[VHFcontesting] 222 Night Activity beckons

[David Olean]

Yes it is 222 Activity Night. Here in Maine the temperature is hovering 
around 34 degrees with steady rain all day. In short it is miserable. I 
am surprised it isn't snowing. The first thing I did this AM was to haul 
in some oak firewood I had on the ground up near the VHF shack. It has 
been laying there since the fall of 2021.  No wonder I was so miserable 
doing it. I got really cold and wet. I had no idea it was so cold. The 
last few days have been warmer,  in the mid to upper 40's. This morning 
was a shock. With no snow on the ground, I can indulge myself and drive 
up to the shack for all the festivities this evening. I understand that 
W9KXI is heading off to the desert southwest after tonight, so this is 
your last chance in November to hear his melodious voice (or tones). I 
am hoping to work some of our Canadian friends too. They have been 
silent of late.

If you have not participated on the regular Tuesday nights, a brief 
primer should be sufficient. We all try to get on around 222.100 plus or 
minus any QRM starting at 00:00 UT and see who can be worked on a 
Tuesday night. There are stations on from Florida, NC, GA, TN, Indiana, 
Illinois, Michigan and into the northeast. If you are located in the 
boonies with little or no activity around you, a good idea is to check 
in to the ON4KST 144/432 Region 2 Chat page. Let people know that you 
exist, and then set up a sked or two.  I try to be on a bit before 00:00 
UT making noise and looking for contacts. I was up on my tower this past 
week fixing all of the damage I caused during the EME Contest. 
Apparently, I snagged the back end of the antenna in the guy wires and 
broke one of the yagis. I would call it a Homer Simpson moment. I had 
thought I had everything in order but then I managed to destroy the 
antenna.  D'oh!

Looking at condx, it appears that the only enhancement will be in the 
lower Mississippi valley. I suspect W5EME an AJ6T will make a contact as 
a result. They have been somewhat routinely making the 460 mile path 
with only 30 watts on the TN end.  The northeast looks bleak, so QSB 
will be in order.  I am getting ready by doing push ups and rope 
climbing. I hope to see you on 222 this evening. Not much big news to 
report other than N1AV has petitioned the Governor of Arizona to have 
his grid square changed. He has worked so many stations with his now 
double in size 222 antenna that everybody has worked the grid. If he is 
awarded a new grid square, then he will become popular again.  Meteors 
are scarce this time of year. The Leonids peaked around 17 or 18 Nov but 
rates were around 1 or 2 per hour and any other showers around now are 
also in that range.  It would be fun to try an MSK sked just to see ho 
bad it can be! The sporadic meteors have similar rates in the evenings.

73

Dave K1WHS