[VHFcontesting] Busy times during VHF contests

[Detrick Merz]

This is an underrated tactic in VHF contesting. Roving is chaotic, so using
APRS is a fantastic idea. With a bit of automation, your beacons can report
not only your location, but current band/mode/etc. Do it with something
like a Raspberry Pi and you now have a reliable time source for those
time-sensitive digital modes. Not to mention a way for your logging
software to always know what grid you're in automatically, and the ability
to let you quickly know what heading to use to aim at another station. I've
never quite understood why APRS hasn't seemed to take off for VHF roving.

-detrick
K4IZ

On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 8:44 PM <barry at k7bwh.com> wrote:

> When I'm roving, I beacon my position to everyone via APRS.
> I announce it in advance so then they can track me at http://aprs.fi/k7bwh
> to know where to point.
> I'm certain it provides a few more contacts and simplifies my driving
> duties. I can work people over and over, each time I move into a new grid
> square.
> VHF contests are great!
> Barry K7BWH
> Seattle, WA CN87us
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of
> Mark
> Spencer
> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 5:33 PM
> To: Drew Arnett <kb9fko at gmail.com>
> Cc: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] VHFcontesting Digest, Vol 204, Issue 14
>
> When roving I try to keep a radio listening to 50 MHz at all times (even if
> I can only use a whip antenna.)
>
> Mark S
> VE7AFZ
>
> mark at alignedsolutions.com
> 604 762 4099
>
> > On Dec 16, 2019, at 5:17 PM, Drew Arnett <kb9fko at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > If 6 is open, 6 is busy.  :-)  Have had some sporadic E either June or
> > January show up late say 9 or 10p local.
> >
> > Overnight seems to be empty for normal contacts.  That's why I added
> > learning WSJTX to do meteor scatter during the early morning hours.  I
> > haven't played seriously in the VHF since getting up to speed on that,
> > but I figured it would be a great way to add multipliers and to fill
> > some of that dead time.
> >
> > But for regular phone VHF+ QSOs, it's the sorts of time folks can jump
> > on the radio.  Usually pick up different folks on different days (as
> > some can't play both days) and pick up some in the evening when they
> > get a chance to play for a bit.  So figure stuff like that.  Any game
> > of interest will impact participation as well.
> >
> > I love the VHF contests.  Have fun!
> >
> > Drew
> > n7da
> >
> >> Message: 4
> >> Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:03:39 +0000 (UTC)
> >> From: Buddy Morgan <beamar at aol.com>
> >> To: VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> >> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Busy times during VHF contests
> >> Message-ID: <511910270.9195431.1576508619696 at mail.yahoo.com>
> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >>
> >> In a contest results article, in QST, some years ago, it said that more
> contacts were made in the first hour of the contest, than any other time.
> That only thing I can add: I have never made a QSO between 2300 and 0600,
> local time.
> >>
> >> Buddy WB4OMG
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> >
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