Check out the You Tube Field Day Video for the SJRA

ARRL January VHF Contest 2026 Rove Plan

ARRL Jan VHF Contest Rove Plan Contest Rover AA2SD/R

AA2SD/R and KE5NJ/R Rove Plan Jan 2026 VHF Contest

Rove Plan ARRL Contest Start Saturday June 18th

During Saturday we will visit (3) Grids all with good elevation starting at FN20 in Morgantown, and moving to FN10 and finishing at FM19 during the evening . Our Liaison frequencies will be in the range of144.210 - 144.215 and 50.128 +/- based on conditions. we will also monitor simplex 146.520.

During Sunday we will visit Mt Penn in Reading FN20 and Gap Hill PA FM29. Sunday afternoon during the Pack Rat Bowl AA2SD/R will be back in FM29 to maximize multi band contacts.

Download the plan here

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iQrnn8d9hYop6yg52wEXj8JGC6YIalFzDRFfXs-THI0/edit?usp=sharing

(2 Rovers Traveling together with Separate Operating Stations AA2SD/R and KE5NJ/R)

Starting frequencies will be 50.128 and 144.210-144.215 +/- based on conditions

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Saturday Rove Plan

STOP 1 2:00- 3:30 PM - Sunnyside Overlook Morgantown at 800 ft elevation - FN20AD87JB
STOP 2 4:00 - 5:30 PM - Welsh Mountain Overlook at 1,100 ft elevation 4:00 - 6:00 PM FN10XC90RX
STOP 3 7:30 - 9:00 PM - Antennas Site Overlook Gap, PA at 900 ft elevation FM19UV92WO
FT8 in the evening on 6 and 2 mtrs only

____________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Rove Plan Part 1

(2 Rovers Traveling together with Separate Operating Stations AA2SD/R and KE5NJ/R)

STOP 4 8:30 -10:30 AM - GAP Hill Overlook at 700 ft elevation - FM29AX06
STOP 5 1:00 - 2:30 PM Mount Penn Pagoda at 1,100 ft elevation FN20BI13QH

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Rove Plan Part 2

(1 Rover traveling AA2SD/R)

STOP 6 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Mullica Hill Overlook 140 Ft Elevation FM29KR20CW
STOP 7 - Pole Hill Park 190ft Elevation FM FM29MT57NV
FT8 in the evening on 6 and 2 mtrs only

SunnyCrest Overlook Morgantown FN20AD87JB 800ft elevation

STOP 1 2:00- 3:30 PM

Located on an elevated overlook at 800 ft located 9 miles due south from Reading PA, and in excellent range of the Pack Rats. This lot is open to the South and East and good for Microwave contacts.

Google Map Link Below

https://maps.app.goo.gl/52drvVMHgmbBNF417

Grid Paths Below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kb57PKYzUmgoTn7D82u961UiLCkw4bOx/view?usp=sharing

Welsh Mountain Overlook FN20BI10 1,100 ft elevaation

STOP 2 4:00 - 5:30 PM

Located on the Peak of a Ridge at 1,100 ft. Welsh Mountain, rising over 1,000 feet in eastern Lancaster County and western Chester County. This location features excellent elevation and plays well for the lower (4) bands.

Google Map Link Below

https://maps.app.goo.gl/J8e4hx9MErk7c7P9A

Grid Paths Below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cyFn_2I3uSzoSFDxHq_vtMs-yoFtUGTr/view?usp=sharing

Antennas Site Rawlinsville, PA FM19UV92WO - 900 ft elevation

STOP 3 7:30 - 9:00 PM

Located south of GAP, PA on Truce Road, this is an elevated site of 923ft and in the clear. This southern site is 6 miles north of the Susquehanna River and 14 miles south of Gap PA

Google Map Link Below

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7ibaLsN38R3r549Z9

Grid Paths Below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b0L2A6-MHLoicRe52JjU0MOL4nziUdjR/view?usp=sharing

GAP Hill Overlook

FM29AX06 900ft elevation

STOP 4 8:30 -10:30 AM

Located on an elevated hill at 900 ft . This location is 4 miles East of GAP PA on Route 30. This site also sits on the FM19 and FM29 Grid Line for easy crossover. This is a new site to be tested for road access. We do have a back up to this site if it does not allow Grid postioning for both Rovers.

Google Map Link Below

https://maps.app.goo.gl/veD1ry9NGnRDdCRDA

Grid Paths Below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F4yNGrW4nytoIV1qgLY-q4256PjPJeGr/view?usp=sharing

Mount Penn Pagoda

FN10XC90RX 1,100 ft elevation

STOP 5 1:00 - 2:30 PM

The Pagoda, located atop Mt. Penn is an historical landmark that has served as the symbol of the city. This sits on the ridge overlooking the city at 1,100 ft elevation. We plan to work from the southern tip overlooking Reading and also from the Fire Tower if access is open for Rovers.

Google Map Link Below

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EscG2dVVGyQU92Dk9

Grid Paths Below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o1HCJBu61JhcmwfEwjR6iOIYey_3oxKL/view?usp=sharing

Mullica Hill Overlook

FM29KR20CW 140ft elevation

STOP 6 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Located 14 miles south of Philadelphia, and adjacent to the Inspire Medical Center off of Route 55. This convenient spot sits in an ideal location to make QSO's with Pack Rats in Southern Jersey and Philadelphia. Located in an open field across from the South Jersey Technical center.

Google Map Link Below

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jeDYbHAAZdK1oVpZ9

Grid Paths Below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dN6Di9gFNyg9Pa-j5ViVUQLbB9PBAp8R/view?usp=sharing

January VHF Contest 2026 - January 17-19th

Contest Objective: For amateurs in the US and Canada (and their possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US & Canada (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions) and Canada.

Dates: The third or fourth full weekend in January as announced. (January 17-19, 2026)

Contest Period: Begins 1900 UTC Saturday, ends 0359 UTC Monday.

Notice: Participants in the FM Only category can now count contacts made on 902 MHz and 1.2 GHz toward their scores. Previously, only contacts on the four lowest VHF bands (50, 144, 222 and 432 MHz) counted toward participants' scores in this category.

Click Here for Complete ARRL January VHF Contest Rules (PDF)

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

AA2SD/R and KE5NJ/R Pack Rat Rovers Team Up for the Jan 2026 VHF Contest to Grid Circle

Lancaster PA AA2SD/R Rover - Jan VHF Contest 2026 - Plan to point your antennas to Grid Square Convergence in GAP PA during the Jan VHF Contest.

We are pleased to report that “Chris KE5NJ/R Rover” and “Scott AA2SD/R Rover” will be Grid Circling up at (4) different overlooks throughout the Jan VHF Contest to maximize Pack Rat Club Member Contacts. (January 17-19, 2026) Contest Period: Begins 1900 UTC Saturday, ends 0359 UTC Monday.

At the start of the Jan 2026 VHF Contest both Rovers will be strategically located at 800 feet elevation in Morgantown PA GRID FN20AD87J.“ The busiest time of the contest is the first 4 hours and we plan to be both operating in a combined grids with good elevation to maximize contacts” says Scott D AA2SD/R. You can join our text list, for (1) msg from each location below.

Bands and Liaison Frequency

KE5NJ/R Rover Chris ( Bands 6-144-222-70-903-1296) Phone 302- 382-9177
AA2D/R Rover Scott (Bands with 6-144-222-70-903-1296-2.3-3.4-5.7 & 10GHz) Phone 609 254 7120

Starting frequencies will be 50.128 and 144.210 -144.215 +/- based on conditions

How To Track and Find the Rovers?

We will be utilizing the W3SZ App to allow you track our movement during the contest please use the links below. Please use the important links below, we suggest you sign up for text alerts.

W3SZ Map for tracking https://w3sz.com/map.php

AA2SD/R Web Site with Updates https://www.aa2sd.com/arrl-2025-september-vhf-contest

Join text here https://eztxt.net/2jYm9L

Contest info https://www.arrl.org/january-vhf

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse