[AK-VHF] AK VHF 2022

[Brandon Clark]

Hi Ed (and group),

When it comes to adding 6 M time, I completely agree about not duplicating the Wednesday simplex net. I think the strength of the Saturday net is, as you put it, the round table format. Hams can chat, get assistance, plan activities, etc.

Maybe the key to a 6 M digital segment would be to run whatever modes the participants are interested in that day? Much like how the Saturday net will QSY to other bands depending on who shows up that day.

In my POTA activations I've begun putting RTTY and PSK31 back in the mix, using fldigi in the computer. Either of those modes would make a good "anchor" mode to try on a 6 M digital segment. be great to use for the round table format. FT8 is the most popular mode right now, but on HF I'm still finding a lot of use of other modes, like RTTY and PSK31, both of which have lots of tutorials online.

Getting set up on fldigi requires the exact same hardware as FT8. With the popularity of FT8 many hams with HF+6 rigs already have the gear they need. They would just have to install fldigi, and then that opens up tens of different modes.

Brandon

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-------- Original Message --------
On Jan 10, 2022, 19:17, Ed Cole wrote:

> More comment:
>
> In fact the Saturday net has become a 3-band net thru default:
> 2m SSB or FM
> 223.50 FM (no SSB as there are only a couple stations capable*)
> and
> 50.125 SSB (no FM as that is not a weak-signal mode which the club is
> promoting)
>
> *Note: that 927.50 FM is also a band that has very few SSB stations
> Both 222 and 900 have defaulted to single frequency/mode operation, for
> the most part
>
> Not everyone has equipment/antennas for all these but we frequently get
> check-ins on these band. I announce on 2m that I going to a either 6m
> or 1-1/4m to invite check-ins. Sometimes I get a request to activate
> another band (Usually by KL7H).
>
> There are more stations on 2m then the other two.
>
> Originally the net was set up so anyone could suggest trying another
> band (usually 6m thru 23cm, as few have equipment above that). This has
> not happened quite as I visualized but that is OK.
>
> The Wednesday simplex net was organized to activate a lot of bands with
> check-ins but not for chatting. The original idea was exercising VHF
> stations for contacting without assistance of repeaters for emergency
> preparedness. It has changed a bit and added many HF bands. They have
> a fairly rigid sequence of band activation. 6m FM and SSB are included.
> Even a nod to digital in the sense of packet check-ins (but no other
> modes until recent addition of D-Star).
>
> I do not want to duplicate that form of net. I think our participants
> like the round-table chat form we are using. Extending that to FT8 will
> be hard as its not designed for chatting, but hopefully folks will pick
> up that its great for working longer distances than CW or SSB. A
> separate 6m net can be a platform for promoting other 6m modes such as
> FT8 and propagation such as sporadic-E, meteor scatter, and eme ...
>
> FT8 & MSK144 offer great opportunity for VHF contacts over longer range
> - getting a few involved is the challenge.
>
> Ed
> decided to share this discussion with the group for comments/discussion