[Wswss] KL7 VHF/UHF Activity as 'Borrowed" From Ed, KL7UW > PNWVHFS!

[N6ZE at aol.com]

The total ham pop of AK is 
3800.  Probably half that are active (1800) and probably <10% of that 
half are on VHF-SSB.  That would be about 180 hams.  Since half the 
pop live in around Anchorage that leaves 90 hams, of which perhaps 
half that (45) live in Fairbanks or other cities.  That leaves about 
45 hams for the rest of the state (2-1/2 times the area of 
Texas).  Most of the bush and rural hams do not do VHF; only HF.

At this time there is no known MS activity in Alaska.  There are a 
few 6m enthusiasts.  Predominate 6m DX mode is either Au or 
AuE.  Then Es and very rarely F2.  I have never experienced 6m-F2 in 
27-years up here (but only about 5-years with 6m active).  I am 
lately trying to encourage HSMS using WSJT.

Fairbanks is about 350-miles north, Juneau-Sitka-Ketchikan about 
700-800 miles.  Whitehorse, YT 700-miles and Vancouver, BC around 1800-miles.
I have worked on 6m into mid-west as far as KY.  We work JA's as 
often as mid-America.

The newly formed (since spring 2005) AK VHF-Up Group has an AK 
membership of about 13 Alaskan hams (remaining are in Pac NW).  EME 
is an even rarer pop:  I am about the only one on 2m-eme; several on 
432, a couple on 1296, and one on 2-GHz (KL6M).

73 Ed - KL7UW



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