I'm happy to report that efforts to increase contest activity using the
new "FM Only Category" during the January ARRL VHF Contest was a
resounding success here in Alabama.
We had two ARES groups who deployed for several hours on Saturday. One
group opened the Emergency Operations Center in Shelby County at the
EMA. Another group went "hilltopping" a local high school with an
elevated location. They deployed a 25 foot mast and directional antennas
(Arrow type Yagi's) to test their ability to operate simplex over great
distances.
One big surprise was the number of QSO's made on 440 MHz simplex. In
past attempts at involving FM operators, we had enjoyed almost no
success on 440 due to low power, poor locations, and ineffective
antennas. This year we worked nearly as many on 440 as on 2 Meters.
6 Meter FM activity here was literally nonexistent. Anyone who had Six
Meters seemed to be using a "DC to Daylight" rig and would simply switch
to SSB to make the contact. There is very little 6 Meter FM repeater
activity here, so it's not too surprising. With no E-skip during the
contact we didn't make a single contact on 6 FM.
The real treats were three contacts late on Sunday night (9 PM, one hour
before the end of the contest) when I still heard operators hanging in
there and calling CQ on 146.55 and 146.58.
I also learned of a FM simplex long range net here in Alabama that
operates on Sunday nights at 8PM. Previously, I had been unaware of it
at all. I plan to become active on that net, and try to encourage this
cadre of well equipped operators to join the fun in June. Hopefully CQ
Communications will follow suit and add an "FM Only" category to their
contest as well. It's a great way to draw in newcomers.
But if only works if weak signal operators embrace the mode, monitor
those frequencies to give out contacts, and do some outreach work in
advance of the events. ARES groups are a great place to mine for newcomers.
Thanks to everyone involved at the ARRL for this great rules change!
--
73,
*Les Rayburn, N1LF*
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114
6M VUCC #1712
Grid Pirates #222
Life Member Central States VHF
WPC4LF Popular Communications Monitor ID
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