[VHFcontesting] SSB and CW in the September contest!

[Bob, W3IDT]

We - W3SO in WPA - will continue to use the convention...

SSB at the top of every EVEN UTC hour.
  CW at the top of every ODD  UTC hour.

SSB whenever there is a band opening.
If you see FT8 dBs of +anything, the band is OPEN..

We will have only 6m and 2m this contest.

Bob, w3idt
and Barry, wr3z
and Kevin, w3xox

.......
. Robert F. Teitel, W3IDT
.
. w3idt at comcast.net
. w3idt at arrl.net
........

On 9/6/2022 6:34 PM, Marshall-K5QE wrote:
> Hello to all VHF contesters....As was noted, the ARRL September VHF 
> contest is this weekend, so plan to be there.
> 
> MAYBE FT8 will get you more grids and maybe not.  If you get a good SSB 
> opening, you can easily work 100+ contacts per hour.  A fair 
> operator(that is me) can work about 150 contacts per hour, while a 
> really top notch operator can work 200+ contacts in an hour.  You will 
> never do that on FT8.  It is also true that if you make a lot more 
> contacts on SSB in an hour, you will work a lot more grids in that 
> hour.  It would be very wise for everyone on 6M to begin on SSB at the 
> first of the contest, and then go to FT8 only if 6M is "dead to SSB". 
> When it is clear that the band is "dead", then go to FT8 and work what 
> you can, but everyone should keep their ears open for a return of SSB. I 
> run a ICOM 756Pro3 for 6M--it has a feature called "Dual Watch".  I can 
> set my secondary VFO to 50.125 for SSB and the primary VFO to 50.313 for 
> FT8.  That allows me to hear if any SSB activity pops up.  A single 
> button push switches the two VFOs so that I can run SSB as long as it 
> lasts.  Another suggestion that has been made is for everyone to check 
> for an SSB opening at the top and bottom of the hour.  If you can't do 
> Dual Watch, that seems like a reasonable suggestion to me.
> 
> When 6M is "dead to SSB", I will be on FT8 or meteor scatter(MSK144) 
> later at night.  Don't dismiss meteor scatter at night.  It is a mode 
> that will reliably put 20-30 grids in the logs over the evening hours. 
> Use PingJockey to coordinate schedules and to post your CQ frequencies 
> so everyone can find you.
> 
> GL to everyone in the contest....73 Marshall K5QE
> 
> On 9/6/2022 8:39 PM, David Olean wrote:
>> I would agree with Gerry. I hope to be lurking around in the Sept 
>> Contest and will be on 222 & 432 CW and SSB.  I could get on six 
>> meters but it is almost all FT8, so I am inclined to let it be. Too 
>> bad because the four seven element yagis and the 3CX3000A7 work so 
>> well.  It was a killer setup!
>>
>> The cost of a portable setup for me is not trivial, with diesel fuel 
>> at over $5 per gallon, so I do not plan a full time operation at all. 
>> Look for me on 222 and 432 on CW or SSB. I still do not have my 144 
>> yagis running yet. I did manage to get the tower for it started. I 
>> plopped a Rohn 45 section on the concrete !  Maybe I can prop a 144 
>> yagi in a tree for the weekend?
>>
>> My plan is to be analog only, but I sure like to use meteor scatter. 
>> It is a lot more fun than FT8 and is an effective way to spend late 
>> evenings and very early mornings.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Dave K1WHS
>>
>> On 9/6/2022 1:01 PM, Gerry Hull wrote:
>>> It seems to be a failing battle, but I'd love to make some SSB and CW 
>>> QSOs
>>> using traditional SSB and CW.
>>>
>>> Yes, yes, FT8 gets you more grids.
>>>
>>> But how fun is it?
>>>
>>> I'll be on 2m mostly at W2SZ, FN32jp at 3491 ASL, running 1500w to some
>>> very-long-boom
>>> yagis.  We can work OH on an average day on SSB/CW tropo, and if any
>>> enhancement we
>>> can do a lot better.
>>>
>>> Yah, we will be on FT8 as well.   However, I know a lot of you love the
>>> traditional analog modes
>>> as well.   Plus, it takes like 5 seconds to make an SSB QSO!
>>>
>>> Look for me 144.170 +/-.   I'm happy to take skeds for other bands, 
>>> as we
>>> are on DC-Daylight
>>> as usual.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Gerry W1VE/VE1RM
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