[222mhz] 222 Mhz Spring (Rookie View)

[Les Rayburn]

First of all, a sincere comment of thanks to the entire VHF community for all the help I've been given to date. Since getting bitten by the bug in late December, I've learned a lot. 

Rushed home after having to work late to complete a Directive Systems 8 element beam for the contest. Completed measuring the T-Match bar and making the last solder connections with only five minutes to go until the start of the contest. My son, Trey who is a chef stopped by just in time to help me put it into the attic (Home Owner Association). After being the son of a ham for years, he barely batted an eye at his crazy father running around like a madman. 

We literally threw about 30 feet of 9913 down to the radio. I had purchased a Yaesu FT-736R in January and a 222 module a few weeks ago. Literally had never turned it on! A quick smoke check and some anxious moments figuring out how to switch bands and I was off. Only 10 minutes late. 

Not much activity here until 8:00PM when local powerhouse W4ZRZ hit the band. This was followed by a call from K4XR, who is a well known DX'er but I hadn't worked before at all. Just as we started a QSO, I had to leave in order to work a sked on FM simplex. I had arranged to meet two locals on 223.100 to test the radio and antenna. Worked them (Thanks to Ron, N4PHP and Terry) and then jumped back to SSB. 

Heard N4QWZ trying to call me on SSB after working W4ZRZ and K4XR. He seemed to be able to read me pretty easily, but my patchwork set up couldn't pull him out of the noise. He switched to CW and I was trying to respond. Inserted a straight key into the 736R...no joy. A quick look at the instruction manual revealed that it needed a stereo plug. Switched to paddles...still no joy! 

By the time, I rewired the key, the brief period of enhancement was gone. After that, a perfectly quite band with no signals at all to work. 

Final tally. 4 QSO's in two grids. Total score of "8". But I had a complete blast! As a longtime HF contester, I'm still amazed at the differences. For instance, Jim Long, W4ZRZ moved off frequency with me for a long QSO. During which he offered good advice on feedlines, a new transverter I had ordered, and suggestions on who to look for in each grid around us. This long and patient chat had to hurt his score, but he seemed more interested in helping me progress than his totals. Good luck finding that on HF. 

This coming weekend will be filled with the installation of mast mounted pre-amps, hardline, and amps. Goal is to have decent signals on all bands from six meters to 1296. I'll never rival the big guns like Jim Long, or K4XR, but do hope to be able to give out some multipliers for those patient souls who've helped me so much. 

The evening ended with a loud call on 144.200. I heard in just prior to the end of the Sprint, even though I was wearing headphones on the other rig. It was Jim, K4AAF. Jim was my first ever SSB contact on VHF in December. I thanked him for again for giving me the bug...and my wife chimed in her appreciation for our depleted savings accounts! 

What fun! 

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF





Les Rayburn, director
High Noon Film
100 Centerview Drive Suite 111
Birmingham, AL 35216-3748 
205.824.8930
205.824.8960 fax
205.253.4867 cell