[VHFcontesting] Trends in VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operating

[Jeffrey Guenther]

John,

I agree with your thoughts about the IC-718 and a HT purchase.   My best 
friend in NJ fell for that exact description and now regrets his decision. 
I think it might be one of the well known Amateur Radio Suppliers that 
recommends that combination.  Although, I hear it can be a great QRP rig??

I will be honest I fell for the HT purchase, which is collecting dust here 
in my shack, but I was smart enough to purchase an IC706MKIIG for my first 
all around rig.  Then shortly after purchased the IC746PRO, which has all 
mode capability on 2 meters.  I would love to have the IC9100, but the wife 
is not so keen on Amateur Radio expenditures in that price range.

I am not a big player by any means on 6 or 2 meters, but during the contest 
I love to give a contact and to see what I can hear.  With antennas at 10 
feet and 12 feet, not much, but it is still fun.  Our small local group 
barely supports getting on the air, never-the-less, getting on 6 or 2 meters 
SSB/CW.

It is great you have a place to express your opinions.  I believe mostly 
what I have read to be positive.  So there still maybe a great future with 
activity above 6 meters.  I for one will not be selling my gear.

Jeffrey - KA2BKG
Bel Air, MD
FM19tm

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Geiger" <af5cc at fidmail.com>
To: "Peter Laws" <plaws at plaws.net>; "vhf contesting" 
<vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 10:46 PM
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Trends in VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operating


>I have been watching this thread for a while, and thinking about my own 
>opinion as to what is going one.  As others have stated, the amount of 
>activity on VHF and UHF should be going up, as it is easier and cheaper 
>today to get on 2m and 70cm than ever before with all of the HF/VHF/UHF 
>rigs out there.  If one looks around much, they should be able to find one 
>of those for $500 or so.
>
> One idea I have for the decline has to do with the internet, but not the 
> way most people think of.  I think the problem is that many new hams turn 
> to QRZ.COM and EHAM.NET to get their elmering advice.  I don't read too 
> many of the QRZ forums, but do get on eham.net quite often so I know what 
> is talked about there, and much of it is pretty bad information.  Here are 
> some examples:
>
> 1. When a new ham asks about HF radios, they are always steered towards 
> the Icom 718.  I still don't understand the cult following for that radio. 
> I always try to steer them towards the Yaesu FT450 instead, as it is a 
> better radio overall, has many more built in features that cost more (or 
> are unavailable) on the 718, and most importantly, includes 6m.
>
> 2. New hams are told to avoid buying used equipment as you are "buying 
> someone elses problems".  Funny how I have worked 321 DXCC entities, 6m 
> WAS and WAC, VUCC on 6, 2, and satellites, and 40 states on 2m using 
> someone elses problems.  Anyways, as pointed out earlier, there is only 1 
> 2m monoband SSB rig being made right now, and I am sure most didn't even 
> know that-the MFJ 9402.  So, given that new hams are steered away from 
> used equipment, they wont be looking for an inexpensive 2m all mode rig to 
> add a band to their collection.
>
> 3. If a ham expresses interest in a HF/VHF/UHF rig, they are told instead 
> to get an HF rig and a dualband FM radio so they don't have all their eggs 
> in one basket-meaning if one breaks they have the other one to use.  It is 
> never assumed that maybe they wanted the HF/VHF/UHF rig for 2m and 70cm 
> SSB/CW.  However, it is a sad fact that probably 80% of hams with a 
> HF/VHF/UHF rig have never used the 2m/70cm side on anything other than FM.
>
> 4. When questions come up about 6m they are usually told that it is dead 
> all of the time, and you listen to static, and might get a several minute 
> opening if you get lucky.  Same thing is said about the higher bands.
>
> Time was that when a new ham had questions about something like 6m they 
> would ask at the local radio club, and would get directed to the local ham 
> who did 6 meters, so they could go to his or her shack and see it in 
> action. Now they get on the internet instead and get filled up with 
> information for someone who is a legend in their own mind, but usually has 
> no idea about what they are talking about.
>
> I think there is also the perception that you have to have large antennas 
> and towers, and big amps to do anything on 2m and above.  I have worked 40 
> states on 175 grids on 2m using 160 watts or less, and nothing larger than 
> a Cushcraft 13B2 mounted on my roof, and that includes 1 EME QSO.  I try 
> to mention my station limitations whenever sending out activity reports so 
> people know what can be done with smaller stations.
>
> We also need to find ways to rebrand outselves.  Calling ourselves "weak 
> signal operators" doesn't do anything to attract new hams.  Who wants to 
> spend money to get on something with weak signals.  Why is it when a ham 
> runs 1.5KW to 8 stacked yagis on 2m they are weak signal, but when someone 
> uses a 2 watt HT with a negative gain antenna it is not weak signal?  I 
> don't even like the term "DC to Daylight rig" because first off it is 
> inaccurate, and secondly, it seems to have a somewhat derrogotry quality 
> to it, implying that the rig is a poor compromise on all bands (new hams 
> are also told this on eham as well).  I have worked quite a few countries, 
> grids, and states on a supposedly compromised rig.
>
> If you read the QST reviews, these HF/VHF/UHF rigs are always referred to 
> as for mobile use only, or as a secondary/back up rig.  It is never 
> mentioned that they could be the primary rig in a shack, even though they 
> are in many ham's shack, including mine.  The on-line forums also believe 
> that new hams are too confused or dense to use a menu driven rig-hence the 
> call for them all to get Icom 718.
>
> If you have been to your local radio club recently, I dont mean a 
> speciality club, but the local one where new hams are likely to show up, I 
> would bet that when discussions of 2m and 70cm come up, FM and APRS are 
> mentioned over SSB by a ratio of 50 to 1 or more.  Most clubs seem to 
> think that 2m and up should only be used for emergency communcations and 
> parade chasing on 2m and APRS.
>
> I am sure that there are plenty of reasons also, but these are just a few 
> thoughts.
>
> 73 John AF5CC
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Peter Laws" <plaws at plaws.net>
> To: "vhf contesting" <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 12:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Trends in VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operating
>
>
>> On Sun, Feb 9, 2014 at 3:33 PM, Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:
>>> I've worked in advertising and marketing most of my adult life, so I 
>>> often
>>> tend to view things as marketing problems.
>>
>> They often are ...
>>
>>> The league has failed to ever make VUCC anything more than the kid 
>>> sister of
>>> DXCC. They've failed to add "variations" of the award such as 5 Band 
>>> VUCC,
>>> or "Rover VUCC" that might encourage more activity. They've failed to 
>>> offer
>>
>>
>> I'm hoping against hope that when the top hireling at HQ retires that
>> there will be a housecleaning.  I think there are too many Cycle 19
>> types there and I think it hurts the organization.  Look at their IT
>> messes, for example (BTW, adding something to LOTW in its current
>> state is NON-trivial, which is part of its problem - let's agree to
>> leave LOTW out of the discussion!).
>>
>> The award program in general needs help, IMHO.  They've made some
>> tweaks to how you apply for awards via the web and they have been
>> smart, IMHO, but there needs to be more.  There should never be a
>> reason to send cards to HQ, for example.  ALL that should be handled
>> in the field (though I suspect >80% is already).  In addition to the
>> computer-generated-and-not-always-styled-the-same paper awards, there
>> should be an "up-sell" of a hand-created certificates (on better
>> paper), maybe with a raised embossing or something.  Easy to do,
>> revenue-positive I would think (or don't do it!).  And yes, plaques,
>> as someone mentioned.
>>
>> Multiple band endorsements for VUCC is another good idea, but just
>> don't go insane with them like the WAS program - want a WAS 'phone AM
>> 15m all-Novice QRP award?  You can get it.  Well, actually you can't
>> because Novices can't use AM or any phone on 15, but you know what I
>> mean.  It's dumb, IMHO, but you can get those silly awards.  DXCC at
>> least is a little more rational with 11 bands and 5 modes.
>>
>> So yes, more emphasis on VUCC would be good.  Anyone have an "On the
>> ultra-highs" presentation in the can they'd like to share?
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!
>> _______________________________________________
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>
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