[VHFcontesting] Hilltop or portable nets to stir up activity

[David Olean]

Hello Todd,
    Another idea that could be incorporated into your idea would borrow the 
theme of HF QRP foxhunts. To build activity, a rover station goes out to a 
great location, and at a certain hour calls and then everyone calls him at 
once. Maybe after each QSO, the rover jumps in frequency and then gets 
hunted again. It would be better than what we have no, which is thermal hiss 
punctuated by copious amounts of power line noise.  It would coincide with a 
scheduled net period, or maybe just before or after. It could last for one 
hour and be adjusted as time goes on depending on what happens. It adds some 
competition, adds some activity, gives people a reason to tune off 144.200, 
and gives the designated rover station much practice at working pileups. 
(rare these days for most on VHF.)
    There is a Summertime net in Central Maine that meets at 7:30 PM on 
Tuesdays. Sometimes during that time, one of the guys takes his truckwith 
144 SSB and hits rare grids in the Northwoods like FN67 or FN57. It does 
generate activity and is a lot of fun. I always have fun when I check in if 
he is out roving.

Dave K1WHS


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Todd Sprinkmann" <sprinkies at excel.net>
To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 1:53 AM
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Hilltop or portable nets to stir up activity


>   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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