Portable Contests

January VHF

• Loma Alta 2018
• Loma Alta 2019
• Loma Alta 2020
• Loma Alta 2021
• Loma Alta 2022 (Video)
  
• Loma Alta 2023

June VHF

• Briones Hills 2017
• Red Benchmark 2018
• Mt Allison 2020

September VHF

• Peak 7569, 2017
• Grouse Ridge 2018
• Mt Allison 2021
• Loma Alta 2022

CQ VHF

• Briones Hills 2022

Microwaves

• SBMS Contest 2022
• 10GHz and Up 2022

VHF Contest Setup

For the ARRL contests, I bring four radios, four transverters, and eight antennas. This setup seems to be decent, I'm able to switch bands pretty quickly.

Radios:

• FT-817 - for 2m SSB, backup IF rig
• KX3 - 6m, IF rig
• HTX-202 - 2m FM
• TH-F6a - 223 and 446 FM

Transverters:

• "Ukrainian" 222
• "Ukrainian" 432
• SG Labs 920
• SG Labs 1296
• DEMI 10GHz

Antennas:

• 6m Extended Double Zepp, set up in inverted-V
• 2m EDZ, vertical
• Arrow 222 Yagi
• Arrow 144/432 Satellite Yagi
• eBay 902 Yagi
• eBay 1296 Yagi
• Whip for Kenwood HT, backup whip for Radio Shack HT

In addition, I bring all the cables, poles, connectors, and other accessories needed to keep the antennas in the air and the radios powered. This all fills my 45L backpacking pack. I've never weighed it, but it is probably on the order of 40lbs, including clothing, food, water, etc.

I'd like to replace the single 144/432 Yagi with two separate ones. I think this will make band changes even simpler. I also need a way to mount the 902 and 1296 Yagis, since right now I just hold them and point them as best I can. It would also be nice to have better verticals for 223 and 446 FM, rather than just the HT whip.

HF Contests

Since I moved to a condo, I don't have a good HF antenna, so my HF contesting will have to be portable. I'm still exploring options, including SOTA-like and car based options. I also need to find a good location. If you have any good ideas, I'd like to hear them.