ARRL January VHF / UHF Contest Weekend 1/15 - 16/2022.

[ThaDood]

Sporadic E rarely rocks for this, but some Tropo by coastal areas and the lack of foliage absorption usually makes this contest decent for 222MHz and 432MHz.    http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf   Now... When's that AM Heavy Metal Rally?

[Josh]

Band was open with lotsa ssb contacts that broke the squelch on the scanner.

[WA4FHY]

Sorry Dood, a little after the fact, but the Heavy Metal Rally was 08jan22 (per Electric Radio #389, Jan / Feb 2022)

6 was open most of this afternoon, at least for FT8, until ~0415 UTC. I tried 50.127 mHz USB but no replies;
ditto for 50.400 AM, also didn't hear any CW when checking that part of the band; sigh...

Checked 144 & 432 SSB, CW, and even FT8 but haven't heard anything but that is probably due
to timing as I would expect at least some local activity. Haven't listened on 222.100 USB yet, but
not gonna hold my breath there..

[ThaDood]

Well, a good time to do this contest is 3hrs, before the close at 11PM EST, or 04:00UTC. Seasoned contesters are usually burnt-out hearing and working the regulars, but when they hear someone new then, they'll try and grab them for the points. Since I work most Saturdays, Sundays, near the end, are when I try this contest. Difference this time being is the freezing rain I'm getting now. Kind of throws-out the match on antennas on all bands. (Uh...)