ALASKA VHF-UP GROUP

50-MHz to Microwave



   This is the webpage for the Alaska VHF-Up Group; An informal Amateur Radio group promoting interest 
   in VHF and higher frequencies with emphasis on long-distance, weak-signal operations.  
   This group will also facilitate entering VHF, UHF and microwave contests in Alaska.  The group will
   be loosely affiliated with the Pacific NW VHF Society and the Leo Society of Alaska.

   Meetings will be ocassionally arranged for the sole purpose of getting together hams with common 
   interests in VHF and higher techology.  Membership is promoted for the purpose of providing a list
   of Alaskan Hams sharing similar interests in VHF and "Up".  Charter membership was offered to those
   who joined by December 31, 2005.  Regular membership began on January 1,2006.


   IF YOU ARE ACTIVE ON - OR JUST INTERESTED IN 
VHF/UHF or HIGHER ACTIVITIES --- WHY NOT JOIN THE ALASKA VHF-UP GROUP? 



   Here is the excel form for signing up.  If you cannot open excel forms go here for a reader.
   Or you can e-mail KL7UW for more information.

   If you are new to VHF "weak-signal" operation or only have FM experience, you should read my
   article from the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club Newsletter, then read the introductory articles 
   posted on the Pacific NW VHF Society website, and another interesting article about getting on 
   VHF-SSB from Bob Witte, KØNR.


   Business and BOD Actions:
   
   KL7UW received by e-mail Sept. 13, 2007 notice that the ARRL has approved our club affiliation, effective
   August 7, 2007.  Affilitation requires the Alaska VHF-Up Group to have officers, constitution, and hold
   an annual meeting, but our focus will remain towards activity on the VHF and higher bands.  Image of ARRL Charter.
   Presentation at the PNWVHFS Conference in Bend, OR by Jim, K9JF, ARRL NW Division Director.

   ARRL affiliation will provide official recognition of the group and permit contest submissions as a
   club.  ARRL will advertise certain events as part of being affiliated with them.  Hams looking for clubs
   in Alaska will be able to find and contact the AK VHF Up Group more easily, since we will be listed in 
   ARRL Club Registry.
 
   The Constitution and By-Laws were adopted by the general membership in November, 2007.  The ballot was counted 
   8 December 2007 with 16 votes to accept the Consitution & ByLaws as drafted, and no opposing votes received.
   An e-mail was sent to the PNWVHFS Reflector and is copied here.

   Special election of  Board of Directors was held in December, 2007.  Since no other nominations were received, 
   effective Jan. 1, 2008 the incumbent board members are elected per Policy 1.1 of the ByLaws.  They are:
   Ed Cole, KL7UW, Paul Kiesel, K7CW, and Robert Rowley, AL2B.

   The following Officers have been selected by the Board:
    

  • President - Ed Cole, KL7UW
    • 

  • Vice President - Robert Rowley, AL2B
    • 

  • Secretary - Treasurer - TBA

   The President made two appointments:
    

  • Contest Chair - Paul Kiesel, K7CW
    • 

  • Webmaster - Ed Cole, KL7UW


   KL7UW is suggesting that the annual meeting be held concurrent with the Anchorage Hamfest, and during the Annual 
   PNWVHFS Conference.  This should provide a convenient time and reasonable accessibility for the majority of members.
   Members are encouraged to report their activities/projects for inclusion on this webpage for all to 
   read.  The AVG webpage serves as the Newsletter of events and activities (see archives of previous 
   years activities at end of this page).


   Membership List:
   
   Follow this link for the Membership List.


   Activity Nets:

    

  • MONDAY-NET: "Grandson of Sideband Net",  144.200 MHz SSB,  2000-local time, NL7SK Net Control.
    • 

  • SATURDAY-NET: "Alaska VHF-Up Net",  144.200 MHz SSB, 0900*-local time, KL7UW Net Control.
    • 
Saturday Nets can progress to 6m/1.25m/70cm/33cm/23cm...upon request!
NET TIME RETURNS TO: 0900+ as of July 5, 2008.

  • NEW IRLP NET: Alaska-Wide VHF Coordination Net, 4th Saturday of the month, 0830-1000 local time, KL7UW Net Control.
    • 
This is a special net to help stations throughout Alaska to set up Skeds, coordinate VHF-Up activities and share info.  
Use IRLP Reflector "9070" or Echolink Alaska Net (connect to KL7TQ).  IRLP and Echolink are cross-connected for the net.
IRLP 2-meter simplex nodes: 146.58 - Kenai, 146.22 (123-Hz) - Anch, 147.55 (123-Hz) Mat-Su Valley,
or other IRLP nodes around the state.
 


   VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference Schedule for 2008:

    

  • South East VHF Society Conference, April 25-26, Orlando, FL
    • 

  • Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers Conference, June 29 - July 2, Greenbank, WV
    • 

  • SETI-League Conference, jointly held with SARA, above.
    • 

  • Central States VHF Society Conference, July 24-27, Wichita, KS
    • 

  • Alaska ARRL Ham Fest-2008, Aug 1-4, Anchorage, AK
    • 

  • Pacific NW VHF Society Conference, Oct. 3-5, Moses Lake, WA
    • 

  • Microwave Update, Oct. 17-18, Bloomington, MN

   check back as more details will be listed when known.


   ARRL JANUARY VHF Sweepstakes Contest:  Jan 19-20, 2008:

   The contest begins 10:00 am AST Saturday and ends 7:00 pm Sunday.  Operate all bands 50-MHz 
   and higher.  For details go to the ARRL contest webpage: January VHF Sweepstakes.

   Send me your plans for the contest to be listed here:
    

  • NOTICE: for the first time the AVG will be submitting a group entry into the 
contest.  All members in Alaska are invited to submit the contest  entry and log to Paul, K7CW, who is our new Contest
Chairman.  Paul will colate the entries into a club entry into the contest.  Here is a link explaining more 
about ARRL Affiliated Club Contest participation.
    •   

  • KL7UW - will be active on 50.125/144.200/432.100/1296.1 USB and 50.30/146.58/446.00/1296.00 FM.
Ed will be QRV starting 10:00 am from home on Jan. 19.  Ed will be flying down to Seattle Jan. 20
and be QRV Mobile on 2m with 45w and a whip antenna (arrives 5:20 pm so may not be QRV before the 
end of the contest - 18:00 PST).  Ed is taking a training course at Zetron Jan. 21-23.

   2008 VHF/UHF Sprints:

   Five Sprints, each only 4 hours in length; one sprint for each of the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 222 MHz and 432 MHz bands
   and one for 902 MHz and above are just an organized opportunity to get on the air and make some contacts.  There
   is no club activity attached to the sprints, so you can just get on for fun or to compete if you like.
   Notice that you must give your 6-character grid locator as the report.  Here is a link to the rules.

   Here is the schedule of 2008 Sprints:
    

  • 144-MHz: Monday, April 7, 7-11pm local time
    • 

  • 222-MHz: Tuesday, April 15, 7-11pm
    • 

  • 432-MHz: WEdnesday, April 23,7-11pm
    • 

  • 902+MHz: Saturday, May 3, 6am-1pm
    • 

  • 50-MHz: Sunday, May 10, 3-7pm


   ARRL JUNE VHF QSO Contest:  June 14-15, 2008:

   The contest begins 10:00 am AST Saturday and ends 7:00 pm Sunday.  Operate all bands 50-MHz 
   and higher.  For details go to the ARRL contest webpage: June VHF QSO Party.

   Send me your plans for the contest to be listed here:
    

  • NOTICE: AVG will be submitting a group entry into the contest.  All members in Alaska are invited to 
submit their contest  entry and log to Paul, K7CW, who is our new Contest Chairman.  Paul will colate 
the entries into a club entry into the contest.  Here is a link explaining more about ARRL Affiliated Club Contest participation.
    • 

  • KL7UW will operate as Rover to BO39 on Diamond Ridge (1100-feet) on Saturday.  Sunday he will operate from his home QTH. 





Suggested operating frequencies


 BAND
 CW/SSB FREQ
 ANT POLARITY
 FM FREQ
 ANT POLARITY





 6M 
50.110/50.125
 HORZ 
 50.30
 VERT 





 2M 
144.200
 VERT 
146.58
 VERT 





 1.25M 
 222.100
 VERT 
 223.50
 VERT 





 70CM 
432.100
 VERT 
446.00
 VERT 





 33CM 
 NONE
 VERT 
927.50
 VERT 





 23CM 
1296.100
 VERT 
1294.50
 VERT 



 

   CQ VHF Contest:  July 19-20, 2008:

   While there is no club competition as part of the contest, you may want to enter the contest,
   or pass out some points to someone who is in the contest. Previous runs of this contest have 
   had intense sporadic-E activity concurrent with the contest. It may well prove to be an 
   excellent opportunity to work some DX on 6 meters.  There are only two bands authorized in the contest,
   50 MHz and 144 MHz. The exchange is the same as the ARRL VHF contests, your grid locator.
   
   The rules for the contest are here: http://www.cqww-vhf.com/rules.htm.

   EME Contests:

   Here is a link to the EME Page for the dates.

   VHF-Up DX Record:

   Here is the preliminary DX Record spreadsheet.

   Activities Archive:

   Here is a link to the Archives for 2005
   Here is a link to the Archives for 2006
   Here is a link to the Archives for 2007


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