The only way to be decoded is to be heard. Maximize your ability to be heard.
=== The following is for home stations ===
--- Antenna ---
Put a *gain* omni-directional vertical antenna as high as you can get it - fed
with low-loss coax. If you can't afford a gain omni (either space, or monetary
restrictions), then put a vertical dipole as high as you can (that is what I
use ... a driven element from an old 2-meter beam, vertically polarized).
--- Power (specific to ARRL contests only) ---
According to the ARRL rules, entry categories are power restricted on the
2-meter band (HamIM activity occurs on 147.585 FM) as follows:
Single Operator, High Power .. 1.5 kW
Single Operator, Low Power ... 200 watts
Single Operator, Portable ..... 10 watts
Rover ........................ 1.5 kW
Limited Multi Operator ....... 1.5 kW
Unlimited Multi Operator ..... 1.5 kW
Maximize your power within each category, for both SSB operation as well as
HamIM! Use the "summer hamfest" season to get a cheap "Class-C" amplifier for
use on HamIM (it's FM!). You would be amazed how far 160 or 200 watts of FM
will go! There are 500-watt Motorolla shelves that can be converted for use.
Imagine, 500-watts on HamIM!
Can't afford an amp yet? Fine. There are a number of 50-75 watt FM
transceivers on the market (I've use the Icom IC-V8000 successfully).
Bottom line: QRP is more difficult (duh!). If you like the challenge, then
fine...but don't blame lack of functionality it on HamIM. :)
What's my farthest FM contact? FN03 (me) to FN21. 160-watts to a vertical
dipole at 40' for me.
=== But what about Rovers? ===
Power is king (just like for home stations), and antenna is queen. Understand
what you are trying to accomplish: you want to get noticed and put QSO's in the
log.
Most HamIM participants will use an omnidirectional antenna (because that is an
advantage). You, though...have secret knowledge: you know where you are in
relationship to population centers. If you are a great distance away from a
population center, use a small beam for HamIM...aiming it toward the population
centers! A vertically polarized 4-8 element beam will have a broad enough
beamwidth to cover vast areas of geo-population and also provide a significant
amount of gain to augment that HamIM amplifier! :)
There are many aspects to creating a "winning" HamIM strategy. There are
plenty of "yeah, but's", too. Bottom line: HamIM is a potentially powerful
tool that can be "mastered and exploited" or ignored. Either way, have fun
with YOUR operation and "see you in the contest". :)
Ev, W2EV
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