VHF operators will be on the bands in force the weekend of January 22-24 as the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes hits the airwaves. This contest gives the VHFer in all of us a chance to do some contesting during the winter months.
According to ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, January may not seem like the ideal time to hold a VHF+ contest, but sometimes he said, the propagation gods like to surprise and confound. “There have been plenty of QSOs made via sporadic-E in the colder months this winter, including a surprise opening from the Midwest and Western US to Australia and New Zealand just this week! QSOs on other forms of enhancement exist as well, thanks to tropospheric ducting and auroral propagation. Because of the advent of WSJT software, making QSOs via meteor scatter in the wee hours of the morning on 6 and 2 meters has never been easier. There are plenty of opportunities to make long-haul QSOs on the VHF+ bands in January.”

Kutzko said that getting on the VHF bands is easy. Technician class licensees have permission to use all amateur bands above 50 MHz and the antennas for VHF frequencies are smaller than their HF counterparts. A dipole for 6 meters is less than 10 feet long and most modern transceivers come with 50 MHz built-in. So why not string up a dipole for 6 meters and see what you can work?
While most contest QSOs will be made using SSB and CW, Kutzko advised amateurs to remember FM simplex: “Numerous stations enjoy 2 meter FM simplex QSOs, especially if you live near a large population center. Just be sure to keep the national 2 meter calling frequency of 146.52 MHz clear of contest activity. Don’t neglect the higher bands, since 222 MHz, 432 MHz and 1.2 GHz and up will see activity this weekend, too.”

The 2011 ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes runs from 1900 UTC Saturday, January 22 through 0359 UTC Monday, January 24. Participants can submit their Cabrillo-formatted logs via e-mail. Paper logs may be sent to ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. All logs must be postmarked no later than 0359 UTC Thursday, February 24, 2011.

Contest Objective-
To work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Foreign stations work W/VE amateurs only.

Dates-
The second full weekend in June. Begins 1800 UTC Saturday, runs through 0259 UTC Monday (June 12-14, 2010).

Bands-
All authorized frequencies above 50 MHz (6 Meters).

Log Submission Deadline-
Entries must be emailed or postmarked no later than 0259 UTC Wednesday, July 14, 2010. Late logs may be designated as check logs only. Electronic submissions in the Cabrillo format may be emailed to JuneVHF@arrl.org

Contact Information-
For contest information contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0232

More Info: http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf-qso-party

There has been recent discussion on amateur communications that can be provided by licensee-employees on behalf of their employers. This applies to organizations that have amateur radio station in the event of an emergency or disaster such as hospitals and private first response companies and ambulance systems. Currently as wavier has to be granted by the FCC for each event the organization was to participate in, such as emergancy prepariness drills.

In March 2010, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) (WT Docket No 10-72) that proposed to amend the Part 97 rules — specifically 97.113(a)(3) — governing the Amateur Radio Service. The new rules would provide that, under certain limited conditions, Amateur Radio operators may transmit communications on behalf of their employers during government-sponsored emergency and disaster preparedness drills. While current rules provide for Amateur Radio use during emergencies, the rules prohibit communications where the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer, except for government-sponsored drills for which a waiver has been granted. The NPRM asked for comments from interested parties. As such, on May 24, the ARRL filed its initial comments and on June 7, filed its reply comments. The ARRL’s filings reflect the position by the Board of Directors at its January 2010 meeting.

…the ARRL proposes a slight revision to the proposed rule change set forth in the NPRM: The ARRL’s proposed wording includes some very specific language for the revised Section 97.113(a) (3) that will:

• Accommodate the specific needs of Amateur Radio licensees who are employees of entities who actively participate in organized, bona fide emergency communications and disaster readiness drills and tests.
• Permit effective and seamless emergency and disaster relief communications preparedness drills and exercises incorporating Amateur Radio.
• Protect the Amateur Service to some extent against potential commercial exploitation by business entities in lieu of other, more appropriate radio services.
• Protect Amateur Radio licensees who are employees against pressure from their employers to conduct inappropriate communications utilizing their Amateur Radio licenses.

For more information on this current development read more at: http://www.arrl.org/news/in-fcc-rule-making-proceeding-arrl-supports-employee-participation-in-drills