[VHFcontesting] [222Activity] FREE 222MHz Antennas

[Dave Olean]

Along those lines of getting more activity, I have scrounged up 8 good 
water cooled TV station amps that will put out 1500 watts  24 hours a 
day on 222 MHz.  The units are 50 volt with BLf278 X6. I am hoping to 
get more info on them and convert them to "hamster ready" this winter.  
rather than air cooling I have to come up with a water cooling system. I 
have located a good pump but am looking for more components to make them 
semi turnkey operation. If anyone has leads for stations in rare states 
like WV etc. speak up.  I will be looking for homes for the amplifiers.  
  WE still have a long way to go to make 222 MHz "mainstream".  I also 
have been talking with NC1I and he is offering his portable EME setup so 
it can be available for road trips.  I am 80 years old and should not be 
playing with heavy toys and over exerting myself, so I am looking for 
helpers.  Currently we are set up for 432 and 1.2 GHz with nicely 
working EME setups and KWs for each band. I can easily add a 222 station 
in that mix to allow operation in a rare state in the NE. Maybe we could 
pull off a tri band WV road trip. I would need a bigger truck to pull 
the trailer and a few helpers to accomplish such a task. The trailer has 
the antenna mount and will carry the gear plus222,  432, and the 1.2 GHz 
10 ft dish.  Maybe a club could provide assistance as a club project. 
The Packrats went to South America with a killer 432 setup.  West 
Virginia is a bit simpler than Columbia South America!   just a thought.

Dave K1WHS

On 8/28/2025 8:22 PM, David R Buckwalter via VHFcontesting wrote:
>
> We can always hope for KY or WV to become active, but I’m not going to 
> hold my breath.  I think WV only has 3 hams and KY maybe 6. 😊
>
> *From:*222Activity at groups.io <222Activity at groups.io> *On Behalf Of 
> *Jay, N1AV via groups.io
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 28, 2025 6:41 PM
> *To:* ai7rogerroger at gmail.com
> *Cc:* K3SK at buckwalter.co; Contesting VHF 
> <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>; 222Activity at groups.io
> *Subject:* Re: [222Activity] FREE 222MHz Antennas
>
> It would be great to get some station on 222 EME KY or WV.   Most 
> generous off Dave.
>
> -Jay N1AV
>
>
>
>     On Aug 28, 2025, at 10:49, Roger - W7TZ via groups.io
>     <ai7rogerroger=gmail.com at groups.io> wrote:
>
>     
>
>     That is amazingly generous!
>
>
>     73, Roger
>
>     W7TZ
>     CN83ia
>
>     On Thu, Aug 28, 2025 at 7:26 AM Dave Buckwalter - K3SK via
>     groups.io <http://groups.io> <k3sk=buckwalter.co at groups.io> wrote:
>
>         Free to good home - 4 homebrew 12 element dual polarization
>         222MHz band LFAs.
>
>         Prefer giving them to someone with 222 multi-mode capability
>         as these antennas were designed and built for the weak signal
>         and EME portion of the band (222.1MHz). They have 13 ft booms
>         and unless you have ladder racks on you truck trailer some
>         disassembly is required. Removing the vertical elements these
>         antennas can be stacked on top of each other for easy
>         transport. They can also be used horizontal polarization only
>         by removing the vertical elements.
>
>         Now pay attention !!I am only going to say this once. These
>         antennas require a 1:1 current choke on each feed. That's 8
>         chokes if both polarizations are used. You are welcome to
>         provide your own chokes or, I have 8 current chokes that were
>         built specifically for 1KW at 222MHz. Material cost for these
>         was $20 per choke. I will include the chokes with the free
>         antennas for $15 each choke. The chokes are not FREE. If you
>         take all 8 chokes, I'll knock another $20, for a total cost of
>         $100 for the 8 of them.
>
>         The antennas must be picked up in Farmville VA. No delivery or
>         shipping is available.
>
>         FYI - They work. I have 36 states confirmed on the 222 band
>         using these antennas.
>
>         Message me if you are interested.
>
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