An unexpected encounter with VHF CW/SSB folks

[EI4JY]

What meant to be a quiet, regular FM activation of a modest EI/IE-034 4-pointer turned out to be a remarkable SWL experience of a 2m band CW/SSB contesting.

It is all started with a lovely black cat crossing a road just before I’ve turned to the road to the summit I have no problems with cats even if they are black, so I’ve moved on.

Then, a (rat)pack of horses came in unusually close, silently asking what on Earth I am doing on their land on a Sunday afternoon.

Then, being just 15 minutes from the summit I’ve answered to Gerald’s @MW0WML SOTA CQ just on my HT and 1/4 telescopic, too early and no S2S this time!

The actual activation was slow, the band was really quiet. I’ve only managed to get 5 QSOs in almost an hour. But then I’ve recalled that there supposed to be a number of VHF contests in progress this weekend. However, that did’t help either, as I would expect some FM contest activity too, there was NONE though!

Keep scratching my head and quietly blaming myself why I still don’t have a multi-mode kit, I’ve realised that my Kenwood TH-F7 HT is actually multi-mode (RX only) on 2 meters! It took me few seconds to hook it to my beam and then the world has changed The CW/SSB portion of the band in contrast to FM was pretty much alive and felt almost like an HF band.

There were perhaps a dozen of stations all over. The most interesting to me was F5SGT/P as I’ve never heard a continental station on 2m while on my SOTA outings.

Fairly impressed, I’ve made some recordings, featuring F5SGT, G3SRT, GI3VFW, G8SRC, GW0GEI, EI6GF. I guess most if not all are club stations with some serious power budget, but still …

VHF Contest 2025-July-06 outtakes

73 de EI4JY, Alex

[K6YK]

Nice to hear there was some activity in your vicinity, Alex! I was able to make only six QSOs on 6 meters in the contest at this location (CM97). Very poor turnout. Don’t know about 2 meters, I didn’t listen. I don’t think FM was allowed in this contest, it’s strictly SSB/CW.
73,
John, K6YK

[EI3LH]

Nice one! Great report. I was out running trails today. Did have the FT65 with me back at the motor but came back in bits so didn’t fancy giving the HT a quick tickle. I’ll put your CS in my ham alert so I can chase another time so.

2m and 70cm. The crème de la menthe of radio bands!

[EI4JY]

@K6YK

I don’t think FM was allowed in this contest, it’s strictly SSB/CW

There was 4 separate contests running same time, IRTS and RSGB Field Days + RSGB VHF Fixed Station Contest + 144MHz Backpackers. It looks like FM was allowed on all, but no one really bothered (I did get one QSO with one of the Backpackers participants though)

[K6YK]

OK. I was referring to the CQ WW VHF contest. I didn’t know about the others.
JL

[MM0FMF]

@EI4JY

like FM was allowed on all

The main reason is the futility of calling on FM. The overwhelming majority of FM users do not know how to take part in a contest so should someone reply it can take a lot of effort to get sufficient info to make an accurate log entry. The UKACs have helped increase the number of people who do know what to do but still overall it can be much effort for almost no reward. Minor issues are due to the typical cross-polarisation losses between vertically installed FM antennas and the horizontal beams used by the contest stations.

The result is for the few contacts made, the effort nearly always exceeds the points earned.

[DL1CR]

@EI4JY

why I still don’t have a multi-mode kit,

The Quansheng UV-K5 with the corresponding free software is more than just a working toy. For around €20, you get a handy 2m/70cm FM/SSB/CW transceiver.

The receiver, of course, has little resistance to overload, and the modulation is double-sideband without carrier cancellation at about 1W. This is familiar from the past and was called AM.

But it works quite well.

Here’s a video of me participating in a VHF contest with a range of about 50km. That was during the climb to my beloved Summit DM/NS-122, by the way.

73 Chris

DL1CR SSB contest with Quansheng on a hike

Software Quansheng UV-K5 - Manuale dei Firmware IJV • ITA-ENG

[9A3IV]

Or, just use old, trusty ft817. You can buy it for half of price of new digital handy

[EI3KA]

Hats off to you, Alex for operating FM only. It’s a pity there isn’t more regular 2m CW/SSB activity to take advantage of. I’ve more or less given up on Frustration Mode for activating, Even on the IRTS 2m counties contest Sundays, the QSY rule make it difficult to rack up much of a score on FM.

73, John EI3KA

[GW0PLP]

I gave up 144mhz SSB just over 12 months ago after being on the band since 1989. I took the beam down and gave it away. FT8 has killed the band and 50mhz is going the same way.

[EI4JY]

@MM0FMF

The overwhelming majority of FM users do not know how to take part in a contest so should someone reply it can take a lot of effort to get sufficient info to make an accurate log entry.

The only time I’ve ever taken part in a VHF contest was last year’s IRTS Counties. I was lucky to make around three dozen of FM only QSOs, however the people there perfectly knew what they were doing, granted we all were competing between ourselves, with no or very little random, out of the blue hams

@MM0FMF

Minor issues are due to the typical cross-polarisation losses between vertically installed FM antennas and the horizontal beams used by the contest stations.

100% ! In my small beam case in was from full readability on H to near nothing on V. Better for stronger stations, but that will make a difference for FM only V folks.

@DL1CR

The Quansheng UV-K5 with the corresponding free software is more than just a working toy. For around €20, you get a handy 2m/70cm FM/SSB/CW transceiver

Although I never seriously looked at those it is indeed better than my RX only F7! I should check that out, it would be interesting to compare those little wonders on RX. So far I was only considering the likes of 817/857/897 or perhaps TM-255/TR-751

@EI3KA

for operating FM only

After 4 years of FM only I feel a bit exhausted now John That CW/SSB experience was like a breath of fresh air, really exciting. Perhaps I should finally DO something to move on

@EI3KA

the QSY rule

That was frustrating, can’t understand why the rule is in place

[MM0EFI]

10 of my last 11 activations have been qualified on 2m FM or 2m SSB. I only used HF on 3 of them. I’ve had pleasing results from central Scotland and surprising results from the Highlands.

Success in GM (well the remote parts of it) is akin to microwaving. I use whatsapp, club facebook groups and email lists, as well as SOTA alerts and spots to announce my plans. Dundee ARC are very responsive. Aberdeen ARS, less so at times.

Yesterday, I activated Morven GM/ES-018 because Simon @GM4JXP was on a summit I needed for a complete, and also because of the contest. I’m not a contester, but I’ve learned that giving a serial number and maidenhead location is all that is required. I made 15 contacts using 2m SSB and FM. Simon had similar, if not more success from Corwharn GM/ES-048.

QSO of the day was with Brian G4JYB, on 2m FM off the back of the beam. He thought I was on the nearby (to him) Caithness Morven, GM/NS-067. He didn’t know there were two of them and that I was on the Aberdeenshire Morven, some 170km south of him.

it was cold and windy on Morven, but I lasted over an hour

2m is alive, thanks to SOTA chasing and events like 145 Alive. Ops. in remote areas such as the Scottish islands, regularly monitor the band and use it daily.

[MM7MOX]

I was down at the harbour yesterday and couldn’t hear you Fraser, just your chasers (on 2m FM).
I only had the Quansheng handheld with me since I was supposed to be doing other stuff !
I’ll be out on the water for 145 alive on the 20th so should be able to offer some /MM QSO’s to folks.
I’m hoping to get up a summit this weekend, perhaps even into GM/ES if I can get my access pass stamped !
Andy
MM7MOX

[EI3KA]

@EI4JY

After 4 years of FM only I feel a bit exhausted now John That CW/SSB experience was like a breath of fresh air, really exciting. Perhaps I should finally DO something to move on

Don’t move on just yet, Alex! You’re rapidly closing in on a unique (for EI anyway) achievement

[MM0EFI]

@MM7MOX

into GM/ES if I can get my access pass stamped !

You’re welcome any time.

However, access is restricted to the following summits.
ES 05, 11, 24, 37, 45, 52, 58, 66, 69, 76 and 85. I’ll buy you a beer if you can knock off all of them.

[MM0FMF]

#76 Mile Hill GM/ES-076 is a surprising gem of a hill. Though the final ascent is somewhat steep!

c.f. Mile Hill GM/ES-076 Unique #494

[M0RWX]

Yesterday’s alert section showed that many who alerted for 2m would be operating SSB as part of the backpacker’s contest.

[MM0EFI]

@MM0FMF

#76 Mile Hill

A good day on 2m for me! Almost managed a QSO with Matthew @M0JSB, if I recall, and he was south of London that day.

[MM0FMF]

@MM0EFI

but I’ve learned that giving a serial number and maidenhead location is all that is required

Yes, it’s nice and simple and in the order report, number, locator please. There are some people who give the info a random order just to ensure you need to press F3/F4//F5 (Minos) a lot as they flit from field to field like a butterfly visiting all the blooms in your garden.

The hardest thing for people is knowing their locator. If they never do any radio that needs that info it’s understandable they wont know it. Though there are plenty of websites where you can point and click on the map and get your locator, there are quite a few people who really cannot read a map and don’t know where they are on it anyway!

[M0JSB]

@MM0EFI

Almost managed a QSO with Matthew @M0JSB, if I recall, and he was south of London that day.

It was as close to a valid QSO as it could be without being legit enough to log it. We’ll have to try again one day!