2M FM Paper Chasing

[N9JIY]

There are all kinds of DX and similar paper (awards) for HF SSB & CW ops to chase. # How about some paper for the VERY numerous 2M FM ops??? #Some examples might be:

* Century Simplex - 100 simplex voice contacts, with
# # #endorsements for 250,500,1000, etc contacts
* Century Simplex/Mobile - Same, but while mobile
* Same as above, but MCW & other modes??
* Miles per Miliwatt, voice, MCW, other
* What else???

Big question is who will sponsor/run such a program??? # But with all the Tech ops & 2M FM gear out there, it could be a VERY big deal.

[WB2WIK]

Most awards are based not on the quantity of contacts, but the quality of the contacts made, based on distance or DX entities, zones, etc. A combination of quantity and distance come into play in contests.

2m FM operators can already participate in VHF contests if they wish, and taking it seriously can lead to some beautiful reward certificates and plaques; and they may also participate in the long-established ARRL VUCC program (VHF/UHF Century Club) for working 100 or more grid squares.

It's my impression, and one that's been often repeated here and on other amateur websites and reflectors a lot in the past year or two, that 2m FM is kind of a dying art that has been losing popularity annually and will evidently diminish to the point where it's primary purpose and usefulness will be emergency communications -- not that that's a bad thing, it's very useful for that.

Certainly, operating from both coasts as I do (NYC Metro area, and the L.A. Metro area), I hear perhaps one-tenth the 2m FM activity, repeater or simplex, that I used to hear and actively participate in only about ten or fifteen years ago. Seems like a mode whose time has come, and gone.

WB2WIK/6

[KG4OWE]

Its funny really, Just about the time new people get started and we get an influx of new operators. We see that well the primary bands they are geared for are on the way out.

It makes me fell like I am chasing a finish line that keeps moving. No biggie, just add that to the list of things that move on me when I almost reach the goal.

73
Michael KG4OWE

[KD5KUF]

2 meter simplex and sideband are alive and well in 0 and 5 land, especially Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Louisiana. We have simplex nets and sideband nets and lots of ragchews. It doesn't just happen, you have to be on the band and talking and telling everyone about it. Get radioactive and put those tech licenses to use. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
If everybody is listening to a dead frequency and no one is talking, it will stay dead. Start your own groups and clubs and have club contests for the most contacts or longest distance, or even longest ragchews. The last one will really test your people skills if you can keep someone interested in your subject the longest.
Your only limits are your imagination, if you only imagine these QSOs and contests, they aren't happening. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

If you are saying "How come?" or "somebody ought to" then you are the one who needs to get off the stick and make it happen. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I guess he doesn't read QST VHF/UHF round up. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

73 de Craig...........KCØGOA

[KB1GYQ]

New England QSO Party (http://www.neqp.org/) also is in 2M FM...

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Suggested frequencies: CW - 3540 7040 14040 21040 28040, Novice/Tech - 3705 7130 21130 28130, SSB - 3880 7280 14280 21380 28380, VHF - 50.150 144.205 146.55 223.5 432.150 446.0 [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

[WB2WIK]

I'm about as &quot;in touch&quot; regarding 2m FM as anyone can possibly be. I own repeaters (active and operational) on both coasts. I've been a repeater owner/operator since 1975, and used FM and repeaters long before that. My first 2m FM mobile rigs were Motorola, GE, Pye, Link, etc. with vacuum tubes and dynamotors. I still have 2m FM rigs in each car, and HT's, plus a 250W base station at home.

I have nothing against 2m FM, I was just telling it the way it is, or at least the way it appears to be, for me.

Sigh.

I am also active on 2m SSB and CW, and note a slight increase in activity there over the years, probably due to the addition of 2m to many HF rigs. Indeed, it's great fun working Hawaii from the mainland and having 300-400 mile ragchews using simple equipment on SSB.

The decline in activity on the FM portion of the band was inevitable, since we had such a &quot;boom&quot; there in the late 1970's and a bit through the 1980's -- it couldn't possibly continue to boom like that, or the band would be so crowded today, it would be unusable. Here in southern California, like most places, we have hundreds of coordinated repeaters (2-3-4-5 coordinated on the same frequency pair, as long as they're 30-40-50 miles apart from each other) and nobody's using most of them.

Conversely, I see a huge upswing in HF-mobile activity on almost all HF bands. After work, if I get on HF to casually operate a while, two out of three contacts made over the next hour or two will be mobiles. Maybe this is due to all the CC&amp;R's prohibiting people from creating usable home stations.

WB2WIK/6

[KD5SYH]

Not only CC&amp;R's, but the increase in RFI/TVI! I know for me that is a major part of my ham experience. That is my #1 worry when I get on the bands. and it is made worse becasue I am 14 years old, and if something interferes, my parents &amp; grandparents tell me to stop operating; not to mention they think that it's my fault! i can't wait till I an drive, then I can finally run 6m again!

Until I get my HF license, I use 2m FM and SSB/CW and down here in South Texas it is very active. Same in the San Antonio area.

TNX &amp; 73's,
Fabian C.
KD5JDG

[w3sy]

Suggested 2 meter FM awards (Call 'em the F-Emmies) --

1) Most repeater kerchunks without identifying.

2) Loudest and longest on-air fight with ham/spouse.

3) Most inappropriate use of autopatch.

4) Most creative use of CB jargon in a repeater QSO.

5) Most comically inaccurate &quot;technical&quot; discussion.

6) Most swearwords per transmission. (F-bombs count double.)


Pink certificates available directly from FCC. Save 'em up. Collect three and you can trade 'em in for an FRS radio.

Out.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif W3SY.........I sware I didn't mean to dial 1-900 anything, the xXYL made me.....10-4? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Besides, my mic botton got stuck when I was explaining the dangers of second-hand RF!

73 de Craig...........KCØGOA http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[w3sy]

Craig, you are definitely F-Emmie material. Keep up the good work, and let us know when you are &quot;destinated.&quot;

I'd also like to give an award to the guys who somehow manage to SIT on the mike button (literally) so that we get to hear the conversation in their car for an extended period. I have heard this happen a couple times or so.

I dunno about you, but if *I* had a mic between the car seat and my arse, I'd KNOW it.

Out.

[NN6EE]

HIYA STEVE OB,

Yah here in the EBAY SECTION we've got a bunch of NO-CODE OOs who like to mail out PETTY, VINDICTIVE, USELESS report cards, and it's such a joke out here because of their own PETTY BEHAVIOR, with respect to the true rules and regs in PART 97, that a lot of guys are collecting them and putting them up as WAOO or Worked All OOs!!!

It's not from a lack of RESPECT for the ideals of the program in general, but it emanates from the PETTINESS that is PLAGUING IT here in our own area as well as in other parts of our country!!!

Some of those BOZOS actually do not FOLLOW THE PROPER CHAIN OF COMMAND, nor do they even try to work with the erring station on a MAN TO MAN BASIS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM IN A ADULT MANNER, but instead CRY DIRECTLY TO &quot;HIS-HIGHNESS&quot; aka the RADIO-COP GURU aka ROLEY H.!!!

I might add that I've got plenty of other decent Hams who are friends of mine TO BACK ME UP TOTALLY!!!

The OO situation out here is so BAD #that the ARRL should LIFT MOST OF THE OO appointments here and START ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif #es 3s!!!

Jim/nn6ee

[w3sy]

WAOO -- Worked all OO's... Interesting.... I knew people who qualified for WATVC -- Worked All TV Channels.

Okay, but we're looking for 2 meter awards! How about those unlicensed truckers -- We could issue Worked All Bootleggers...

[NN6EE]

Well you know the time is coming when NO-CODER OOs will be out of a job because 2m. is on the WAY OUT, when concerned with FM!!!

Christ, I started using FM in 1970!!!

Has it really changed any??? YOU BETCH'EM RED-RIDER BIG TIME!!!

Where is it heading??? DOWN THE FRIGG'N TOILET!!!

Do we care??? NOT REALLY!!!

The NEWBIES SEEM TO LIKE TO FIND MORE FAULTS IN US THEN WE WOULD TRY TO IN THEM!!! NOT THAT THEY DON'T DESERVE IT!!!

Why??? THEY'RE A HELLUVA LOT MORE IMMATURE NOWADAYS TOO!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

OH WELL!!!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif /nn6ee