John,
Re the 35WPM CW. At least on 2M and above, the contest CW that I've always
heard (and worked) is more like 12-15 WPM and sometimes, slower. Me? If I
heard a 35 WPM signal, instead of QRZ, you'd hear me sending QRS.
Al - W9KXI
FN12ne
-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf
Of John Kludt
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2018 10:09 AM
To: paul@n1bug.com
Cc: VHF Contesting
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] FN55 result and comments
Paul,
Paul, I do my contesting from or EM84 or EM85 and the situation you
describe is very similar to ours. And I agree that somebody needs to do
Search and Pounce. Think about it, if everyone was in run mode calling CQ
there would be no QSO's. None! We would all be in our own little worlds
calling CQ with abandon but there would be no one to answer because
everyone was calling CQ. I actually got into this on 222 MHZ a couple of
contests ago. I was calling CQ and making no Q's but I did notice 2 or 3
signals on the panadapter. Having a Q rate that was approaching zero I
decided to go take a look. Huh, neither had been worked and both were
blissfully calling away with CQ. So I worked 'em. The point is for
Running (calling CQ) to work there have to be Search and Pounce players as
well.
My second point is a panadapter really helps. If you don't have one, get
one. There are easy enough to make today with a cheap SDR running on the
IF frequency. Maybe not elegant but they work.
My third point at the risk of being accused of "destroying amateur radio 15
seconds at a time" is to try the digital modes, specifically FT8 and
MSK144. This last contest was pretty dead for us and those 2 modes on 6m
and 2m made the difference between total boredom and a reasonable score.
Not a great score but a reasonable score. We also used SSB and we tried
CW. The CW was done by our best 35 wpm op and netted almost nothing for
the effort.
My last point is it seems to me this are really two very different
contests. One is for the high density population of the NE and the other
is for the rest of us. Just the way it is. I have often wondered what the
rankings would look like if the scores could somehow be adjusted for
population density. Point is our primary competitor is ourselves as
population just isn't on our side. Each year we try to do a little better
than we did the year before. Not whining just observing the obvious.
We would love to work you on the next contest and we will be looking your
way. Turn your beams just a little more toward the SE. Don't give up, VHF
contesting is still a great way to play radio
John K4SQC
On Mon, Sep 17, 2018 at 8:00 AM N1BUG <paul@n1bug.com> wrote:
> 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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> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
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>
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