[VHFcontesting] Why are no VE1s on 222?

[Zack Widup]

I'll bet that most of us who are on the band use homebrewed equipment. I've
been using a "no-tune" circuit that uses printed hairpin filters for some
years. I think it was a W1VT design. I'm working on the W1GHZ 222
transverter for the FT-817 but haven't finished it yet.

73, Zack W9SZ

On Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 7:04 PM Mike Smith VE9AA <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

> Dave asked, so here's one possible explanation.
>
>
>
> Probably at one time there were 1 or 2 VE1's(Ve9's as well) on 222 but the
> reasons are likely many why there is little to none now.
>
>
>
> Equipment is more expensive in Canada as a rule and not as plentiful on the
> used market, especially out East where
>
> there are way less of us guys (especially now).  For example, I have never,
> in the last 45yrs, ever seen a used 222MHz rig or transverter at a swap
> shop
> or on our local Internet (or Telnet/Packet back in the day), swapshops.
> Never, as in not even once!
>
> (If I had, I would've bought one by now.even if only to give Dave, Bill/DY
> and Paul/BUG a Tuesday night Q, hi hi)
>
>
>
> There used to be a healthy (for our area) amount of guys on 144MHz CW and
> SSB and a few also on 6m and 70cm, but the truth of the matter is most of
> them are now SK.  When I came on the VHF CW/SSB scene around 1988 I was one
> of the youngest VHF allmode guys around(I had already been on HF CW for
> 10yrs prior to that-since 14yrs old).  Fast forward 35yrs, and I am now 59
> and all those guys who were active or mentors are long since SK. Back in
> the
> late 80's/early 90's I could count on around 12-13VE QSO's on 2m in a VHF
> contest and I could always get WA1T and sometimes K1WHS to hear us "off the
> back" so now, for me to be QRV in a VHF contest on legacy modes means
> working several Maine and NH stations for an entire weekends worth of
> work..and virtually nobody in VE1/VE9/VY2...so I simply don't bother most
> of
> the time.
>
>
>
> Even the VHF repeaters, their sysops and packet networks have mostly all
> gone silent so many don't even have FM equipment (or antennas), let alone
> all-mode gear.
>
>
>
> So it's a bit of a convoluted answer but a lot of it is the fact there just
> weren't/aren't a lot of hams here to begin with and what there were are
> largely no more, sadly. (or if they are still alive, have moved QTH..for
> example, VE9CB once very active on HF and VHF is now VE3KG, who I think is
> QRV on 222MHz from his place in Eastern Ontario.)
>
>
>
> Sorry for the long winded reply Dave !
>
> -Mike
>
>
>
> (formerly VE1MQ in FN65 late 80's/early 90's)
>
> Now VE9AA(since 1994  first FN65, then FN66 since 2004
>
>
>
> Hi Dave
>
>
>
> I was just mentioning Q65 or JT65 with W8RU, as a way to improve our range.
> Lets try something next Tuesday.  Dave, you could be in a fantastic
> position
> to develop  fantastic scores if you can tap into a few more NE contacts. (
> Bigger tower?) I know that you can work a few in Connecticut, so you are
> awfully close. You can work so many grids from your spot if there were only
> activity there.  K1RZ and K1RA have done some fantastic scores in sprints
> from the DC area.  I am on the NE edge of the activity and my antenna only
> moves from South out to the West typically. There is nothing much to work
> in
> the other direction. Many years ago there was a little activity in New
> Brunswick and Nova Scotia, but now it is empty on 144 and the higher bands.
> VE1SKY is on 144 digi modes. There is ZERO 222 activity.  KV1J gets on from
> FN44 and  K1DY is active in FN54. That is about it for routine contacts up
> NE. So the answer is to build up activity.  We all need to become 222
> preachers!  Thanks for being on 222 MHz.  Why are no VE1s on 222? The VE2s
> and VE3s are there.
>
>
>
> 73
>
>
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
>
>
> Mike, Coreen & Corey
>
> Keswick Ridge, NB
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>