[VHFcontesting] advice for 222 in a contest

[Gene Gabry]

BTW, even if you do get the chance to operate with a transverter, I would still go with the HT and a good antenna for FM. There are stations in this area at least who have FM capability but not SSB, so it's good for more points. You can never have enough modes going in a contest.

Gene


--- On Tue, 5/6/08, Gene Gabry <gene_n9tf at yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: Gene Gabry <gene_n9tf at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] advice for 222 in a contest
> To: "VHF contesting list" <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 6:09 PM
> 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
> > _______________________________________________
> > VHFcontesting mailing list
> > VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> >
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
> 
> 
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