AA2SD/R Rover Adding 1296 and 903 Bands  for the Jan VHF 2025 Contest

Fellow Pack Rats and All Operators

I am pleased to report that I plan to operate with 1296 and 903 during the upcoming Jan 2025 VHF Contest.  I have 2 sets of "looper" antennas from Directive Systems. I plan to use my smaller loopers a (14) element 1296 version, and a (11) element version mounted on my Roof Rack for "quick pullover contacts".

I will also plan to deploy on a 20 foot mast a (24) element for 1296 and (19) element at my overlooks with more gain. I will be using Demi transverters with 40 watts.

Please view my full Rove Schedule here, I will be Roving (6) Grids starting in Central New Jersey, running the Garden State Parkway from the North to Cape May on Saur day with 3 Grids. The plan on Sunday is to head to Lancaster to Welsh Mountain and finish in Delaware at the Ebright Azimuth.

Click for the updated Rove Plan

Effective Rated Power and Gain of the Looper Antennas with 40 Watts

Fellow Club Members and Operators

Here is my final plan for the Jan  2025 VHF Contest Jan 18th and 19th. I will be visiting (6) stops and (6) potential Grids all within the reach of the Pack Rats and other Clubs. I will stay at each location a minimum of 1.5 hours , if the action is good I will stay longer at each location.  I will have the 4 lower bands in addition to 1296 and 903 available for a total of six available bands ....please make sure you join my (1) text message  group below from each location.

During my last stop, you will have (2) Rovers KE5NJ and myself in one Grid Location in  Delaware, allowing you to work both rovers. 

I am a solo rover, and would suggest you join my text list for one text  message from each location, and also you can follow me on the W3SZ.com database. You can text me, but I hope it will be busy at each location. Timing of all stops will be based on weather and travel conditions. I plan to work phone from all of these locations FT8 will only be during the later evenings.Please keep in mind that I do work many stations "on the go" from overlook to overlook with a digital recorder. I will be on the air for the full time other than setting up antennas at overlooks.

Rover Plan on the Web below

https://www.aa2sd.com/arrl-jan-2025-vhf-contest

Join text here

https://eztxt.net/2jYm9L

W3SZ.com database

https://w3sz.com/map.php

JOIN US AT THE PACK RAT BOWL

SUNDAY JANUARY 19 TH  19:00 TO 22:00 UTC

Take advantage of the Sunday afternoon contest doldrums, join the Pack Rats on 2M

SSB and move stations up the bands. Increase your higher band Q’s and grid totals.

More efficient than sending endless unanswered CQs on FT8. Tell everyone you know 

the place to be on Sunday afternoon from 2 PM to 5 PM EST is 2M SSB/CW and QSY UP.