[VHFcontesting] 222 MHz Activity Night Summary
David Olean
k1whs at metrocast.net
Wed May 24 19:59:24 EDT 2023
Hello VHF hounds,
I survived another 222 MHz activty night. It was downright rough with
all the activity on the band, I had no time to read the manual for the
new Solar charge controller that just arrived on my doorstep. Contact
total was 26 and that was without a QSO with the missing WA3EOQ! I also
did not run across Cornell, KO4YC. Cornell is very active on Tuesday
nights. Another AWOL station was VE3DS in "Tahranna". Throw in a few
WNY ops who did not show, and last night could have been a "30"
evening. That sounds like a lot of activity. Imagine if we could have
20 QSOs in a night across the country. Wouldn't that be fun for all
involved. I doubt that we could do that in the Rocky Mountain states, as
the population density is rather sparse. Still there should be hotbeds
of activity spread around that part of the country. Denver comes to
mind. That whole area from Colorado Springs up past Denver to Fort
Collins should be humming with 222 activity. All it takes is for one or
two missionaries to start it up.
Here is my log from last night. What does not show is a one way
reception report from K3SK while using Q65. Dave copied me multiple
times via that route over a 575 mile path, but I did not copy anything
save for two meteor bursts. I am looking into possible incorrect
settings on my end. I am pretty sure I was using that computer before
and made Q65 contacts, but, hey, I am old and decrepit, and a mere shell
of my former self. I probably screwed up something.
FN43 MUMBO JUMBO LOG
DATE TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE
PRO.REMARKS QRB (miles)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05/23/2023 23:00 K2RMX FN20XP 57 57 220 MHzSSB
TR 247
05/23/2023 23:02 KV1J FN44RC 57 57 220 MHzSSB
TR 53
05/23/2023 23:04 WB2VVV FN41CR 57 57 220 MHzSSB
TR 123
05/23/2023 23:06 N1JEZ FN44AR 57 57 220 MHzSSB
TR 105
05/23/2023 23:07 WA1MBA FN51AS 59 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 123
05/23/2023 23:16 K1PXE FN31KE 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 188
05/23/2023 23:17 WA1MBA FN51AS 59 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 123
05/23/2023 23:19 W1XR FM19HX 57 220 MHzSSB
TR 406
05/23/2023 23:22 WA3NUF FN20KE 57 220 MHzSSB
TR 308
05/23/2023 23:23 N1GLT FN42IW 59 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 36
05/23/2023 23:48 WA1T FN43LK 59 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 5
05/23/2023 23:50 W1AUV FN32II 559 599 220 MHzCW
TR 138
05/23/2023 23:52 K2AEP FN32OW 559 599 220 MHzCW
TR 98
05/23/2023 23:55 N2SLO FN30MM 559 220 MHzSSB
TR 224
05/24/2023 00:01 WZ1V FN31RH 559 220 MHzSSB
TR 165
05/24/2023 00:09 W1AIM FN34UJ 59 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 96
05/24/2023 00:13 K1MAP FN32SB 59 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 119
05/24/2023 00:14 N3RG FM29KI 59 220
MHzSSB TR 353
05/24/2023 00:16 WB2RVX FM29MT 57 57 220 MHzSSB
TR 322
05/24/2023 00:23 N1LHP FN42KM 59 59 220 MHzSSB
TR 61
05/24/2023 00:37 VE3FN FN25DK 57 599 220 MHz CW
TR 273
05/24/2023 00:42 W9KXI FN12NE 55 55 220 MHzSSB
TR 311
05/24/2023 00:49 WA2LTM FN20MM 55 220 MHzSSB
TR 286
05/24/2023 00:53 W2TMA FN30HV 55 220 MHzSSB
TR 212
05/24/2023 00:57 N1DPM FN32QB 55 220 MHzSSB
TR 125
05/24/2023 01:18 VE3KG FN24AV 55 220 MHz CW
TR 269
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of QSO listed: 26
So N1JEZ and W1AIM were active from Vermont. They were making some great
contacts. N1JEZ and W1XR had a fantastic tropo peak as Jim peaked at S9
in Vermont. That is an over 400 mile contact. Don't tell anyone, but 222
is a fantastic band. I found that conditions seemed a bit above the norm
on many paths. The tropo peaks were definitely there. WA1MBA was very
loud here.
I saw many sked attempts from midwest and SE stations. That is great to
see. The known activity in these areas has to be an encouragement to the
un initiated in those areas. Send your reports into CQ and QST.
SO today, I am looking over the new charge controller. I am liking it as
it was designed to control Lithium LiFePO4 batteries. It was also
designed for connectivity. It has USB, RS232, IEEE485, internet
address, etc. It also has an option where you can see remotely any
faults that might transpire with external battery banks, or you can turn
on or off up to three devices with relay contacts via an internet
connection. That might come in handy for remote operation. The downside
is that it wasn't cheap. Upside is this USA outfit is known for
producing trouble free products. I have had an older version since about
2012 with never a glitch or failure.
So next Tuesday is May 31 and then it is June 7th. The next weekend
after we have the June ARRL VHF Contest. You have two weeks to get your
ducks in order. I am hoping to have something running on 144 by then.
Be sure to evaluate ur stations on 222 these next two Tuesdays. For me,
Thursday will be scrap Rohn 45 takedown day (Yay!!) followed by new Rohn
45 put up day hopefully. I need to rock drill a hole for a new grounding
point for the 144 tower as the old one was snapped off by a falling
white pine. I also need to drill four 2" holes for assembling some
solar panel frame supports. Having your shack on a rocky ledge does
present problems and opportunities. (You spend $$ on rock drills, but
save money, and your poor back, on hauling and mixing cement!!)
73
Dave K1WHS
More information about the VHFcontesting
mailing list