[NLRS] What band should I add. (kinda long)

Fri, 8 Feb 2002 08:56:56 -0600

Hi Jon, great question.    I just took a quick look at my most recent
contest logs ..... here some "data" on 222 vs 1296 contest QSOs

                 -- QSOs & Grids --
                 222      1296
Jan'01 Contest    50 x 12   26 x 11
Sept'01 Contest   58 x 24   34 x 13
Jan'02 Contest    45 x 13   24 x  7

For contesting, 222 contacts count for 2 points (like 432) while 1296
contacts are either 3 or 4 pointers depending on the contest.  With respect
to increasing your contest score, I think that they are roughly equivalent
(given roughly equivalent station performance).

With respect to increasing your contesting fun, this is more interesting.
As you add bands to your VHF station, the number of boxes and cables starts
to go up in some sort of non-linear exponential way.   If your intent is to
do lots of roving, multiple boxes tends to be a reliability issue (ie, no
fun).   As such, give some thought to how you may be adding bands and if
you are intending to rove or operate from a fixed location.  For example, a
706 provides coverage for 6, 2, and 432, but then adding 222 and 1296 may
require perhaps transverters (two boxes) and an IF rig (another box .....
can the 706 run transverters?) then amps.   Give some thought to system
design and long term planning.   On the other hand, you can do like I have
done .... get a van and just throw everything you have in it .....

222 is without a doubt the premier VHF band (yea, sometimes we call it UHF,
but UHF starts at 300 MHz).   Aurora is nearly as good as 2m (cw only as
SSB is nearly useless due to increased Doppler), tropo is better, antennas
are nearly half the size as 2m antennas, feedline loss is not yet critical
(LMR400 A-OK), and getting some power on the band is not overly expensive.
While both roving and working rovers, its not uncommon to have the
strongest signals occur on 222.  As Rich has indicated, antenna beamwidth,
even on higher gain antennas, is still fairly broad (say +/- 20 degrees or
so) making aiming easier.  You can add 222 and it will be a lot like
operating 2m .... no new train required.  222 is the band (in my humble
opinion).   Try to get into the 100 watt output class ..... I ran 80 watts
for years and had a blast.

1296 is indeed a microwave band.   No aurora propagation.  During a tropo
opening, stations 600 miles away may blow your S-meter up .... truely
amazing at time.   When there is no tropo (which is the majority of the
time), and for most 10 watt stations, contacts are often made using CW at
or near the noise level.  Beamwidth on antennas is narrow, down to say +/-
10 degrees or so, so aiming is more critical.   Feedline losses are your
enemy .... for a fixed station, 100' of LMR400 has around 5 dB of loss, so
moving up to better feedline is often desired for better performance (ie;
fun).  For rovers, 20' of LMR400 is A-OK.   When you add 1296, you may be
initially a bit frustrated as signals are usually weak and aiming is
critical .... some training and experience is required to become more
proficient (ie; fun).   However, when you do get that Sunday morning tropo
opening and work DX, its a huge huge thill.  Try to get into the 10 watt
output class .... more is better, but it can be expensive too.

If I had to add bands one at a time, I would add 222 first then 1296
second.  If I am going to be largely roving, I would look for some way to
reduce all the boxes ..... if I operate more as a fixed station, then I
would without doubt go the transverter route and add boxes.   The other
issue you may find is that transverters for 6m thru 432 use 28 MHz for an
IF while transverters for 902 and up use 144 for an IF freq.   There are
some solutions for this, but they involve the use of a soldering iron, so
what path you go may also depends on your ability and desire to get into
the technical aspects too ...... there is nothing wrong with turnkey
approaches for those who simply want to operate (and have fun).  For some
of us, we like the smell of solder flux in the morning.

Hope this is helpful Jon.   Hope to work you on 222 & 1296 soon !!

73, Jon
W0ZQ

                    "Jonathan Fox"                                                                              
                    <jwfox@attbroad      To:     "NLRS Reflector" <[email protected]>                        
                    band.com>            cc:     (bcc: Jon C. Platt/US-Corporate/3M/US)                         
                                         Subject:     [NLRS] What band should I add.                            
                    02/07/02 10:50                                                                              
                    AM                                                                                          

I had a lot of fun with my 706IIg rovering on 50,144 + 432. What band
should I be adding for June.

I am figuring either 222 or 1296, what do you think?.

Should I go with a DEMI transverter or should I try to find a FT-736
that I can install the correct modules in.

Thanks for your advice.

Jon
W0AMT
73

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