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Explore VHF Contesting: Rules, Equipment, Strategies & More by Scott Honaker - N7WLO

Delve into the world of VHF contesting with insights from Scott Honaker (N7WLO). Learn about rules, classes, grid points, equipment options, and strategies to enhance your competitive edge. Discover the benefits of VHF contesting, from emergency preparedness to embracing different propagation modes. Scott Honaker provides valuable information on VHF propagation modes, new modes like PSK-31, and offers practical tips on monitoring activity and maximizing QSO points. Whether you're a seasoned contestant or a beginner, this guide covers essential aspects of VHF contesting to help you have a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

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Explore VHF Contesting: Rules, Equipment, Strategies & More by Scott Honaker - N7WLO

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  1. VHF Contesting Scott Honaker – N7WLO

  2. Why Contesting? • Emergency preparedness • Familiarity with equipment • Operating practice • Competitive need • Challenge Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  3. Why VHF? • More about location than station – even playing field • Cooperative contest • More relaxed • Less band “fighting” • No awkward antennas • Everyone can play – available to all class licenses Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  4. Rules - Classes • Single operator (high/low power) • (Limited) multi-operator • Rover • Single operator portable (QRP) Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  5. Rules – Grid Points • Maidenhead Grids • 1 degree latitude x 2 degrees longitude • Either 4 or 6 character designator • Covers the whole world • Seattle is CN87, Bellingham CN88 • Vancouver, BC is CN89, Portland is CN85 • 1 Grid point for each grid contacted per band • 1 Grid point for each grid activated Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  6. Maindenhead Grids Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  7. Rules – QSO Points • Modes (CW, SSB, FM) • Most activity is USB on/near call channel • A QSO is same points regardless of mode • No additional points for additional modes • Bands • 6m to light • Higher bands worth more points • Exchange – Call and grid square • Score = Grid pts x QSO pts Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  8. Equipment - Radios • Multimode (CW, SSB, FM) – most activity is SSB • Multiband - 6m, 2m, 220, 440, 1.2 gig • FM OK 2m and up • IC-706MKIIG, FT-88100(D), FT-817, TS-2000(X) • Don’t forget IC-T81s, TH-F6A, etc. • Transverters Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  9. Equipment – Antennas • Loops • Beams – Planars - Dishes • Horizontal polarity • Verticals only useful on 2m, 222, 446 • Arrow, Cushcraft, M2, KB6KQ, Par • Mast/rope, telescoping masts, park-on mounts, etc. Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  10. Facilities • Car • Camper • Truck • Tent • Trailer • RV Rodger KK7LK on Mt Anderson Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  11. Rover Vehicles Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  12. Mapping • Delorme Gazetteer – Identifies grid squares and good operating locations • Topo data is critical for finding good operating locations or route planning • GPS – Can provide antenna bearings • Locations scouted on • http://pw1.netcom.com/~n7cfo/locations.htm • Radio Mobile software • http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  13. Locations • Altitude • Access to population centers • Unique grid squares • Accessibility – rover • Beware of “populated” hill tops – may need intermod filters Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  14. VHF Propagation Modes • Sporadic-E • Most common on 6m • Troposcatter/ducting • Most effective on 6m through 70cm • More common in summer, near water • Aurora • Works late at night on 6m and 2m • Point antenna north Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  15. New Modes • Not too common - yet • PSK 31 • Similar noise immunity to CW • Easily run on most laptops • http://aintel.bi.ehu.es/psk31.html • JT 44 with WSJT • Copy up to 30dB below the noise floor • Computer clock and radio freq must be accurate • Not real-time, must be scheduled/arranged • http://pulsar.princeton.edu/~joe/K1JT/ Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  16. PSK 31 Frequencies Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  17. VHF During Field Day • VHF/UHF QSO counts are notoriously low • The vast majority of QSOs are voice • FD scoring gives 1 point for voice, 2 points for CW and 2 points for data QSOs • Typical VHF QSOs might be 80 – all voice • If 50% added soundcard modes, we get 5 points per station rather than 1 point • 80 points becomes 240 points • This doesn’t count QSOs now possible with PSK/JT44 Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  18. Strategies • Make noise • Pay attention to 6m band openings • Track rovers and the bands they have • Identify big stations with multiple bands • Use CW/PSK/JT44 for extra QSO points • Bring as many bands as possible • Scan 2m FM simplex channels and 446.000 • Check out http://www.pnwvhfs.org Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  19. Monitoring Activity • 50.125 – 50.200 MHz USB • 52.525 MHz FM • 144.200 – 144.250 MHz USB • 146.580 FM and 2m simplex (not 146.520) • 225.500 FM or 222.100 USB • 432.100 – 432.120 MHz USB • 446.000 MHz FM • 1294.500 FM or 1296.100 USB Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  20. Additional Field Day Info • Use HamScope/MixW/WSJT to make CW/PSK available to all operators – it all loads on the logging machine • Arm the GOTA station with VHF and multimode software • Anyone not operating should be contacting the VHF and GOTA stations • Use down-time for JT44 contacts – while continuing to monitor other frequencies Scott Honaker - N7WLO

  21. Have Fun! Scott Honaker - N7WLO

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