This all started when a really bad winter storm managed to snap my 222
MHz yagi in half. I got to thinking that I had put an extreme amount of
effort into building that antenna, and then realized that it had only
been used on a couple of ARRL September contest weekends. Some other
hams were involved in the 222 antenna project. K1DY helped me with the
assembly of the individual yagis. I remember setting up an antenna range
out in the field to analyze the gain pattern and sidelobes. We went
through three different iterations of element sets. I documented each
yagi and gave each one a name for the record. The obvious name choice
for each one was the name of the Three Stooges: Moe, Larry, Curly, and
Shemp. ( I left out Joe!) Warren WB2ONA helped to haul the H frame and
yagis up the tower. I think WA1T and W2PED were there manning the guide
ropes. All that work for a few weekends of contest activity.
In those few contest weekends, I was always amazed at how well it seemed
to work. That array helped our multi-op station grid count immensely. We
used t get over 40 grids on 222 MHz in a typical weekend. Fast forward
to today, and the VHF bands are struggling for activity, and many people
had a myriad of solutions for the situation. I saw that the 222 MHz band
was especially hard hit. What better way to improve things than to bring
back the activity nights. I also got to use my 222 yagis!
It started in April with a Tuesday evening try. In the past, Monday
night was 144 Night. Wednesday was reserved for 432. etc. etc. Quite a
number of 222 ops showed up. I think I worked 14 stations. It was a
great way for the VHFers to check out their gear and have a distinct
possibility of making a real VHF contact with one of their peers. There
are a lot of bands and a limited supply of dedicated VHFers. So we
started trying to resurrect the Tuesday Night 222 MHz Activity Night.
It seems to be catching on. I can't describe how much fun it is to make
some contacts on CW or SSB and talk to folks all interested in making
contacts on a rather orphaned VHF band. Later on we try some digital
modes. There have been contacts made on JT65B, FT8, MSK144, and FSK441.
I think a few Q65 skeds are in there too. New stations are showing up
slowly but surely, and it is gratifying to see many familiar calls each
Tuesday evening!
Here is a summary of my log for last night, August 24, 2021:
DATE TIME CALLSIGN FREQUENCY MODE LOCATION
REMARKS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08/24/2021 22:58 N2GHR 222.100 SSB FN30KU Paul
207 mi
08/24/2021 23:10 WW2Y 222.100 SSB FN20QJ loud on SSB
08/24/2021 23:13 KO4YC 222.100 SSB FM17gv gud sigs
on SSB once the beam was peaked! 510 miles
08/24/2021 23:18 W8ZN 222.105 CW FM09TE 235
degrees 485 miles
08/24/2021 23:36 KC2HIZ 222.105 SSB FN22XU
fantastic signal from FN22
08/24/2021 23:37 K1PXE 222.105 SSB FN31KE 188
miles
08/24/2021 23:43 N2SLO 222.105 SSB FN30JV 209
miles
08/24/2021 23:55 VE3DS 222.105 CW FN03FQ 430 miles
08/24/2021 23:59 K3GNC 222.105 SSB FN20ja Jerome
gud sigs! 321 miles
08/25/2021 00:02 N3RG 222.105 SSB FM29ki 80 watts
18 el HB K1FO yagi 354 miles
08/25/2021 00:05 N1GJ 222.105 SSB FN41RR 118
miles
08/25/2021 00:15 WA1T 222.105 SSB FN43 2.5 mile
path
08/25/2021 00:32 WZ1V 222.105 SSB FN31RH Good
Buddy Ron!
08/25/2021 00:32 W9KXI 222.105 SSB FN12NE Al 310
miles
08/25/2021 00:58 W1JR 222.105 SSB FN42ev 49 miles
08/25/2021 00:59 WW1M 222.105 SSB FN43PI 13 miles
new 4 el yagi.
08/25/2021 01:20 WA3EOQ 222.105 SSB FM09jo 502
miles 90 watts
08/25/2021 01:21 K1RZ 222.105 CW FM19JH 431 miles
08/25/2021 01:31 KE8FD 222.174 FT8 EN80TJ 623 miles
08/25/2021 01:47 KE8FD 222.090 CW EN80TJ 623
miles on CW 600 watts at Gary's TX.
08/25/2021 01:59 VE3ZV 222.095 SSB EN92VW 470 miles
on SSB!
There was some interesting propagation going on in the lower midwest,
and AJ6T , in EM66 managed three awesome contacts using FT8 and pushing
his 10 watts between 750 and about 400 km. He worked W5EME in Louisiana
(I wish I could do that!) for his longest haul! I was hoping to get on
early this AM, to check out condx, but yesterday was all tower work for
me with five trips up the 100 ft 222 tower, and I was exhausted. I slept
in this morning.
I had an interesting contact on FT8, I finally worked someone who was
beyond my normal CW range. I worked KE8FD who is NE of Columbus, Ohio at
623 miles. I got all excited but then noticed that I could hear him (or
his tones) in the speaker, so we tried a CW contact and worked quite
easily with weak but steady signals. So I was delighted with both of
those contacts, but was especially pleased to find a station at at the
limit of my troposcatter footprint. It will be fun to try more attempts
with Gary in the future. As far as I could tell, there was little
enhancement in New England last night. A contact with KE8FD might be a
fluke, but I have a feeling that it may be possible more often than not!
Thanks to all who made Tuesday evening so much fun.
73
Dave K1WHS
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|