[VHFcontesting] Trends in VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operations

Sun Feb 9 14:59:51 EST 2014

I don't know.. I agree with what both George and Les are saying.. I 
think it depends on how you look at 'Your Ideas of the Hobby'..and what 
'You Want to Do' !  I have invested a 'Lot' of money over the years in 
VHF/UHF..(considering 1296, 2.3, etc..in the future)  And I live in a 
'Virtual Black Hole' of VHF(non FM) and Up activity ! When I was first 
licensed in '84.. I asked the OT'rs in the local club about 2M SSB.. 'No 
One uses SSB on 2M was their Response' !   Did not deter me (much) back 
then..now when those OT'rs that are left hear I have 300W on 2M.. there 
'Aghast' as to why anyone would need that much power on 2M !
Luckily..there are a few around, Still.. that 'know what I am 
doing'..and explain it to them !
I got my Ham Ticket as it was called the 'Amateur Radio Operators 
Experimental Service' !
So..that's what I do.. 'Experiment' !  I am 'Envious' of the East and 
West Coasters during VHF/UHF Contests..as my closest 2M SSB Op's are 
like 300mi away !  Sure.. my 'cost per QSO' is still probably pretty 
high..which would deter 'most Op's from trying it.. but it's what 'I 
Like to Do' ! Can I convince 'More' into the same..probably not ! So I 
will continue my 'Experimental Service'..and see what is 'next on the 
list' ! I was told a few years back..'keep looking Lunar'..you will Luck 
Out !  And I did ! After that..it was 'now, what's next on the agenda' ? 
I did that once..whats next ! I 'Play Radio'..its my Hobby..I Love 
It..(she may have a different opinion !) If more and more keep 
disappearing from the bands..I don't know..(even Less for me to Work' 
!)  I am sure the Manufacturers go by 'What Sells', etc..! You would 
think 'One of them' would jump back into the 'Multi-Mode' Rigs..back in 
the time..the 736-R, IC-275, 375,475, 575, 1275.. etc. , made a 'Young 
Ham Drool' ! Pretty limited now..although 'much better stuff' on the 
limited market now !
I guess it comes down to..'Do I Sell Out..and Take a Loss'..or 'Ride Out 
the Bubble' !  I am 'Keeping My Home..no matter what ever happens'..and 
Rigs, Amps, Ant's..'Stay As Well' ! 73
Jerry
VE6CPP
DN39or

On 2/9/2014 12:24 PM, GeorgeF wrote:
> Why I have given up the hobby, maybe some people can learn from those 
> who hung-it-up before there is no one left to turn off the lights......
>
> Many of you know or have worked me in the contests (KI4FIA EL99mc). I 
> was very active on all bands from 160 meter to 1296 MHz. I loved CW, I 
> loved contesting, I loved DXing and I loved CW & SSB on 2 meters and 
> above.
>
> For the last few years of my VHF/UHF contesting I noticed a huge 
> decline in activity.  During times of no contesting 144.200 was as 
> silent as a radio working a dummy load!  I tried to get on email lists 
> and promote VHF+ SSB/CW, my emails were meet with nothing but the same 
> silence I heard on 144.200.
>
> I was, am, no longer, really doesn't matter a member of a famous VHF+ 
> club FLWSS.  When I would ask questions on their group it was rare I 
> would get an answer.  I know it wasn't just me because I've seen other 
> ask radio related questions and were meant with the same silence. The 
> funny thing is that if someone was to send a test email they'll get 
> several replies, if someone wants to talk about a new logo they'll get 
> several replies, if someone cracks a stupid joke the flood gates open 
> wide with tons of replies.  Seems like everyone wants to talk about 
> non-radio related topics while the radio related questions are meant 
> with less responce (if any at all). And I'll never forget the joker on 
> that list who sent me an FU email when I happened to mention that 1 
> VHF contest I was going to work the contest on CW only just for the 
> fun of it.  I said I would work split mode for those without a cw 
> keyer.  WOW did I get a response. 1 member sent me a FU letter about 
> how dare you letter since I mentioned the word CW.  Oh, yeah he really 
> did use the FU this and FU that in his email....
>
> Another thing that I really didn't care for in the VHF+ area of the 
> hobby was you sit days and days listening to 144.200, you finally hear 
> a faint signal, first in weeks, then before you get a chance to work 
> him, he'll work someone else.  This isn't a bad thing, I don't mind 
> waiting my turn.  BUT THEN they'll start running the bands 
> (220,432,etc).  Then you never hear them again. That is really 
> upsetting during a VHF+ contest when there is very little activity. I 
> know of several people in Florida who gave up the VHF+ part of the 
> hobby because of the "run the band" practice.
>
> There isn't 1 think that caused me to quit, it was a combination of 
> all of the above and a few more.
>
> I have sold all my equipment I used on the VHF+ bands before everybody 
> quits the hobby and my equipment would become worthless. I even sold 
> off most of my HF stuff.  Here is a picture of my shack before I 
> started selling:
> http://milaircomms.com/shack.html  Today I am down to my CW Key, 
> IC-756 Pro III and all my scanners. Actually have a few more scanners 
> now as I've returned to what got me into the radio hobby. That is 
> monitoring Military Aircraft Communications.  A lot more activity on 
> the MilAir UHF bands than the Ham Radio VHF+ bands! My ham license is 
> set to expire in about a month.  Seriously don't think I'll renew.
>
> Just thought I would share the reasons why I quit the hobby and maybe 
> some one can learn from them....
> George - KI4FIA
> www.MilAirComms.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 2/9/2014 12:35, Les Rayburn wrote:
>> K5QE selling off microwave gear and focusing on limited 
>> multi-operator contesting? I can't help but wonder if this is another 
>> bellwether of how weak signal operation on VHF/UHF bands are on the 
>> decline. My personal experience is very limited, with less than six 
>> years on the high bands. But I have studied the history of weak 
>> signal VHF/UHF operation and believe there is genuine cause for concern.
>>
>> In our local area, the morning nets that were common just a few years 
>> ago have faded away. The calling frequencies can be monitored for 
>> hours or even days without so much as a QSO. Contest activity, 
>> especially during the Sprints and January ARRL Contest is in decline 
>> too. Contacts above 432 MHz are difficult and 222 isn't much better.
>>
>> It seems to be a chicken and the egg situation--where the lack of 
>> activity makes it harder for stations to justify the expense and 
>> effort in maintaining microwave bands. And since there are fewer 
>> large stations operating microwave, it's harder for rovers to justify 
>> investment in these bands as well. The transition to digital TV as 
>> killed off most amateur television operation, and cell phones have 
>> cut into the usage of repeaters. Many in my area are unoccupied 
>> entirely.
>>
>> The explosion of "DC to Daylight" rigs have failed to dramatically 
>> increase participation in weak signal operation. New classes and 
>> categories have met with only limited success. Efforts of local 
>> amateurs, such as the "205 Group" have had some success, but they are 
>> difficult to sustain, especially when they are so heavily tied to the 
>> efforts of one or two individuals.
>>
>> Two areas that have shown growth are operation on the Magic Band. Six 
>> Meter operation has grown considerably in the past few years, 
>> especially with more EME activity on this band than ever before. 
>> Another area that seems to have momentum is ARES and Emergency 
>> Communications operation, including the growth of simplex nets.
>>
>> But it's clear that something needs to be done to help protect our 
>> frequency allocations, and expand the pool of weak signal operators. 
>> I wonder if other VHF operators share my concerns, and have 
>> suggestions on how to reverse the situation?
>>
>> Some ideas that have potential:
>>
>> 1.) A renewed effort by the ARRL to expand and promote the VHF-UHF 
>> Century Club (VUCC) Award. Elevating the prestige of this award among 
>> all amateurs, and enticing more HF operators to "move up" the bands 
>> has the greatest potential to increase our ranks.
>>
>> 2.) SDR Technology. A single SDR transceiver that could cover 50 MHz 
>> to 1296 MHz could be a real game changer. Especially if "linked" to a 
>> series of modular PA amps that could provide useable power levels of 
>> 20 watts or more could rapidly increase operation on bands like 222 
>> and 902 were transverters are currently required.
>>
>> It would also greatly simplify station design and maintenance. It's 
>> doubtful that so called "appliance operators" will ever be attracted 
>> to the bands above 432, but we do need to simply entry into this part 
>> of the hobby. I've discovered that transverters are very intimidating 
>> to those who are new to this game.
>>
>> 3.) The China Syndrome. If manufacturers such as Wouxun, Baofeng, 
>> etc. could be contacted and encouraged to develop low cost rigs that 
>> included weak signal modes like USB and CW, that could have a major 
>> impact as well. I believe that many hams would love to try out 2 
>> Meter SSB but don't want to spend $600 to do so. They also don't want 
>> to buy an older single band rig that may not work well, or be 
>> impossible to get repaired.
>>
>> But I believe that they would spend $250-$300 for a dual band rig 
>> that offered USB/FM/CW.
>>
>> If they offered rigs for the more obscure bands like 222, 902, and 
>> 1296, I think those would be very popular as well. Lots of market 
>> factors at work here too...since most of Asia doesn't have access to 
>> 222, but manufacturing costs have gotten low enough to make the 
>> growing US market alone viable. Anyone have an inside contact at one 
>> of these companies?
>>
>>
>>
>
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