I’m looking forward to the GW SOTA weekend that’s not too far away now, but I have a ‘polarising’ question. I will be either taking my FT-857 or the IC-705 with the intent of doing plenty of SBB on 2m. Antenna-wise I’ll be using a log periodic beam, with the ability to be either horizontally or vertically polarised.
Given there will be lots of people out and about on summits (hopefully partaking in the 2m SSB challenge), but only using slim-jim’s or similar, could there be a concensous to remain vertically polarised amongts? To find an answer to that question, I have constructed the following poll to try and get to the bottom of this ultra-critical[1] point:
To be clear:- ssb is my preferred mode but not on 2m. I gave up 2m ssb about 12 years ago when the number of chasers became rather low and HF ssb was more attractive and less cause of QRM for M6BWA. I do have two or three radios that will do it 2m ssb but none that I now carry. So, regardless of conditions, I expect to use 40m and/or 20m ssb whatever anyone else is doing.
See you there, 73, Rod
Having set up a poll, you probably hate what I’m doing, i.e. ignoring the poll options and posting a wordy answer. But unless the pollster adds a ‘IT DEPENDS [Please explain]’ box, I usually can’t tick any box.
If the ‘GW weekend’ event were a 2m SSB-only event, IMO, it would be worth taking my 2m (horizontally-polarized) Yagi / rotatable pole (with non-twisting guying system) to work all those other stations doing 2m SSB [and leave all my HF stuff at home]
I think the ‘GW weekend’ is an informal event where activators are working any band / any mode and it’s you (Dave) who is focussing on 2m SSB. IMO, this is like a normal activation where I look to see who else has alerted for 2m SSB about the same time as I’m planning an activation. For these ‘normal’ activations I also like to do HF as well as 2m FM/SSB/CW. So, I trade antenna performance for convenience and comfort in bad weather, and use the same vertically-polarized antenna (½-wave whip or J-pole) for all 2m modes
If there are lots of activators on GW summits, these S2S ops should have little trouble working each other with 5-10W of 2m SSB using simple vertical antennas
I’m also looking forward to it too and considering my intention is to work on VHF/UHF/SHF here is my perspective.
Wokring most of the other summits on the day has tended to take place on 2m FM usually with a handie but with the challenge it wouldnt surprise me if SSB makes a more substantial appearance.
When I do go onto 2m SSB it will probably be vertical just so it saves swapping the polarisation when switching to FM. Later on I may then goto horizontal. Chances are people will work each other multiple times , firstly on 2m FM then on their favoruite.
Having said that, depending on the weather, I may have multiple rigs and antennas setup so it becomes a moot point and its handy that I won’t be alone with M1BZJ who likes to do HF also monitoring.
In my head currently the order or ops will be 23cm (FM/SSB) - horizontal, 2m SSB vertical, 70cm FM vertical, 70cm SSB (horizontal) , 2m FM vertical, 2m SSB horizontal.With a 2m set for FM S-T-S and other random stuff.
Its easier to do stuff like this when you pick an easy summit too
I am sure we will work each other one way or another on the day.
Main thing is to have fun and not worry about baggng every contact everywhere.
