VHF Contesting: Making the Most of January and June

VHF contesting is completely different from HF contesting. On HF, propagation does most of the work — signals bounce off the ionosphere to distant stations. On VHF, you're mostly limited to tropospheric propagation: line-of-sight, ducting, and scatter modes. The contest becomes about station capability, location, and recognizing propagation enhancements when they occur.

I've operated both January and June VHF contests for five years. The experiences are utterly different — January is freezing hilltops and tropospheric ducting, June is sporadic E magic and all-night operating marathons. Both are addictive.

The Major VHF Contests

ARRL January VHF Contest

When: Third full weekend of January (Saturday 1800 UTC through Monday 0300 UTC)

Character:

Winter weather challenges (cold, ice, wind)
Propagation usually limited (tropo only, some occasional winter Es)
Emphasizes station capability and location
Smaller turnout than June (weather keeps casual operators home)

ARRL June VHF Contest

When: Second full weekend of June (Saturday 1800 UTC through Monday 0300 UTC)

Character:

Peak sporadic E season (6m can open worldwide!)
Warm weather encourages portable/rover operations
Highest participation of any VHF contest
Tropo enhancements possible (summer ducting)
The 6m band can carry an entire contest score

CQ WW VHF Contest

When: Third weekend of July (shorter: 24 hours)

Character: Worldwide participation, grid-square exchange, summer conditions.

The Exchange

VHF contests exchange grid squares (Maidenhead locator system, 4-character):

Example: "FN42" (covers roughly 100×200 km area)
Each unique grid on each band = points
Multiplier: unique grids per band

Score = QSO points × Grid multiplier per band × Band multiplier

Equipment for VHF Contesting

Minimum (Casual Entry)

All-mode transceiver with 6m and 2m (IC-7300 for 6m + separate 2m all-mode radio)
OR: IC-9700 (2m + 70cm), FT-991A (HF through 70cm)
Horizontal Yagi antenna for 6m and 2m
Mast or rotor for antenna aiming

Competitive Setup

6m: 100W + 5-element Yagi + rotor. During Es openings, this is plenty.
2m: 100-150W + long Yagi (10-15 elements) + preamp + rotor
70cm: 50-100W + long Yagi (15-20 elements) + preamp + rotor
222 MHz: Even 10W with a Yagi scores multipliers (fewer stations = rarer grids)
Microwave (902+): Any contact is valuable (very few stations)

The Band Advantage

Each additional band multiplies scoring potential:

6m only: good during Es, dead otherwise
6m + 2m: consistent contacts on 2m even when 6m is dead
6m + 2m + 70cm: more multiplier opportunities
Add 222/432/902/1296: each additional band = exclusive multipliers

Operating Strategies

Fixed Station

Location matters enormously on VHF:

High elevation = more stations reachable (line of sight)
Near population centers = more potential contacts
Clear horizon in all directions = maximum tropo range

Calling CQ:

Park on a frequency and call CQ continuously
Use horizontal polarization on 6m and 2m (SSB/CW convention)
Rotate your beam every 5-10 CQs to cover all directions
Monitor 50.125 (6m calling) for Es openings

Search and Pounce:

Tune across the band slowly (VHF weak signals!)
Check calling frequencies first, then sweep
Use CW for weak-signal work (more dB, narrower bandwidth)

Rover Operation

The VHF contest secret weapon: Rovers drive between grid squares, activating each one. Every grid the rover enters becomes a new multiplier for fixed stations.

A rover on the boundary of 4 grid squares can activate all 4 by driving short distances between them.

Rover logistics:

Plan a route that crosses maximum grid boundaries
Pre-scout operating locations (parking, clear horizon, permission)
Equipment: all-band VHF setup on vehicle (Yagis on mast, generator or deep-cycle batteries)
Schedule coordination with fixed stations ("I'll be in FN31 at 2200, FN32 by 2300")

Sporadic E Strategy (June Contest)

During June VHF, sporadic E on 6m can make or break your score:

Monitor 50.125 constantly — first sign of Es is distant stations appearing on calling frequency
When Es opens: DROP EVERYTHING and work 6m — the opening may last 30 minutes or 3 hours
Run a frequency: Call CQ on a clear frequency. Es openings produce massive pileups.
Work everything: Each distant grid is worth points AND multipliers you can't get any other way
When Es closes: Return to 2m/70cm tropo work

A single 2-hour Es opening can produce more points than 12 hours of 2m tropo work.

Scoring Strategies

Maximize Multipliers

Every unique grid on every band is a multiplier
Even ONE contact on an additional band adds multiplicative value
Work schedules with stations who can make one QSO on 222 or 432 (even if you need 5 minutes of calling)

Band Coordination

Make contact on 2m, then QSY together to 70cm, 222, 432, etc.
"Would you like to try 432?" — the golden question in VHF contests
Each additional band QSO with the same station = more points AND potentially new grid multipliers

Use All Modes

SSB: Standard for strong signals, fastest QSO rate
CW: +3 dB (or more) effective gain over SSB. Use for weak signals, marginal paths.
FT8/FT4: Some contests allow digital contacts for points. Extends range significantly.
MSK144: Meteor scatter mode. Produces QSOs via brief meteor trail reflections. Works on 6m and 2m.

Meteor Scatter in VHF Contests

MSK144

During VHF contests, meteor scatter (MS) provides contacts with stations 500-1500 km away:

Signals reflect off ionized meteor trails (brief: 0.1-10 seconds)
MSK144 completes exchanges in very short bursts
Works even during dead tropo conditions
Best: early morning hours (6-10 AM local) when meteor rates peak
Pre-arrange schedules or use MS calling frequencies

Strategy

Run MSK144 on 2m during overnight hours when tropo is dead
Accumulate grids from 500-1500 km away (otherwise unreachable)
Switch to SSB/CW when tropo improves or Es opens

Station Setup Tips

Antenna Switching

With multiple bands and directions:

Rotor for main Yagis (motorized aiming)
Fixed antennas for secondary directions (omnidirectional vertical for monitoring)
Coax switch for multiple antenna selection

Preamplifiers

On 2m and above, a low-noise preamplifier (LNA) at the antenna dramatically improves receive:

Good preamp: 0.3-0.5 dB noise figure
Gain: 15-20 dB
Placed at antenna (before coax loss)
Sequencing critical: Preamp must bypass during transmit or it dies

Coax Selection

6m: RG-213 or LMR-400 adequate
2m: LMR-400 minimum (every dB of feedline loss is a lost dB of signal)
70cm+: Use lowest-loss feedline affordable (LMR-600, hardline)
Or: put amplifier and preamp at antenna (eliminate feedline loss)

The January vs June Decision

January

Pros:

Cold, dense atmosphere improves tropo (temperature inversions)
Less competition (smaller turnout)
Character-building (operating in cold weather)

Cons:

Short daylight hours
Weather may prevent portable operations
No sporadic E (usually)
Physical misery if operating portable/rover

June