6-element Rover Yagi with 8-foot boom.

Collecting QSLs

I’ve found it somewhat challenging to collect confirmations on 2 meters. During my grid chases on 6 meters and particularly Satellites, Logbook of the World works great. However, for some reason, collecting 2 meter confirmations has been more challenging.

I’ve sent a lot of cards but received only a few in return. My current VUCC total on 2 meters shows 17 QSL cards with the rest LoTW confirmations.

ARRL Application

Of course, if you’ve got 100 LoTW confirmations submitting a VUCC application is quite easy. Unfortunately, I needed to use QSL cards to get the application to 100.

My application journey began in August 2021 with card checking and mailing the application. I received confirmation that the application arrived when my check cleared the bank on September 2, 2021. I had heard that VUCC applications took a long time. So I patiently waited until December 9, when the QSL confirmations showed up in my LoTW account. This was followed on December 17 with the VUCC award denoted in my same LoTW account. The certificate arrived on January 4, 2022.

It’s all about the journey. Glad to finally get the certificate! Thanks to everyone who added a new grid to my log and who also provided confirmation.

Here’s the USA map of the grids I’ve confirmed. The map is courtesy of Francis, KV5W, and his work supporting FFMA and higher VHF bands with online log tracking tools to support rover grid activation.