[AK-VHF] NET: 19 Dec. - 144.200 USB

Edward R Cole kl7uw at acsalaska.net
Tue Dec 22 17:05:57 EST 2020 

Brandon,

At 10:46 AM 12/22/2020, Brandon Clark wrote:
>Hi Ed,Â
>
>I would agree with your list about 75%. I think 
>all of the numbered points are good advice, but 
>I don't think they are always necessary. My 
>experience with VHF/UHF weak signal work 
>(terrestrial, at least) is that when the signal 
>path can be made it doesn't always take a lot of gear to do it.

I agree.  I took request as one for 
recommendations.  These were not entirely 
engineering calculations but also based on 15 years experience running the net.
So if you do all five steps you will succeed in 
working me (probably 90% of the time - 
propagation varies and that is not under our control).
If you do some of the steps it will help.  The 
degree of help is also dependent on location, and local noise.


>My first "long-ish distance" VHF contact was 
>working from the desert near Fremont Peak back 
>to Lake Elsinore. That was about 125 miles, and 
>I made a few contacts with a 4-element yagi, 25 
>watts, and FM. The oath was doable, so it just 
>took a little gain and a few more watts than 
>normal. (Looking back, I think that's when I got hooked on VHF work.)Â  Â

I'm sure that those opportunities are available 
if you can get access.  Lower-48 Mountain West 
has way more forestry roads into the high places than Alaska.


>Also, sometimes you can make up for not having 
>high performance in one area by having it in 
>another area. During a September VHF contest 
>(again, back in CA) I worked from Thomas 
>Mountain out to California City, about 150 
>miles. I was using a 14 element antenna and SSB, 
>but only 5 watts transmit power (Yaesu 817). The 
>signal path was possible, so adding some gain 
>(about 13 dBd if I remember) made it work.
>
>On the other hand, if the path isn't doable then 
>no amount of gain or power will help, in my 
>experience. When I go up to Glen Alps trailhead 
>for the net I can't reach Eagle River for love 
>or money - just too many ridgelines in the way 
>and diffraction isn't working in my favor to fill in behind the hills.Â

Quite so.  When I lived in Hope the mountains 
above Rabbit Creek blocked access to the 147.30 
repeater, yet from my home in Nikiski I get up to 
S8 signals back.  As they say in real estate: 
Location-location. Also, I have no covenants or 
regulations restricting what I do.


>I guess I would conclude:
>1. You can never have too much gear, gain, 
>power, or directivity. More always helps.
>2. Never shy away from trying a path that you're 
>not sure about. Line if sight is absolutely not 
>always required at VHF. (It does help though).
>3. If the path is possible then it is often 
>surprising how little gear it takes to make the path work.Â
>
>Run what you've got and give it a try. You never 
>know what you'll be able to do until to key the mic.Â
>BrandonÂ

All true and good advice.  But then if experience 
shows its difficult then consider how to improve 
your chances (eg station).  In some cases no 
amount of improvement works; in others basic good 
engineering can do wonders. Telecom engineers spend their careers doing those.

73, Ed - KL7UW




>On Mon, Dec 21, 2020, 19:34 Edward R Cole 
><<mailto:kl7uw at acsalaska.net>kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:
>And another correction KL7CE should be AL7CE.  I think this is
>another example why using phonetic alphabet is useful.
>I am not sure if I have talked with these gentlemen, before, so calls
>are not familiar to me (as they may be to Anchorage stations).
>
>Also AL6O asked me some questions about what is needed to work out
>60+ miles (short version answer, below);
>
>1.  Antenna:  10dBi gain; very big vertical or a 8-11 element yagi
>2.  Height:  30-foot min; 50-feet is better 
>(unless you live at high elevation)
>3.  Coax:  RG8 & RG213 have high loss at 144-MHz (2.2 dB/100-foot
>means 60% gets to the antenna);  LMR-400 is 1.5 dB/100-foot  70% gets
>there); don't even think of using RG-58 (4.5 dB loss).
>4.  Power:  50w (more is nicer; I run 120w)
>5.  Preamp:  You can't work them if you can't hear them; this is the
>"secret" to weak-signal reception.  Min 0.5 dB NF, 18 dB gain
>Most preamps don't bypass in transmit so you need coax relays to
>bypass the preamp.
>
>This pretty much listed in the order of priority.
>
>My four yagi array came down in the Nov. 2nd wind storm.  I am trying
>to get my two yagis  (17.35 dBi) system for use (high SWR at this point).
>So  I am using a Cushcraft ARX-270 dual-band vertical: 11 dBi on 144;
>13 dBi on 432.  The antenna is 17-foot long, base mounted at 20-feet
>above ground.
>I live at 135 feet above sea level - 2 miles from the Inlet.
>
>73, Ed
>
>
>At 04:26 PM 12/21/2020, Edward R Cole wrote:
> >Correction K67O should be AL6O:
> >
> >At 11:21 AM 12/20/2020, Edward R Cole wrote:
> >>Net report:
> >>
> >>144.200 (using FT-736R and vertical):
> >>KL3WF - S2 (band varying over several minutes)
> >>KL4VB - NR
> >>KL7XJ - S5 (13.8 miles ESE of me near Kenai College)
> >>KL7GRM - S9 (17.4 miles south of me in Echo Lake area south of Soldotna)
> >>KL7H - S1 (new call for KL4E)
> >>KL7CA - NR
> >>KL0YOÂ  NR
> >>KL7CE - NR
> >>KL6O all by relay by KL7H
> >>KL6M heard after net
> >>
> >>223.50 (using BCM-220 and two CC 220-11 yagis):
> >>KL7H - 2bars
> >>KL7T - NR
> >>KL5T - NR
> >>KL4RP - NR
> >>224.94 Rptr -2bars
> >>
> >>Next weekend Net will be on 146.52FM
> >>
> >>73, Ed
> >>Merry Christmas
> >>
> >>At 11:32 PM 12/18/2020, Edward R Cole wrote:
> >>>The begins at 9:30am on 144.200 USB.  I also monitor 223.50 FM
> >>>Six more shopping days until Christmas!
> >>>
> >>>Hope to see you on the net tomorrow!
> >>>
> >>>73, Ed - KL7UW
> >>>Â  Â <http://www.kl7uw.com>http://www.kl7uw.com
> >>>Dubus-NA Business mail:
> >>>Â  Â <mailto:dubususa at gmail.com>dubususa at gmail.com
> >>>______________________________________________________________
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> >>
> >>73, Ed - KL7UW
> >>Â  Â <http://www.kl7uw.com>http://www.kl7uw.com
> >>Dubus-NA Business mail:
> >>Â  Â <mailto:dubususa at gmail.com>dubususa at gmail.com
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> >73, Ed - KL7UW
> >Â  Â <http://www.kl7uw.com>http://www.kl7uw.com
> >Dubus-NA Business mail:
> >Â  Â <mailto:dubususa at gmail.com>dubususa at gmail.com
> >______________________________________________________________
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>73, Ed - KL7UW
>Â  Â <http://www.kl7uw.com>http://www.kl7uw.com
>Dubus-NA Business mail:
>Â  Â <mailto:dubususa at gmail.com>dubususa at gmail.com
>
>______________________________________________________________
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>
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73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   dubususa at gmail.com

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