[VHFcontesting] If it's Tuesday, it must be 222 Nite.

[Dave Olean]

Hello boys and girls,

December 9th promises to be an exciting evening on 222 MHz all across 
the land. The 222 MHz Activity Committee has determined that all who 
participate this evening, and make at least one contact, are eligible 
and entered into a prize drawing for a free weekend stay at the 
exclusive spa and hot springs at George & Ed's mud pits and geyser at 
fabulous St. Elmo in Colorado.  Just get on the air and make a contact 
pr two and you might find yourself soaking in the luxurious mud pits at 
George *& Ed's located at 10,7540 ft  up the side of the un named 
mountain just south of Mount Antero in Colorado. Lean to tents are 
provided and three meals a day are included including cans of Spam that 
=can be heated in the mud pits while you are also soaking up the heat.

I am hoping to be on starting at about 23:45 UT or so, and looking for 
contacts around 222.100 MHz. SSB and CW is advised along with FT8 on 
222.174.   Lets see if we can get a good supply of activity going this 
evening.  With the winter weather, it seems that any enhanced conditions 
have gone. I noticed that the W3CCX beacon actually went into the noise 
the last time I tried tuning it in. The good news is that it is not 
snowing or freezing rain yet, so things are pretty good for December.  
  Don't forget the ON4Kst Chat page ( 
http://www.on4kst.com/chat/start.php )  Just pick the 144/432 Region 2 
Chat page and see who all is on 222 looking for contacts.   Monitoring 
the chat page is a good way to find people if you are not in an area of 
high activity on 222. Just let people know you are there and set up a 
sked or two.   It has been quite cold here. The last time I got on the 
temp was 2F that morning and my diesel generator really complained at 
trying to start. I had to try two times before it caught and started. I 
am sure that tonight will be difficult as well, but I am hoping that the 
shack will warm up quickly. The shack is not heated so I turn on 
electric heat when the genset kicks in.

So make a few contacts and then hold your breath to see who wins the 
nice weekend at 10,740 ft in a lean to tent, and soaking in a nice 145 
degree F mud pit. The Spam-in-a-can dinners will be the frosting on that 
cake for sure.  George and Ed are great hosts from what I hear.  The 
geyser is currently out of order.

73

Dave K1WHS