[NLRS] HTs for contest points

[aflowers at frontiernet.net]

David,

Since you are underpowered with the FM HT, you can always have the guy with the amp transmit in FM and you can send CW with the PTT.  You will sound terrible and be way off frequency in CW, but you can communicate.  I worked KM0T many years ago from EN10 with just that setup, using in FT-470 keying into an "Arrow" satellite antenna, handheld.  I could just copy him on FM with his 100+W, so he didn't have a prayer of hearming me 20dB below that, but he could just pull out my chirping carrier.  It was ugly, but people like Mike will do pretty much anything for a QSO.

If you have real CW that will often get someone's attention enough to get them moving the antenna to you.

Andy K0SM/2

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Palm" <thepalmhq at gmail.com>
To: nlrs at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 5:01:27 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [NLRS] HTs for contest points



This is a great question Richard.  During our first VHF-UHF contest I didn't
think that I had any 220 MHz capability, until it dawned on me that I have a
Yaesu VX-6R that has 1.5 watts on that band.  I've made two QSOs with it
during contests, one about a 30 mile shot and another about 50 miles.  I put
the HT on its side to line up with the polarization of the guy on the other
end.  Of course the other guy is doing all the "heavy lifting" in terms of
antenna gain.  But a QSO is a QSO.  The first time W9FZ was really pleased
because I gave him his only 1.25 meter contact to EN43 for that contest.

There are quite a few hams with these newer tri-band HTs out there and they
can give you extra points, if only they become aware of what you want and
what they have.  If you can get some locals interested in helping out, even
that dinky 1.5 watts can make it happen.

73,

David  W9HQ



On Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 3:45 PM, Richard Clem <clem.law at usa.net> wrote:

>
>
> Has anyone operated VHF from this observation tower:
>
> http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/hoffmanhills/
>
> This is the Hoffman Hills Recreation Area near Menomonie.
>
> The reason I ask is that we'll be driving home from vacation the Saturday
> of
> the UHF contest, and won't have much equipment with us.  But would it be
> worth
> a stop here?  I'm not sure the exact time we would arrive, so would I be
> able
> to raise anyone with a random CQ?
>
> Here's the catch:  The only antenna I'll have available will be a rubber
> duck.
>  Would I be able to work anyone in the Twin Cities on 432 SSB with 5 watts?
> How about FM with 1.5 watts?
>
> If we have a realistic chance of making a couple of contacts, we'll try to
> make a stop and put out a call as W0IS/R and KC0OIA/R.
>
> 73,
> W0IS
>
>
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