[VHFcontesting] 222 Activity Night

[David Olean]

Good day folks!

It hasnt been since last year that I was able to get on the 1.25 meter 
band and make a contact. My last contact was back in the old days of 
2023.  Today is Tuesday and the 1st 222 activity night of 2024, and what 
better way to have fun in the new year than to turn on those filaments 
on your old UX-202 regen and try to make a contact on 222 MHz.   I guess 
there are darn few filaments around these days to light up, but you get 
the picture. Activate those electrons and send then coursing around 
those ion doped gates.

I think I have only one filament in each of my ten, six two, 222, and 
432 stations. That filament resides in the PA tube in each amplifier on 
each band.  I made new solid state amps for six, two and 222 MHz but 
have yet to install them for permanent use.

The weather today looks gorgeous here in New England. Very little wind 
and lots of sun shine. I should also mention that a huge X5.0 Solar 
flare burped out a few days ago and the effects will be hitting us 
today.  The flare came off the approaching limb of the Sun, so most of 
it was not Earth directed, but it was big enough that may still affect 
us.  Pay attention boys and girls and be thinking about aurora tonight.  
That is reason enough to polish up on your CW skills. CW is the way to 
do it on Aurora. It also sounds pretty cool too. If you are unfamiliar 
with AU, the good headings seem to be around 285-300 degrees when 
looking westward. If you point due North, you will work VE2s or VE1s. 
Aurora is a bit like playing pool or billiards.

Anyway, I'll be on making noise on 222.100 starting at about 23:45 UT 
and hope that we can get a big group of ops to show up and make things 
interesting.  I am thrilled that I can still access the hill shack. No 
snow which is quite unusual for early January.   I can drive up in 
style!   Don't forget the ON4KST Chat page. Look for stations on CW, 
SSB, FT8, Q65 and even FM if you have it.   CU there!

Dave K1WHS