Back on the Road with K8GP Rover

Back on the Road with K8GP Rover

by Andy Zwirko K1RA

Hobbies Technology

Season 1

K8GP Rover in the ARRL VHF September 2026 contest

This covers the plans, trials, tribulations, successes and failures of Terry W8ZN and Andy K1RA as we participate in the ARRL VHF September 2026 Contest. It is a deep dive into a report produced by Andy K1RA that details the construction and operation of an Amateur Radio Rovers station in a Radio Sport event where they travel from mountain top to mountain top over a weekend, attempting to reach out hundreds of miles with radio waves to contact stations all competing in a national competition. After a hiatus of 6 years and last coming off a winning entry in their category in 2020, they go in modest expectations hoping to to prove that the gray van, the antennas, the radios, and the two of us could still survive a rover weekend. The weekend did answer the basic question, but tune in and hear what it took.