[VHFcontesting] A few Comments on improving "The World Above 50 MHz"

[Tim Marek via VHFcontesting]

A few comments from one who used to write a monthly national VHF column... "The Weak Signal News" for CQ VHF magazine...
(1) The current QST columnist does a damn fine job with what he has to work with and the deadline forced upon him. Unless you have had to create something worthwhile while under that kind pressure, you really have no idea how hard it is! 

(2) He is only a mirror of what your interested in, and what folks have sent him. Have you sent him anything.... ever...?
(3) Some of the suggestions here are great but require alot of effort to make happen... Are you willing to help him out by doing the legwork and sending in your data/findings?
(4) Have any of you sent in anything documenting your VHF+ activities to him so he has live feedback of what folks are doing? Rare things like ES/MS on 222/432Mhz, FAI Contacts on 144 MHz, etc... 

(5) If you want more coverage above 6 meters, tell him what your doing, your results, why you enjoy it, How others can get started, etc.... Have you considered submitting your own article about whats important to you?

(6) He is also limited by the amount of column inches they reserve for him in the magazine. Something he has to fight for in the predominantly HF fixated ARRL mindset. Dropping a note to QST's Editor In Chief/Publisher showing support for more detailed VHF/UHF/Microwave coverage would defiantly be a good idea!
(7) Finally, if you want to see an article published on something you care about... Get off your butt, do the research, write it, and submit it for publication! That is exactly how I got started back in the early 90's. I was angry no one was covering the activity in the Western States so I started feeding a whole page of activity reports to a regional VHF newsletter. The publisher soon began including my submissions "as is" into his monthly mailings and the "NC7K Report" was born.  That lead to being invited to speak at VHF conventions (which I did for years) and eventually the gig at CQ VHF.
The point being... Send in reports of all your activity, no matter how small... It gives him a larger picture whats going on nationwide.... Maybe if we flood him with enough info on a regular basis the league might develop a constantly updating website of timely VHF info... Stranger things have happened...
Remember, YOU are the source of change.... Time to stand up and move this part of the hobby forward.... 

73s from North Texas de Tim - K7XC - EM12ur... sk
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler…Albert Einstein
      From: Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com>
 To: John Geiger <af5cc at fidmail.com> 
Cc: vhf contesting <vhfcontesting at contesting.com> 
 Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2015 11:08 PM
 Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] The World Above 50 MHz
   
John raises a good point. I'm not suggesting that the World Above 50 MHz 
abandon reports of band openings and distant contacts, but with 12 bites 
of the apple each year, I'd love to see the content expanded. Also, I'd 
love to see more coverage of bands other than 6 Meters. All VHF 
operators have a sweet spot for the Magic Band, self-included, and I 
know it's the most popular among HF operators looking to move up, but 
it's one band out of dozens that we have available.

Nearly every issue seems filled with more "news" of an exotic TP opening 
on, you guessed it, 6 Meters.

I'd love to see stories on grid expeditions, getting started on 222, 
backyard EME, satellite operation, etc. Regardless, I'm grateful for the 
space that QST devotes to VHF operating, and hope that the column 
continues for a century to come.
--
73, Les Rayburn, N1LF
121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114
EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965
Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society
Central States VHF Society Life Member
Six Club #2484
Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

On 1/11/2015 8:25 PM, John Geiger wrote:
> One positive think about QST carrying reports of band openings is that 
> it might catch the attention on the non-weak signal VHF operator, and 
> show them what is possible.  If they don't subscribe to the VHF email 
> lists (and I assume most don't) they might never get beyond the belief 
> that VHF and above is line of sight, FM, and repeaters. Most local 
> clubs will promote that idea amongst new hams, so any way we can get 
> the message out as to what VHF is really about is definitely beneficial.
>
> 73 John AF5CC
> 6 meter addict with no plans for rehab!