Re: [VHFcontesting] Renewing Interest in VHF Contesting

["David A. Pruett" <k8cc@comcast.net>]

At 08:15 PM 5/8/04 -0400, N3AWS@aol.com wrote:
> So how do we get the attention of the HF only ops?  BTW I do my share of HF
> contesting, too.  Although I got my general in 79, it was almost 20 years
> before I tried VHF (except for very limited 2 meter FM).  The Icom 706 was 
> the ticket to peak my interest.

IMHO, the IC-706 and radios of like ilk (FT-100/817/847/857/897, etc.) are 
indeed the key.  HF ops buy these radios for other reasons and get VHF/UHF 
weak signal capability as a bonus.

I think that two other things would help:

- A 50/144/432 low power (100W) category.  I think that having a place to 
compete without having to go up against a ten-band station will make people 
more willing to try VHF/UHF contesting.

- The availability of a good, directive 50/144/432 antenna which has a 
single feed line.  Yes, I've heard the old line about working people with 
HF wires, "6M is the magic band", etc.  But marginal antennas produce 
marginal QSOs and we're trying to get people INTERESTED so we shouldn't 
expect them to endure ineffectivity.

The problem here is cost.  Commercial yagis for 50/144/432 cost at least 
$100 or more, and require three low-loss feedlines which for most practical 
lengths will cost $50-$60 each.  Plus you have to have a tower, with 8'-10' 
of available mast sticking out.  At a minimum, you're out probably $500 to 
TRY something out.

Yes, I know there are simpler and cheaper solutions out there, like WA5VJB 
yagis, used antennas, etc.  But how much simpler (and hence, more likely 
for people to try) would be if you could put up a single 50/144/432 yagi 
and one good low loss feedline?

I've have given a lot of thought to this.  I've considered LPDA arrays, 
interlaced quads, and multiple yagis on a single boom.  There may be better 
ideas out there, if someone would come up with them.

What we need is a 50/144/432 equivalent of a TA-33 tribander.  Can you 
imagine how much more difficult HF DXing/contesting on 14/21/28 would be if 
the triband yagi had never been invented?

Solve those problems and "they will come".

73,

Dave/K8CC


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