[PaQSO] 2m, Logs, and Operating

[Jim]

Regarding not operating 2m FM because of a lack of
activity, that makes little sense.  With a modest
setup you should be able to at least work someone.  If
you leave the radio on for the weekend you may hear
someone.  Also throw out a few calls on the top of the
hour or something on 146.49,52,55,58.  If my original
plan of 4Pm Sunday October 12, 2003 was adopted
everyone would be on AT THE SAME TIME.  Surely you
could log someone then.  If not, oh well.  That would
break up the typical Sunday boredom.  

Better yet, why not operate from a rare county in a
mountain setting?  I drove halfway across the
Commonwealth last year because I was providing a
service to the contest and it was fun.  If we all stay
at the house what�s the point?  How many people can
you work in Luzerne or Lehigh?  It gets sickening
after awhile.  It�s always easier to ask someone else
to operate from a rare locale.  

While throwing out a handful of calls during last
year�s test and a 2 hour concerted effort from 4-6 PM
Sunday, we worked 88 stations in 24 counties(or
something close) and various parts of other states.  I
also worked a mobile in Virginia who was 20+.  Do not
say no one is out there.  Could have done a 2m sweep
if people turned there 2m FM rigs on.  The whole point
of this is to create activity.  If no one throws out a
call, of course there will be no QSO�s.  Everyone has
2m FM, that�s why I am proposing the activity hour.  I
am not suggesting others for 903 or anything.  This
also can bring new licensees into the contest and
promote the upgrade process.  

As for other activity hours, most are no good.  We
need a 2m FM one and one for 160, that�s it!  Right
now there are too many activity hours where they are
not needed.

As a person who is a diehard VHF op(have participated
in groups who have WON major ARRL contests)  I can
attest to the distance you can get on 2m FM.  My all
time record was with 5w to a rubber duck working a
mobile station 70 miles away.  He said I was full
scale!  Nice, isn�t it?  This is 1 of 2 times I get on
HF per year, so that goes to show how great this
contest truly is.  I almost never operate from my
house.  I have very little equipment actually.   If
you don�t live on a mountain or in a rare county, you
can DRIVE to where the action is.  With all of the
federal, state, county, and local parks, there are
certainly enough places.  Most would be free or have a
minimal fee.  Many even have cabins to rent if you are
not too hardcore.  

Also, as far as it being advantageous to live by
Philadelphia or somewhere similar, that is only partly
true.  They can make more 2m contacts.  The thing you
overlook is that if you are in a more rare rural
county, people will try to work you on ANY band you
operate, thus increasing your score.  A person will
hang around to work a station in Lawrence more than
one in Montgomery.  Also rare counties are posted and
advertised drawing more fanfare.  There is your
advantage.  It�s just different, that�s all.

As far as the email logs go, NARC should setup
different addresses for different counties.  For
example have 10 counties email there logs to
pa1@yahoo.com, then 10 other counties to a new
address, etc.  This would be free and wouldn�t clog. 
Sending disks in is OK, too, but not as good.  

For what it�s worth, leave the populous counties and
turn on 2m FM.  You�ll have fun.  There are no traffic
jams and the people are nicer!  Enjoy.  I have likely
cracked the hornet�s nest with these comments, so let
the replies rip!

Jim
N3PBH  




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