3 Park FM Rove in September VHF Contest

[@Scout75PortableRadio]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Mike!

[@MikeN2MAK]

You’re welcome. Thanks for all the great videos!

[@knutekjc93]

Always a good call starting the rove off close to home - I almost always cover off the Carlton Hill area (Werner Hill) or down towards Pavilion to start as it's only about 15 miles from the QTH.. I've lost count of the amount of times I've had to head back for a cable, adapter, or CW keyer. We'll have to get you out in January - arguably the most fun of the three!

[@MikeN2MAK]

I might do the January contest from Bare Hill, off of Canandaigua Lake. It's both SOTA and POTA, about 1500+ feet up. I have an ice hut and heater, which I used for the contest 2 years ago. We'll see how my schedule looks when we get closer though.

[@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland]

awesome!! Great job Mike, thanks for sharing.. 73🎙Ira

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks, I had a great time. It was fun seeing what FM could do.

[@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland]

Have you tried the FM satellite 🛰 as yet?? Pretty cool as well. I was on FM but on 10 meters👌🏽 Tnx 73 🎙Ira

[@MikeN2MAK]

@@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland I haven't tried satellites yet, but it's on the list! I still need to give 10m FM a shot too.

[@hamradioonthego]

Great job Mike!. With VHF Contests you don't need a big contest radio like on HF. Just a handful of HTs like you have and some antennas and a great location preferably with height and you can have some fun. 73

[@MikeN2MAK]

Exactly! There are plenty of inexpensive HTs and mobile radios for 6m-70cm, including 1.25m. And it's not too difficult to make 1/4-wave, Yagi's or J-pole antennas for them either.

[@LB0FI]

I gotta get out on when the VHF-contests are on. Thanks for the inspiration Mike!

[@MikeN2MAK]

They can be a lot of fun, plus a great opportunity to try new things and learn.

[@digital.rancher]

Nice job Mike...looks like it was a blast!

[@MikeN2MAK]

It was so much fun playing on FM, especially with the great conditions and all the activity on a contest weekend.

[@robertmeyer4744]

Great job Mile. Some great parks ! Nice to cover all VHF and UHF bands . I even worked 2 meter AM and SSB . That really goes far. I made a end fed half wave just for 6 meters. tunes 1.2 SWR works great . I just string it up a DX commander pole. I wish the IC 705 had 1.25 meters. AM and SSB would go great on that band. 1.25 meters can open right up and go very far. 6 meters can be great . I suddenly can open and make amazing contacts but it can close just a fast as well. I made bunch FT8 on 6 meter when that hurricane came through from Texas last summer. Was not Sure if ducting or E layer but band was open nice for a while. When storm got real close the static made the bands un usable for me. Strong thunderstorms make a lot of lift and can open the bands . But when close to me I take my stuff down . I want to get some transverters to work more UHF bands . 73

[@MichaelWolford-p4d]

Can you provide the details on your home brew yet agi?

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks! I wish that the 705 and many other all-band/all-mode radios had 1.25m too. Someday I hope to be able to do weak signal modes on 1.25m, but for now it's limited to FM-only.

[@MikeN2MAK]

I just used an online Yagi calculator at www.changpuak.ch/electronics/yagi_uda_antenna_DL6WU.php. Since I just had enough for 2 elements, it's simply a radiating element and the reflector--no director. I hope that helps!

[@LB4FH]

Wow, a VHF POTA activation would be shocking here 😲

[@MikeN2MAK]

We're lucky to have a very active VHF group in Western New York and Southern Ontario. This might be more challenging in other regions.

[@LB4FH]

@@MikeN2MAK yeah, I had to call a guy up on the phone to get a VHF QSO here for my 10 band POTA award. SOTA is a bit different, depending on what part of the country you're in

[@scottleeney7717]

Does it matter if you log your calls into HAMRS or QRZ? I see so many options and new to HF.

[@MikeN2MAK]

You can log just about anyway you want. If you're submitting a log for the contest, there's direction on the website and tools to take an ADIF file and convert it. I'm most comfortable with HAMRS now, so that's what I use. I've been slowly trying out POLO though.