[HCRA] VHF Contest

[Daniel Sullivan]

So who all is getting on for the January VHF Contest in a couple weeks?
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2007/jan-vhf-ss.html

 

Look for me down here in FM18KU. We will be working most likely under my
call from Mike, KF4PPF's house. We just got done putting a 30 ft tower with
20 feet of mast (17FT above the hazer) up in his backyard though there is
still some work to do. Thanks go to KG4RRN, K5OTZ, N6CY, K7BC and N4ZPT for
material, logistical, moral and personal support. (If I missed anyone sorry
gang!) Currently it looks like we can run:

 

6m 100w 7ele @ 31FT (IC746PRO) ALL MODE

 

2m 100w 12ele @ 35FT (moving to 45FT soon) (IC746PRO) ALL MODE

 

125cm 25w 10ele @ 39FT (moving to 41FT soon) (ADI something or other mobile
rig) FM

 

70cm 35w 15ele @ 44FT (moving to 36FT soon) (IC706MKIIg) ALL MODE

 

23cm 10w 25ele @ 45FT (moving to 33FT soon) (DSTAR ID-1) Analog FM and
Digital Voice/Data (Voice is GMSK)

 

6/2/440 Vertical @ 47FT (ID-800) Analog FM and Digital Voice (GMSK)

 

The reason for the moves is that we stuck everything up and then realized
that there is a right way and wrong way to stack VHF/UHF yagis. A quick note
to Directive Systems (the 2m - 23cm antennas are from there the vertical is
Diamond and the 6m is an old KLM model) and they quickly referred us to a
web page on stacking (http://www.directivesystems.com/STACKING.htm). Kudos
to them on sending Mike a note on a holiday weekend and within 24 hrs of the
request at that! So should only take a couple hours to move everything
around on the tower but it'll work out.

 

A test with a station on Bull Run Mtn (FM18) here in VA we did well across
the board. The only band we had trouble with is 23cm but we have huge hills
all around us. There is a repeater up there we could barely make out through
the noise and not strong enough to work. So learning and optimization on
23cm will be extensive. Signal results for the tests of the other bands
ranged from S7 on 70cm to 20DB over S9 on 2m over a very rough and hilly 30m
path (with Mike's house 80ft in a hole). That does bode well for working
stations overall. I am guessing we should be able to work 100W stations with
a decent array in Southern New England as in June we worked Central PA and
Central NY with 5ele at 35FT with 100w and crappy RG58 (we have 9913 on all
bands except for 6m (RG58 or something like it) and 2m (RG8/u for now).)
It'd be awesome to grab a few of your folks up there.

 

During the test the focus will be on 6-432 so we can stay in the Limited
Multi-Op class. 

 

Couple notes: 

 

GET ON CW!!!! There are a lot of stations that will switch to CW from phone
when they cannot complete a contact any other way.

 

There was a time when I, Rich (KD1XP) and a few others were new licensees
that people get on with HTs and mobile rigs to work 2/440 FM simplex just to
toss out points to locals. At the least W2SZ/1 and K1TTT will appreciate it.
Not sure who else are the big guns in the Valley are these days but every
point counts.

 

Wish there was a digital class but not yet. Have to keep writing to
encourage a separate set of awards for digital modes but as far as I know
you can use digital modes and get credit for them. Last June there were a
few guys on PSK31 on 6m.

 

Don't know your grid square (better yet 6 digit grid) check your call sign
information on QRZ.com or the ARRL grid maps. (QRZ will give more specific
data down to the 6 digit designator which is critical from 432 and up since
this is how many stations determine where to point antennas.)

 

Ok enough for this year! Happy New Year and hope to work you on the bands.

 

Dan Sullivan

KO1D/4