[SJRA-Members] 2M SSB Simplex Net

[John R. Fogleboch]

The new SJRA 2 meter SSB Simplex Net will will be held in experimental form tomorrow, Thursday night the 20th of April for the first time.  This net replaces the 10 meter SSB net that has been retired.  The net will start at 8:00 PM on 144.270 MHz USB vertical polarized with Art N2CPR in the net control chair and with John WY2J serving as a backup for the first three months of the experimental phase.  During this phase the emphasis will be on identifying and resolving technical issues and collecting signal data on the stations that call in.  Starting on the 3rd Thursday in July the net will revert to the conversational format similar to the 2M FM net held on Monday nights.

The primary difference between this net and the retired 10 meter one is that we expect significantly better operating coverage due to the 5 to 1 increase in electrical height of most antennas.  There should also be a vast reduction in azimuth plane nulls with the use of omnidirectional antennas.  All stations are encouraged to use their best and highest 2M vertical, typically the one they use for the Monday night FM nets.

The switch to 2 meters does make getting all stations on the same frequency to within a typical error of 50 Hz maximum a more difficult task than at 10 M.  This will be resolved the first night with net control providing specific direction to all stations.  Some stations may notice a higher antenna SWR due to using antennas tuned for the FM repeaters which are about 2 MHz average higher in frequency.  If this is a problem for your transceiver report it to net control since a higher SSB frequency is being investigated.

There is more information on this transition to 2M in a front page article written by WY2J  for the April issue of Harmonic's.  The electronic edition has been available for several days even though the print edition has nor arrived at the author's home yet.  Please download and read it if you are going to operate on this net.  All SSB equipped stations are encouraged to join us on this new net.  It should be fun and we could all learn a little.  We are trying to make a SSB simplex net a better experience for all club members.

73,
John WY2J

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