[VHFcontesting] Tuesday 222 Activity Night plans

[David Olean]

As Tuesday approaches, I figured that it might be a good time to 
evaluate your 222 setup with an EME test. The Moon will be setting on 
Tuesday and my Moonset is at 0300 UT or 10PM in New England. If you have 
a typical 222 antenna setup, your best angle for hearing an EME signal 
is at 15 degrees and below. If you have stacked antennas, then you will 
do best below 10 degrees.  When my Moon sets here in Mumbo Jumbo land, 
it will still be up at about 5 degrees out near Rochester NY.  If you 
live down near K3SK in Southern VA,  the Moon will be also at about 5 
degrees. I am hoping that someone else promises to be on EME after the 
Moon sets here in Maine. That is one reason for this e mail.  If you 
have EME capability, and can get on then, please let us know. EME condx 
are pretty good for Tuesday.   A long single yagi and a good receiver 
should work.

I will be playing on 222 Activity Night up to about 0200 UT, but the 
next hour from 0200 to 0300 UT I will be on 222.080 onQ65B with 60 
second sequences. I will be on the 2nd sequence. This would be a good 
time to familiarize yourself with Q65 and WSJTX if you have not done so 
already. There are a few things that need to be checked.

1. Under the GENERAL TAB in the menu, be sure to check the DECODE AFTER 
EME DELAY  box. You might also check the ENABLE VHF MODES box too. It 
will come in handy at times.

2. Double check the Q65 screen after you select Q65 as your operating 
mode. It is always a good idea to look at the sequence length. Set it at 
60 seconds, and make sure you have selected sub mode "B" .  Also look at 
the F TOL box and select 500 or 1000 Hz if you are unsure of your 
frequency accuracy.  It will scan a wider area for the signals you want 
to decode. One problem I run into with WSJTX is that it changes 
frequency on me when I adjust some small parameter and I do not see it 
at first.  It is a vexing problem. The trick to avoid this is to remove 
any pre determined frequency from the drop down frequency list for WSJTX.

3. Remove a preset frequency for Q65 on the 222 MHz band. Simply select  
the SETTINGS TAB, and then select FREQUENCIES. Scroll down the list 
looking for any 222 MHz entries. If you see one for 222 MHz Q65, erase 
it.  That will eliminate the problem.

There are other shortcuts and important things to do, so if anyone has 
any more  traps that they have fallen into, be a good guy and let us all 
know how to avoid them.

So Tuesday evening promises to be another exciting evening for 222.  I 
was up on the tower a few days ago and straightened out my twisted 
antenna, so all are pointing together again and I am not as verklempt 
about it looking so bad. The weather up here in the North has been 
really fine, but some significant snow is predicted for Tuesday and 
tuesday night.  We could get 10 inches of the stuff. All this is due to 
Pete K1PXE who says it always rains or snows on Tuesday.  Thanks Pete.  
It will be enough to make things miserabobble.  Looks like another snow 
shoe event for Dave. I am trying to get some diesel fuel hauled up the 
hill today. There is still much snow and the truck gets bogged down. I 
may have to shovel parts of the hill to get the fuel up there.  More fun 
and games!!

Circle the time for Tuesday evening on the 222 band. Shine up those 
elements!!

73

Dave K1WHS