[VHFcontesting] New to VHF/UHF Contesting: Next Steps

[Dan Evans]

It all depends on your goals for contesting.

Personally, I agree with Mike, Duffey, and the rest.  At this point your
best investment would be to pick up an all mode rig and reposition those
yagis.  This change alone would likely quadruple the amount of contacts you
will work, with a huge bump in score.

There's nothing wrong with FM only contesting.  I generally pick up a dozen
or so contacts every contest on FM.  But, even if you disregard the extended
range of SSB and CW, there are still very few FM stations active during
contests.  So your return on investment is always going to be limited.  I
think if you want to stick to FM only, your best bet would be more bands.
For the June contest, 6 meters is a NECESITY.  It's often difficult to find
contacts on the higher bands in June due to everyone working sporadic E on
6.  Being within range of large population centers would make bands like 900
Mhz and 1200, helpful as well.  After adding more bands, then I would look
at maximizing the size of the yagis.   Bigger is better, but in a Rover /
portable setup like yours, you will have to determine how much you can
safely handle.  Adding amps would be a good next step, but it also adds a
lot of complexity, most notably a huge increase in the power that must be
supplied.  Batteries / generator / and such.

Best of luck, and whatever you choose, have fun!!

73
Dan

-- 
K9ZF 
Secretary, Clark County Amateur Radio Club,
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 
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-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf
Of Mike (KA5CVH) Urich
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 2:14 PM
To: James Duffey
Cc: VHF Contesting Reflector
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] New to VHF/UHF Contesting: Next Steps

On Thu, Mar 31, 2016 at 12:19 PM, James Duffey <jamesduffey at comcast.net>
wrote:

probably go a long ways towards getting a used DC to daylight rig like
an IC-706MKIIg.

Mike adds

That and used FT-100's, FT-857's & even the postage stamp display
FT-897. All which will get you on 50/144/430 all mode for not much
more than one amp and you have FM too.

-- 
Mike Urich KA5CVH
http://ka5cvh.com

100 watts and a wire.
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