Not sure if you do this or not, but consider calling people you hear rather than just throwing your call out.
You might also consider repeating every call you hear back in your head so you can do the above more easily. Concentrate and keep trying and eventually you will be able to surf the chaos. Wipe outs will still happen. Sometimes you can hang ten.
Can you operate portable so you don't have to deal with the noise that you pick up in the attic?
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Feb 16, 2019 at 10:49 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
Since getting back into satellites a few months ago, I set my first goal to be completing VUCC. 76 grids confirmed, and hoping to possibly finish up this week.
I’m meeting with the VUCC card checker this week to sign off on my 2 Meter VUCC. That took over five years, since I’m limited to a single 6 element Yagi in the attic. At least half of those contacts came via WJST meteor scatter.
Thought it would be nice to get both 2 Meter and Satellite at the same time.
Most of my contacts have come on the linear birds, with over 2/3 of them on FO-29. I realize that there is a lot more activity and grid activation on the FM birds—so I need to spend more time there.
But the chaos of that type of operation just doesn’t appeal to me. Plus the noise levels in the attic make it difficult for me to hear the FM birds very well. SO-50 comes in “pretty well” but the AO birds are often covered with noise and difficult to hear.
Any tips to improve my success rate on FM? Other than completely avoiding weekend operation! :-)
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
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