[AK-VHF] Net/VHF Contest - Saturday!

[Edward R Cole]

Our regular weekly net will meet on 146.52-FM simplex at 9:00am, tomorrow.
At some point the net will QSY to 144.200 USB to be ready for the 
start of the ARRL Sept. VHF Contest which begins at 10:00am (1800z) 
and goes until 7:00pm Sunday (0300z Monday).

Most of the local contest activity will be in the first few hours of 
the contest.  Read the contest rules on the Alaska VHF-Up Group 
website: http://www.qsl.net/ak-vhf

Suggested contest calling frequencies are listed, and shown here:
6m: 50.125-USB, 50.30-FM  [See NOTE, below]
2m: 144.200-USB, 146.58-FM
1.25m:  223.50-FM
70cm: 432.200-USB, 446.00-FM
33cm: 927.5-FM
23cm: 1296.100-USB, 1294.50-FM

I will be operative on: 6m-SSB, 2m-SSB, 2m-FM, 1.25m-FM, and 70cm-SSB.

I was not able to finish installation of the new 33cm PA yesterday 
and had to raise the antenna array last night due to predicted 
windy-rainy wx for today-tomorrow.  I have my 900 preamp reinstalled 
and get 3w to the TR relay in the tower  box.  The PA bench tested at 
60w output with 2.8w drive on 927.5-MHz.

If Sunday is clear-calm-not rainy, I may lower the array to finish 
installing the 900-MHz PA and get it operative before end of the 
contest period.  I am not QRV for 1296 for the contest (unable to 
rotate dish toward Anchorage).

I will also run on 2m-eme for a short time Saturday night (10pm-2am) 
on 144.116 using digital modes if wx is not too stormy.

NOTE:
Aurora is predicted for the weekend due to recent solar flare and 
that could produce some 6m-Au conditions.  To operate on 6m-AU one 
commonly points their antenna north to reflect off the auroral 
curtains.  CW is commonly used for Au contacts due to "raspy" sound 
of signals from Au.

This is a prediction of very strong Au visible to SE AK, so it may 
provide propagation into the lower-48.  Also combined Au-Es is know 
to occur which would extend range of any DX prop.  6m CW is usually 
50.9-50.110.

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
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