[UK-CONTEST] VHF beams

[Ray James]

--- On Sat, 9/5/09, Gordon Paterson <gordon.paterson at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

> Verticals.
> Seriously, I can't see that catching on. Although, it
> does give me a thought that it may well be worth putting a
> 2nd beam, vertically polarised lower down mast to maybe
> hoover up some extra Q's from V stations possible
> calling me. But, V2V is just too limited IMO. I see the
> problem being that the range is so short comparitively, that
> it's all the locals working each other? How popular
> would that be? I've always veered away from working FM
> contest Q's as I feel a bit pushy interrupting an
> ongoing QSO and asking for points from people who clearly
> aren't in the contest. 


Not quite my experience Gordon.
Using the 4m Trophy Contest as an example. It includes squares and RSGB Postal Codes as multipliers and having a vertical beam(s) was a very important strategy despite 4m having even less FM simplex channels available than we have on 2m or 70cm. From the Mull of Galloway it was possible to raise new postal code multipliers from GM, GI, GW and all the way down through to the midlands of England. Many contacts provided us with the only means of picking up a PC mult as there was nobody on SSB/CW from those locations.
A picture (top left) can be found at:

http://www.rayjames.biz/gm4cxm/id13.html 

So, when life occasionally dried up on SSB/CW it was great to have another string to the bow for making points and getting mults.
There are now probably more modified ex-pmr FM 4m radios in the UK than stations equipped with either modified HF rigs or transverters so it is not an audience to ignore.

Operating GM3HAM/p during those events for the first time was a complete eye opener and made me to think seriously how good for UKAC that format was. It was a buzz for the operators and going by the number of home or mobile FM stations who called, it was a buzz for them too!

If the CC see fit to do the same for our monthly UKAC's, the prospects are appetite whetting.    
There are likely an incredible number more FM radio's on 2m and 70cm than stations with multi-mode ability. What a market to tap into to encourage activity, educate about contesting by experience, get postal code mults where no SSB/CW activity is available and even more positives for the total cost of 2.5 hours per month per band. Obviously SSB/CW will still carry the main operational strategy for longer distance contacts. 

The strategy I used on 2m or 70cm during the 2m or 70cm Low Power Contests, which also have Postal Codes as a multiplier basis, when things got quiet on SSB/CW was to call on S20 or SU20 and announce another channel I was on and listening for replies. When that dried up I have even been known to give a quick call on a repeater or two and made the same announcement and it certainly worked!

I can assure you, activity breeds activity and the more fun we can generate by contesting, all the better for our hobby.

73 Ray GM4CXM