I got my start on VHF contesting with my Gonset Communicator and a
Yagi antenna on a hill outside of Los Angeles in the early sixties.
This was before Funny Modulation (FM) became popular.
When FM started up, it was used primarily by the guys who wanted a
reliable communications medium without the constant chatter of the AM
folks. Some of us on FM were somehow connected with the 2-way radio
industry. At the time, if you wanted to be on FM, you had to go to the
local surplus store, buy a very old Motorola or General Electric 2-way
radio, take it home, give it a bath, buy crystals, tune up the radio,
install it in your car (lots of vehicles were 6 volts at the time) and
operate. Boy was that fun.
The modern FM ham radio has taken all the fun out of it.
73,
Neil McKie - WA6KLA ...
John Geiger wrote:
> I couldn't agree with you more, Sam. I think many
> VHF/UHF contestors got their start using FM. My own
> experience with VHF contesting started during the
> radiosport contest (now the IARU contest) which was
> originally a 48 hour contest and allowed contacts on 6
> and 2 meters. I had an Icom 230 10 watt rig with a 5
> element beam, and made several simplex QSOs just
> looking for ways to increase the QSO total. Being
> that the contest was in July, there was a little
> tropo, and after a couple years of this, I was hooked.
> Around that time my friend Dave, KA0GOA, bought a
> Yaesu FT221R all mode 2 meter rig, so we got to start
> VHF contesting on SSB.
>
> In our local area we strongly encourage and aid
> stations to get on FM during VHF contests, as many
> locals here have a 2 meter or dual band HT. It gets
> them a taste of contesting, while giving the
> contesters extra points. Several of the locals have
> become interested in SSB on VHF/UHF and have either
> purchased or are looking at purchasing all mode rigs.
> This adds to the ranks of the SSB operators on 2 and
> 432, then.
>
> Given the terrible way the ARRL promotes getting on
> VHF SSB/CW, we need to promote this area of the hobby
> any way we can, and FM is one of the best ways. The
> philosophy of the ARRL seems to be get everyone on 2
> meter FM with an HT, immediately. I think that is how
> most hams get started today. They may then migrate to
> HF, to SSB on VHF, or lose interest all together. I
> don't even like the phrase "weak signal". If you are
> a new ham, are you going to spend extra money to get
> involved in something with weak signals? Probably
> not! Plus, why is a serious VHF station running 1.5
> KW to stacked yagis, who might be 30 over 9 at my QTH
> "weak signal" while the guy running low power on his
> HT not?
>
> 73s John NE0P
> --- Sam Powers <spowers1@neo.rr.com> wrote:
> > What happened to getting on the air with what you
> > Have. FM contacts are
> > welcome and give the same points as CW and SSB at my
> > station,K8USA. FM also
> > gives our club members that don't have CW and SSB
> > capability the chance to
> > participate in the various weak signal contests.. I
> > don't see the serious
> > stations turning down the points they are offering
> > by participating with FM.
> > I think we need to spend more time cultivating FM
> > contacts.. They may even
> > get CW or SSB equipment when the bug bites!!
> > 73
> > Sam K8USA
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bob Johnson" <rjohnson@tmlp.com>
> > To: <VHFcontesting@contesting.com>;
> > <forsale-swap@mailman.qth.net>;
> > <wsvhf@mailman.qth.net>; <vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu>;
> > <newsvhf@mailman.qth.net>;
> > <nwwsvhf@mailman.qth.net>; <rmvhf@mailman.qth.net>
> > Cc: "John Geiger" <johngeig@yahoo.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 9:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: 222 Rig FS
> >
> >
> > Who wants an FM rig for contesting, a CB'er ???
> > If your into Weak Signal contesting, it's CW & SSB
> > !!!
> >
> > 73
> > Bob, K1VU
> >
> > At 03:52 PM 07/16/02 , John Geiger wrote:
> > >I have a Midland 13-509 222 FM rig in good
> > condition
> > >for sale. This rig puts out 10 watts, and comes
> > with
> > >mic, manual, and original box. It is a crystalized
> > >radio, with crystals for the national simplex
> > >freq-223.5. Also has crystals for the following
> > >repeater pairs: 223.34/224.94, 223.38/224.98, and
> > >223.02/224.62. Would make a good contest rig to get
> > >you on another band. Asking $65 plus shipping.
> > >
> > >73s John NE0P
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
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> >
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>
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