Well the dust has settled and I am busy building antennas for 222
and 432...
The comments from VE9AA underscore the plight of those in grids that
are off the beaten path. We want to work you. You want to work us.
But no one has ever come up with a strategy that helps.
It's hard enough from here. One needs legal limit and a high antenna
to make it reasonably fun. I can only imagine what it's like one or
two grids further north / east with lower antennas and/or less
power! No wonder they give up!
The one comment I keep getting is "call CQ, we will find you". After
contests I get "I looked up your way, where were you?" I say again:
Calling CQ from here DOES NOT WORK. I have spent hours CQing on 2
meters in every contest except this last one. I've finally given it
up because in all that time I never got more than two or three QSOs
that way. Meanwhile I was missing QSOs that could have been had by
searching and pouncing. Calling CQ actually REDUCES my score. I
continue to get comments about having a good signal when I work
people, yet calling CQ remains unproductive. Why? I have no idea.
Since no one has any other suggestions I will stick with the best
strategy I have been able to come up with: 100% S&P and available on
ON4KST chat. I can typically get about 35 to 40 QSOs with a full
effort running 2 meters only this way. It remains to be seen whether
having more bands reduces the number on 2 meters.
I intend to have 222 and 432 long yagis on the tower by January.
Whether those bands will be operational is yet to be determined.
73,
Paul N1BUG FN55mf
On 09/10/2018 06:02 PM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
> I feel your pain (and then some) neighbour.
>
>
>
> It saddens me to say that I've finally (after decades) given up on VHF
> contests, unless
>
> 6m is wide open.
>
>
>
> My patience finally wore out and many in the Maritimes are now also SK (or
> have moved away)
>
> leaving perhaps 1 in NS, 2 in Maine and if I am really lucky, 1 in NB.
>
>
>
> Keep the faith as long as you can Paul.
>
>
>
> Mike VE9AA FN66na
>
>
>
> Keswick Ridge, NB
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