[NLRS] Suggested FM Simplex Freqs For Radio Contesting

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

Best I can tell without running packet for three years is that there are 
no links working in Iowa. Just one bbs connected to the world by 
internet. I'll have to get the rigs back on and go exploring some day. 
And 9600 baud use was limited, no 56KB at all. Some links used the state 
fiber optic network but I doubt they have been maintained. 9600 baud 
used a repeater on a 2000 foot TV tower but I doubt that has been 
maintained either.

Running the bands these days is a royal pain. Effectively you can't 
participate without a good 2m station. You have to work 'em first on 2m 
then run the bands. Decades ago you could specialize in 432 and work 
every body who passed by. Now bandswitches are quicker than tail ending. 
I don't like that condition. When 6 isn't open it still takes working 
the "locals" (out to 200 or 300 miles) on 2m to get them to try on 6.

A 2m vertical omni would not be all that useful on SSB, too much cross 
polarization loss. It ought to work FM well. June and September at 
outside ambient in Minnesota ought to be relatively comfortable, January 
not so much, though there are lots of skiers and snomobillers out all 
winter with special clothing. They don't have to write logs though or talk.

On 12/14/2012 4:13 PM, Doug Reed wrote:
>
>
> 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.
>