1. VHF Contesting Primer PVRC Contesting Seminar Fredericksburg, VA W3ZZ – 3/19-20/2005

2. LOCATION • Clear in directions of high activity • Space Wave – EPA, NJ, NY, New England • Es - 180°-300° • Above the trees • No Noise Pollution • Alternative locations • Portable Hilltops • Rovers

3. STATION DESIGNOverall • Multimode Radios • HF+V/UHF Radios • Multiple Transverters • Microwaves

4. STATION DESIGNReceivers I • Huge Signal Disparities • Weak Signals • Relative lack of QRM

5. STATION DESIGNReceivers II • Adequate sensitivity • Superior strong signal handling capability • Low phase noise

6. STATION DESIGN Transmitters I • Enough ERP to be heard • Few pileups • Amplifiers >200 watts expensive and difficult to find

7. STATION DESIGN Transmitters II • 100-200 watts • Home brew amplifiers for powers >500w

8. STATION DESIGN Antenna Systems I • Single band • Very sharp patterns with few sidelobes • Usually more gain than HF • Ground gain unimportant except on 6m • Many λ high • Low loss feedline critical

9. STATION DESIGN Antenna Systems II • Modern electrical design • Reasonable mechanical design • Reasonable size • At least Belden 9913F7 or LMR 400UF • Multiband stacks

11. INTEGRATION BOXES • Instant band changing • Transverter selection • Amplifier switching • Audio distribution • CW keyline distribution • Microphone distribution • Digital signal generation [WSJT] • Remote preamp sequencers

12. OPERATING BASICS I • Major and minor VHF contests • ARRL January Sweepstakes • ARRL June/September QSO Parties • CQ WW July VHF Contest • ARRL August UHF Contest • ARRL 10 GHZ Contest • ARRL and DUBUS EME Contests • Spring/Fall Sprints

13. Bands Scoring Q points – band dependent X Multipliers – sum of grid squares per band OPERATING BASICS II

14. OPERATING BASICS III • Operating frequencies

15. OPERATING BASICS IV • Propagation • 6 meters • 2m, 1¼ m, 70 cm • Microwaves • Common/enhanced distances • Propagation modes

16. OPERATING BASICS V • Zero sum game • Moving band to band • Calling CQ vs S&P • Other guy’s environment • Band “openings” • No activity between midnight and 7 a.m. • Be aware of local rover routes and times

17. SERIOUS VHF CONTESTING • Level of competition is reasonable -Current winners the equivalent of HF little pistols • Physical location is the key • High, clear and quiet • Massive microwave station is required • A matter of integration – pieces are available commercially • Accurate pointing – digital readout • Cost is reasonable compared to high level HF contesting if you can do your own antenna work

18. SERIOUS RADIOS • Two identical HF IF strips • Orion, FT1000MP/INRAD, Elecraft K2 • FT9000, IC7800 • One 2 meter/70 cm microwave IF • See above – or SDR1000 • Transverters for 6m through 3 cm • DEM, SSB, DB6NT • Amplifiers for 6m through 3 cm • Lunar Link, DEM, DB6NT, surplus

19. SERIOUS ANTENNAS • TOWER 1 86 ft • 6M 6xC5-50 [C3I] @ 30, 44, 58, 72, 86, 100’ 17.8 dBi gain • TOWER 2 100 ft • 2M 6xFO12 [C3I] @ 52, 64, 76, 88, 100, 112’ 22.5 dBi gain • TOWER 3 80 ft • 1¼M 2xFO16/70cm 2xFO22 [C3I] [H frame] 19.1/20.9 dBi; 33cm 2x3333LY/23 cm 2x2445LY [Directive Systems] [H frame] 23/24 dBi • TOWER 4 60 ft • 13/9 cm 6’ dish dual band feed 31/34 dBi; 5/3 cm 4’ dish dual band feed 35/40 dBi

20. THE BOTTOM LINE • Interesting propagation • Technical challenges • Really weak signals H a v e F U N !!