[ILQSO] Re: Operating guidelines?

[dpease at adams.net]

CDT will still be in effect, time changes October 29.  That gives the 
portable stations that extra hour of light. 

 From my viewpoint as a mobile phone operator, 75 meter phone is pretty 
useless.  I did see a QSO count from a previous year and it was pretty small 
number but seemed to be about half and half, SSB and CW. I suspect several 
of those are from stations moving another station from band to band for the 
QSO points. I do hear from the CW ops that there is still a lot of activity 
on 80 CW after the sun goes down, but it gets scarce outside of those still 
chasing mobiles.  This being a mostly localized contest, higher bands will 
probably not have the QSO potential that 40 meters will, although we still 
have plenty of takers including DX stations looking for counties, so it pays 
to check the higher bands.  I think suggested frequencies are 50 KHz up from 
the bottom on CW and in the past it was suggested 3890, 7290, 14290, 21290 
and 28390, 50.125 and up and 146.49 or 146.55 on 2 FM, but we need to watch 
out for nets in operation. I would suggest to keep somewhere in the General 
part of the bands. 

For antennas I would use a Sweepstakes approach, mostly high angle, 
horizontally polarized antennas.  Most QSO's will come from within a few 
hundred miles, so a low dipole should work well.  Verticals may be fine for 
20 meters and up.* IF* I get the chance to operate portable, my antenna of 
choice will be a 40 meter dipole at 20' with a wire reflector on the ground 
underneath and second would be a flat top all band 450 ohm fed dipole  and 
tuner. After that would be a vertical, as long as I wasn't near any power 
lines. 

One thing that will help the mobiles is for stations running on a frequency 
to frequently stop and ask for mobiles, they need all the help they can get. 
Speaking of mobiles, fixed stations, please spot the mobiles when 
appropriate. 

As far as band or mode activity, N9JF may have a little insight on that, but 
I don't think it has been very organized in the past. Most mobiles (and 
those chasing them) are on a pretty tight schedule and may only be in a 
county for a few minutes, so they have to take what they can get while they 
are there.  This makes it a little tougher to set a band/mode schedule. 

Any others willing to share your tips and suggestions, jump right in. 

Danny NG9R 

 

dmcvin2447-contest at yahoo.com writes: 

> I will be both SSB and CW capable.  I'm also looking for suggestions on mode/band operating/planning.  I want to try to make my portable op in JODA count for as many plays as possible.
>  
> I'm also wondering if I really need 80m capability?  I'm still trying to figure out the best wire antenna for my QTH situation.  Will try to throw a PDF of my ideas on my website soon.  Not sure if to go with a premade or try to make one.
>  
> Hank,
> CDT sound right.  I always get confused on the terminology.  Should be UTC - 5hours.
>  
> 73, Wayne / AA9DY
> 2006 ILQP - JODA 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> Finally, I gather we will be on Central Daylight Time on October 22? 
> 
> Help for a newbie will be very much appreciated. 
> 
> 73 de n8xx Hg (N9Q, CHAM/DOUG/EDGR/VERM during ILQP)
> _______________________________________________
> ILQSO mailing list
> ILQSO at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ilqso
> ILQP webpage:
> http://www.w9awe.org/ILQP.html
> list administrator is Danny NG9R
> for list problems contact ng9r at arrl.net
 


Danny Pease
dpease at adams.net 

.......................................................
Sent using Adams WebMail  ---  http://webmail.adams.net
Adams NetWorks -- Keeping you well-connected worldwide!