[VHFcontesting] [222Activity] FREE 222MHz Antennas

[Brian McCarthy]

It’s killing me to see these emails. I was intending to be out EME roving on multiple bands (222, 432, 902, 1296, 2304) right now. I wanted to de a northeast states rove this fall. I have 10, 5.7 & 3.4 GHz in progress.

Unfortunately, helping my parents transition from independent living into assisted living and beyond is consuming most of my “free” retirement time. They are continuing to deteriorate. I am at peace with it. I have been spending a lot of time with them, digitizing their photos and other history, and helping distill their possessions to the essentials.

My intention to rove on 2304 in August got canceled due to multiple ER visits for my mother.  I had been hoping to already have my pickup truck rover back in Georgia. It is still in Oregon parked near my LunaTruck project.

I will eventually be out EME roving. At the moment, I’m not sure it will start before spring 2026 based on the current needs and trends.  Maybe I’m being pessimistic right now. I’ve spent too much time and money getting prepared to abandon my goals.

Cheers all,
Brian
NX9O (rover eventually)

________________________________
From: 222Activity at groups.io <222Activity at groups.io> on behalf of David Olean via groups.io <k1whs=metrocast.net at groups.io>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2025 11:46:10 AM
To: k3sk at buckwalter.co <k3sk at buckwalter.co>; whereisjay at gmail.com <whereisjay at gmail.com>; ai7rogerroger at gmail.com <ai7rogerroger at gmail.com>
Cc: 'Contesting VHF' <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>; 222Activity at groups.io <222Activity at groups.io>
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] [222Activity] FREE 222MHz Antennas


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<mailto:222Activity at groups.io> <222Activity at groups.io><mailto: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<mailto:ai7rogerroger at gmail.com>
Cc: K3SK at buckwalter.co<mailto:K3SK at buckwalter.co>; Contesting VHF <vhfcontesting at contesting.com><mailto:vhfcontesting at contesting.com>; 222Activity at groups.io<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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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