[VHFcontesting] 222 MHz Activity night Reminder

[K3SK at buckwalter.co]

This Tuesday 222 Activity Night was pretty decent even with the deep QSB.  I heard several more stations than I worked but each time I was engaged working someone.   On the other hand, via ON4KST I was informed a few times that I was being heard quite well but I could not hear the other station.   Most of these were quite a distance and the other station was using low power. 

This week was also a test in preparation of my 222 station for the September VHF Contest coming up 13-14 September (also ARRL EME Contest same weekend).  In the past week I have revamped my 222 station by adding a new to me 6 device Larcan that outputs over 1200 watts.  This is over 2 times the output of my old 4 device Larcan.   I also built and installed 4 new antennas to replace my LFAs.  The new antennas (homebrew) are a modified 15 element version of the K1FO yagi that I optimized for max gain and highest front to back.   Calculated gain for each antenna is 14.5db with a 40+ db front to back that virtually eliminates back lobes.  If you are behind where I am pointed, I probably won't hear you.  😊   I'll post pictures and the modeling data for the antennas on my FaceBook page later this week.   (just search for K3SK).

Here is my log for this week: 

 CALL		DIST (KM)  		FREQ			GRID		MODE		STATE
	
W4ZST	548.728		222.171500		EM84AO	Q65		GA
VA3IKE	593.469		222.171500		EN82QB	Q65		ON
WA3DRC	303.299		222.175500		FM28as	FT8		MD
K9MRI		659.089		222.175500		EN70IU	FT8		IN
WZ1V		699.544		222.175500		FN31rh	FT8		CT
WA3NUF	452.168		222.175500		FN20KE	FT8		PA
WC2K		382.007		222.103830		FM29		SSB		NJ
K1TEO		656.250		222.100100		FN31		SSB		CT
K1WHS	925.382		222.086500		FN43MJ	Q65		ME     EME
VE6TA		3187.564		222.086500		DO33GS	Q65		AB     EME
W7JW		667.363		222.086500		EN82FJ	Q65		MI     EME



Dave - K3SK
FM07 - VA



-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+k3sk=buckwalter.co at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Dave Olean
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 3:20 PM
To: newsvhf at mailman.qth.net; VHF Contesting <VHFcontesting at Contesting.com>; 222Activity at Groups.io
Subject: [VHFcontesting] 222 MHz Activity night Reminder

Yes it is Tuesday and the weather is FB. This day is worth celebrating and what better way than to get on 222 mhz and see if you can hear real ham radio signals on a real ham radio band. I am told that operating on
222 has very positive health benefits as well.  Doctor Vinnie Goombotz recommends 222 Mhz activity at least once a week, so a Tuesday night showing will satisfy that medical requirement. some benefits include better eyesight,  increase in muscle tone, and a drastic surge in mental ability.

Activity starts after dinner around 2300 ut, and can go for a few hours especially if the band is in good shape. I looked at the tropo report for today and it looks bleak.  There is basically no enhancement east of the Missusmiller river. even Florida and Georgia look bleak, so it is up to us to create our own band opening.  Don't forget to announce your presence if you are not in an activity hotbed. Many ops use ON4KST Chat
(144/432 Region 2) If people know you are on, they will try to contact you.  The Moon will be setting during the evening. it sets for me at about 0040 UT or 8:40 PM.  Beam heading is about 248 degrees. I can try a setting Moon shot if there is any interest. It is also a good time to try a meteor sked tonight. There are still large Perseid meteors around to make things interesting.  So, between the Moon and maybe a few meteors, there could still be some DX heard.

So don't forget to get on 222 tonight.  Hang out with the cool kids.

73

dave k1WHS


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