[AK-VHF] January VHF Contest

Sun Jan 8 16:00:54 EST 2023

Hi Ed, 

That sounds like a good plan. My only advice would be to start with the basics and build out from there. I like the idea of that high-gain vertical you mentioned. If the timing works out I'm leaning towards doing another peninsula run for the June VHF contest, and being able to work you from the south would be a big plus. I might be able to do a drive down there and help you out for a day or two when the weather improves in the spring. That might be a good way to get a few final touches wrapped up before a contest. 

Jason's RaDAR ideas have gotten me thinking about trying for some of those awards, and the peninsula is actually a good place for it. There are quite a few POTA units along the coast that are not too far from each other, plus the National Wildlife Refuge and the National Forest (further inland). We will see - that's still a way's off. 

Brandon Clark, KL7BSC
https://brandonclarklabs.com/

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

------- Original Message -------
On Sunday, January 8th, 2023 at 09:55, Ed Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:

> Brandon,
> 
> Thanks. I have a worker coming today to clear deep snow drift around
> the tower base (my tower#2 50-foot Rohn-25 attached at SW end of the
> house that holds my HF beam and 222 dual yagis).
> 
> If we get that end of the house clear, I can begin installing equipment
> boxes for 144/432/1296 and have antennas installed for 144/432/900/1296.
> 
> The 900 equipment box requires replacing 50w amp with 150w amp so unsure
> if that will get done in time for the Jan ARRL Contest.
> 
> I also have pending work on shed conversion to ham shack (which now
> looks like March-April completion). We may get doors and windows
> installed and temp heat in the shed by end of January. Maybe even
> insulation(??). Worker is on vacation during Feb.
> 
> Note these antennas will be fixed in direction of Anchorage (az=060) and
> not rotatable (side-mounted to the tower). When I get the 2m-eme array
> back in the air I will have fully rotatable 2m antennas. Also the small
> 3-elem 6 yagi will be pointed toward Anchorage. Next summer I intend to
> put up the Rohn-45 tower (35-foot) with two stacked 5-elem versions of
> my 6m yagis. Then the small 6m yagi will have little use and may remove it.
> 
> So working you in other directions may be harder without antenna
> rotation (unless the 2m vertical is enough).
> 
> I'm thinking about some changes with the short 9-foot tower I intended
> for satellite antennas. Currently holds 20-foot mast and my 2m vertical
> and located at NE end of the dog kennel.
> 
> I'm going to install a 30-foot Rohn push-up mast at NE end of the house
> to hang one end of my 80m dipole and may opt to place the 2m vertical on
> top. My satellite tower would get moved near the new ham shack (next
> summer) so coax runs would be shorter (currently 170 feet from the new
> shack).
> 
> Also looking at a new Diamond 510HDNA 2m/70cm vertical to be installed
> on a 30-foot mast at the new hamshack (holding other end of 80m dipole).
> I need a 2m/70cm antenna for local use down on the Peninsula and
> high-gain omni-vertical is good choice for doing that. Also, good for
> Anchorage repeater access.
> 
> Current 2m-vertical coax run is approx 70-foot and I'd leave it running
> to the current ham shack which will become our guest bedroom/den where I
> could leave a 2m HT and 25w amp for casual 2m FM use/monitoring when not
> out in the new ham shack. I plan to have a small computer desk in the
> guest bedroom (everything currently in there will move to the new
> hamshack; 12x24 foot vs 11x12 foot bedroom).
> 
> Going to be huge garage sales next summer with the move of workshop out
> of garage and hamshack out of the house.
> 
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> 
> On 1/7/2023 11:37 PM, Brandon Clark via ak-vhf wrote:
> 
> > Hi Ed,
> > 
> > I saw your other email - it looks like the tower repairs and
> > reconfiguration are going well.
> > 
> > Jason (N4IJB) and I talked over RF a bit today. We are thinking about
> > doing some Parks on the Air activity during the contest. He is thinking
> > about running 2 M and 70 cm FM, possibly from a high location to get an
> > elevation advantage.
> > 
> > I'm still not sure of my plans. I'll definitely have my IC-9700 with a
> > full suite of antennas. Most likely I'll activate at Indian and one or
> > two sites in Anchorage. I might start out at Indian for a little bit,
> > then head to Glen Alps for a second grid square, and then go to Point
> > Woronzof for a bit. That would be an easy, fun day of operating.
> > 
> > Brandon
> > 
> > Brandon Clark, KL7BSC
> > https://brandonclarklabs.com/
> > 
> > Sent from Proton Mail mobile
> > 
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > On Jan 6, 2023, 20:49, Ed Cole wrote:
> > 
> > > Brandon, Good suggestions: On 1/6/2023 4:04 PM, Brandon Clark via ak-vhf wrote: > Hello group, > > I'm thinking forward a few weeks to the January VHF, and I was wondering if anyone had ideas about how to change things up a bit? I had a few ideas: > > - Use digital modes like FT8 and try to do some long distance contacts January is not known for 6m openings via sporadic-E or F2, but I know that FT8 on 50.313 has taken precedence over SSB on 6m contesting in lower-48. There are several AK stations that do 6m FT8, so calling on 50.313 could net some contacts that are hard to make on SSB. I worked NL7B in Fairbanks on 6m meteor scatter with only 80w and a yagi; we tried FT8 but noise was too high over the AK Range. That will also could work for 2m FT8 (144.174 recommended). Note that one should operate in "Contest Mode": In WSJT click on File, then Settings chose General tab and enter your grid in "My Grid" window click on Advanced tab, and check "Special operating activity"
> 
> t
> 
> > hen select NA VHF. This will send grid squares vs signal reports. Also, many have acquired the IC-9700 radio that has D-star mode. Turn "MULT" knob until 145.670 and DV is displayed. My tests on D-star with KL7H has shown one or two s-unit improvement over SSB or FM. Most ARRL VHF Contests have used 146.52 for coordinating contacts on 2m and other bands and modes. Probably 80m (3920?) would have good prop for coordination though 80m antennas might be problematic for rovers and portable stations. If cellular is available, making our own "hot spot" to connect to Internet prop loggers is an option (ON4KST Logger is favored by VHFers in lower-48 for skeds). Or even plain old e-mail? Roving can be challenging in winter, but makes for new grids and locations to work. Time is getting short to have things ready for Jan 21/22 (10am - 6:59pm). Details: http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf I am hoping to have new antennas installed by then(?). Modification of my tower boxes coming along:
> 
> ht
> 
> > tp://www.kl7uw.com/RF_Equipment.htm 73, Ed - KL7UW > - Multiple parks on the air activations, rover-style (POTA RaDAR awards?) > - Other ideas? > > Would anyone else be interested in changing things up a bit this contest? Spotting is allowed, so technically HF could even be used for coordinating contacts at distance. > > Brandon Clark, KL7BSC > https://brandonclarklabs.com/ > > Sent with Proton Mail secure email. > ______________________________________________________________ > ak-vhf mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ak-vhf > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >
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