The September VHF contest is the culmination of over a year of hard work by the membership of the Rochester VHF Group and the supporting regional clubs. This was our 70th anniversary year and we decided we wanted to make a big deal about it. After all, how many VHF oriented clubs have been in continuous operation for 70 years and still have one of their founding members get on the air for contests!? What we saw in 2019 is nothing short of amazing. Hams who were QRT got back on the air, members with simple stations added bands, a sizable rover pack came together, and we asked for and received support from many of the regional clubs in the Greater Rochester and Southern Ontario Canada area. As a result, our region became a very desirable place to participate in VHF contests. 

As for me, I reached a personal record number of multipliers this September and roughly doubled my 2018 score that won the rover category last year. The multiplier achievement tells a different story than local activity alone can explain. Propagation played a small part, improvements in my station played an even smaller part, but what made a difference is that others were out there on the outskirts of my range with stations often superior to my own. Activity was clearly up this contest. I have a strategy where I look for “known good” stations outside of my own grids to establish a foundation of multipliers. These stations came through for me as they usually do, but there were many others on the air that added multipliers I often miss. This September was also my first attempt at using FT8 and it paid off with one of the best 6m multiplier counts I have ever achieved without a sustained Es opening. At least six grids would not have been possible for me otherwise. I was even able to call CQ on 2m, while monitoring for 6m digital activity at the same time, something I have been unable to do as a single-op rover. 

There are no secrets to what we have done. We have not relied upon any one strategy, but used every successful strategy we know of. We had an outstanding contest chairman who put a lot of energy into promotion and outreach to other clubs, while our members hunkered down and expanded their stations. Lastly, we advocated the BISKT (Biscuit) approach to contesting. Butt In Seat – Keep Transmitting. Create a purpose, be positive, make it fun, and people will join in. I look forward to hearing you all on the air in the 2020 contest season.

73,

Jarred