I shut down my 2m transceiver on Sunday morning, tired of endlessly
tuning up and down the dial for 1 or 2 contacts. I hooked up the yagi
to my Funcube Dongle Pro+ SDR receiver and kept an eye on 2m that way.
What a difference! We nabbed several of the casual
call-a-few-CQs-then-go-mow-the-lawn types that way. I'd hear one,
disconnect the antenna and pass it to VE3EG (our 6m op) and call out the
frequency. He'd connect it to his FT-857D and make the contact. It was
clumsy but effective. I'm sure we would have missed these guys because
they weren't "regulars" and didn't stay around after working us if no
one else called them.
This convinced me that SDR is the way to go in a VHF contest...you can
monitor a big chunk of the band and miss nothing. I am hoping to begin
roving in the September contest and will be using my Flex-1500 on 6m and
432 (with an Elecraft XV432 transverter, just ordered) and an old
Kenwood TR-9130 on 2m.
The Funcube Dongle Pro+ is no slouch on 2m. The Funcube kept pace with
the 857D with the same antenna, and its built-in 2m bandpass filter kept
everything clean even when he was transmitting on 6m at 100W. The
antennas were on the same mast, about 3 ft apart.
73,
Ken Alexander
VE3HLS
On 2014-07-23 4:04 PM, Chet S wrote:
I use the N1MM logger. In addition to the colored prompts that show up in
the main window to signal you that you need someone's contact or grid on
another band, there is a multiplier window that will display a map of the
grids worked on the band that you are currently using. That keeps you from
missing an adjacent grid, likely because you had not aimed that way enough.
Often then CQing that way will get it and others in that direction.
And, in the grid map window, a right button mouse click on a grid square
will display a list of calls worked in that grid.
Chet, N8RA
-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf
Of Donald M. Ross via VHFcontesting
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 1:54 PM
To: compmtn@saber.net; vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] VHF contest tips, tricks, and techniques
I used to keep a spreadsheet with the grid in the left column and callsigns
in the right columns so I knew when I've mined the normal ops in a grid and
am less likely to find someone there. I'm in the process of rebuilding that
list after a more than 10 year absence.
Don, NL7CO
-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf
Of Comp Mtn
Sent: 23 July, 2014 12:44
To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] VHF contest tips, tricks, and techniques
Only big problem is that----Many of the ops on ssb do not know the
code !!! They then lose the contact as you do. OR they dont like
the cw on """SSB""" frequency. Oh well.
I find participating in nets, letting folks know in ADVANCE is best.
Plus calling calling calling, and listen listen listen. Zack is correct in
answering or calling on cw. I am 125 miles north west of San Francisco and
many dont even point in this direction. Move the antennas around to other
areas and call and listen.
Listen to other contacts and you can quite regularly pick up some
information on calls and locations to be checked on for weak or distant
stations.
Have a good summer.
Len WA6KLK CM89
On 7/23/2014 9:53 AM, Zack Widup wrote:
I've found through years of experience as a Single-Op (QRP) Portable
that if you are running 10 watts or less, or if you do not have the
best antennas, calling CQ in CW will allow you to be heard by more
distant stations. Also, answering an SSB station in CW if he doesn't
hear you on SSB or can't quite copy you is often successful. In most
VHF contests it's OK to do cross-mode QSO's. And of course, call CQ
for a bit pointed in one direction, then nudge your beam 30 or 45
degrees and call some more, keeping at it while covering all areas of
the
compass.
73, Zack W9SZ
On Wed, Jul 23, 2014 at 11:36 AM, Dan Evans <dan.evans@insightbb.com>
wrote:
Call CQ. Call a lot. Use a voice keyer, it makes the contest much
more
enjoyable. Many casual operators will turn on the rig, tune across
the band a few times, hear nothing and turn off the rig... Keeping
the voice keyer
going adds activity. Just don't do it on the call frequency :-)
I didn't get to play in the CQ-VHF. A couple of hours worth of
pre-contest antenna work ended up taking all weekend! But, I now
have an A50-6s, and a 2M5WL up at home. And I replaced a couple of
band
runs of feedline.
73
Dan
--
K9ZF
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el The
once and future K9ZF /R no budget Rover
***QRP-l #1269
Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
<http://www.qsl.net/n9rla>
List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books Ask me how to join
the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Chet S
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 8:31 PM
To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Subject: [VHFcontesting] VHF contest tips, tricks, and techniques
OK, now that we had the annual blow off of steam about the rules,
anyone have any "secrets" they wish to share about VHF CONTESTING??
I'll start.
I operate in the low power category. I have two 6M antennas that are
connected to an A/B/Both switch. When calling CQ, I usually use both
so as to illuminate more azimuth; which is important for a CONTEST.
Then I'll switch the switch to hear and favor a weak answer. But if
conditions are highly favoring one direction, say, SW, I will put all
the power that way during CQing for a while.
73
Chet, N8RA
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