> That’s one of the key things about VHF UHF Tom….quality not quantity…
>
> Getting on the air, making friends, having fun, and working DX is what keeps
> up all together…the wonder of
> when that major Tropo, or 222 Mhz Es opening will happen… its the “magic” of
> VHF UHF and that hasn’t changed
> the only thing that has changed is it’s easier in a lot of ways… but
> grumbling about white noise doesn’t change, we all grumble about white
> noise…hi Heck just look at how CCO has taken off on HF and on VHF UHF as
> well…
>
> Ya today it’s easier for sure with the Internet and reflectors but basically
> it’s the same process…
> Listen, hunt, pounce when the prop is up and move on...…
>
> So how do you attract people? Talk it up at the club, get active… take a
> leaf from some of the clubs… the Guelph ARC here for example
> drummed up a huge amount of 432 activity… again that’s how things get going…
> networking…
> Being in EN58 you are the rare DX. So make some regular skeds with stations
> on 6 m and
> people will be coming out of the woodwork if they hear you… post it …do it
> regularly…get in touch with some of the other guys like Ed VE3KRP & the guys
> in Winnipeg, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan..make the magic happen..
>
> Get on the "ON4KST reflector “ and start sending me DX activity reports for
> our VHF UHF Column “Six Metres and Down” in TCA …!
>
>
> 73 Dana VE3DS
> On Jan 6, 2015, at 9:42 AM, Tom Haavisto <kamham69@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> While the stories of days gone by might be of interest to some, it does not
> really address the issue of getting folks ON THE AIR TODAY.
>
> So - here is a suggestion to everyone on the list. Tell stories about what
> you are doing NOW. Activating grids, odd openings and anything else that
> might be of interest to a wider audience that just folks in your back yard.
> Why do this? To help promote activity. I don't need to listen to hours of
> noise hoping to work someone. If I want to do that, I will spend my efforts
> on HF and put lots of Q's in the log.
>
> What do I need to start making noise on VHF? Times, frequencies and possibly
> modes that will increase my chances of finding openings when I can work
> someone. While I only have an all-mode gear for 6/2 meters, if I had some
> glimmer of hope of activity, I could be persuaded to add more gear/higher
> power to the station. But - when I all I see here is folks telling stories
> about how life used to be, and lack of new folks joining the ranks, I really
> don't see any point in improving my station. I already know what a dead band
> sounds like.
>
> Want to see how this works? Look at the Topback reflector. Folks posting
> about interesting openings and folks they worked. Granted, some of it does
> not apply to me, but it helps to keep interest levels up and to raise the
> general knowledge level of all participants - even casual readers of the
> reflector.
>
> Perhaps its time to try this on this reflector as well... It might even make
> the bands radio active!
>
> Tom - VE3CX EN58go
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 5, 2015 at 6:53 PM, VE3DS <ve3ds@acanac.net
> <mailto:ve3ds@acanac.net>> wrote:
> Not sure if this got thru yesterday …
> I might add that back in 1970 we didn’t have internet but we could call
> people up on the phone
> to get them to come on …
>
> I still like the contests where you can make skeds & hope for the best…but
> technology changes and so we must.
>
> ___________
>
> Further to Dave K1WHS comments - I’m outside of Dave’s 200 mi circle...
>
> I worked my first contest in 1970 on 144 Mhz with a modded ARC3 @10 w and 2
> HB 8 el telrex yogis
> fed with 7/8 helix. I was fortunate to live near Dennis VE3ASO, who , when I
> got on 144.110 (this was 1969) , promptly came down
> and asked me “what the heck are you doing on MY band”? It was the local guys
> who inspired us 16 years olds to get on
> and chase DX…but contesting - well we just looked at the East Coast Q’s and
> tried to understand how those scores were generated.
> Of course, it was groups of keen teenage guys on mountaintops … organized and
> skilled with lots of locals to work.
>
> At any rate, back in the day, no matter how hard we tried - more power,
> better antennas etc it was never enough.
>
> In fact it took a superhuman effort to mobilize all our local guys - 1
> dedicated per band, develop state of the art band stations
> find our version of a mountain top and pray for good conditions…to break into
> the Top 10.
>
> Are there other factors? Certainly - but the big one is distance - we in
> Canada are far from the “centres” of activity in the States…& there needs to
> be an incentive to
> have people look for stations in low density grids who can capitalize on
> those short openings be it scatter or tropo.
>
> SO… I for one would strongly support a distance calculation based on 6 digit
> grids - maybe some kind of Logarithmic scoring method ie. 10 km, 100 km, 1000
> km, 10000 km
> would be 1x 2 x 3x 4x the normal point band score… ie. on 50 Mhz 1 pt x 3
> for a 1000 km contact…
>
> We should also encourage everyone to do their best regarding their stations -
> not forgetting WSJT and EME. Kudos to the Rovers on this aspect, I’ve
> watched Bill VE3CRU
> and VE3OIL, VE3SMA etc work rover magic… but I’m not crazy about “captive
> rovers” who only work their guys… I think that is “gaming the system”...
>
> If you want to encourage activity, then make it attractive for everyone,
> level the playing field so to speak.
>
> Did I mention that it should also be FUN?
>
> I can’t remember the number of times we all got together post contest over
> pizza and beers to guffaw about
> the “arcing and sparking’, or the “lightning and tornado” or our hosts “home
> made pie “…. it was FUN….lets keep it FUN, that’s what’s kept VHF UHFers
> together since
> we found out about DX on 5 m...
>
> 73 Dana VE3DS
> VE3ONT FN03fq
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