Since it looks like a spectrum inventory will almost certainly be undertaken,
then the most immediate action we can take to help protect our bands is to
increase activity on all bands, especially those on 222 MHz and above. To that
end, I'd like to recommend that we stop bickering about what is or is not a
valid mode, QSO, etc. In fact, let's stop all the needless in-fighting and do
whatever we can to encourage more activity on the bands.
I just purchased a new 6 Meter amp just in time for the January VHF SS. I plan
to be active as N1LF/R on all bands that I have including 6, 2, 222, 432, 902,
and 1.2 GHz. If I can borrow a transverter, I'll be on 2.3 and 10 GHz again
this contest too.
WSJT is a great way to extend the working range of your station regardless of
band conditions, and I hope that more VHF will be encouraged to use it. I'll
also be scanning the AM and CW frequencies looking for contacts as well.
And if you're not currently active in support of ARES, then I urge you to
become involved. At the end of of day, congress will be more impressed with
what we're doing in regards to EMCOMM than any other amateur activity. Look for
ways to help your local group "move up" the bands, and make great EMCOMM use of
432 and higher bands. For instance, in Alabama, we've found 222 MHz to be the
perfect band for "back door" communications between our county EMA's, State
EMA, and the National Weather Service.
222 is less congested, and isn't as prone to monitoring by the public, since
fewer scanners have this range. While it's not a guarantee of privacy, it does
help reduce the number users, and monitors, making it a better choice for
administrative conversations during an exercise or emergency.
We've had good success at encouraging more activity on 432 by sponsoring
"Simplex Exercises" during the ARRL VHF Contest weekends. We score these
events, offering certificates to the winners. Higher points are awarded for
222, 432, and 1.2 GHz FM Contacts--and it's inspired more hams locally to "beef
up" their 432 stations. It can also help your score. Meet with your Section
Emergency Coordinator (SEC) or local EC to see about sponsoring a contest like
this soon. It makes for a great marriage between ARES and weak signal DXing.
For those of us in the weak signal community, if you have an FM contest like
this in your area, then make time to support it. Come off SSB for an hour or
two and hand out some distant contacts. It's really exciting for newcomers to
work someone at a great distance on simplex, and your station can help make
that happen.
Lastly, instead of being negative and confrontational, try making something
positive happen for your favorite part of the hobby. In the past few days, my
recommendation for compromise has resulted in e-mails calling me "newb, idiot,
and even coward". I'm not offended, but others might be.
In the two years that I've been involved in VHF I've sponsored three FM simplex
contests, and given three club talks on weak signal VHF, and one program at the
Huntsville Hamfest on the same topic. With the help of Jimmy Long, W4ZRZ, I
demonstrated 10 GHz during Field Day last year too.
What have you done to attract hams to the high bands?
Hope to hear you all on the bands during SS---and anytime on WSJT.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
Alabama EMA Emergency Coordinator
for Amateur Radio-KF4LQK
NCS-SHARES NCS-047
---------------------------------------------
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
CELL: (205) 253-4867
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Real Time Updates From EMA: http://al-ares.blogspot.com/
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