[AK-VHF] ARRL VHF Contest starts 14 Sep at 10am local time

Mon Sep 9 19:15:42 EDT 2013

Hi Ed,

Yes, indeed. In my message, I mentioned WSJT. I might better have been more specific in mentioning the meteor scatter WSJT modes of FSK441 and ISCAT-B, which are the most popular. FSK441 has been around and very effective for quite a while. ISCAT-B has also proven to be effective. 

50.260 is the meteor scatter digital calling frequency for six meters. For two meters, the calling frequency is 144.140. During contests, it's best to call CQ on the calling frequency, but use another frequency for working stations. You can indicate what frequency to use in your CQ call. Example: "CQ K7CW U7" would indicate for you to call me up 7 kilohertz, or on 50.267. I, of course, would begin transmitting on that frequency upon receiving someone's call. And I would then stay on the working frequency after the QSO to listen for other callers.

As I understand it, W7IV/KL7 has had powerline noise problems to deal with. I have managed to work him, but many others have not been successful. I don't know how active KL0RG in Ketchikan is these days, but I know he is capable of running meteor scatter on both 50 and 144. I can think of other VHFers up in or near Fairbanks. KL7NO and AL7RT come to mind immediately, as does KL8DX, who has been known to show up on six meters. 

Good luck to all in the contest!

73, Paul K7CW

________________________________
 From: Edward R Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net>
To: Paul Kiesel <k7cw at yahoo.com>; Ron <ronkeech at alaska.com>; "kl7aa at mailman.qth.net" <kl7aa at mailman.qth.net> 
Cc: "ak-wsg at googlegroups.com" <ak-wsg at googlegroups.com>; "ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net" <ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Monday, September 9, 2013 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: [AK-VHF] ARRL VHF Contest starts 14 Sep at 10am local time

Paul,

Thanks.  That is an excellent idea:

VE8EV is 764 mi and AL7RS is 592 mi, both good candidate distances for
ms.  Since 6m may not open for DX, using WSJT modes for trying
meteor scatter is a good opportunity.  I believe the calling
frequency for ms is 50.260 MHz so trying +/- 5 KHz might be good. 
This is something for doing as advanced skeds so all will know freq. and
sequence and time of attempts.  

And let's not leave out Paul, W7IV/KL7 in CO36 (Ketchikan) at 720 mi
across the Gulf of AK!.  Last time I tried 6m ms with him, I saw his
kilowatt 6m ms solid copy for over an hour!  I just did not have
enough umph with my 3-elem yagi and 125w for it to be 2-way...maybe the
6-element will make the difference?

I just received the insulators the I need to repair two broken elements
on my long-boom 6m yagi.  I have a ten-foot mast on tripod that can
be used for a temp set up (manually rotated).  I will not likely
have the tower up in time.

I can try meteor scatter on 6m with 125w or 2m with 1300w.

Let's not exclude hams in Anchorage-Fairbanks which is 350 mi
apart!  Might be close for ms but there is a mountain-bounce path
off of Mt. Mckinley that has been done (by me and others).  Use of
WSJT on that path could make this possible for many standard-size
stations.  KL7FZ made a CW qso with KL7EKB in Fairbanks on 1296 with
4w and yagi up at Chugach SP parking lot (where KL7YK will be rover) a
few years ago!  I made it with Jerry on 2m FM with 150w. 

The AK VHF-Up e-mail reflector is exactly for talking and making plans,
so what think you (everyone)?

73, Ed - KL7UW

At 09:31 AM 9/9/2013, Paul Kiesel wrote:

Good luck to all in the contest.
Let me encourage all those who have WSJT capability to set up skeds with
distant stations for meteor scatter QSOs during the contest. Working guys
like VE8EV in CP38 and AL7RS in AP65 would be pretty cool, eh?
>
>73, Paul K7CW
>AVG Contest Guy
>
>
>
>From: Edward R Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net>
>To: Ron <ronkeech at alaska.com>; kl7aa at mailman.qth.net 
>Cc: ak-wsg at googlegroups.com; ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net 
>Sent: Monday, September 9, 2013 6:16 AM
>Subject: Re: [AK-VHF] ARRL VHF Contest starts 14 Sep at 10am local
time
>
>Note:  Info about ARRL Sept. VHF Contest:
>http://www.qsl.net/a/ak-vhf//Contests/
>
>KL7UW will also be active from home station (BP40):
>50.125 USB 125w Hyagi*
>144.200 USB 150w 4 Vyagis
>146.58 FM 30w Vyagi
>223.50 FM 80w 2 Vyagis
>432.100 USB 20w Vyagi
>927.50 FM 5w Vloop-yagi**
>1296.100 USB 50w big dish CP
>*May include 6elem yagi temp install on short mast
>**contingent on installing coax relays on tower
>
>Note: NL7OW has no internet, but is aware of the contest.
>
>The Alaska VHF-Up Net will meet at 9-10am Saturday before the start 
>of the contest (144.200/146.52 and other bands as desired).
>
>At 04:42 AM 9/9/2013, Ron wrote:
>>I will be operating as a Rover again this year and look forward to 
>>logging your station in the contest.
>>
>>Starting Saturday at 10 am local time there will be folks calling CQ 
>>from 6 meters to Daylight.
>>
>>Look for Contest Stations at:
>>
>>50.110 50.125 USB or 50.300 FM
>>144.200 USB  or 146.580 FM
>>222.100 USB or 223.500 FM
>>432.100 USB or 446.000 FM
>>927.500 FM
>>1296.100 USB or 1294.500 FM
>>
>>Antenna orientation is Vertical for all but 6 meter SSB.  Since
90% 
>>of the stations in the area are using vertical antennas this just
makes sense.
>>
>>For more information see these websites:
>>
>><http://www.qsl.net/a/ak-vhf/Contests/
>http://www.qsl.net/a/ak-vhf/Contests/
>>http://www.arrl.org/september-vhf
>>
>>Contest runs from 10 am Saturday until 4 pm Sunday, with the peak of 
>>action between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.  So if you have a radio 
>>capable of these bands, even an HT will work locally.  At least
make 
>>yourself a contest contact for a few folks.  I worked HT's on FM 
>>every year while on the Hillside.  If even 25% of the Hams in 
>>Anchorage were to get active for 1 hour the local contest stations 
>>could log hundreds of contacts (VHF and UHF) and really get the 
>>attention of those hard core contest stations down in the lesser
48!
>>
>>Remember too that the KL7AA station is available for use, contact 
>><mailto:activities at kl7aa.net>activities at kl7aa.net.
>>
>>
>>Ron Keech, KL7YK
>
>73, Ed - KL7UW
>http://www.kl7uw.com
>dubususa at gmail.com
>"Kits made by KL7UW" 
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>
73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com 
dubususa at gmail.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"