The ARRL January VHF Contest from EM12 and K5ND @ Home was slow, slow, slow.
I put 54 QSOs in the log, split between 44 on 6 meters and ten on 2 meters. I managed to find 21 grids. Unfortunately, there were few openings on 6 meters, and it appeared that most of those lasted less than 30 seconds, making a QSO impossible.
You can get an idea of the activity level from the chart below from Contest Scores Online.
I was still recovering from a virus I picked up in late December that moved into walking pneumonia. So I was unlikely to stay up late and rise early in the morning. However, on DXmaps, more 6-meter activity was happening north of me. So I’m hopeful that many had a great contest.
Thanks to everyone who worked me in the contest. I’m looking forward to the Sporadic E season later this year—only 18 more grids for FFMA and hopefully a few openings for new DXCC.
Here’s how I ended up in the contest — 1st North Texas Section and 2nd West Gulf Division.
It was a slow one, that is for sure. I put in about 11.5 hours over the course of the weekend. Still don’t have a beam up on 6m, so I tuned the 40m doublet and tried to make up a bit for it through the use of the antenna substitute known as QRO. Ultimately had 66/30 on 6, 80/32 on 2, and 17/12 on 432. By Sunday afternoon I went and did something else. Will be looking for you in June.
Hi Doug, great results on 2 meters. I sure wish we had that activity level out here in North Texas. Get that 6-meter antenna up by the June contest – actually, get it up in time for the Sporadic E season start. 73, Jim, K5ND