In reply to M0CGH:
Or maybe we could do a 3.5Mhz challenge
Well the 12m challenge is the first of what we hope will be a series of events to promote and encourage activity in some of the lesser visited parts of the spectrum or operating modes.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
I have added a up-spec’ed 12m dipole to my webstore with a lower price to promote the Challenge.
73 Richard G3CWI
In reply to MM0GYX:
Hello Ian,
"…As for antenna, I’m with the dipole. "
I suppose for an activator the dipole is easier. I worked Marko S57MS/P (24.966Mhz)this afternoon on my vertical - his signal was 53-56. Then 10 minutes later he was a steady 58 with South and North America calling him. Then later did some experiments with DL9KU on 24.977 changing RF from 100w to 3w, 59+ on 100, 57 on 3w - interesting band so looking forward to the Challenge.
Bye for now
73
Mike G6TUH
In reply to G6TUH:
Hi Mike,
I think some of the activators use verticals and can get qrv pretty quickly. I just prefer the dipole, it’s resonant for a start and my experience so far on 15 meters at least has been quite good. I’m up to 11 NA States with my maximum 5 watts, sometimes less, depending on battery status. A s2s with WA7JTM/P, who was qrv in Arizona being the highlight. He was using a dipole too. I hadn’t even been spotted, the boy done good (him, not me).
100w to 3w is around -15dB, so your experiment looks to be bang on.
73,
Ian.
In reply to MM0GYX:
Hello Ian, well done you with the S2S with WA7JTM/P.
If it works don’t change anything 8) !!
Good luck in the Challenge - ears pinned back for you and others.
Bye for now & good luck
73
Mike G6TUH
In reply to G6TUH:
Thanks Mike, see you on 12 maybe. Just need to build something.
Ian.
In reply to MM0GYX:
What I hadn’t noticed until Richard’s posts triggered it was that normally activators would struggle getting their dipole up high enough when using bands like 40/20m. This is where 1/4wave is considered the minimum best height. But on 12m a 1/4wave is only 3m and 1/2 is 6m which are heights much more easily achieved.
It will be fascinating to see what comes out of this. Maybe activators should record the antenna setup in the comment field of at least 1 QSO for each activation they do on 12m so we can extract the results and compare more easily?
Also interesting is there have been many more 12m activations than I’m used to noticing since the challenge was announced as activators start experimenting. All it needs now is some way of easily showing the scores which is what I’ve been playing with on a wet Sunday afternoon.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
Andy,
I’ve only ever used a dipole and a maximum 5 watts. I don’t totally go along with the usual height rule for antennas when used on a hill. I really should build a vertical and do a proper comparison.
I’m currently looking at a vxo direct conversion design utilising one of the many keyer chips that are available for my 12m rig. I recently invested in EMRFD by W7ZOI so it’d be good to use a circuit from there.
If and when I make any 12m contacts I’ll be sure to add antenna data.
73,
Ian
In reply to MM0GYX:
I’ve started thinking about a rig for 12m too Colin.
Thinking about a DC VXO with a class E pinched from KD1JV’s design or
a more advanced superhet using some kind of crystal mixer with a vfo
suitably low to be stable-ish.
I’m no further forward with finding something to build.
I’ve just had my first 12m chaser contact with Dan, DL/OK1DIG and he’s still running a small pile up as I write, so I really need to get something sorted soon!
Too little time…
Pete
In reply to G4ISJ:
I’m assuming you haven’t got an FT817 (or similar) to use here.
How about modifying a chickenbox for 24MHz instead of 27MHz? They’re cheap and you’d be doing the Spectrum Purity Police a favour by removing another transceiver from 27.555MHz!
If you have 50MHz capability then a transverter with a 26MHz IF would do. (50.9-26 = 24.9)
A Tokyo HiPower HX-240 VHF to HF transverter is an idea. On the 21MHz setting, 144MHz in gives 21MHz out. So 147.9MHz in gives 24.9MHz out.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
A Tokyo HiPower HX-240 VHF to HF transverter is an idea. On the 21MHz
setting, 144MHz in gives 21MHz out. So 147.9MHz in gives 24.9MHz out.
THIS has to be one of the greatest pieces of radio gear EVER. I passed up on one a couple of years ago for only a few quid DOH! What a donkey!
Rob G7LAS
In reply to G7LAS:
Your email, check it!
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
A Tokyo HiPower HX-240 VHF to HF transverter is an idea. On the 21MHz
setting, 144MHz in gives 21MHz out. So 147.9MHz in gives 24.9MHz out.
Doesn’t it have any low pass filters on the o/p?
Well, my antenna experiments for the 12m Challenge continues.
Yesterday, conditions were much better on the higher frequencies than today, however, DX was better today…go figure!
On arriving on G/SP-013 on Sunday morning, I opted to start on the 20m band. A self spot brought about an immediate response from both Michael DJ5AV and Paul VK5PAS. Clearly, HF was in much better shape.
So, after 45 minutes, it was a QSY to 12m where there were plenty of takers. In just over 90 Min’s, a nice haul of 71 contacts was logged, although not too much DX amongst it and rather disappointingly, no Stateside chasers (just too early, I guess.) Number of DXCCs …I don’t have a clue.
In the end, it was down to the 17m band to provide the Stateside regulars.
Sadly, rain stopped play and this really was a shame as my battery with no VHF FM worked, was in good shape and I reckon the best of the 12m band was still to come.
A total of 108 HF contacts for the activation, was a nice result for a few hours work.
Back out on Gun again today and this time to try another antenna. On my arrival at the trig, I was greeted by a howling wind, so much so that one of the poles in my tent snapped while I was putting it up! Scratch one tent 
I opted to start on the 12m band, although not before nicking an s2s point from Paul GM4MD/P up on GM/SI-130 who was working 40m.
12m was much harder today and the contacts had to be earned. There was a steady flow of EU calls interspersed with Inter G, then out of the blue 3 JAs on the trot, but once again, no Stateside.
As quickly as the DX came, it went, so a QSY to 17 and 20m where I logged the regular chasers. Just before pulling the plug, I couldn’t resist re-spotting myself once more on 12m. My efforts were rewarded, when up popped Rich N4EX with a great signal…Mission accomplished. Big thanks Rich!
Biggest problem on the band for me was the queen, sugar, baker on both days, nevertheless, the 12m challenge should be fun.
Anyhow, 34 12m contacts today, making 105 for the 2 activations. Number of DXCCs, still none the wiser.
12m is interesting band that has plenty of DX waiting to be reeled in, however, with band conditions we’re experiencing at the moment, in my humble opinion, you’ll need to work for it.
One of the biggest headaches will be the refugees from the contests at weekends. They’ll be working the WARK bands and space will be at a premium, with the SOTA activators finding themselves up against it on such a narrow band.
73 Mike
2E0YYY
In reply to MM0FMF:
In reply to G4ISJ:
I’m assuming you haven’t got an FT817 (or similar) to use here.
I’ve got a KX3 but that lives in the shack and doesn’t fit in an Altoids tin!
Yes, I have my eye on some old 27Mhz kit…
Pete
In reply to G3CWI:
Doesn’t it have any low pass filters on the o/p?
Of course it does. But they’re not so tight that a realistic and usable power can’t be obtained. And if there’s not enough output, just run it off 16V and shout into the mic.
Waaaaaaahhhhhlo, waaaaaaaaaaaahhhlo. Yep, that works FB! 
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to 2E0YYY:
.
^^12m is interesting band that has plenty of DX waiting to be reeled in, ^^however, with band conditions we’re experiencing at the moment, in my humble ^^opinion, you’ll need to work for it.
Flare an hour ago reaching X2.8 with radio blackout and CME directed sideways.
Elliott, K6ILM
Deserves good
blacking out
In reply to K6ILM:
Hi Elliott,
10M nothing heard today
15 & 12M in good shape and open until about an hour or so ago
17 - NA coming in but subject to QSB
20 - lots of QSB, rapid and deep
40 - very high noise levels and at one stage today there were no signal spikes at all across the whole band.
Listened for GM4MD today on 80 = just noise
Perhaps the UK will be blacked out tomorrow? 8))
Mike G6TUH
PS: The only good shot I had at working VK9NT was yesterday but I and I suppose others were blacked out by the well known IT9 turkey who was “testing” on the rx and tx f.'s
In reply to 2E0YYY:
.
^^12m is interesting band that has plenty of DX waiting to be reeled
in, ^^however, with band conditions we’re experiencing at the moment,
in my humble ^^opinion, you’ll need to work for it.
Well 6m is the band of the day! It’s still humming…
Pete
In reply to G4ISJ:
No antenna for 6m with me, Pete and no chance of pegging one out.
The wind was ferocious and if it hadn’t been for the hawthorne tree by the trig supporting my antennas, I would have abandoned the activation.
Whem I spoke to Paul GM4MD/P, he and Gerald were having the same luck with the wind
73
Mike
2E0YYY