[VHFcontesting] Getting the FMers out for the ARRL VHF

[Jim Smith]

I belong to a club (VECTOR) here in Vancouver, B.C. which consists 
mostly of FM repeater guys and 2 died in the wool HF contesters.  I like 
to encourage the club members to get involved in a wider range of ham 
activities so I invite them to my QTH for SSB HF contests.  It occurred 
to me that they might find the VHF test of some interest, even if they 
only have FM and are vertically polarized.

So I put together an info package which consists of two parts.  One is 
an e-mail teaser which was distributed to all members.  The other is a 
page on the club web site which contains the info that I think a 
contesting newbie would need.  The e-mail refers to the URL of the info 
page.  I have suggested they send their logs to me and I will process 
them into proper format for submission to ARRL.  The idea being to make 
it as painless as possible for them and still get their logs entered, 
even if it's only 2 Qs.

I sent the same info that's here to other clubs in my area to use if 
they wish.

It occurred to me that some of you might want to do the same for clubs 
in your area.  Rather than reinvent the wheel, here's what I ended up 
sending out.  You may make whatever use of it that you wish EXCEPT make 
your own arrangements for processing newbie logs in your area.  In 
particular, don't have them sent to me!

Below is the e-mail announcement sent to other clubs.  It refers to a 
web page where the details are found.  Go ahead and use it, making the 
appropriate changes.  Go to the URL listed in the e-mail, copy the 
contents, make the appropriate changes and post it to your own or club 
web site.  In particular, the appropriate frequencies may be very 
different in your area.  Distribute the e-mail and watch the FM contacts 
roll in on the weekend.

Let's hope something comes of all this.

73 de Jim Smith    VE7FO  

Here's the e-mail ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I've 
xxxxx ed out my phone number

<<<< Last revision - Sunday, September 07, 2003 23:06 >>>>

Here's an operating event you can participate in with your own 2m/70cm 
gear from your own home (if you have other VHF/UHF capability, so much 
the better).  It is the ARRL VHF QSO Party.  The idea is to make as many 
contacts with different stations as you can on any or all bands 50 MHz 
and above.  i.e. 6 metres right up through microwave and higher.  While 
the serious operators use SSB and CW they are always happy to make FM 
simplex contacts too (no repeaters or IRLP).  If you're interested in 
seeing how far you can reach with your gear this is the absolute best 
time to find out as there are lots of other folks trying to do the same 
in this event.  You may be surprised by how far you can reach.  Last 
June a number of contacts were made on 2m simplex between Washington 
state and just north of the Mexican border.  Admittedly, this wasn't 
done by FM HTs with rubber duckies but it shows that 2m isn't just for 
around town.  Oh, and some folks did the same thing on 220 MHz.

Lack of contest experience is not an issue.  You either listen on the 
appropriate simplex frequencies or call CQ.  If you make a contact you 
exchange a tiny amount of information, log it, and do it again.  Kind of 
like Field Day.  Contacts aren't so rapid that you need sophisticated 
logging systems or skills.  Even if your contacts are restricted to your 
immediate area you will get a much better idea of what coverage you have 
should the repeaters suddenly become unavailable during an emergency.  
The more people that participate the better understanding we all get of 
our simplex capability.

The event runs from 11 am PDST, Saturday, Sep 13 to 8 pm PDST, Sunday, 
Sep 14.

For details of frequencies, what to say, etc. see 
http://www.qsl.net/ve7vct/arrlvhftest.html

While VE7FO's offer to process logs was originally made to VECTOR 
members only, he has agreed to process any VE7 log provided that it 
contains fewer than 20 contacts.

If you have any questions the web page doesn't answer for you give Jim, 
VE7FO a call at (xxx) xxx-xxxx