[VHFcontesting] VHF contest tips, tricks, and techniques

Wed Jul 23 19:04:58 EDT 2014

I shut down my 2m transceiver on Sunday morning, tired of endlessly 
tuning up and down the dial for 1 or 2 contacts.  I hooked up the yagi 
to my Funcube Dongle Pro+ SDR receiver and kept an eye on 2m that way.  
What a difference!  We nabbed several of the casual 
call-a-few-CQs-then-go-mow-the-lawn types that way.  I'd hear one, 
disconnect the antenna and pass it to VE3EG (our 6m op) and call out the 
frequency.  He'd connect it to his FT-857D and make the contact.  It was 
clumsy but effective.  I'm sure we would have missed these guys because 
they weren't "regulars" and didn't stay around after working us if no 
one else called them.

This convinced me that SDR is the way to go in a VHF contest...you can 
monitor a big chunk of the band and miss nothing.  I am hoping to begin 
roving in the September contest and will be using my Flex-1500 on 6m and 
432 (with an Elecraft XV432 transverter, just ordered) and an old 
Kenwood TR-9130 on 2m.

The Funcube Dongle Pro+ is no slouch on 2m.  The Funcube kept pace with 
the 857D with the same antenna, and its built-in 2m bandpass filter kept 
everything clean even when he was transmitting on 6m at 100W.  The 
antennas were on the same mast, about 3 ft apart.

73,

Ken Alexander
VE3HLS

On 2014-07-23 4:04 PM, Chet S wrote:
> I use the N1MM logger. In addition to the colored prompts that show up in
> the main window to signal you that you need someone's contact or grid on
> another band, there is a multiplier window that will display a map of the
> grids worked on the band that you are currently using. That keeps you from
> missing an adjacent grid, likely because you had not aimed that way enough.
> Often then CQing that way will get it and others in that direction.
>
> And, in the grid map window, a right button mouse click on a grid square
> will display a list of calls worked in that grid.
>
> Chet, N8RA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf
> Of Donald M. Ross via VHFcontesting
> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 1:54 PM
> To: compmtn at saber.net; vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] VHF contest tips, tricks, and techniques
>
> I used to keep a spreadsheet with the grid in the left column and callsigns
> in the right columns so I knew when I've mined the normal ops in a grid and
> am less likely to find someone there.  I'm in the process of rebuilding that
> list after a more than 10 year absence.
>
> Don, NL7CO
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf
> Of Comp Mtn
> Sent: 23 July, 2014 12:44
> To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] VHF contest tips, tricks, and techniques
>
>
> Only big problem is that----Many of the ops on ssb do not know the
> code   !!!   They then lose the contact as you do.  OR they dont like
> the cw on """SSB"""  frequency.  Oh well.
>
> I find participating in nets, letting folks know in ADVANCE is best.
> Plus calling calling calling, and listen listen listen. Zack is correct in
> answering or calling on cw.  I am 125 miles north west of San Francisco and
> many dont even point in this direction.  Move the antennas around to other
> areas  and call and listen.
>
> Listen to other contacts and you can quite regularly pick up some
> information on calls and locations  to be checked on for weak or distant
> stations.
>
> Have a good summer.
>
> Len  WA6KLK  CM89
>
>
> On 7/23/2014 9:53 AM, Zack Widup wrote:
>> I've found through years of experience as a Single-Op (QRP) Portable
>> that if you are running 10 watts or less, or if you do not have the
>> best antennas, calling CQ in CW will allow you to be heard by more
>> distant stations. Also, answering an SSB station in CW if he doesn't
>> hear you on SSB or can't quite copy you is often successful. In most
>> VHF contests it's OK to do cross-mode QSO's. And of course, call CQ
>> for a bit pointed in one direction, then nudge your beam 30 or 45
>> degrees and call some more, keeping at it while covering all areas of
>> the
> compass.
>> 73, Zack W9SZ
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 23, 2014 at 11:36 AM, Dan Evans <dan.evans at insightbb.com>
> wrote:
>>> Call CQ.    Call a lot.  Use a voice keyer, it makes the contest much
> more
>>> enjoyable.  Many casual operators will turn on the rig, tune across
>>> the band a few times, hear nothing and turn off the rig...  Keeping
>>> the voice keyer
>>> going adds activity.    Just don't do it on the call frequency :-)
>>>
>>>
>>> I didn't get to play in the CQ-VHF.  A couple of hours worth of
>>> pre-contest antenna work ended up taking all weekend!  But, I now
>>> have an A50-6s, and a 2M5WL up at home.  And I replaced a couple of
>>> band
> runs of feedline.
>>> 73
>>> Dan
>>>
>>> --
>>> K9ZF
>>> Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el The
>>> once and future K9ZF /R no budget Rover
>>>    ***QRP-l #1269
>>> Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
>>> <http://www.qsl.net/n9rla>
>>> List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books Ask me how to join
>>> the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On
>>> Behalf Of Chet S
>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 8:31 PM
>>> To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
>>> Subject: [VHFcontesting] VHF contest tips, tricks, and techniques
>>>
>>> OK, now that we had the annual blow off of steam about the rules,
>>> anyone have any "secrets" they wish to share about VHF CONTESTING??
>>>
>>> I'll start.
>>>
>>> I operate in the low power category. I have two 6M antennas that are
>>> connected to an A/B/Both switch. When calling CQ, I usually use both
>>> so as to illuminate more azimuth; which is important for a CONTEST.
>>> Then I'll switch the switch to hear and  favor a weak answer. But if
>>> conditions are highly favoring one direction, say, SW, I will put all
>>> the power that way during CQing for a while.
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Chet, N8RA
>>>
>>>
>>>
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