CSVHFS 2026

 Great news, Central States VHFS will be holding its annual conference in Cape Giradeau on July 23-26th.

 

                    WELCOME TO CENTRAL STATES VHF SOCIETY CONFERENCE

  

 

Drury Plaza Hotel Conference Center

Cape Girardeau, MO

July 23-26, 2026                                 

My conference team and I are excited to invite you to attend the 58^th Central States VHF Society conference located at the Drury Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. We will have activities that cover a wide range of interests and topics as well as family activities for non-ham interests. This will be our 1^st year at this site, and we are so excited.

The conference will have an antenna range on Friday, along with equipment testing, vendor displays, and Rover Row and Dish Bowl. There will be presentations on Friday and Saturday by our VHF and above community members. On Friday, we will also have our Friday swap-fest along with a social gathering at the end.

We will end the conference with an exciting banquet on Saturday that includes a banquet speaker and prizes for all.

Please visit our website at https://2026.csvhfs.org for more information and updates as they become available

Tammy O’Dell—KN4PSE—President, Central States VHF Society

 

 

Cool Picture

 I love this photo from Colorado of a refurbished dish being used for EME, STEM and radio astronomy.  Herbert AF4JF is a member of this club that owns and maintains this dish.  The Orion Nebula is visible in the background.  Outstanding!

 

 

ARRL 2026 JANUARY VHF CONTEST

 Wow, the first SLAMS Blog entry for 2026!  Sunday, January 18th.  The first half of the week was nice, weather wise, with temperatures near 60 degrees.  Then came Saturday's cold front with arctic air behind it.  Sunday is the pick day with highs in the upper 20's.  Way too cold for me.

I hesitated the entire weekend as to whether or not I was willing to venture out in the cold WX.  My "rover companion in arms, " Debbie KC9ULA decided to wait this one out.  I almost decided against getting out, but the sun was starting to peak through the clouds, and I felt like getting out and about.  So, instead of loading up my VHF-SHF yagis, I opted to use my tarheel antenna for 6 meters and a halo for 2m and 70cm.  I brought my tri-band HT for 222 FM. KO0Z/R finally made it for part of the contest!

Around 2:15 pm, I worked my wife Debbie KC9ULA from my mobile and then I made my way to the park near St. Charles Community College EM48 and worked Herbert AF4JF 6m to 70cm.  Next, I made my way up Hwy 79 to Foley, MO on top of a hill in EM49.  I worked Herbert AF4JF (EM48) on 6m, 2m and 70cm.  I was also able to put Mel K0PFX (EM48) in my log on 2m and 70cm.  I was just about ready to leave the hill when I heard K1HTV FM18 in VA booming in on 6 m SSB! BTW, temp on top of the EM49 hill...a balmy 27 degrees F. 

By this time it was late evening and I stopped by a Casey's in Winfield to surprise Debbie with a Casey's taco pizza.  Yummy!  Tooling down Hwy 79 I heard K8MR in EL87, Florida coming back to my CQ from EM48 which necessitated I pull off along side the road to safely work and to log him!

No more Qs for me the rest of the trip home.  All-in-all, a fun 2 hour outing.  My claimed score is 160 pts.  I worked 4 grids. 

                                    

                                            Microwave site, a SLAMS fav for EM49 near Foley, MO

                                           On top of the EM49 hill, a "balmy" 27 degrees F...Burrr...