[VHFcontesting] VE7AFZ/R June VHF contest update

[Mark Spencer]

Hi:

I finally generated and uploaded my log to the ARRL.  It seems I made a total of 66 QSO's (mostly from CO80 on Saturday.)  I expect my score will be in the range of 1500 to 1600 points once the ARRL reviews the logs.

Thanks all for the QSO's.

Approx 2/3 of the qso's were via digital modes (mostly FT8 along with a few MSK144 contacts.)  MSK144 on 50 MHz was quite productive late on Saturday afternoon from CO80 where I seemed to catch some meteors or perhaps some Es ?   FT8 on 50 MHz was challenging at times as the pass band on the calling frequency was very crowded and it seems many stations that I could hear could not hear me.  (I was running up to three hundred watts into 3 elements.) Calling CQ seemed to work a bit better as that way stations that could hear me called me back but I worry about contributing to the crowded pass band with my CQ calls, and my preference when roving during a contest is to mostly listen.  I should probably have spent more time on 50 MHz MSK144 where things seemed much less crowded.

FT8 on 144 MHz seemed much less crowded to me I was pleased with the results.

I will ponder the 50 MHz situation on FT8 a bit more and see if I can come up with a better plan prior to the September contest.

73
Mark S
VE7AFZ


mark at alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099