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

[James Duffey]

John - Welcome to the world of VHF contesting and ham radio!

You discovered how much fun roving can be in the last contest, but to be frank, FM operation only just scratches the surface of what can be done in a contest. I looked at your Photobucket album and you have an impressive rover. 

I will divide my comments about improving your operation into two parts, one for continuing with FM and one for transitioning to weak signal CW/SSB operation.

No matter which direction you go, the first thing to do is to establish contacts with other VHF/UHF contesters in your area. You can do that by joining a VHF/UHF specific club in your area or a contest club in your area that includes an active VHF/UHF contingent. Most clubs are looking for contributors to the club scores in club competition and are eager to make contact with newbies. You can also identify active VHF/UHF contesters by looking on this list or searching the QST VHF contest results for active stations in your area.

Most areas have simplex frequencies where guys hang out 24/7, find out where these are in your area and give a call.  

After you have made contact with these local operators, about two weeks before the contest, send an e-mail letting them know where you will be going and when you will be there. If you are going to more than one grid put in times for each grid. If you are going to places where you have cell phone coverage include your phone number so that people can contact you. Look into using APRS, either direct on 2M, which may cause interference, depending on how it is implemented, or by a cellphone app like RoverStatus. Let people know where you are, including frequency, by sending a text to known operators. Visit nets before the contest and tell people you will be on and to look for you. If there are nets during the contest check into those and  ask for QSOes. 

Adding 222MHz, even with a handie-talkie will help your score and, given the lack of 222MHz activity will make you more attractive to fixed stations.

You should be active at the end of the contest. At that point, many stations are desperate for more QSOes and call on the FM frequencies to try and scare up some activity. I know we do that.  

Rather than invest in amplifiers for FM, I suggest that you spend the money that you would have spent on the amplifiers to get a used multi-mode rig. You will get a lot more bang for the buck. A lot more.

Which brings me to the second half of my suggestions - make the transition to weak signal operation. By operating FM, you are giving away 22 dB or so over SSB. 22dB is enough to extend your range 100-200 miles, depending on direction and activity, that is another 6 to 10 grids. That is a lot of points and multipliers. 

You don’t need anything fancy to get on SSB, certainly not a KX3, transporters and amplifiers, at least to begin. You may find someone willing to loan you a rig, ask around. If you buy used amplifiers for 2M and 70cm, that will set you back $300 to $400. If you add a preamp for 432, that is probably another $50-100. You can buy a used 2M multimode transceiver for that, and probably go a long ways towards getting a used DC to daylight rig like an IC-706MKIIg. You don’t need anything fancy to get started. If you buy used, make sure everything works, as parts for old rigs can be hard to find. 

If you only have a 2M multimode, keep the FM rig, then when you make contact on 2M, move the stations to the other bands on FM, most people will gladly comply.

For June, you will need a 6M rig to be competitive. 

You should probably use horizontal antennas, even if you want to keep to FM. You can work regular FM stations OK, and the big contest stations will have  horizontal antennas so, you will be compatible with them. 

Another option is to find a rover who is looking for a driver or relief operator. You will learn a lot that way. Even finding a multop station that all take new ops is  good experience. 

I am curious, with 100 QSOes, why did you only manage 60 contest points? You can work guys who are not in the contest for points and enter a log with those QSOes. If someone doesn’t know their grid, you can tell them what it is and have them tell it to you back. A road map or atlas with grid squares marked off will help here. 

I hope that this helps. I hope someone in your area has already touched base with you. - Duffey KK6MC