[VHFcontesting] 223.5 worth having

[Tim Coad]

Here in the SF Bay area, I work more people on 223.5 FM than 1296 SSB...
even though FM contacts are totally extinct on the other bands.

1296 is not worth the bang for the buck when compared to using 223.5 FM.
Look at the difference: Buy a 1296 transverter, buy an LNA preamp, buy very
expensive low loss coax and a high gain yagi (or build all this stuff if you
have copious amounts of spare time and you are talented)... vs buy a used
ADI FM box, and put up a ground-plane vertical as high as you can get it.

There may be a lot of hams with 1296, but they seem to have little interest
in getting on for contests.


Tim - NU6S

On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 10:08 AM, Ellen Rugowski <
ellenjoanne2003 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Hmmm, I've been thinking of picking up an old 220 FM rig for chump change
> for the reasons you just listed.  Thanks for the comments.
>
> --- On Sun, 5/31/09, crawfish at surfmore.net <crawfish at surfmore.net> wrote:
>
>
> From: crawfish at surfmore.net <crawfish at surfmore.net>
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] 223.5 worth having
> To: "Bill Burgess" <ve3cru at rac.ca>
> Cc: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009, 1:40 PM
>
>
> I have a Midland 13-509(10 watts out) that I listen to 223.5 with. Clegg
> had a similar rig, the FM-76. Cheap and easy way to get on 1 1/4 meters.
>                                                  Joe W4AAB
>
> > To respond to earlier comments on the benefit of having 223.5, I offer
> the
> > following:
> >
> > At least 3 years ago, I obtained an old Icom IC-3 HT for 223.5 with
> > frequency changing wheels on the top.  Along with this unit was a Mirage
> > C22A mini brick amp, 20W, including preamp for $50 Canadian in total.
> One
> > of the best investments per dollar that I have ever made.  I also have a
> > Pryme PR-222 HT 5W that is left on 223.5 as a spare or loaner.
> >
> > Running barefoot on the rubber ducky, I scratched out a qso from FN13ax
> > across Lake Ontario to the Rochester area.  Then hooked it to the K1FO 16
> > elmt beam with 6 feet of coax and we were both strong, with no amp.
> >
> > The HT - amp - K1FO combo has seen qso's from EN94xa to W2SZ FN32jp, on
> > 223.5, plus FN04xa to K1TEO FN31 full quieting on 222.200 horizontal
> > polarization, and more.  Takes only 30 seconds to flip from V to H.
> >
> > If you don't have 223 FM you may be missing some good qso's, points and
> > mults.  Watch for bargain gear for sale.  Alinco has a DR-235TG 25 watt
> > mobile rig and a DJ-296 5W HT.  There may be older rigs available that I
> > am not familiar with.
> >
> > Hope to work you on 223.5 and yes this includes MO base stations not yet
> > equipped.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Bill   VE3CRU
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> >
>
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