Countdown to ARRL June VHF

By Jamie Dupree NS3T 

Gunning for a 7th straight June VHF Single Op High Power title, Jeff Klein K1TEO will lead the summer rush onto the VHF/UHF bands as operators hope for a repeat of last year's wide open conditions on 6 meters.

"Before last summer I had never worked over 400 Q's on 6M during a contest," said Klein. "Last June with a modest opening I worked over 500."

While K1TEO has chalked up six straight high power wins, Bob Striegl K2DRH has a three year win streak going in the low power ranks of the June VHF. He'll be defending his title just a few weeks after undergoing an angioplasty procedure.

"God and the M.D.'s willing, I have plans to be in good health and get my rotor fixed to be on the for the contest" said Striegl.

When asked how he can improve on last year, when he made 800 contacts on 6 meters, K2DRH said he could only hope for similar band conditions.

"Damned if I know...that was the best conditions I've ever experienced (except for the CQ VHF in July - WOW!) and it blew away the old record."

Also looking for some good conditions again this year is the 3rd place single op high power finisher from 2006, Jerry Rosalius WB9Z.

"I sure hope 6m will be as good as last, but it is sure going to be hard to match (those) conditions." Rosalius had 709 QSO's on 6 meters, netting 215 grids.

Defending Rover champ John Desloge N6MU will again be plying a variety of West Coast roads this year. "The route is still in the planning stage" said Desloge, "but I would guess at least 10 (grids.)"

Last year N6MU traveled in tandem with W6XD to run up some big rover numbers. "This is the only way to generate a competitive score out west due to far fewer available stations to work and lots of terrain limitations" said Desloge.

Among the many rovers who will jump on the road for the June VHF weekend, Jon Platt W0ZQ will be hitting between four and eight grids.

"I do not hit the June contest too hard" said Platt, "it's more of a relaxing rove for me. My primary goal is to use it as a shake down run for the August UHF contest."

While that may be true, last year Platt finished in the Rover top ten - not bad for a "relaxing rove."

The battle for top June multi-op is one that's been going on for years, between The Mount Greylock team at W2SZ and the Potomac Valley Radio Club's K8GP. Last year the Grid Pirates stopped the W2SZ win streak at five straight June VHF's.

One of the more interesting Dxpeditions will take place in grid CO35. "For many years, I've wanted to do a June contest from Southeastern Alaska" says Paul Kiesel K7CW. "We will able to supply Alaska to many who still need that state for WAS."

The site is on Prince of Wales Island, about a three hour ferry ride from Ketchikan.

"I found a suitable cabin near Thorne Bay. Of course it is a fairly rare grid square as there are no permanent resident VHFers there" said Kiesel. He will be joined on the trip by Kevin O'Connell KL0RG and will use the call KL7FF.

Also having fun this year will be Team KA2LIM/2, doing a multi-limited operation using their "Gridsquare Limo."

"Yes we have done this before, but this is the first time with the Limo" said Ken Kent KA2LIM. "It is a 1995 Chevy van, converted into a portable operating setup."

Check out the Gridsquare Limo at Kent's website.

"We like to activate rare and needed gridsquares" says Kent. "Of course it is competitive, but...bottom line is having fun and getting new VHF/UHF contesting operators involved an on the air."

That spirit will also be out West, where Mike Coogan KB7ME, will be activating DN02 and DN03 in southeastern Oregon.

"This is my first try at being a rover," said Coogan. "Goal is to have fun! Activate rare grids, hopefully combined with a six meter band opening."