FAVORITES LOOK FOR REPEAT IN ARRL SEPTEMBER VHF QSO PARTY

By Jamie Dupree NS3T 

After top notch performances in the June ARRL VHF and August ARRL UHF Contest, it's another chance for Jeff Klein K1TEO and Bob Striegl to cement their status as the top VHF contesters in the US as the 2007 September VHF QSO Party unfolds this weekend.

Striegl also had the top claimed score for the CQ WW VHF Contest in July.

In 2006, Klein's final score of over 571,000 points was well ahead of second place K1RZ in the single operator high power category.

K1TEO actually did most of his damage on 2 meters, with 303 contacts and 61 grids. He only had 161 QSO's and 49 grids on 6 meters. He came close to equaling that on 432.

In low power last year, Striegl was likewise far ahead of the competition, with his final score of just over 200,000 points.

The Illinois ham also had his best totals on 2 meters, with 173 contacts and 50 grids - 6 meters was 139/49.

The biggest numbers turned in last year on 6 and 2 meters came from Western Massachusetts and the W2SZ group.

They had 596 contacts and 60 grids on 6 meters, with 490 QSO's and 49 grids on 2 meters, which gave them enough breathing room over K1WHS to win in September of 2006.

September is often not a great month for big 6 meter band openings - it was in September of 2005 - and hopefully this weekend will be like that as well!