Somewhere in all of this discussion about increasing VHF contest activity
and rovers (captive, captivated, or otherwise) there is the seed of an idea.
There are a very large number of hams who have bought IC-706s (of *some*
vintage), FT100s, FT847s, and other HF radios with VHF capabilityand yet
have never made a weak signal VHF QSO. Some of the people are interested
in VHF, but hesitate to make a commitment to VHF due to the additional
expense for antennas and feedlines. Three small yagis (for 50/144/432) and
three feedlines will set you back the better part of $500. VHF is not like
HF, where some wire and cheap coax hung from a tree will allow you to make
QSOs.
Somehow we need to tap into this "VHF tribander" population and help them
get on the air with enough of a antenna to actually work people. I've
talked up VHF contesting in our club (MRRC) and while people made some QSOs
with 40M dipoles, tribanders, etc., they soon lose interest.
What I'd like to see are some ideas published (either in QST/CQ or on the
web) of low cost homebrew antennas for those three VHF bands.
The other idea concerns rovers (you knew I'd get that in somewhere!). The
big multi teams we've talked about that outfitted rovers with gear did so
to increase activity (OK, admittedly on microwave bands) where there was
little or none. The same idea could be applied to beginning rovers on the
"easy" VHF bands (say 50-432). Again, we need some ideas for low cost
roving on 50/144/432.
Do you own an HF/VHF radio that sits on the shelf? How about throwing
together a simple roving setup and offer it to ham friends to give them a
taste of VHF contesting? OK, so maybe they work only you their first time
out, but I'll bet not. Hams just wanna make QSOs so they'll look for any
signal they can hear.
As mentioned elsewhere, roving allows those with "RF-challenged" QTHs to
relocate to a better, or excellent one. As we've learned in our HF
mobiling trips for state QSO parties, being in motion also eliminates
exposure to TVI complaints :-)
K9TM and I both have IC-706s which are not used as part of our
limited-multiop setup here at K8CC. We're looking for ideas for simple
rover setups to loan out and increase VHF/UHF contesting activity here in
the Great Lakes area.
73,
Dave/K8CC
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