13-07-2018, 07:57 AM
G'day Dave
Firstly, welcome to the Forum.
Re 2M CW, well you are not alone. I have been on air for over 50 years and the changes in the activity, and the types of activity on air these days, are far removed from that in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. Back then, 144.100 was THE PLACE to hang out on SSB (post AM) but the move to FM, repeaters, now voice digital modes, these have all been to the detriment of the 2M SSB mode. The greatest activity on 144.1, plus 144.2 as the secondary calling frequency, seems to be on weekends - where previously almost any night the calls you made provided a QSO.
The other time we see a burst in 2M SSB is during the VHF/UHF Field Days but, in accordance with contest rules, activity is usually on 144.150 SSB, 155, 160, 165 etc. Unfortunately, the Winter FD event has now passed so we have a nominal lull for several months until the 2018 Spring FD. The RD Contest is coming up in August and it often means 2M SSb activity, 144.150+ etc..
Many 2M operators are taking up digital-based modes for meteor scatter, FT8 and their ilk, but these stay away from 144.1 and .2 on purpose. All you hear are "buzzy sounds" as you tune across those spot frequencies.
The advent of IRLP and Echolink on 2M and 70cM FM has opened up the QSO choices to the whole world though. Your 2M FM radio with a DTMF mic and CTCSS can be used to open a wormhole through a local node (Google any terms you aren't sure of) and the other end could be in almost any country you choose from the node list. So 2M isn't a dead end, you just need to expand your view beyond CW and SSB.
The CW bit could be an issue though. The need for CW dropped some 15 (+/- ?) years ago when the tests were eliminated from the licensing process and it is mainly only the "old heads" that are still around who seem to do much of it. Most of that is on HF rather than VHF too. I still tune across the bottom end of 20 or 40 and hear CW signals working away. I have a hand key that I could use but don't seem to get around to using, and am more likely to use CW generated by the shack computer anyway. I can still read >15WPM by ear last time I checked - just saying !!
Enough from my soapbox for now
73 Doug VK4ADC
PS I am not yet into my 70's so still have a bit to catch up to you..
Firstly, welcome to the Forum.
Re 2M CW, well you are not alone. I have been on air for over 50 years and the changes in the activity, and the types of activity on air these days, are far removed from that in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. Back then, 144.100 was THE PLACE to hang out on SSB (post AM) but the move to FM, repeaters, now voice digital modes, these have all been to the detriment of the 2M SSB mode. The greatest activity on 144.1, plus 144.2 as the secondary calling frequency, seems to be on weekends - where previously almost any night the calls you made provided a QSO.
The other time we see a burst in 2M SSB is during the VHF/UHF Field Days but, in accordance with contest rules, activity is usually on 144.150 SSB, 155, 160, 165 etc. Unfortunately, the Winter FD event has now passed so we have a nominal lull for several months until the 2018 Spring FD. The RD Contest is coming up in August and it often means 2M SSb activity, 144.150+ etc..
Many 2M operators are taking up digital-based modes for meteor scatter, FT8 and their ilk, but these stay away from 144.1 and .2 on purpose. All you hear are "buzzy sounds" as you tune across those spot frequencies.
The advent of IRLP and Echolink on 2M and 70cM FM has opened up the QSO choices to the whole world though. Your 2M FM radio with a DTMF mic and CTCSS can be used to open a wormhole through a local node (Google any terms you aren't sure of) and the other end could be in almost any country you choose from the node list. So 2M isn't a dead end, you just need to expand your view beyond CW and SSB.
The CW bit could be an issue though. The need for CW dropped some 15 (+/- ?) years ago when the tests were eliminated from the licensing process and it is mainly only the "old heads" that are still around who seem to do much of it. Most of that is on HF rather than VHF too. I still tune across the bottom end of 20 or 40 and hear CW signals working away. I have a hand key that I could use but don't seem to get around to using, and am more likely to use CW generated by the shack computer anyway. I can still read >15WPM by ear last time I checked - just saying !!
Enough from my soapbox for now
73 Doug VK4ADC
PS I am not yet into my 70's so still have a bit to catch up to you..
Doug VK4ADC @ QG62LG51
http://www.vk4adc.com
This Forum is only going to be as interesting as the posts it contains.
If you have a comment or question, post it as it may trigger or answer the query in someone else's mind.
http://www.vk4adc.com
This Forum is only going to be as interesting as the posts it contains.
If you have a comment or question, post it as it may trigger or answer the query in someone else's mind.