[VHFcontesting] VHF sked alternative

[aa4zz at aol.com]

I've often thought a 75 meter (or 40 meter) frequency would make sense for rover announcements and it would not violate the "non amateur" rule.

73 Paul AA4ZZ


-----Original Message-----
From: k4gun at comcast.net
To: VHF contesting list <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Sent: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 4:50 pm
Subject: [VHFcontesting] VHF sked alternative



In examining how I did in the recently completed VHF contest, I keep hearing a 
similar comment from people.  There were a lot of people looking for me when I 
was in a couple of rare grids, but I never heard them.  One was a specific sked 
and the others were just "I'll find you" appointments.  I'm still unsure what 
happened.  Either my antennas were not up to the task or we all just barely 
missed each other.  More than likely, it was a combination of both of those.  

The obvious cure for the poor antennas is to improve the antenna system.  That's 
in the works.  The other issue seems to have a simple solution as well.  During 
the contest, I would listen and spin the dial for a while and then call CQ on 
clear frequencies near other large stations.  If I was calling at the same time 
other stations were calling for me, we would never find each other.  

The obvious solution is to have a 2nd radio dedicated specifically to listening 
to a pre-determined frequency and then telling everybody you know what that 
frequency is.  If a base station finds themselves in a good pile-up at a 
scheduled time, they can just wait and call on the rover's calling frequency 
when they have a chance.  As long as the rover keeps roughly on a driving 
schedule and leaves one radio on to a specific listening frequency, all should 
be well.  

Did I just re-invent the wheel?  I've seen guys mention a listening frequency, 
but I didn't get the impression that this was on a second radio and was in liu 
of setting up skeds.  A listening only radio with a dedicated omni-directional 
antenna would seem to be a good idea.  Even if the rover got ahead or behind 
schedule, they would likely be within the beamwidth of stations looking for 
them.  Meanwhile, they are free to switch bands, call or listen anywhere they 
like without missing any people looking specifically for them.

This is one of those little tid-bits that really struck me in examining how 
things went for this contest.  Like I said, I realize this is probably something 
pretty common, but I just seem to have missed it.

Steve
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