[NLRS] Suggested FM Simplex Freqs For Radio Contesting

[Doug Reed]

446.025 is labeled for packet in MN as well. If I remember right, that 
was plugged into the band plan somewhere around 1980-1984(?) during one 
of the regional packet conferences. There may be people using it in MN 
as well, I don't know. I do know that there is 9600 packet on 446.125 
and possibly 446.175 in the state. We were using 446.175 for a link to 
St Cloud once upon a time, and the guys up north are using 446.125 to 
link Duluth, Brainerd, Ilse, and North Branch today.

We use 430.150 around the metro area for linking node sites. When the 
new UDR56 radio becomes available (next spring) you may find more packet 
activity on 440MHz, although I'd probably continue using frequencies in 
the 430 range for 56KB.

Is it really contesting the way I do it? I The way I look at it, it is 
one more log for the club in January.... Assuming I remember to send it 
in....  :-)

I don't have high enough antennas or a fancy enough station to be 
competitive, and I REALLY hate tuning around SSB to tune in a new 
station, then they stop CQing or run the bands with somebody else and 
don't come back....

So instead I will listen on FM simplex and give a call once in a while, 
just to prove I'm still alive. But I usually don't have the squelch 
closed hard. I frequently leave it open with the volume fairly low or 
will have it set just barely to the threshold.

I do find it tempting to consider driving to Isanti and use a tower up 
there during the contest. But the building will be at outdoor temps, so 
I don't know if I have that much ambition. But a 2M omni antenna at 400' 
might be fun for a little while....

73 Doug Reed, N0NAS.

Dr. Gerald N. Johnson wrote:
> Now Doug is that sitting there with the squelch closed listening to one
> or a few frequencies for a new call really contesting?
> 73, Jerry, K0CQ