[NLRS] [MWA] N0HJZ - CQWW VHF
Mary Brown
maryalanab at gmail.com
Mon Jul 19 20:00:34 EDT 2021
If we don't use it we lose it! FM groups have complained for years about not having access!
Mary
W0AAT
-----Original Message-----
From: nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rich Westerberg
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 6:46 PM
To: NRLS Reflector
Subject: Re: [NLRS] [MWA] N0HJZ - CQWW VHF
Hi All -
I had sent a reply earlier about FT8, goals, challenges, etc. I think it didn't come across the reflector as it is hung up for the Moderator (too many recipients). I wanted to clarify things a bit so it doesn't look like I'm constantly flaming.
I really like VHF. I mean, I really, really, really like VHF, UHF!
Reading Grandpa's old QST's really got me excited. These bands really show the magic of radio. So far this summer, I've talked to 12 states via 2M Es. I've talked to EM64 in Alabama on Es and tropo. You're just not supposed to talk that far on 144 MHz, Magic!
I've got my goals and I know you have yours. My frustration is that we seem to not be able to get all of us on the same part of the band at the same time. In contests, our QSO counts could be so much more. Let's work on ways to get everyone together. Maybe SSB/CW "activity hours" during certain evenings and/or contests.
If you're into FT8, enjoy it. If you're not, then look for me on SSB and CW. I try to call on 2M and 432 in the morning and/or evenings. Give me a call!
73
Rich N0HJZ
EN34cm
On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 4:12 PM Rich Westerberg <richn0hjz at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi All -
>
> What prompted my emails after the past couple contests has been my
> experience going through a time warp. I first got on VHF in 1987 on
> 6M and 2M. I had read my Grandpa's old QST's as a kid and had seen
> all the things guys were doing on VHF to work out hundreds (or
> thousands) of miles on 50 &
> 144 MHz. It was a challenge I wanted to try and I was hooked!
>
> I got on the lower two bands and never had a big station (6M - 150w
> into 4 ele at 40 ft & 2M - 160w into 12 ele at 45 ft). I worked on
> those two bands (and a few more) until about 2005. I learned about
> E-skip, tropo, aurora, F2 on 6M, scatter, meteor showers, etc. I
> learned each band and how to work it. I called and called and called. I listened and listened.
> I learned the bands. Through all the hard work, and two solar cycles,
> I ended up with 43 countries on 6M, and 44 states and over 200 grids on 2M.
> The thrill of hearing your call on weak CW from Japan, hearing an ON
> call you on SSB on 6M sure gets my heart rate going! Working a new
> state on a "blue wizzer" on 2M or working 2M Es still gets me excited!
> While I was on from 1987 to 2005, if you made some noise on the bands,
> there were stations to work just about any morning or evening.
>
> Due to starting a business, and family changes, I was off VHF from
> about
> 2005 to 2020. In 2019 I bought my new QTH and got a VHF rig in 2020
> and got back on. Things had changed. I really noticed it in the contests.
> People said "Rich, you gotta get on FT8. It's the easy way to work
> grids." A large percentage of activity had moved to an area where
> technology, not the operator, could make easier QSO's. A successful
> contest operation now involves sitting on 144.174 and 50.313. If I
> sit on those frequencies, I can see a list of stations to work, click
> on them and the computer does the rest. What the human mind cannot do
> (work stations below the noise), a computer now can.
>
> It seems like the technology has given us a means to do things and
> taken away the challenge. Two quotes in QST this month caught my eye:
>
> From the World Above 50 MHz, talking about the FFMA - "Achieving this
> award may take a lifetime, as some of the grids needed appear only
> rarely." From the Happenings section, talking about K1JT's newest
> creation
> - "Testing showed that Q65 will enable stations with a modest Yagi and
> 100w or more to work one another on 6 meters at a distance up to 2,000
> kilometers on most days of the year, in dead band conditions." In the
> future, I can see stations working FFMA in a Summer.
>
> In summary, it seems like the challenge of VHF/UHF has been reduced.
> No more learning propagation modes, calling CQ and then tuning the
> band or years of work for an elusive award. Now it's time to get on
> one frequency, monitor & click.
>
> Rich N0HJZ
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 2:58 PM Jack K0JP <vhfplus at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Okay, I am going to stifle myself on this one.
>>
>> First, I operate FT8 because my XYL and I are among the numerous
>> folks who are lucky to have 100 watts and a wire. Yes, FT8 allows me
>> to work stations that would be near impossible otherwise and I accept
>> it's value in that. Second, we have operated CW, SSB, and RTTY piles
>> from DX locations with a heck of a lot more than just 15 stations calling.
>> Granted, our operations were not from exotic top-10-wanted locations,
>> just P4 and HC2, but we've done it.
>>
>> Now that I've qualified myself I'll say it in the manner that
>> reflects what I know: "Operating digital modes requires minimal
>> skill!" Note, I did not say "no skill" because you have to be quick
>> enough to pick out and click on one of the 15 stations calling. That
>> is a skill but, at best, a low level one. This weekend my first 23 Qs
>> in the CQWW VHF contest were FT8. Since I am in EN18 my CQs generated
>> some minor piles, with 4 stations calling several times and one 5
>> station pile. It's not
>> 15 but what you have to do to initiate the next QSO is identical.
>> Click on the list.
>>
>> BTW, my XYL has no interest in FT8. She's watched me operate and says
>> "nope", which leads me to believe she is more discerning than I. :>)
>>
>>
>> On 7/19/2021 2:14 PM, Wyatt Dirks wrote:
>> >
>> > Secondly saying digi modes require no skill is clearly coming from
>> > someone whose never operated a 6m ft8 pile up from Europe for
>> > instance. ( yes I had 15 plus stations from euope calling me every
>> > seq for an hour Sunday)
>> >
>> > Understand also I'm contester and do very well in vhf contests.
>> > Some of you know this. Making statements on topics you know nothing
>> > about is what this thread is about.
>> >
>> > 73 Wyatt
>> > Ac0ra
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 1:52 PM Mary Brown <maryalanab at gmail.com
>> > <mailto:maryalanab at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> > There is no skill involved with FT8... assemble hardware and go.
>> > Computer does the rest other than one or 2 clicks to make a
>> > contact. Digital needs its own contests or contest category.
>> >
>> > Mary
>> > W0AAT
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> > <mailto:nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
>> > [mailto:nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> > <mailto:nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net>] On Behalf Of Jack K0JP
>> > Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 1:32 PM
>> > To: Minnesota Wireless Association; Rolf Krogstad
>> > Cc: NRLS Reflector
>> > Subject: Re: [NLRS] [MWA] N0HJZ - CQWW VHF
>> >
>> > But at least with RTTY you have an active role in finding stations
>> > to work, not just clicking off a list. In a RTTY contest if one
>> > used a skimmer to identify multiple signals you would either be
>> > DQed (if you tried to enter SO) or placed in a multiop category.
>> > Why any of the FT modes qualifies as a single op entry is beyond me.
>> >
>> > On 7/19/2021 11:06 AM, Rolf Krogstad wrote:
>> > > What about RTTY, the human ear can't decode it either, yet it
>> > has had
>> > > a firm place in ham radio and contesting for many decades.
>> > >
>> > > On Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 11:02 AM Rich Westerberg
>> > <richn0hjz at gmail.com <mailto:richn0hjz at gmail.com>
>> > > <mailto:richn0hjz at gmail.com <mailto:richn0hjz at gmail.com>>> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Jim -
>> > >
>> > > First, I'm all for advancing technology and trying new things.
>> > > FT8 is definitely an advancement in technology.
>> > >
>> > > Whether spark-gap, AM, CW or SSB, you have always needed the
>> > > amateur operator to decode the signal. This new technology
>> does
>> > > everything for you. The amateur doesn't add any value. It
>> will
>> > > not be long before you can put the computer on auto-pilot
>> > and let
>> > > it work the complete contest for you.
>> > >
>> > > The mode has killed VHF Contests. In the past, a June Contest
>> > > could have QSO counts over 1,000. FT8 has skimmed off enough
>> > > people where that might not happen again. It would be nice to
>> > > have a real June Contest with SSB/CW and a separate Digital
>> > contest.
>> > >
>> > > Don't get me started on awards.
>> > >
>> > > Rich
>> > >
>> > > On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 10:36 AM Jim Lageson
>> > > <jim.lageson at gmail.com <mailto:jim.lageson at gmail.com>
>> > <mailto:jim.lageson at gmail.com <mailto:jim.lageson at gmail.com>>>
>> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Sparkgap hams hated CW hams… CW hams hated AM hams…AM hams
>> > > hated SSB “Donald Duck” hams …SSB hams hated AM and FM
>> > hams..
>> > > When PSK31 came CW and SSB hams hated it and cried that it
>> > > will kill ham radio.. It didn’t.
>> > >
>> > > I happen to enjoy FT8. Having a VHF station with limited
>> > power
>> > > and antennas digital modes has opened a whole new world
>> > to me.
>> > > It seems the perfect weak signal mode for VHF. I don't
>> feel
>> > > FT8 is going to be the death to VHF contesting, it's just
>> > > evolving. I worked 58 Europeans this season using a Hex
>> beam
>> > > and a small 3 element yagi thanks to FT8. I worked
>> > N1BUG-1200
>> > > miles and VE2DFO-700miles on 2 meters FT8 running 10 watts
>> > > during last weekend VHF contest. Maybe contest sponsors
>> > should
>> > > give more points for non-digital modes or let you work
>> > > stations again on different modes, that would get folks
>> off
>> > > the screen. I consider myself a CW guy and would prefer to
>> > > work that mode, but for now it is what it is.
>> > >
>> > > I hope I didn't open a can of worms but FT8 is not the
>> > devil.
>> > >
>> > > jim
>> > > n0ur
>> > >
>> > > On Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 1:48 AM Rich Westerberg
>> > > <richn0hjz at gmail.com <mailto:richn0hjz at gmail.com>
>> > <mailto:richn0hjz at gmail.com <mailto:richn0hjz at gmail.com>>> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Due to a business trip, I could only spend a couple
>> > hours
>> > > on Saturday.
>> > >
>> > > It was amazing how strong the signals were on 6M on
>> > > Saturday night, and there were still people sitting on
>> > > their crystal on 50.313.
>> > >
>> > > I couldn't believe how few people were found on 2M
>> > SSB or
>> > > CW. I could hear signals on 144.174.
>> > >
>> > > There are so many Upper Midwest folks I never heard
>> > on SSB
>> > > and CW. FT8 is going to be the death of VHF
>> contesting.
>> > >
>> > > 73
>> > > Rich N0HJZ
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > CQ Worldwide VHF Contest - 2021
>> > >
>> > > Call: N0HJZ
>> > > Operator(s): N0HJZ
>> > > Station: N0HJZ
>> > >
>> > > Class: SOAB LP
>> > > QTH: MN
>> > > Operating Time (hrs): 3
>> > >
>> > > Summary:
>> > > Band QSOs Mults
>> > > -------------------
>> > > 6: 122 48
>> > > 2: 7 5
>> > > -------------------
>> > > Total: 129 53 Total Score = 7,208
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Minnesota Wireless Association mailing list
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>> > >
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>> >>
>> > >
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>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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>> > >
>> > > MWA Official Web Site: https://www.w0aa.org
>> > <https://www.w0aa.org> <https://www.w0aa.org
>> > <https://www.w0aa.org
>> >>
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Minnesota Wireless Association mailing list To post a message:
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>> > >
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>> > >
>> > > MWA Official Web Site: https://www.w0aa.org
>> > <https://www.w0aa.org
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > 73,
>> >
>> > Jack, K0JP/VE3RUA
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
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>> --
>> 73,
>>
>> Jack, K0JP/VE3RUA
>>
>>
>>
>> --
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