June 2023 ARRL VHF Contest - KE4WMF/R

[@catsaretasty]

I'd be afraid to get struck by lightning driving that car😂

[@StealthGTI]

It HAS crossed my mind. HAHA! So far, I've been fortunate to not be out in bad weather, with the exception of high winds at HamCation (see video). Thanks for visiting!

[@KevinW8BRY]

Thanks for coming by Berryville this year. I wish I would have spent more time picking your brain, I had a table and was focused on that. I am a fellow rover with hope of improving my station each VHF contest. Hope you had a good contest last weekend. I enjoyed it a lot. 73

[@StealthGTI]

I missed the last contest due to travel for work. Perhaps next time! I may get hosed in June, too. Time will tell. Also, my next video will discuss a structural failure in my aftermarket roof rack. Looks like I'm going to experiment with using my trailer for the tower. Stay tuned for details!

[@ka1syg]

K1TEO is Jeff in Trumbull, CT! He has been a serious VHF/UHF Contester for decades, and is frequently the SOHP(Single Operator, High Power) winner of the ARRL VHF Contests.

[@StealthGTI]

Very nice! I don't recall if I mentioned him in this video, but I have worked him. I didn't hear him in January, though. Thanks for visiting!

[@thuff3207]

Cool roving and what a setup.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks! See my KE4WMF playlist for more. Thanks for visiting!

[@TAKEONEURBANPRODUCTION]

I old school what ever happen to rag chew ? I never been a big lover of contest exchanging 1 min info and you walk away knowing nothing about you contact or just the minimum. I can still remember great contact I made and we talk for over 20 mins sometimes even longer and exchanged cards coins and more .. ..

[@StealthGTI]

You're right. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find another station who's interested in a rag chew. It happens, but not as often as it used to. I do exchange physical QSL cards. See a sample of mine on my website at KE4WMF.com. These days, my best rag chews could come from talking to people I know here at home while I'm traveling elsewhere. Despite this dedicated contest video, I'm not a huge contester, just a few events per year. I enjoy POTA every few weeks, too. What's worse than not having as many rag chew opportunities is that FT8 seems to be dominating the airwaves, especially during contests. I don't care for it, but will use the mode as a way to log a contact. I'd like to try RTTY. Sure, it's not a verbal rag chew, but conversations do take place, kind of like an online chat. Thanks for visiting!

[@migi5374]

Hi Scott. I caught you going west on I 64 between Williamsburg & Richmond some time ago. I made a short on your car on my channel. I just came across a video of your car on another channel. I'm not a ham but, 73

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks, Migi! I have a new tower setup now. All of the antennas and feedline are the same, but the tower is taller and stronger. I'll share a video soon.

[@georgeetherege8347]

Just discovered your KZbin -- Planning to dive into 2024 VHF Contest June 8-9 with two-element 6m Yagi, at home. Would be interested to see if I can join the Crabs Net--will try as soon as I get the Yagi going. Good luck with 2024 VHF Contest. de W3GX FM9vb Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

[@StealthGTI]

I won't be contesting this month due to my support of two different bicycle tours. I expect to make a light effort in CQ's WWVHF contest next month. I'm planning to show at hamfests in Roanoke and Berryville in August. Stop by and say hello. Regarding the Crab Net, Sundays at 20:00 ET on 50.180 MHz, I think we get some check-ins from your area from time to time. *I* can't hear them, but NCS can. Point your beam toward Gloucester, VA for the most direct heading to NCS. Thanks for visiting!

[@TAKEONEURBANPRODUCTION]

Love what you doing for Ham radio get people into it.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for posting that. I never thought of myself as someone who draws people to ham radio. Instead, I'm sharing what a kook I am compared to other hams. ;-) Thanks for visiting!

[@K1DTC]

How do you sync the time for ft without internet? Perhaps i missed it?

[@StealthGTI]

I use a program called "JTSync." I may do a video about it someday. JTSync listens to other FT8 stations, determines their time difference from me, and then calculates an average that ignores the extreme outliers. From there, I can click a button that changes my clock to match the average of other stations. Is it perfectly sync'd to the Internet? No! But I only need to be on-time with the stations I'm trying to work. Hopefully, THEY'RE sync'd... or close enough. Thanks for visiting!

[@ka1syg]

@@StealthGTIhow do you keep track of your current location in the log? There are ways to use a GPS to set a computer clock. I actually had that on the laptop I had in 2004, I don't remember the software now.

[@M0UOO]

Great work and greeat contacts 73

[@StealthGTI]

I appreciate that! Thanks for visiting!