Hello VHFers
I never know what the best way is to build up a score in the sprints.
Normally the VHF sprints have been laid back affairs and little strategy
is required. With the adding of digital and analog contacts for points
into the mix, it has inserted some difficulty in areas where there is
reasonable activity. The areas between Philadelphia and possibly
Boston come to mind. You have to manage your time. What is the best way
to build a score? I sensed that most people started out on SSB and CW
and, when activity petered out, switched to digital and FT8 at 222.174.
How to manage your time to maximize your returns? There was added
complexity for me as the Moon was up and there was a source of new
grids. The downside is that many terrestrial contacts could be made in
the time it takes to make just one EME contact. How do you decide? The
answer might depend on where the answerer lives! Stations in built up
areas have other stations always pointing their way, or at least
pointing there more often. Stations out away from much activity areas
have less chance of hearing another outlier! The chat page can help, but
it is not the solution. The chat page can be a time sink and a distraction.
I found activity lagging quite early as WA3NUF, K1TEO and others have
mentioned. I went looking at the Moon at 2345 UT, just 45 minutes after
the Sprint began here on the East Coast. I got two contacts and grids in
fifteen minutes. Then I went back to terrestrial tries. I wonder if that
was a mistake? It probably was, as I worked nine stations in the next
15 minutes. With condx so poor, I'll bet many quit early, and once they
are gone, they are gone! I was keeping tabs on ON4KST and HB9Q Chats and
wonder if that is another mistake. I missed VE3ZV, who was active,
because he was not on the chat page, and I was not CQing in all the
directions that I should have been. What is the thinking there? Are CQs
to sparse directions worth it, or a waste of time? I suspect CQing is
very valuable and I don't do it enough.
Early on, I had a frantic call on SSB from W8ZN. I answered but never
heard him return. Eventually, I went to CQing on CW and did work Terry,
but signals were watery and almost auroral sounding. I noted the same on
a few other stations when my beam was not bore sighted on them. I tried
with WA3EOQ and results were similar and way down from last week and the
typical strengths I am used to. He was easily 3 dB worse on Tuesday
night when we worked. The W8ZN and WA3EOQ QSOs were on CW. The only
other really distant attempt with anyone that I could manage, was with
N8LRG in Ohio. We always try on Q65 as CW is not possible under dead
band condx. Phil runs a single 10 element yagi and some good power, We
worked a few times over the winter and have a pretty good success rate
over the path. This time, the results were about typical with levels at
-25 to -27. N8LRG is at 615 miles. I did not try tropo with K3SK in
FM07 (575 miles). I found him via the Moon and signals are usually much
better in that direction.
I know that I missed a lot by taking the time to work EME, but I did
scratch up some good grids. DO33, EN44, EM13, and DM65. I heard but did
not work EM84. I did get K9MRI and K3SK via EME also for EN70 and FM07
and six grids total. Still, I missed much terrestrial time and a few
grids I am sure. It is a juggling act. I am not sure who was on in grids
that I missed. FN51, FN13, FN03, FN43, FN44, FN10, and FN21 plus VE3ZV
in EN92. What else did I miss. My take away from last night is that I
need to CQ more in those directions that are off the beaten path but
that have a chance of making a contact. Places like Montreal and Ottawa,
all of Western NY and VE3. I really need to exercise my rotator more
often and make noise. I am hoping to improve.
73
Dave K1WHS
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