[VHFcontesting] 222 MHz update.

[David Olean]

I will be in the shack for the next 222 Activity Night. That is unless 
the shack blows away. We just got a tornado warning. The weather is 
really horrible here with heavy rains every few days. Anyway, my trip 
South has been put on hold, so I will be here for 222 MHz night on July 
18.  I spent part of Saturday re wiring the 222 setup and have my 222 
MHz solid state amp in line.  This amplifier is the cousin of the one 
that is in use by Good Buddy Ron, WZ1V.  It will run 500 watts on 
battery power.

My plan was to operate in the contest this weekend. I had my contests 
mixed up and thought it was the 222 & Up contest. So I loaded up N1MM 
and checked it all out. I replaced a bad intermittent phono jack on the 
amp. I even went and bought some seltzer and had it all in a cooler. I 
had a very nice glass mug for the seltzer.  I even picked out a great 
book to read should activity not be heavy.  (Geology of the New 
Hampshire White Mountains)  So with all this prep, I heard nothing on 
222, then figured out that this was the CQ WWVHF weekend!! What a dope!  
I did check 50 MHz and heard lots of beeping on 50.313, and almost 
nothing on 50.1 or the low end SSB. I called some CW CQs and got no takers.

The 222 & Up contest will be a good time to try some EME on 222 and 
432.  Moonrise for me is Saturday night at 10:30 PM. So when all the 
locals quit and go QRT, the Moon will rise across the country and be 
available all night.  I can track the Moon on 222, but only have my 
moonset on 432.  So circle those dates on your calendar. AUGUST 5 & 
AUGUST 6.    And don't forget 222 Activity Night on July 18. I will be 
there along with my mug and some seltzer.

Dave K1WHS