Simple QRP stations have always been part of my amateur radio experience. For example, I’ve worked HF DXCC with 5 watts and placed well in a few CW and RTTY contests in the QRP single-band category.

Taking it to VHF-UHF has been a thought, but usually avoided as I chased grids and built a high power station. Now that I’ve worked 485 of the 488 FFMA grids, it makes some sense to give the Hilltopper and Single-Op portable categories a go. Plus, I’ve always enjoyed VHF rover operations, but I no longer have the energy to move from place to place during a contest.

So, in 2024, I’ve started entering the Hilltopper and Single-Op Portable categories. Here are my results to date.

CQ WW VHF Contest — July 2024

The Hilltopper category limits your operating time to six hours. That worked great for my first attempt when I operated on Saturday afternoon. Read all about my operation at K5ND/P Hilltopper Adventure.

ARRL September VHF Contest — 2024

When I returned home from the CQ WW VHF Contest, I started to build a list of improvements for the next effort. That included some equipment changes: a new antenna for 144/432 and a few tweaks to the overall setup. Plus, I had to gear up for a full contest, rather than six hours. You can read all about my operation at September VHF Single Operator Portable.

Stay tuned to further updates on my portable VHF-UHF contest operations.