Gearing Up for the ARSI Hill Top Contest 2026: Digital Modes, Homebrew Rigs, and Field Operations

Date: January 23, 2026 Category A: HF Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 M

Operation callsign – VU2JMN

The wait is finally over! This weekend, January 24th and 25th, 2026, our team is hitting the field for the ARSI National Field Day & Hill Topping Contest. We are excited to announce that we will be setting up our portable stations at VU2JMN’s farm in Navsari, transforming a quiet farm location into a buzzing hub of RF activity.

For us, this isn’t just about the contest points—it’s about the spirit of experimentation, testing our homebrew gear in the field, and demonstrating the capabilities of digital modes.

The Mission

The ARSI Hill Top contest encourages hams to leave the comfort of their “shacks” and operate from remote locations. It tests our emergency preparedness and our ability to deploy effective antennas and power systems off the grid.

Meet the Team & The Tech Stack

We have a strong lineup of six operators confirmed for the overnight stay. We’ve curated a diverse technical agenda to cover multiple bands and modes, ensuring we maximize our contacts and our learning.

Here is what our station setup looks like:

• The Digital & Satellite Station:
  • Operators: VU2KYZ and VU27UT (Me).
  • Focus: I will be spearheading the FT8 operations, showcasing how weak-signal digital modes can perform in field conditions. Meanwhile, VU2KYZ will be experimenting with WSPR and sbitx, and we are also planning an attempted contact via the ARISS FM Repeater (International Space Station).
• The Homebrew Warriors:
  • Operator: VU2DMV.
  • Focus: Keeping the true spirit of ham radio alive, VU2DMV will be operating a Homebrewed Zbitx transceiver. Using self-built equipment not only earns us extra multiplier points in the contest but proves that you don’t need expensive commercial gear to make great contacts.
• The Voice (SSB) & Support Team:
  • Operators: VU2JMN (Host), VU3MNP, and VU27RT.
  • Focus: They will be anchoring the SSB voice communications across the HF bands, managing the logistics, and keeping the energy high at the site.

Logistics & Location

The site at Navsari offers a great low-noise floor, which is critical for the weak signal work we plan to do on HF.

• Status: We are all set for the overnight stay.
• Visitors: While registration for the overnight stay is closed, we welcome local hams to drop by during the day to witness the setup and say hello!

Catch Us On The Air!

We will be active on all HF bands starting Saturday morning. Listen out for our callsigns and give us a shout. Whether you are a seasoned contester or a listener, we’d love to get you in our log.

73 and see you on the waterfall! de VU27UT