[VHFcontesting] Working K5QE in the Jan VHF contest.....

[Marshall-K5QE]

Hello to all our friends in the Meteor Scatter / WSJT world from the 
K5QE contest team....K5QE will be operating in the ARRL January VHF 
Contest and would really appreciate any contacts that we can make via 
digital meteor scatter or EME for that "rare" grid.  The contest begins 
1900 UTC Saturday and ends 0400 UTC Monday (the weekend of Jan 15, 16, 
and 17).  For those of us still on local time, that is 1PM Central Time 
on Saturday to 10PM CST Sunday night.

NOTICE:  Normally, we operate 6M, 2M, 222, and 432.  This contest, we 
will operate 6M, 2M, 432, and 1296.  Our 1296 operation will be EME 
only, since right now, we don't have any 1296 tropo antennas.

For those stations that are outside our normal range, I invite you to 
try to work us on 6M, or 2M, using digital meteor scatter.

It is rare to get an Es opening in Jan, but it can happen for short 
periods(30min or an hour).  IF that happens, try to get on SSB as 
quickly as you notice the opening.  You can make a LOT more contacts on 
SSB in a given time than you can on FT8.

Especially on 6M, we will operate FT8 when conditions are good for that 
mode.  Please remember that everyone MUST be using WSJT-X v2.1.0 or 
newer.  We will use the NA Contest Mode for meteors and FT8 on all 
bands.  Even though FT8 is all the rage nowadays, SSB is much more 
efficient if signals are good. Hence, we will try to check for Es at the 
top and bottom of every hour.  If we find an opening, we will stay on 
SSB until the opening fades.

On 6M, we will be operating WSJT-X MSK144 digital meteor scatter on 
50.265MHz, grids, using the NA contest mode.  We will begin 6M meteor 
scatter operations at 0100Z Sunday = 7:00PM CST Sat Night.  If thing are 
slow, we may call CQ K5QE on 50.260MHz(our national watering hole for 
meteors on 6M).  If we are calling CQ towards the NE, we will be on 
First Sequence.  If we are calling towards the West or NW, we will be on 
Second Sequence.  Remember the rule is WESTERNMOST STATION GOES FIRST.

This is a good opportunity for smaller stations to get a DX contact on 
6M, because the chances of an Es opening late at night are nil.  Please 
give us a try on 6M meteor scatter.  We run 1KW output on 6M meteor 
scatter with fairly large antennas.

On 2M, we will be operating WSJT-X MSK144 digital meteor scatter on 
144.142MHz, grids, SH=ON using the NA contest mode. On meteors, we will 
call CQ  144.150MHz(the national watering hole for 2M meteors).  We will 
probably use 144.142MHz for schedules, as usual.

On 2M, we normally operate EME if the moon is up.  This contest, we have 
two moon rise times, so check with us on PingJockey to see if we are 
running meteors or EME.  If there is no activity on EME, we can switch 
to 2M meteors and operate 2M digital meteor scatter.  After 7AM CST = 
1300Z, we will resume normal tropo operations.

We will be on normal sequence(see above).  Again, remember that the 
contest requires exchanging GRIDS.  We run a stacked pair of 17el M2's 
at 160ft and 1KW output on 2M MSK.

On 6M, 2M we will cease digital operations at 7AM CST(=1300Z) on Sunday 
morning and revert to normal tropo type operations.  We will be watching 
the PingJockey reflector whenever we are doing digital meteor scatter 
and the N0UK EME-1 reflector(2M) or the HB9Q reflector whenever the moon 
is up for us.  The reflectors are a wonderful resource, so feel free to 
use them liberally. The new ARRL rules allow us to make schedules on 
PingJockey or the the other reflectors, so don't be shy about chatting 
with us there.  Using the reflector, there is no reason for us to tie up 
50.260MHz or 144.150MHz, just tell us to look directly on 50.265 or 
144.142.  NOTE:  NO contact information can be exchanged on the reflector.

For specific schedules, you can call the contest station at 
409-787-3831.  We can also run FT8 if conditions are favorable. Just 
contact us on PingJockey or call us to set up a sched.

Thank you in advance for spending some time to work us in the contest.

73 Marshall K5QE, EM31cj
www.k5qe.com
East Texas
Phone at the contest shack is 409-787-3831