[VHFcontesting] Tuesday night on 222.

[David Olean]

Hi VHFers,

Don't forget to get on the 222 MHz band this evening.  With all the 
distractions these days, it is easy to get overwhelmed by external 
factors. I have heard horror stories of some hams missing 222 night due 
to all sorts of distractions and diversions. Football games,  Gerbil 
races,  misplaced TV remotes,  and avalanches, have all been cited as 
reasons for missing 222 Night. I know it can happen, but all involved 
have recounted that 222 Night has been much more fun than those other 
activities.

So please remember to power up that 222 rig tonight and try to make a 
contact or two. If you are like Good Buddy Ron, WZ1V, you can try to 
work everybody who might have a 222 rig.  Last week WB4OMG wrote in that 
he was lurking around in EL89 on 222 and made one contact for the 
evening.  Hanging around for an evening and snagging one FT-8 contact is 
not very exciting.  To be fair, Buddy did not have much of a setup: 10 
watts and an omni loop. The 222 band is well suited to much better DX if 
a decent yagi and 100 watts are available.  But hopefully, WB4OMG can 
stir up some more activity in the area. Aim your beams toward the 
Gainesville, FL area and make some noise.  Hopefully WB4OMG can locate a 
small yagi and get in on real fun. All it takes is some commitment to be 
there for one evening for about an hour at a minimum.  In areas of high 
activity people seem to stick around for 2 to 3 hours and maybe more if 
the band is good.  I would think that Florida is prime territory for 
VHF. One look at the Hepburn map will show that. The location of the 
Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic with the Gulf Stream can provide many 
opportunities for extended contacts. Today, the entire state of Florida 
is surrounded by fantastic tropo across the water and along the coast. 
Here in the frozen North, there is Zip Zilch Nada.  In fact we are 
having a pretty good winter snow storm with snow falling all night and day.

I most likely cannot make it up to the ham shack this evening. It would 
require a long hike on snow shoes in the dark in 20 degree snowfall.  
That does not sound like very much fun, but I am playing it by ear.  
Seven inches of snow has fallen already.  VHF Action tends to start 
around 00:00 UT and CW, SSB, and FT8 are the typical modes. W5EME in LA 
gets on and tries meteor scatter as he is within rage of many of the 
midwest dxers. The secret is to monitor the ON4KST (144/432 Region 2) 
Chat page and you can get the info on who is trying what and you can 
listen in.  I find nothing more exciting than hearing a meteor burst on 
VHF.  This is a pretty slow time for meteors, but you never know what 
can or will happen.  So make a point to get on if at all possible. Yes 
it is winter. Some of us have ice encrusted antennas, and it is easy to 
not bother and go back to watch the gerbil races.  Resist the temptation 
and make some noise on 222.100 instead.

I am off on a trip soon, down South for a few weeks, so will not be QRV 
again until Tuesday March 21.  I know that a group of dedicated VHFers 
are keeping the band warm in my absence. You know who you are and thank 
you very much for your dedication.   Oh yes...Look for Aurora this evening.

73

Dave K1WHS