[InHam] [Fwd: [SMC] 146.49 FM simplex net went great last night]

[Dan Evans]

Here is a challenge for all of our Indiana Hams with good  2m FM stations!

You would be surprised at just how far you can reach on 2m FM with a 
good yagi and a bit of height.

73
Dan
-- 
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 
Check out the Rover Resource Page at: <http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> 
List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books 
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! 



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[SMC] 146.49 FM simplex net went great last night
Date: 	Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:19:42 -0500
From: 	Todd Sprinkmann <sprinkies at excel.net>
To: 	badgercontesters at mailman.qth.net, smc at w9smc.com



   Hello,

   Tried doing a new net last night, and initial turnout was just 
wonderful.  Called CQ on 146.49 FM simplex at 8:30pm, and 
had 12 in the log by 8:33pm.  Quite a different experience 
from calling CQ on SSB!  Ended up with 17 check-ins, and 
everybody was very enthusiastic about having activity, just 
like when the SSB nets are running.  It was really a good time.  

   Save for about 50-100 contest Q's over the last 5 seasons, 
I've never really done anything on the FM side.  Because the 
SSB nets have been well-attended, I figured I'd try and broaden 
my horizons a little.  I am also hoping that in time, some of 
the net participants may grow more interested in the contesting, 
SSB side of things.   We all want more contesters, right?

   A few stations specifically said the activity has them wanting 
to improve their antenna situation.  That was good to hear.  

   Band conditions were average at best last night, but we still 
had two Chicago-area guys try to check in.  N9UM and N9TF 
were hearing me about 50-70% of the time.  Because I'm 
only omni on 146 FM (well at least last night), I was a bit of 
an alligator, I'm afraid. 

   I do have a 10-el beam (vertical) fixed toward MKE and CHI 
-- I may use that in a few weeks, once we get the growing pains 
out of the way.  I don't want to have a chaotic net at the start and 
turn people off.  These nets are longer-term commitments so I 
want to grow slow and steady.  

   As for the SMC'ers, I hope that with improved propagation, 
I may get some Illinois/Indiana check-ins to the 146.49 FM net 
on Thursdays at 8:30pm.  You guys have already turned out in 
big numbers for the SSB net I run on 144.250 at 8:30 on 
Wednesday.  I appreciate that.

    What I'd like to see is some contest discussion.  The ARRL 
Sept. VHF Sweepstakes is only 3 weekends away.  Who's 
going to be contesting?  Roving?  Stirring up activity?  

    N9UM, K9IJ and KG9IL motivated a lot of locals to come 
out and make Q's for the August UHF.  Good idea!  

    Both Milwaukee and Chicago have grid corners right within 
their metro areas.  What a contesting opportunity.  You guys 
that have ties to the repeater community could twist a few arms 
in a friendly way to have some FM rovers work those squares.  
Find a handful of FM rovers to go out and run the grid corners, 
teach 'em how to do it right.  Work with them to get their  
buddies at home to listen in and then work them, over and 
over and over.  Now you've got dozens of FM Q's flying thru 
the air, and us SSB'ers will get involved too.  Better yet, 
try to get those FM'ers to concentrate their activity toward 
a certain timeframe.  Maximize their impact.  

    There's *hundreds* of FM'ers in the combined Chicago/
Milwaukee corridor.  If you can get 2 or 3% of them to get on 
their FM rigs and activate for contests, it will get the ball 
rolling.  I'm doing just about all I can.  I need help.  If not 
in time for September, then for January.  Lord knows there's 
far fewer outside distractions in January.   

     73,
     Todd  KC9BQA   EN63ao    40 N of Milwaukee
     50 thru 2304

     
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
SMC Web Site: http://www.w9smc.com
List Help: http://mail.w9smc.com/mailman/listinfo/smc_w9smc.com
Submissions: smc at w9smc.com   Problems?Contact: smc-owner at w9smc.com



73
Dan
-- 
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 
Check out the Rover Resource Page at: <http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> 
List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books 
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!