6-Apr-08 / First 70MHz Contest

[M1GRY]

I was unable to take part in the contest due to not having finished my transverter project. The project has be ongoing for 2 years, and might be ready for next year .

I used my IC7000 to listen for contest stations. I was located in IO81QL (Bristol) about 100ft asl in a local park. My antenna was only a whip mounted in a mag-mount on the roof of my car. Clearly not ideal, but I couldn't be bothered to erect the dipole (as the tripod mount has a tendency to fall over in windy weather!).

Most stations didn't register on the S-meter.

I heard the following stations calling CQ on fixed frequencies:- G4RFR IO90, G8CUL, GD0EMG, G3MEH IO91, G2KF/P, G3LVP IO81 and G1KHX IO81(5&3!).

I also heard MW0HOV(?) IO71, GW3XJQ IO71 and G4MQL working one of the above stations.

I was particularly interested to hear a GD station on 4m (and not for the first time), particularly as I have never heard a GD station on 6m. There's definitely a difference between propagation on 4 and 6 (but I am no expert).

Since there were few QSOs and stations were on the edge of reception I was unable to find out the locators for most stations. One station gave his locator every now that then in his CQ call and I found that most useful (other stations please note for the future).

I hope that the participants had an enjoyable day and didn't suffer from too much snow.

73

--Gary (M1GRY)

[GW3XJQ]

I was pleased to see my callsign there Gary.

Cross polarised and I am using just 25 Watts from a Spectrum transverter and a 30 year old 4 element yagi which was at about 25 feet.

73, hope to work you sometime,

Martin GW3XJQ

[G3LVP]

[quote="m1gry"]I was unable to take part in the contest due to not having finished my transverter project. The project has be ongoing for 2 years, and might be ready for next year ;-).]

Only two years! I have a 2m linear on the bench which I started 5 ? years ago. (I know people who spend 10+ years building light aircraft that's a real challenge).

[ Clearly not ideal, but I couldn't be bothered to erect the dipole (as the tripod mount has a tendency to fall over in windy weather!).]

Perhaps a halo would be better?

[There's definitely a difference between propagation on 4 and 6 (but I am no expert). ]

4's better than 6 except when it comes to Spe and better than 2 except when it comes to tropo, take your pick.

. [One station gave his locator every now that then in his CQ call and I found that most useful (other stations please note for the future).]

Me? I can't understand why people don't give their locators, then at least you would then know which way to beam. Even worse are those individuals who call 'CQ to the North' etc. but don't say where they are beaming from pointless - excise the pun.

I understand that there were some GM's on but I didn't hear any although the Angus beacon's signal was average strength. My best contact was probably G0HIK/P IO84 but I've not checked the log yet. Having made a late start to to an equipment fault I worked 24 stations.

[I hope that the participants had an enjoyable day and didn't suffer from too much snow.]

I was nice & warm in my shack

73

--Gary (M1GRY)[/quote]

[G0UWK]

Martin,
I looked for you a few times but could not hear you calling,
Re GM there was a a few qrv,
GM4AFF, GM0USI, GM4DIJ
Condx were not great to GM for me (my Loc is IO83VC)
Other signals were good including G2KF/P peaking a real 59 from Cornwall
G4RFR 59+ sometimes,
Worked 35 stns just giving away points here.
Thouroughly enjoyed it.

[G7JJZ]

Hi Gary,

It sounds like you did really well there, I bet you're looking forward to your transverter. I'd be interested to know what modes the stations you logged were using. Were they all SSB, or a mix?

Phil.

[M1GRY]

Phil,

I was only monitoring the SSB portion of the band. In previous 4m contests I have taken part using a FM only Tait T198. I only ever had a few contacts and I know that some stations refuse to answer contest CQ calls in the FM portion of the band (as I over-heard one local amateur explain to another on one of the FM channels).

I'd recommend not to bother entering any 4m contest until you have SSB equipment, and the 4m contests should have a rule added to make them SSB, CW, and DATA modes only (this statement is meant to be controversial!).

It's pity that the 4m contests are only in the first few months of the year as they generate activity which has allowed me to test a number of constructional projects. For example I built a pre-amplifier, which although it did work, did also accidently transmit too!

Perhaps the VHF contest committee (whoever they are) could be lobbied to have a 4m FM only contest, as I am sure that there a number of amateurs who have FM equipment but don't use the band as they perceive it to have little activity. It would also be interesting to see just how good propagation is in this mode.
[ I once was having a QSO on 6m in SSB mode. We could only just about hear each other. We moved to FM (same power) and were both shocked that reception was much easier. ]

--Gary (M1GRY)

[G4ASR]

Gary M1GRY said "Perhaps the VHF contest committee (whoever they are)
could be lobbied to have a 4m FM only contest...."


http://www.vhfcc.org/

and click on 'committee'.



Send your contest suggestions to ......

chairman@vhfcc.org

[G4MDC]

Yah-boo! What about a 4m AM only contest!!!
Sure this debate has gone on for years. It is a great shame that it's only competition that brings on activity. Why is that??

I'm in JO89XI at the moment apparently.....sorry no 4m gear and maybe not allowed to use even if I had. HI

[M1GRY]

David,

thank you for the link. I have forwarded my comments to the email address you gave.

I have suggested a FM only 4m contest. Should it ever come to be, then at least I can give it a proper attempt, since I have a converted PMR (albeit currently broken). But there will be the motivation to get it fixed and get my oscillating pre-amp boxed and working!

--Gary (M1GRY)

[PA5DD]

Another format, that could be used is that of the 10m NAC. The concept is at moment being considered to boost the activity of the 4m NAC (in OZ). These are the rules (in Swedish):

http://www.sk4ao.net/nac28/08/regler08.htm

The concept is to have a segmented contest with one hour for each mode. There are tabulations for each mode, and an overall class as well. Stations can be worked again as long as it is another mode.

The snag is more work for the contest manager, and the format does not fit well into most computer logging programs. The upside is more focus, more QSOs and promotion of all modes.

73 Uffe PA5DD