Woo Hoo! FFMA 488 is complete! Thanks, in no small part, to all the rovers who lit up those rare and nearly rare grids I needed along the way. Here’s how it ended, a bit about the journey, and the Rover Honor Roll from my logbook.

Mile Marker 488 FFMA Completion

You may have read about Mile Marker 487, where Barry, K7BWH, activated CN75 in late July 2026. That was my next-to-last grid, and I felt extremely fortunate to work that distance, 1,700 miles, that late in the Sporadic E season.

Afterward, Barry reached out to say he was planning a trip to CN71, the last grid on my list! At first, I tried to advise against going in August because of the expected poor conditions. In fact, I sent him a list of nearby grids I’d worked, all in June, with outliers in May and July. He knew better.

To align with his activation schedule and the one WH2T planned for the following week, I cleared my calendar for two weeks. I then pointed my antenna toward CN71 and sat down at my radio. On the first evening of his arrival, nothing was heard here. The next day, I still heard nothing, though there was plenty of activity elsewhere. The next morning, NP4EI noted that the Texas guys should consider Q65.

I’ve used WSJT-X Q65 quite a bit and even compiled some operating directions. So I knew it could be viable, but I’m usually quite hesitant about advising rovers on this and that and the other thing. This is mainly because of my own experience as a rover and the never-ending messages.

Nonetheless, I chatted with NP4EI about modes, distances, etc. I then took it to Barry and proposed the attempt. He was all for it. He chose 50.280 because of noise at his location from the battery chargers. Based on NP4EI’s advice, we chose Q65-30B. I added that we should use Contest Mode to shorten things a bit.

We started the QSO for a few sequences, and Barry noted that he’d forgotten to point the antenna. That’s when I picked up his R message. I sent RRR; he received it. All done. Last grid, CN71, 1,600 miles. August 13, 2026.

Following a mild celebration, I watched Barry’s efforts with Wes, WA5TKU, and decoded Barry three more times, but unfortunately they couldn’t complete the QSO. I’m hoping they get that accomplished over the next few days, or via WH2T’s activation. It’s also Wes’s last grid for FFMA.

The Beginning of My FFMA Grid Chase

I feel my official start was in 2018, when AC0RA and W5PFG activated EL58 from a sandbar at the mouth of the Mississippi off the Louisiana coast. At the time, I already had several six-meter grids in my logbook but no real recognition of the FFMA 488. That activation helped me obtain a rare grid and realize that I might be able to earn this award. As a result, I started the chase.

I’ll mention that when I worked them in EL58, they sent me a message to get on MSK144 and work them. My rig was in my car in the driveway, ready for a VHF contest as a rover. I ran outside, set up the antenna, and despite the rig control dropping several times due to RFI, I worked them!

FFMA 488 Rover Honor Roll

That was one of my early efforts with rovers. By the time I completed the award, my logbook recorded 23 rovers, yielding an amazing 90 grids!

Special mention goes to Barry, K7BWH, who provided my last two grids, CN75 and CN71, with almost missionary zeal. Before that, AG6EE provided DN00 while I was running 10 watts as a Single Operator Portable during the 2025 June VHF Contest. That gives you some idea of how long it took me to collect those last few grids. And I was ready to move into the 2027 Sporadic E season until Barry made things happen!

I’ve sorted through my logbook to tally the FFMA Rover Honor Roll. I didn’t capture those who may have entered only one grid in my log, except WL7T, who entered EL84 in my log.

Drum roll, please!

AG6EE – 13
KB7Q – 7
N7PHY – 6
W7GJ – 6
K7BWH – 5
NI5P – 5
KG5CCI – 5
N0LL – 4
AA5PR – 4
AC0RA – 4
K8JH – 4
K5N – 4
K7KQA – 3
WB8LYJ – 3
N4EME – 2
K0SIX – 2
KC5WX – 2
KN4JX – 2
N0LNO – 2
W0ZF – 2
W5AJ – 2
WR7X – 2
WL7T/P – 1 for EL84

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I literally couldn’t have done it without you.

And, thank you to the other 398 stations that provided the needed grids to fill my FFMA scorecard.

ARRL FFMA Application Process

After a brief celebration, I started the FFMA application process. Everything was already in Logbook of the World, including quite a few QSL cards that had previously been card-checked and entered. I approved and paid for the VUCC grids and application, but there was no sign of an FFMA application.

I searched the ARRL site to find the right contact and finally found the VUCC email address. I also copied a couple of people I work with on ARRL writing assignments. I was amazed at how quickly they got back to me. They provided the application form, immediately approved my LoTW VUCC grid application, and promised to keep me in the loop as they went through the approval process.

I’ll circle back here when I get award approval.

Again, thanks to everyone who added grids to my logbook and offered encouragement and insight throughout the journey.