ARRL 2025 September VHF Contest

An Early Morning Camp Fire at Base Camp During an Early Morning Start FN20 100 Mile Overlook KE5NJ/R and AA2SD/R

AA2SD/R and KE5NJ/R Pack Rat Rovers Team Up for the September VHF Contest in the Poconos.

Watch the You Tube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoIHk7WTANk

Pocono Mountains Sept 13-15th 2025 AA2SD/R KE5NJ Rover 

Saturday Contest Start - We started this Rove at the beginning of the contest with (2) different overlooks, with Chris KE5NJ/R located on FN20 on top of the 100 Mile overlook at FlagStaff Mountain. I started at Big Pocono State Park FN21 for the start of the contest at 2200 ft elevation. Overall Conditions for 2 and 6 Mtrs appeared to be generally flat for the entire contest. During the first (4) hours I worked 50 QSO’s all on the phone. My microwave system switch was not working so I moved back to a (4) band rover only. During the evening at base camp we operated FT8 using a smaller moxon antenna and 2 mtr beam.

Sunday We Grid Circled to the following Locations as Tandem Rovers

During Sunday (2) Rovers Operated in Tandem - as a unique experience during Sunday Chris and I operated as (2) separate rovers in each grid square we visited (3) additional Grid Squares from overlook areas only. Operating in this fashion we will be able to pick up our count of contacts as operators could easily work (2) rovers on 4 bands from one grid location. We visited (5) stops during Sunday to maximize our foot print.

Grid Circle Plan for Rovers During Sunday

• FN20 - 100 Mile Overlook Starting Point 1500 Ft

• FN10 - New Location at 1800 feet across from a Dollar Store in Hazelton PA

• FN11 - Lookout Motor Lodge in Drums PA .operated from the parking lot overlook

• FN21 - Pensacone Mountain Fire House Location open field 1800 

• FN20 - Penns Peak Roadies Restaurant 1500 Feet 

Grid Circling Plan During Sunday allowed us to hit (4) Grids as Tandem Rovers all from Overlooks in the Pocono Mountains

Base Camp Set up at the 100 Mile Overlook - We set up base camp on top of a camping ridge located in Jim Thorpe Pa at 1500 feet. We used this position to operate in the evening on FT8 and regroup for the next day. As part of our Roving and Camping experience my XYL Donna had prepared a full on catered camping menu for each evening, along with a healthy breakfast to power us for the day. We enjoyed steaks on the grill, home made chili, western omelets and flap jacks for breakfast. We also would like to thank Andrea K2EZ/R  Rover for coming by in the evening with a friendly and informative visit with us and enjoying some home made Chili over the open fire at camp side.

Western Omelettes  prepared on the Mountain for the Rover

Base Camp Set up at the 100 Mile Overlook - We set up base camp on top of a camping ridge located in Jim Thorpe Pa at 1500 feet. We used this position to operate in the evening on FT8 and regroup for the next day. As part of our Roving and Camping experience my XYL Donna had prepared a full on catered camping menu for each evening, along with a healthy breakfast to power us for the day. We enjoyed steaks on the grill, home made chili, western omelets and flap jacks for breakfast.

Equipment Challenges for Microwaves - after testing my new bands three times, the switching arrangement did not function and I abandoned the strategy to run these bands. No changes to the system, and a driveway test, basement and net test before the rove checked out. I think the issue is vibration and we will trouble shoot this with Ray and it get it ready on the bands for the next Contest. Being flexible as a Rover and adjusting on the fly is important.

Summary Initial Results from the Trip - Overall this was an “epic first time Rover” trip we combined camping in a beautiful natural overlook, with great food, excellent camaraderie and learned how to Grid Chase as Tandem rovers. We also worked to trouble shoot some equipment issues and Chris came fully prepared with all of the camping gear and back up tools and essentials. Overall the band conditions were mediocre at best, and we did not enjoy any 6 mtr openings during the weekend. The entire focus was to have “Fun and Play Radio” and provide a target for other operators to help with their scores. Thanks to all that worked us during this week, and you can expect more Tandem Rover Plans from Chris and Myself during the upcoming events. We also would like to extend the invitation to any other local Rovers to join in with us as we plan our next Grid Chase Rove Plan. 

Raw Score: 208 Qpts x 40 Mults = 8,320

Note: The raw score, QSO points and mult totals are estimates based solely on the individual log contents and are not used during subsequent log checking.

    CallSign Used : AA2SD/R   

Operator Category : SINGLE-OP

     ARRL Section : SNJ

        Club/Team : Mount Airy Pack Rats

         Software : N1MM Logger+ 1.0.10888.0

        Band     QSOs     Pts  Grd  Pt/Q

          50      13      13    2   1.0

          50      42      40   11   1.0

         144      40      35   11   0.9

         222      26      49    7   1.9

         420      34      58   10   1.7

       Total     155     195   41   1.3

            Score : 7,995

              Rig : 

A special thanks to W2EA South Jersey Mountain Topper Group, all of the Pack Rats and Andrea K2EZ/R , Dave KR1Z, Mike WB2RVX, Ray N3RG, Donna my XYL for the excellent cuisine, and all other Rovers and operators  in support of our efforts.

Please watch the video at the following link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoIHk7WTANk

73

Scott AA2SD/R and Chris KE5NJ/5 Rover

AA2SD/R and KE5NJ/R Pack Rat Rovers Team Up for the September VHF Contest in the Poconos.

Pocono Mountains AA2SD/R Rover -  Jan VHF Contest 2025  -  Plan to point your antennas to Jim Thorpe Grid FN20DU located at the FlagStaff Mountain and Big Big Pocono State Park Grid FN21HC. We are pleased to report that “Chris KE5NJ/R Rover” and “Scott AA2SD/R Rover” will be setting up at (2) different overlooks at the start of the Sept VHF Contest. Chris will be strategically located at the 100 Mile Overlook located at Penns Flag Staff Mountain, and Scott will be located at Big Pocono State Park. “ The busiest time of the contest is the first 4 hours and we plan to be both operating in separate grids with good elevation to maximize contacts” says Scott D AA2SD/R. You can join our text list, for (1) msg from each location below.

Saturday Day (1) (operate from 2PM-6 PM)

• KE5NJ/R Rover Chris GRID FN20DU ( Available with 6-144-222-70-903-1296)

• AA2D/R Rover Scott GRID FN21HC (Available with 6-144-222-70-903-1296-2.3-3.4)

• Evening operation will have both Rovers in FN20DU - with FT8 and Bands above

• Starting frequencies will be 50.128 and 144.208 +/- based on conditions

Sunday Day (2)  (operate from 8 AM-1PM  Grid Circling FN10XW and FN11WA FN20DU

• Both Rovers will be on the road to Grid Circle in 2 Grids and move back to FN20DU

• Evening operation will have both Rovers in FN20DU - with FT8 and Bands above

• Starting frequencies will be 50.128 and 144.208 +/- based on conditions

How To Track and Find the Rovers?

We will be utilizing the W3SZ App to allow you track our movement during the contest please use the links below. Please use the important links below

W3SZ Map for tracking https://w3sz.com/map.php

AA2SD/R Web Site with Updates https://www.aa2sd.com/arrl-2025-september-vhf-contest

Join text here https://eztxt.net/2jYm9L

ARRL 2025 VHF Contest September 13-15th 2025

Objective: For amateurs in the US and Canada (and their possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US & Canada (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions) and Canada.

Dates: The second full weekend in September (September 13-15, 2025)

Contest Period: Begins 1800 UTC Saturday, ends 0259 UTC Monday.

Notice: Participants in the FM Only category can now count contacts made on 902 MHz and 1.2 GHz toward their scores. Previously, only contacts on the four lowest VHF bands (50, 144, 222 and 432 MHz) counted toward participants' scores in this category.

Click Here for Complete ARRL September VHF Contest Rules (PDF)

For contest information contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0232

All legal modes are permitted. For Cabrillo file mode definitions, Digital modes should be represented as "DG" (for all things digital), SSB Phone as "PH", FM voice as "FM", and CW as "CW".

Stations in KH0-9, KL7 & KP1-KP5, CY9 and CY0 count as W/VE stations and can be worked by DX stations for contest credit.

Log Submission Deadline

Logs are due within TEN (10) days after the event is over. Logs may be submitted either online or via mail, but electronic Cabrillo logs are the preferred method. Electronic logs must be submitted via our web app at contest-log-submission.arrl.org/

Logs that have been submitted electronically are listed on the Logs Received page. Click the contest name to see a list of submitted logs sorted by call sign and club name.

Online Log Submission - Cabrillo formatted logs must be uploaded via our web app at contest-log-submission.arrl.org.

Submitting Paper Logs By Mail - Be sure to mail your completed Summary Sheet and Log Sheets postmarked before the log submission deadlines.

Paper Entry Forms:

September VHF Summary Sheet

VHF/UHF Log Sheet

Send completed Summary Sheets and logs to:

ARRL - September VHF Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111