[VHFcontesting] 222 in the ARRL VHF contests....

[Marshall-K5QE]

Hello to everyone interested in 222MHz.

In preparation for the ARRL September contest, we have been building a 
large 222 EME array.  We have been building it for about 2 
years...AAAAAaaaaaaRGH!!

Well, we finished our big 222MHz EME antenna today.  The new antenna is 
8 x 222XP40 for a total of 320el in H-pol and in V-pol.  The antenna 
looks great and seems to be working very well.  However, we have no 
222MHz signals here(I live out in the sticks), so we are not positive 
that the system can actually hear anything.  We will be working on that 
tomorrow morning. For US and Canada stations, please try us on 222 if 
you have anything running.  Even if you don't have EL on 222, you can 
work us on your rising or setting moon.  We will be running 222 EME on 
222.080MHz Second Sequence with 1000W out.  Look for us on the N0UK 
EME-1 page.

I believe that a lot of 222MHz contacts can be made with the better VHF 
stations by using your normal tropo station and your rising or setting 
moon.  Obviously, stations to the east of us will be looking for us on 
your setting moon(actually about 45min before your setting moon), while 
stations to the west of us will be looking for us at your rising moon 
and for about 45min afterwards.  How else are you going to work EM31 on 
222??

The new ARRL rules allow Assistance to all stations.  That means that 
you can look at the various Internet resources and you can post to them 
too.  We will be using the N0UK EME-1 page whenever we are on EME, so 
you can coordinate with us there.  This is a very valuable resource, so 
use it often.  Remember, NO CONTACT DETAILS can be posted.

Of course, we will be on 2M EME on 144.142MHz and 432.080MHz both Second 
sequence as usual.  Please work us there if you can.

With our big array, we should be able to work a lot of stations around 
the US and Canada.  But you have to believe that we can do it and you 
have to actually try....

We will be looking hard for 222 EME contacts, so give us a try.

73 Marshall K5QE