[VHFcontesting] Hilltop or portable nets to stir up activity

[Zack Widup]

I don't know why that wouldn't work. I go to hilltops all the time to try
for microwave QSO's on skeds. You have the advantage of height without much
feedline losses if your feedlines are only 15 feet long.
:-)

73, Zack W9SZ


On 3/30/09, Todd Sprinkmann <sprinkies at excel.net> wrote:
>
>   KC9BQA here from EN63.  I was emailing the other night with a ham that
> checked into one of my 2 meter nets.  He came up with an idea I thought was
> just brilliant.  Since I've only been on the air since later 2003, I have
> no
> idea if this has ever been done before.
>
>   This ham is now limited to attic antennas, but he was wondering out loud
> about going out and hosting 2 meter nets from various hilltop locations.  I
> hope he ends up doing it.  I hope this email spurs others to do the same.
>
>   How does this have to do with contesting?  It would help contesting on
> many fronts.
>
>   1)  It would stir up activity in general.  More activity = more potential
> contesting interest.  Dead VHF bands are a tough sell.  To find those who
> are
> on the fence, or those who have turned off their rigs,  regular chances to
> play radio are key.
>
>   2)  By running nets from various hilltops, it would expose more guys in
> distant, out-of-the-way locations to regular, on-air activity.  Those
> stations in turn, would feel more included.  They'd also become more
> VHF-aware.  Ask guys in the sticks how tough it is to stay interested in
> VHF'ing.  They might be more inclined to stay active if there were more
> chances to play radio in general.  Not just during contests.
>
>   3)  Running nets as a portable station would be a natural opportunity to
> talk up roving.  More roving defnitely = better contests.
>
>   4)  Running hilltop/portable nets would be a great opportunity to take
> along a potential rover.  The potential rover wouldn't have to take a whole
> weekend -- just an evening -- to get a taste of how much fun it is to
> operate
> from a high, quiet place and hear lots of action.  We can never have enough
> rovers.  Recruting and encouraging them is a high priority.
>
>   5)  We're heading into better propagation and into contest season.  This
> is a natural time to "fire up" in general.
>
>   73,
>   Todd  KC9BQA  EN63ao   40 N of Milwaukee
>
>
>
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