[AK-VHF] September VHF Results

Sun Sep 9 20:22:54 EDT 2018

Brandon,

Nice report and good to have you operating as rover which adds a bit 
of excitement to the VHF Contest.

At 12:39 PM 9/9/2018, Brandon Clark wrote:
>Hello group,
>
>I really wanted to thank everyone for the support this year. The 
>contests turned out to be a ton of fun for all, as well as being 
>very practical. There's no better way to map out simplex signal 
>paths and test emergency gear than to actually go out and make it happen.
>
>Lessons Learned:
>
>_Mobile Operations_
>
>For this event I was able to get my rover set up properly with two 
>yagis on a rotator, APRSDroid using offline maps, and so forth. And 
>wouldn't you know it . . . everything worked. I always say, never 
>let reality get in the way of a cool idea!

Well this is the exception as most who operate rover or portable 
typically suffer some problems.  I drove 8,000 miles to the Upper 
Peninsula of MI this summer to try operating 10-GHz across Lake 
Superior (paths up 250 miles).  Luck would have it that the 
transverter had no RF output Thought it tested FB before the trip) so 
I only got to watch other stations "do it".  I observed S9 SSB 
signals from northwest shore of MN.  Probably 50 or more stations 
came up to work 10-GHz (I met two guys from NM who traveled over 1000 miles).

>I also think something like this could be very useful for 
>emergencies and supported events. Wayne Overbeck's (N6NB) rover 
>group developed what they call "Toolbox Stations" for vehicles. 
>http://n6nb.com/toolbox.htm. It's like a go-kit for microwave 
>contesting, but a similar idea could be developed here with a focus 
>on VHF/UHF and winlink. Imagine having quick-attach, quick-deploy, 
>mobile go kits with power, gain, and packet capability that can go 
>anywhere a truck can reach. . . . _
>_
>
>_Simplex Paths_
>
>My furthest contact from Flattop was 75 miles out to Skwentna. N7QVH 
>was out at his cabin and happened to be on the air with a very 
>strong signal. Ed, KL7UW, was also strong out in Nikiski. The 
>operating location at the corner of Alpweg and Meadow is one to keep in mind.

This just shows that its quite possible to work long distance on VHF+ 
(if there is a station located there).  I worked KL7FZ over A 200 
mile path from southern  tip of Kenai Penin to his Big Lake location 
using 35w and 3-element yagi on 2m-SSB.  It helped that I was at 3300 
feet ASL on Mt. Bede.  You can see Kodiak Is. from there.  Problem is 
getting there (I was flown up by helo for maint of my company's 
repeater equip.).

>I was able to get both BP42 and BP52 activated this time. Mike, 
>KL6M, took time away from working moonbounce to work both locations 
>on 6 M and 2 M. BP52 was 62.2 miles, and BP42 was 65.3 miles. Not 
>very surprising, except that neither Mike or I were in high 
>locations, and Mike was only using a standard vertical antenna (the 
>yagi stack was out of operation). On my end I was staring at a wall 
>of trees both times. I think there is definitely a lot more 
>potential for simplex work up there that needs to be explored.

I used the same model vertical as KL6M to work both you (on Chugach 
Trail parking lot) and KL6M on 440 using 100w.  If my 2m array's 
rotator were functional I might have doubled your DX shots.

>_Next steps_
>
>Kenai: The contests actually run through Sunday, so maybe next time 
>I'll do a Sunday run down to Homer to light up a few more grids. Or 
>maybe someone knows some mobiles in that area who could put those 
>grids on the air?

You might not be aware that Glen - AL7JX was on from Anchor Point 
(BO49) during the net and beginning of the contest.  I actually 
worked him with my antenna pointed toward Anchorage (he is off the 
back of my antenna).  So how is that done?  I have to guess its 
backscatter off the Chugach mountains above Anch.  We cannot work 
with my antenna pointed directly at him.  So mountain-bounce is very 
real effect on VHF.  Anch-Denali-Fairbanks has been done very 
often.  Use of good antennas and a little power helps.  Digital modes 
like FT8 or JT65 can make that happen with lower power/smaller antennas.

>Digital Modes: KL6M's signals were surprisingly strong S4s and S3s 
>out in BP42 and BP52. My guess is that even a modest home station in 
>Anchorage could work those grids using something like PSK31. It 
>could be useful (in many ways - not just contesting) to work on 
>building up the digital capabilities of local home stations. And it 
>would be fun too! Imagine adding a psk31-FM stop during the Tuesday 
>simplex nets.

PSK31 is digital but very much wider bandwidth than FT8 or JT65 so 
you do not get the "weak signal" improvement that those narrow band 
modes provide.

>Fairbanks: As far as I've heard, the grids north of Talkeetna remain 
>un-worked during the last two events. Ideas are starting to fly 
>around though -bouncing signals off of Denali, meteor scatter paths, 
>WSJT modes, massively high power . . . . This could end up being a 
>pretty cool project to get the south-central "brain trust" working on.
>
>Club Coordination: With every group I talk to up here I find 
>enthusiastic, supportive operators. What about getting the various 
>Alaska clubs to actively coordinate on events? There's no better way 
>to drum up interest in ham radio and bring in new members than to 
>have really fun state-wide events happening.

and do not forget that one club: "The Alaska VHF-Up Group" is devoted 
to VHF long distance, weak signal operation.  Info: https://www.qsl.net/ak-vhf/

73, Ed - KL7UW

>73,
>
>Brandon Clark, KL7BSC
>
>PS: QRZ has a few updated photos from the event.
>
>
>
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73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
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