[VHFcontesting] advice for 222 in a contest

[Gene Gabry]

YIKES! Steve, that's bad news about the DEMI xverter. I ordered a low power version the same time frame and was told 6 to 8 weeks at the time of order. I called DEMI over the weekend and left a message about an update on my order, and have not gotten a reply back yet. Not good news, I'm bummed!!

It is still very worth using the HT on FM as long as you have a beam that can go horizontal. That is what I have been doing the past few years here since I sold off my last FT-736R. I am able to work everyone who has 222/223 capability. I am in EN52xg, and can usually work K2YAZ in EN74, K9KL in EN64, and K8TQK in EM89, WB9Z EN60, and a bunch others with an Alinco DR-235 @ about 25 watts and a 4 element 224WB Cushcraft horizontal at about 40'. I also have a 223 vertical at 50' on top of the mini stack here. If I can work em on 432, I can work em on 222 & 223 FM.
So I say it is worth the time to put up the 8' beam and get those extra mults!

Good luck 73 Gene N9TF
--- On Tue, 5/6/08, k4gun at comcast.net <k4gun at comcast.net> wrote:

> From: k4gun at comcast.net <k4gun at comcast.net>
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] advice for 222 in a contest
> To: "VHF contesting list" <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 4:12 PM
> I just got off the phone with DEMI and got some bad news. 
> Back in February, I ordered one of their high power 222
> transverters (60 watts out).  I told them I needed it
> before the June contest and they were not sure at the time
> if they would have it ready by then or not.  Well... they
> are now talking about 6 to 8 more weeks so it probably will
> not be here.
> 
> That leaves me with two options.  I can borrow an old
> transverter from a guy in my club.  I don't know how
> good it works but I think it only puts out about 5 watts. 
> Obviously, if I were using this as a regular piece of
> equipment, I would need an amp.  At this point, I don't
> know about how it needs to be set up in the truck or if I
> will need to buy anything else to go with it.
> 
> Alternate plan B is to use my HT on FM.  Before you say
> that's a bad idea, I already have an 8' boom
> antenna and the coax to feed it and an adapter to run to
> the HT.  Other stations would not need to switch to
> vertical antennas but would only have to switch to FM in
> order to make a contact.  
> 
> Plan B means fewer contacts.  It also means less
> complication and using equipment that I know works.  It
> essentially means I concentrate on the other bands and
> figure on 222 being a bonus for those rare times when I can
> use it.  
> 
> I'd love to hear opinions on this.  I have the antenna
> and the space on the mast to use it.  I'm just not sure
> I want to mess around with a single time use transverter
> that is of dated vintage.
> 
> Steve
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