[VHFcontesting] 222 comments

[David Olean]

Hi Mike

Well, you could work K1DY, N1BUG. N1JEZ, WZ1V, K1WHS, K1FMS, and K1TEO.  
WA1MBA is in FN51 and an over water path so he is in a prime spot as is 
WA1NLG.  My only stipulation in providing this system is that the op has 
to get on for some of the 222 Nights.  I am building a transverter that 
will be phase locked, and a 500 watt amplifier.  It has a 28 MHz IF.  
Al, W9KXI has offered to supply a 16 element yagi. I probably have a 75 
ft run of 7/8" heliax that I will donate as well.

I have a slightly different view.   In my humble opinion, you have to 
stick your neck out in an effort to accomplish something. It is 
missionary work. A station on 222 MHz in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia 
would be a shot in the arm for hams in the northeast. I need to find 
someone who is willing to operate on 222 MHz for just one night a 
week.   The 222 MHz band has enjoyed a renaissance in activity by just a 
few amateurs getting on the air and making noise on 222.  Terry W8ZN is 
saying that he sees a big increase in 222 MHz antenna sales.  I have to 
hand it to the diehards in the hinterlands. They get on every tuesday 
and the change in the band is remarkable. W5EME. AJ6T, AA9MY, K9MRI, 
N1GC in NC, and K7ND and a sizable crew in the PNW have been 
instrumental in attracting more activity.  THere are many others. I have 
passed along 16 222 MHz solid state amplifiers  to rare states, 
including mostly 1500 watt units plus a few 500 watt units. These solid 
state amps can make a difference. W0VB is using his in Wyoming and 
passing out QSOs on meteor scatter and EME right now. I worked him on 
his moon rise. It was an easy contact. There is an article in the 
October QST about this amplifier project.

Looking at the equation of how many stations you will work is not the 
proper way to analyze this. Rather,  we should be contributing to any 
plan that helps VHF activity and alerts the FCC and others that our 
bands are being used.  I  would really like to find a warm body with a 
beating heart in the Maritimes.  The path to Nova Scotia is over water 
to the entire East Coast.  When tropo is present, it is a great place to 
be. It is sad that no one is there.  VE1SKY worked some tropo on 144 
during the Sunday evening part of the Sept Contest.    Bernie, VE1UT in 
Yarmouth was a local here ALL THE TIME.

I will be finishing up the transverter this Fall as winter approaches. 
The amplifier is all tested. I have the Bodnar GPS reference oscillator. 
I hope we can find a home for it this winter. I can even deliver it to 
the New Brunswick border.

73

Dave K1WHS

On 9/19/2024 5:06 PM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
> Dave, K1WHS said:
>
>   
>
> A look at the missed grids is very disappointing. To my NE I only nabbed
> FN54 and 53 with K1DY and K1HC.  To my SW I missed FN24, FN23, FN21,
> FN15,FN14, FN11, FN10, FN02, FN01, FN00, & FM28 among others.  Throw in the
> empty grids to my NE and there were about 30+ grids easily available with
> any station who would go there.  I am hoping to help improve things by
> sending a complete 222 MHz station to some deserving VE1 amateur. The
> problem is that no one wants it up there. I am still looking.
>
>   
>
>   
>
> de VE9AA FN66
>
>   
>
> I've communicated with Dave re: same a few times but just so y'all are
> aware:
>
> We're not ungrateful up here.  Even if it were FREE , delivered and someone
> installed the 222 yagi on my tower, on 222 night
>
> I *MIGHT* work 2, maybe 3 people.
>
>   
>
> Activity in the Maritimes was never "great" (maybe work 10-12 guys over a
> whole weekend on 2m) but it's now practically nil, so with FT8 being the
> nail in the coffin, I and many other have simply given up, moved on or
> passed away.
>
>   
>
> I put it to you all.  If you would work 3 people on 222 night (MAX) or even
> 4 people on 2 meters on an entire VHF contest weekend, would YOU continue?
>
>   
>
> Mike VE9AA FN66
>
> Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada
>
>   
>
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