[Wswss] [PNWVHFS] Re: [VHF] Thoughts on 222 MHz

[Edward R. Cole]

If I lived down there with all the density of population and hams it 
would be easier to justify spending money on under-used bands like 
222-MHz.  I actually had all the parts to make the W1GHZ 5w 
transverter but decided to sell it and the 25w Telec amp.

If I get on 222 it will either be a low-power (50mw) transverter or 
maybe a super-cheap ebay special on a FM rig.

Tim talks about 350 miles, well up here it looks like 1800 
miles.  There are maybe 2-3 stations in Anchorage (70-miles) that 
have 222 FM.  There is no one on 222-SSB to my knowledge.  Fairbanks 
is about 330miles north (on the other side of the 18,000 foot Alaskan 
Range).  Whitehorse is about 700-miles (across multiple mountain 
ranges).  I have worked Fairbanks once on 2m, but do not believe 
anyone has made a contact into Whitehorse on 2m or above.  As far as 
I know there are no eme/ms stations in VY1 land.  They probably feel 
as isolated as we do in Alaska.

The statistics for Alaska are that we have about 3800 licensed hams 
(which probably only half own equipment and operate).  Over half of 
them are HF-only.  Half of those that do have VHF only operate 
2m-FM.  There are probably less than 100 hams in AK with non-FM VHF 
gear.  We got about 10% of them active in the contest last weekend 
(10-12).  Not bad for a state = 2-1/2 times the size of Texas!
There may have been some activity in Fairbanks, but never hear about that.

the encouraging thing is probably near 100% of the 222 operators 
participated in the contest.  All 2 or 3 of them!
-------------
Switching topics:

I bought a K3 exactly to get the best VHF+ CW radio.  I'm not using 
the Elecraft transverters, but bought two new DEMI transverters (144 
and 1296).  The word is not real favorable on the Elecraft 
Transverters; they may get it right eventually.  My DEMI 144/28 is 
only +6-Hz off frequency using a xtal-osc.  When I tested it key-down 
for over one minute over several minutes (simulating JT-65 cycling) 
it only drifted up to +11 Hz on 144-MHz.  My FT-847 is not that close.

On 1296 I have no error (< 1Hz) as the DEMI 1296/28 uses a PLL locked 
to 10-MHz external reference.

I have to decide whether to cash-out my FT-847 and buy a 432/28 and 
222/28 transverter to use with the K3.  Only thing holding me back on 
that decision is the FT-847 does full duplex cross band for satellite 
operation.  I am looking into a way to get the aux-Rx in my K3 to 
receive while transmitting on the main radio.  I will have to use the 
SDR-IQ on the 1st IF for demodulating the signal.

BTW I have never heard Au on 2m+ up here (because no one gets on 
during the Aurora).

73, Ed

At 08:41 PM 6/15/2011, VE3AX/7 wrote:
>Hi all:
>
>I've been pretty quiet on this reflector though eagerly read all of 
>your posts, but when it comes to a discussion about 222 (or 220 Mhz) 
>I find it a lot more difficult to keep my mouth shut!
>
>Tim said it pretty well - 222 Mhz is a band that is not for the 
>feint of heart.  There are few stations on, relative to 144 and 432 
>Mhz, and the equipment is not quite as readily available, though a 
>LOT more is available than it was back in the '70's.  The rewards 
>can be great - some of my best moments in my 42 years as a licensed 
>ham have been due to 220 (or 222 Mhz) activity - most notably, 
>snagging 220 Mhz WAS #7.  There are some great stories surrounding 
>that achievement - check out my obit for W5FF on eham, or an 
>accounting of the phenomenal mid-winter travelling EME roadshow 
>during the '80's of WB0TEM, W0SD and WB0PJB  (cannot find anything 
>on the net about this but there was a good account in QST in 
>1983-84).  You can read a good account of 220 Mhz DX history by 
>Wayne Overbeck, N6NB here:
>
>http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view.action?id=1113490001
>
>Scroll half way down to page 12 and enjoy!
>
>Tropo, and aurora seem as good on 222 Mhz as 2 meters with antennas 
>2/3 the size.  It gets a lot more difficult at 432 Mhz in my 
>opinion!  In fact, back in the early '80's (OK, I am an old fart 
>now) Terry, W0VB (EN 34), and I (in EN86 at the time) regularly 
>noticed aurora lasting longer on 220 Mhz than it did on 144 
>Mhz!  That doesn't make a lot of sense to either of us, but we 
>observed that on several occasions.  (600 mile path roughly at 43-45 
>deg N latitude).
>
>Meteors on 222 Mhz is a challenge for sure, but if you're into the 
>digital (WSJT) scene it gets a whole lot more do-able, there are 
>plenty of opportunities out there to work out to 2000 Km+ - just 
>don't break my record please!
>
>It's too bad that the Japanese manufacturers don't take a look at 
>the potential for the North and South American 220 Mhz markets and 
>offer a rig with a 222 Mhz option.  The Yaesu FT-736r, at best a 
>mediocre rig (sorry Gabor!), was the only one that really opened up 
>the door for 222 Mhz activity and remains one of the best rover rigs 
>over 20 years after it was introduced for that very 
>reason.   Imagine an Elecraft K3 combined in a box the size of a 
>Yaesu FT-2000 with a big tuning knob and 4 "transverter" slots for 
>6m through 432 Mhz!  It's time for a rig of that 
>calibre!!!!!  Frankly, with Elecraft's transverters and the K3, you 
>could homebrew one pretty quickly - but so many more would be in use 
>if it was available "off the shelf".
>
>Frankly I am amazed we haven't lost the band completely - with the 
>pressure for more commercial RF bandwidth and the little use 222 Mhz 
>gets, it's hard for me to believe it's still a ham band.  That said, 
>I am as guilty as anyone for not getting on this (or any other VHF 
>band) since moving here to the west.  The 222 gear is here, 8877 amp 
>and all, but isn't even wired up. Valley living and a reluctance to 
>commit to staying here are keeping me away.  Aurora and EME are my 
>only options from home, but even a few au contacts per year would be 
>enough to warrant getting back on 222 Mhz.  As the solar cycle picks 
>up that may indeed happen, though there is a still a strong pull to 
>go back east, even after nearly 4 years here in DN09sa! Sadly my 
>wife Heather (now VE3EMS) doesn't share that opinion.
>
>You all should know that some of the 222 Mhz (or should I say 220 
>Mhz?) EME stalwarts are here in this group - Jim, K7ND, Al, KL7NO, 
>Mike WB6FFC, and perhaps some others - my apologies if I have missed 
>you.  Several are no longer with us, W6PO and W5FF for instance.
>
>If you're thinking 222 Mhz, be prepared for a rather lonely 
>existence, interspersed with some huge highs.  But take heart - one 
>of the best 222 Mhz Es in the US/Canada openings was out this way a 
>few years ago!  That's one nobody would want to miss!  There ARE 
>opportunities for sure, but it takes a lot of patience to snag them 
>on this band.  Is it worth it - you bet your sweet bippy it is!
>
>73
>
>Peter Shilton
>VE3AX/7
>(ex-VE3EMS, VE3VD)
>DN09sa
>Grand Forks, BC  (for now)
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message----- From: Tim Marek
>Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 7:02 PM
>To: PNWVHFS at googlegroups.com ; vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu ; Jim Lowman
>Cc: wswss at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [PNWVHFS] Re: [VHF] Thoughts on 222 MHz
>
>In a single sentence... 222 CW/SSB KICKS ASS!
>
>No other band performs as well on tropo and overall
>band quiteness than 222. Antennas are a tad smaller than 2M
>yet provide amazing results.
>
>While Rover on 223.50 FM, I have worked the entire length of the
>San Juanquin Valley with simple antennas and 25W. Mind you the
>station worked was the WB2ODH/6 gang atop a tall mountain with
>a 4 x vert yagi array and 100w.
>
> From home the 222 station always plays as well as 144 (both 30+ Ft
>long yagis) but the real key is 144 had 400W while 222 only 150W!
>
>If you use the analogy, "OMG theres no one on 222 SSB within 100
>miles" to make your decision then your missing the point. From here in
>DM09 the next active station in any direction is over 200 Miles away
>and in most directions 350+ or more!
>
>Yet in 3 years I managed to work 51 Grids from DM09 (Including
>most of the grids within NV)... Something NO ONE in NV has done
>before or since.
>
>HOW? By being there every day I could be, beating the 222 band
>wagon, promoting its benifits, being active, making dozens of contacts
>with people to get them excited, going off on several "GriDXepidtions"
>and activating dozens of grids on 222 for those who needed them,
>Equiping my rover with a permanent 222 station and loaning it to a
>friend who went out and worked me from dozens of grids in CA, NV,
>UT, ID, and OR.
>
>Is 222 for the faint of heart? Hell NO! is it a opportunity to do something
>few have done to date on one of the best bands we have available?
>YOU BET!
>
>Worry not if there are enought locals to make it worth the effort... As the
>man said... "Build it... and they will come..." Have faith and keep at it
>and
>in time you two can be a self made success story on 222. Along the way
>you will energize those around you to become more active, give it a try for
>the first time, etc.... All good things...
>
>I regret selling most of my 222 Mhz gear but sadly I am in a possition
>where I really have no choice... No work in over 2 1/2 years and a
>possible forclosure around the bend.... Ill be selling more of my station
>soon
>as well... It is whaty it is... we adapt and move forrward as best we can.
>
>222 Mhz CW/SSB... Is it worth it?   HELL YESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>73s de Tim - K7XC - DM09nm... sk
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Lowman" <jmlowman at sbcglobal.net>
>To: <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 6:03 PM
>Subject: [VHF] Thoughts on 222 MHz
>
>
>>To tag along with Greg's submission - same question, just a different band:
>>
>>In looking at the claimed scores for 222 MHz in the VHF contest, it looks
>>like most operators were struggling to get to double digits in contacts.
>>
>>Lately I've been thinking about getting on this band, but not sure that the
>>expense of a transverter and a good Yagi antenna from M^2 is justified
>>if these results are typical.
>>
>>Further, I understand that this band is all but dead as far as SSB, except
>>in contests, even in the highly-populated greater LA/OC area.
>>
>>For those who posted scores, how many of your contacts
>>were on FM?  This is another thing that I've heard.
>>
>>If most of the action is on FM, I'm already set with 25w.  Maybe I'll buy
>>the Yagi if it will do any good.
>>
>>Any advice or observations?
>>
>>Jim - AD6CW
>>------
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>
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73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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