[VHFcontesting] Why are no VE1s on 222?

[k3sk at buckwalter.co]

Zack,

I had to chuckle at your comment.  I currently run one of those rare Icom IC0-375A multi-modes.  I own 2 of them. 😊  But, back in the last century I started out with a Hamtronics transverter followed by a single 2C39 triode.    I was the "220 guy" on the K3HKK team out of FN10 in the 1980s.   I found a microwave modules 220 transverter and used it for many years before moving up to an FT-736R with the 220 module.   Sadly the Ft-736R does not have a usable CAT interface and is not friendly for contesting so I scoured the earth until I found the IC-375A, which, even old is a dream 222 rig.

de K3SK

-----Original Message-----
From: Zack Widup <w9sz.zack at gmail.com> 
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2023 8:53 AM
To: VHF Contesting Reflector <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Why are no VE1s on 222?

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
>
>
>
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