[NLRS] Suggested FM Simplex Freqs For Radio Contesting

[Doug Reed]

Jerry is absolutely correct about 2M FM simplex DX. Although I tended to 
think the limit was between 50 and 100 miles, depending how good the 
stations were at each end. It is a sad reflection on amateur knowledge 
that most hams think that just because they can hear a repeater that is 
100 miles away, they can also talk that far to another station on 
simplex. Heck, most of them have a hard time figuring out that what they 
see on their "S-meter" is the signal from the repeater, not what the 
other station is doing.... Don't get me started on that.....

But one way to "sell it" to FM-only users is that it is a good way to 
actually find out how good their station is for simplex contacts under 
emergency (i.e. no repeater) conditions. As well as the fun of 
participating in the contest, of course. If you THINK about what is 
going on, you gain a good appreciation for antenna height and good coax, 
and usually wish you had both. :-)

73, Doug Reed, N0NAs.

Dr. Gerald N. Johnson wrote:
> While I have been on FM for a long time, I don't see it as a contest
> mode, nor do I think most FM users consider it that. Range is short,
> though local activity can be high. Remember that 50 miles on FM on 2m is
> DX while on SSB its local QRM while 200 or 300 miles is the
> neighborhood, more than 300 is marginal DX.
> 73, Jerry, K0CQ