A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
from
John Wendt, WA6BFH
on
March 2, 2005
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I keep seeing references on E-Ham to some very fine HF stations. In general the description touts a very nice and fine quality MF through 6 Meter capable transceiver with commentary along the lines of, IC-XXX for HF, and IC-706 for 2 Meters and 70 centimeters”.
I will sometimes see an advertisement for a particular commercial ‘land mobile’ FM radio; the add will read “Motorola VHF MoCom in good shape XX Dollars”. I am sometimes inclined to respond to such an ad and ask, “what band does that MoCom work on”. the answer is often ‘I told you, it’s VHF’. The last time I checked we had two, or even 3, VHF wavelength bands in the U.S that such a radio might work on! I have talked to many Ham’s that own 6 Meter capable radios that never think of trying 6 Meters! Why is that? I am simply mystified!
Those who have used and enjoy 6 Meter SSB will often extol the wonderful DX they have worked and describe the experience. Even folks who seem to use only 6 Meter FM tell me of the interesting people they have met on 6, and often mention that they have never had such interesting conversations on any other band. This has happened often enough that I tend to expect such a description! I still though run into quite a large number of Ham’s, many who have been licensed for several decades, that say things like, ‘ya know John, I never even thought of using the radio on 6 Meters!” Why the heck does this happen?
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by NL7W on March 2, 2005
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With the advent of HF plus six meter transceivers, the popularity of the magic band has grown considerably over the last 10 years or so. I would venture to say that more hams today operate, explore, and enjoy 6 meters than at any time in its history. This is a good thing!
Personnaly, I haven't been active on 6 since the last solar peak. But, I plan to be again -- before the next peak. 73.
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by KG4RUL on March 2, 2005
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From Ladson SC, 18 miles NW of Charleston, SC, to EH8BPX, Tenerife, the Canary Islands. The contact was so solid that I, and several other hams who subsequently contacted Avelino, were incredulous, and said so, over the air!
From Ladson again, to Sandy, OR and W7SIR. A solid contact again!
PURE MAGIC!
All this with a 3 EL yagi at 20 feet.
Dennis / KG4RUL
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by KD4AC on March 3, 2005
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I used 6 meters everyday with my Yaesu 8900 when I lived in San Diego. There are quite a few repeaters available, one of which is linked with repeaters in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. I even worked several east coast stations during an Es opening using my vertically polarized groundplane. I got down here to Tampa and found out that while the directory lists a few 6 meter repeaters for my area, none of them are actually there. I haven't gotten my base HF radio set up yet so I can't really comment on 6 meter SSB activity here.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by AI4DH on March 3, 2005
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Everytime I've turned on six meters the band was ALWAYS dead. That's why.
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by W1BAK on March 3, 2005
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I had a blast on 6m over the last 8 months running an Icom IC-746 into a PAR horizontal loop at 30 ft.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by NI0C on March 3, 2005
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Here's a perspective from one amateur who's been licensed a long time, yet who has never operated six meters.
I live in St. Louis, Missouri, which has a TV station on Channel 2, which is just above the six meter band. Although probably most of my neighbors now have cable TV, I've been reluctant to risk TVI complaints, especially to operate a band which has few good openings.
I've also never owned a radio that operates on six meters. Although many of the newer HF radios include VHF coverage as well, such coverage necessarily represents a compromise in performance on the bands that really interest me.
To each his own, I suppose. There are also some very practical reasons why many amateurs have never operated on our MF band, 160 meters.
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by K9PO on March 3, 2005
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band Reply
by AI4DH on March 3, 2005 Mail this to a friend!
Everytime I've turned on six meters the band was ALWAYS dead. That's why.
You should try WSJT with 6m. Even when the band is 'dead' I have worked station many states away. The software is free, you do not need exotic antennas and power of 25 watts is more than enough.
Scott
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by N2WEC on March 3, 2005
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FN02 near Buffalo in NY 5X9 to FL15 Nassau in the Bahamas! 2/28/05 had the best opening on 50 Mhz that I have ever seen. Yes the magic is there. Made several very solid contacts with other Amateurs in Fla. and the Carolinas. Gotta love it. I've been on 6 meters for 3 years.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA7H on March 3, 2005
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Unfortunately, I don't have the time or maybe I don't have the patients to sit and listen and wait for a band opening. My friends and I have even tried using the one and only operational 6 meter repeater in this area and that was a bust as well. I know 6 meters has a lot of potential, but out here in the Rocky Mountain region it's a long way between towns and hams so we tend to use modes and frequencies that work consistently. Anyway, use all the bands as much as possible so we don't lose them to some commercial operation.
73,
Steve, W7JSC
Ex-WA7H
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KR4WM on March 3, 2005
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>Everytime I've turned on six meters the band was ALWAYS >dead. That's why.
One truth I've found out about 6M is that it's always
open "when you're not listening"! My 6M buds always
tell me about the fantastic contacts they make when I'm
at work, or watching TV, or on some other band. If
nobody calls CQ, how will we know when it's open???
I've never heard a 6M beacon, even when the band is
very open. I have to tell you, when I won the 2003 ARRL
VHF contest SC 6M endorsement, I had logged about 200
stations that day!
As far as TVI is concerned, I suppose I'm one of the
lucky ones. All our utilities are underground, there
are no nearby TV stations so almost all my neighbors
are on cable. I only get complaints from one guy about
4 blocks away who refuses to pay for cable.
I wish I could find someone to test WSJT with- I
monitor for hours on end, and never hear a thing (and
never see anything on my screen either). Anyone near
FM03 using WSJT?
It's been said many times- why do they call 6M the
"magic" band? Because when/if it ever opens up, it's
"magic"!
-KR4WM
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W3NRL on March 3, 2005
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I really enjoy 6 meters ssb and fm, like they say it;s the magic band, when the band is opened you can work just about anywhere with low power and any kind of antenna, I did such a thing with 30 watts and homebrew dipole up some 20 + feet, since then homebrewed 6 meter beam and stacked loops all up 40 feet.
Hope to work all of you on 6 some day
take care
de w3nrl
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by AA4PB on March 3, 2005
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I was very active on 6M in the late 50's and early 60's. Back then there was activity (mostly AM) every night. It was the "local hangout". We knew when the band opened because there was already activity. I expect that today many band openings go unnoticed because no one is using the band. Many times I have monitored 50.125 all evening while working around the shack and never heard a peep. I've called CQ on PSK31 numerous times during an opening and only got one response - from a local.
As I recall, all the 6M activity went away about the time that 2M FM and repeaters began to take hold. I expect that the 6M people got interested in the new thing and just moved on. Now days it appears that many of the repeaters sit silent except during commute time. I don't know where the activity has gone to.
6M was always a TVI problem, especially in a channel 2 area. I expect that contributed to the move to 2M. I also expect it is less of a problem now with so many people using cable and satellite.
I'd really like to see a comeback of 6M. Perhaps some local nets would be a starting point to give people a target time to get on and know there would be activity. Lots of people have the capability in the rig now days. All it takes is a dipole or other simple horizontal antenna for 6M SSB.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K5UJ on March 3, 2005
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I've never had a station on 6. I may someday but for now, here's why (correct any errors in my perceptions):
1. It takes an investment in equipment for one band I don't want to make. I know there are HF rigs now that include 6 but the ones I buy don't have it.
2. When it's open, it's supposed to be great, but whenever I read a profile of a six meter devotee, they are described as "waiting for the band to open." This is a little like waiting for the surf to be up. I can't drop everything to take advantage of an opening, and waiting around isn't my idea of fun.
3. 10 meters is similar enough to 6 that to me, I can get a 6-like experience by operating 10.
4. I like to ragchew; when 6 is open the qsos are all frantic grid square exchanges. That doesn't interest me.
5. Hams on six invest in yagis, towers, low loss feed and other hardware to work someone 600 miles away. I just get on 40 meters.
There you have it off the top of my head, why I'm not on 6. Are these opinions based on ignorance? Maybe, and maybe I'll give it a try someday but for now, this is my take on it.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KC0QEV on March 3, 2005
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I worked into FL from here in MO with 1 watt into a homebrew yagi, i am a no code tech and its the only band no code techs have that can work that far. Yagi's are easy to build, smaller then HF but not so small that a little error won't effect perfomrance. Give it a try sometime you might be suprised when the band opens.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by AA4PB on March 3, 2005
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K5UJ: You are not wrong. Everybody's interest is different. If it is the DX you are interested in then for sure 40M or 20M is a much better choice. Some however find the challenge of "DX on 6M" to be fun. I guess that is because it is not available most of the time. Then there are those who enjoy the idea of having the equipment (towers and yagis) to be able to work out to several hundred miles on 6M on a regular basis. I must admit that my interest in 6M probably stems from the fact that thats where I got my start in ham radio.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W1QWT on March 3, 2005
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In my area 6 meters is much less of a TVI problem because of the proliferation of cable.
I enjoy 6 meters and have worked across the country and across the pond with a very modest antenna system.
Every Saturday night at 8PM a local informal Amplitude Modulation net is run on 50.4 and quite often we are surprised by check-ins from hundreds to thousands of miles away. Seems like some sort of propagation enhancement might occur occasionally even now at the sunspot cycle minimum.
I am also rebuilding the USS Salem Radio CLub 6 meter repeater and it will be much better. Quite a few of the club members enjoy operating on it.
Regards
W1QWT
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by N4LI on March 3, 2005
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> Everytime I've turned on six meters the band was ALWAYS dead. That's why.
6m is rarely open. For those of us who frequent the band, that's is part of its lure. It's tougher than working 20m. Getting to the West Coast from here on 20m is NOTHING; on 6m, it's a challenge.
The key is to keep an eye put for the opening, and work them when they happen.
6m is seasonal; the vast majority of contacts are sporadic E, and happen in the Summer, and around Christmas. Off-season openings are few and far between.
But, interestingly, the last 4 nights, we have had activity. It's nothing overly interesting -- just the usual single-hop stuff, but it's fun to work anything this time of year. This week I have worked probably a dozen states, or so, without much effort. It's just fun.
6m isn't for everyone. But, it's fun for many. As has been pointed out, when the band opens, it takes little. I have worked much of the country with as little as 1/10 of a watt.
Peter, N4LI
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K0RGR on March 3, 2005
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Generally, low power will do it for you with eSkip on 6, and that can be pretty TV friendly, even in a Channel 2 fringe area. I operated with 10 W of SSB in San Jose for a long time with no complaints. I have one neighbor here who doesn't like me when I run 100W now, but otherwise nobodby cares, in spite of my house being surrounded by other multistory dwellings. As long as 6 doesn't open during a ballgame, we're cool.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W4VR on March 3, 2005
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Take a course in VHF propagation and find out why the band is generally dead, notwithstanding the lack of operators there.
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by WB2WIK on March 3, 2005
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6m is actually "open" a lot more often than most people (other than die-hard band devotees) think. The problem is, signals are usually weak and won't be heard with lousy antennas.
10m and 12m are open a lot more often than people think, too.
Last evening I worked XQ3BRN in Santiago, Chile on 20m SSB. No big deal, signals were strong as expected over the 6000 mile path from Chile to Los Angeles in early evening. But Sergio asked me, "Do you have 17 meters?" I said, "sure," so we both QSYd to 18.116 and resumed our QSO with equally strong signals. Then, he asked, "Do you have 12 meters?" I started to protest, saying, "Sergio, I really think 12 meters has no propagation at this hour. I just tuned there and there aren't any signals on the band." He convinced me to try, anyway.
Bingo. We went to 24.950 and resumed our QSO last evening, on the dead 12 meter band -- the one with no propagation.
Of course, Sergio and I were both running beams on towers on 12 meters, as we were on 17 and 20. During our 12 meter QSO, I switched to my vertical, then my G5RV, then my loop antenna, and on all those, I couldn't even tell XQ3BRN was on the band. Only with the beam -- and with the beam, he was about 5/5.
This happens on six meters even more frequently. "The band is dead" until you connect a real antenna, then it's not so dead.
Problem is, most don't ever find this out because they don't give the band a chance. "Why should I invest in a beam and tower, and low-loss coax and all that when I don't hear anybody using the band?"
Catch-22.
WB2WIK/6
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W8KQE on March 3, 2005
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Good subject. I've been licensed and active since 1977, and only first tried 6 meters out of sheer curiosity back in 2001, since my IC-756 included the band. It has become my favorite band by far, and I am on the verge of joining a '12 step program' for 'magic band' addicts! To date, running 50 watts out, I have worked 255 grids, 48 states, and 26 DX countries using ONLY a single, small PAR 'Omniangle' loop type antenna at 25 feet, and 50 feet of older TANDY (Radio Shack) RG-8/U coax (higher loss at 50MHz than 9913 coax)! Even if you want to 'start simple', or have restricted antenna requirements, getting on 6 is easy, and you can do a lot with just a loop stuck out a window or on a balcony. I can't imagine what I could do with a 5 or 6 element yagi if I had the space! Fortunately for me, I keep my rig tuned to 50.125 MHz (which for those that don't know, is the national 6m 'calling frequency' for USB and sometimes CW) for openings while I am doing other things around the house, such as reading or web surfing. Since my shack is upstairs, and I spend a lot of time upstairs, I am within earshot of the rig, and have thusly caught some killer openings over the years this way. Especially during the peak 6m seasons (for Sporadic-E openings), which are roughly May through August, and around December/January to a lesser extent. For those that were lucky enough to catch some great F1 6m openings in late 2001, early 2002, when the MUF swung above 50 MHz, you probably became as addicted to 6m as I did. Strong daily openings into Europe, the Caribbean, and South America were common, even for those using simple loops or dipoles and low power! I'll never forget working a Swedish station from the mobile with 10 watts! Granted, this kind of F-layer propagation is rare, and usually occurs during sunspot cycle peaks, but common 'E-layer' skip still makes for some great fun on 6 when the band suddenly and unexpectedly comes alive with signals seemingly 'out of nowhere'. If your rig has a bandscope, the thrill is multiplied! For those of you located in more northern latitudes, auroral propagation is fairly common as well. There is nothing like experiencing the flutter delay of a CW or SSB signal via the aurora. All in all, even after all these years of hamming, I have had as much newfound fun getting into and operating 6 meters as I first did getting into Ham Radio as a teenager running an old Heathkit HW-16 with an attic dipole on 15m working my first DX! It has brought back that kind of thrill! On a closing note here, one of the best written books by far i've read on the history and characteristics of 6 meters is by Ken Neubeck, WB2AMU. The book is called 'Six Meters: The Magic Band', and it's got some great photos, charts, and diagrams on everything related to the 6 meter band, "A-Z". I am not affiliated with Ken or his publisher in any way, but just feel strongly about this highly interesting and informative book. See you on 'the magic band'!!!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N3XOH on March 3, 2005
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I am very new to the amateur radio world. I keep reading posts about, "When the band opens up". What do you mean by this? I hear that no one is on the 6 meter band anymore, but then hear people saying that they are waiting for it to open up. Just need a little clarification, like I said I am very new to this.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KB1GMX on March 3, 2005
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I started with 6m in the summer of 2001 and have been there since. Sure I also do 2m and even 70cm and sats.
I've gon down the sunspot slope and when the band was pronounced dead by many an opening nabbed me a G0 and G4 stations using 3 element beam and 10W. I can say 100% of my contacts (47 states and 9DXCC) are with less than 20W as that the most power I own. Run mostly SSB, some FM and occasionally really bad CW. Most of my radios are home brewed though I have Tentec 6n2 as well (My QRO rig ;-) ).
Propagation: As to the band being dead. Well it's VHF, so dead is a relative thing, that's to say local contacts are always possible and even a modest stations can cover a good area. My non skip range from eastern MA covers RI,CT, NH, VT, Maine and NY so there's always something there. The other factor is when a really bad solar flare killed HF in January I worked 23 stations in the south and midwest because the same event that killed HF opened 6m. I've also found that often there can be several stations all listening, then someone calls CQ and then every one else decides to talk. I would point out that of all the bands 6M has the most varied set of propagation modes. Those range from infamous sporatic Es, ducting, Meteor scatter, F2, Troposcatter, Backscatter, coastal inversion layer enhancement and aurora. I may have even missed a possible mode or two. For the really hardcore there is EME.
TVI: Never been a problem here, I'm less than 10 MI
from ch-2. I'd say cable is a big factor. I would also suggest that the average rig these days is cleaner
and produce less probematic emmissions. SSB and FM have always been known to be less troublesome that the older AM in the tough areas. Running low power doesn't hurt for TVI suppression.
Station cost. With beams running anywhere from home brew to costly and big theres something to play with here. For home brewers and antenna experimentors 6m
is a good band as antennas are getting modest in size.
For example a basic 3 element beam is 6ft boom and the longest element is just under 10ft, very manageable dimensions. You can even buy a 3element from MFJ for under 80$. Due to size a RatShlock TV rotator is both
inexpensive and adaquate. Being VHF hight is good, as in the more the merrier. There is a "however" and that being at about 20ft your already 1 wavelength above ground so even small antennas can perform well. Getting an antenna 8-10 ft above the average house is easily acheiveable and relatively inexpensive compared to lower frequencies. Coax for 6M is less a problem than other VHF bands as losses are still small where 2m and higher they become significant. That means a good grade of RG8 or RG213 will be fine and for short runs of under 50ft even RG8X will serve well. That leaves the radio. Many have 6m and there are loads of used radios that have it. If not a cheap entry is the TenTec 1208 20M to 6M transverter and any SSB or even CW transceiver. Don't worry power, 10W will do for a start and a 100-160W amp is a significant step up an also considered decent if not significant power on 6.
I maght add that 6m is a good hilltopping band when a small transceiver line the 817 or similar and a portable dipole (or colapsable quad or yagi) it's possible to work a lot of grid squares.
I'd say 6M is the easiest VHF band to jump into with a station. It's also the most varied in it behavour.
Right now we are near the bottom of the sunspot cycle
so the wild and wolly DX is not common. That's not to
say that the path this last week to the south was quiet either[lots of 4s out there].
Allison
Kb1gmx FN42hh
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KB1GMX on March 3, 2005
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for: N3oxh
>>>"When the band opens up".<<<
What is meant is most of the time 6M like many of the VHF/UHF bands and even some fo the upper HF(especially 10M) bands are not usable for more than line of sight
communications or about 100mi givor take. Things like antenna height and obstructions like hills affect what the line of sight range is.
However, those same bands during a solar cycle peak or
during other time due to whatever conditions will wake up and provide unusually good propagation in some direction that easily exceeds line of sight. Typically that means for 6m for my location here in MA that south east (florida) or midwest (Michigan or Illinois) can suddenly be there with very strong signals for period of time ranging from minutes to many hours. For example the Winter storm that came up the coast this week seemed to trigger a path down the eastern part of the USA that was interesting in it's changing pattern.
Allison
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KB1GMX on March 3, 2005
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RE:K5UJ
HI!
1. It takes an investment in equipment for one band I don't want to make. I know there are HF rigs now that include 6 but the ones I buy don't have it.
A transverter and an antenna, cost varies but do able for under 200$ new. Used may be far less. Home brewing is possible as 6m is not as hard to do for radios as say 2m. Then again a 2 element quad for 6m
is pretty easy to build.
2. When it's open, it's supposed to be great, but whenever I read a profile of a six meter devotee, they are described as "waiting for the band to open." This is a little like waiting for the surf to be up. I can't drop everything to take advantage of an opening, and waiting around isn't my idea of fun.
Agreed if you have otehr bands why not. When you don't or antenna space is a premium, maybe. There is also local rag chewing.
3. 10 meters is similar enough to 6 that to me, I can get a 6-like experience by operating 10.
Too a point yes but I've never heard meteor scatter on 10. There are modes that are uncommon on 10, common on 2 and are available to 6.
4. I like to ragchew; when 6 is open the qsos are all frantic grid square exchanges. That doesn't interest me.
Gotta agree with you there. Then again summer of 2003
I had a nice 45 minute QSO to the midwest talking about astronomy. Ragchewing on six is my other passtime and
I really enjoy it.
5. Hams on six invest in yagis, towers, low loss feed and other hardware to work someone 600 miles away. I just get on 40 meters.
Again there is that. Some invest enough to do it, others blow the whole boat on it. The difference is 600mi on 40 is "local" and on 6M it's bragging!
I'm not trying change you mind so much as explain why the difference is and encourage those that haven't access to the HF segment or want something different to try it.
Allison
KB1GMX FN42hh
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA7NDD on March 3, 2005
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When I became a ham in 1960 the most popular rig for all of us teenage hams was the Heathkit Sixer AM xtel bound rig. We did not look for band openings, we just used them to talk, very close to being an intercom for us teens. In the SF Bay Area at the time, 6 meters was popular. The big deal was to see how bright we could load up the # 47 lamp pluged into the RCA jack on the back, and cutting a hole in the side for fast xtel changes. I had a Hygain 6 meter beam on the Sixer and at times was able to talk into the sothern part of California. We would sit on the hill tops in SF with hams that had Gonset rigs and one time was able to talk into the Hawaiian Island.
I even built a Sixer from scratch using only the coils I orderd from Heathkit. It worked well also. That is what I miss about the AM days, the easy to build modulated rigs.
I am installing a three element SteppIR this spring and have the extra 6 meter element on it. It's sitting in the garage right now. My rig, the FT 920, has six in it and I plan on being back on 6 meters a lot more now.
I still fondly remember thoes High School days on 6 meters using the Sixer. My call then was WA6JOS. W7EIO will be coming up this June so I can take him through Yellowstone Park, back then he was WA6FKJ, and one of my Sixer buddys, along with Rich Martel, and other who I don't know were they are now.
Jim Griffith,
WA7NDD
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KJ7XJ on March 3, 2005
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Very good article!
I ran 6M from my Tucson AZ location 10+ years ago. Down there I ran into many new grids. I only had FM so 52.525 was my hang out.
I dont have 6 up here in Seattle/Tacoma so I cant comment on how "magic happens" in the NorthWest. I am sure I will see a few more posts from you.
I like the challenge of hearing the opening and pouncing. I leave my rig on 29.6 when Im at the house and once that squelch breaks I pounce....
Eric
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WB2WIK on March 3, 2005
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A common thread here is the nostalgia from old-timers who got their feet wet on six meters back 35 to 50 years ago with Sixers and such.
I think the reason this kind of thing isn't happening today has nothing to do with the band itself, but a lot to do with what ham newbies, many of whom are NCTs, perceive to be the fast route to getting on the air and chatting with people: And that is, getting on the most popular VHF-FM bands (2m and 70cm) using an HT or mobile rig. No question, that is a fast & easy route, although I can't see why it would be much fun.
I went more along the "Sixer" route, but used tons of different (old) gear back then to get on 6m. My station changed more often than my school notebooks. I used a Johnson Viking Challenger (horrible!), a Ranger-II (much better), a Gonset II, Gonset III, G-50 (that was a great item back then), Clegg 99er, Cleg Thor-VI, Ameco TX-62 and a zillion other rigs to get on six, with various receiving converters and receivers for those that were only transmitters. My first 6m SSB "rig" was homebrew, a 6360 PP transverter that ran 20W PEP output when excited by about 300mW on 28 MHz SSB -- the circuit and project were in the ARRL VHF-UHF Manual in the 60's.
The important part, though, was always the antenna -- still is, if you're serious. Either you needed a good, rotary horizontal beam or otherwise you needed a very good location that had such "QTH" advantages you could do well without a beam. I took both routes: A beam at home (spinning over the roof of my parents' house), and a halo for mobile/portable hilltopping. Had my first 50-state WAS on 6m back in 1969, using AM-SSB-CW. Did it again in 1973, SSB only. And then, again and again and again. Made 50-state WAS in 36 hours, in one weekend, in the June VHF QSO Party, 1988 (50 states and 204 grids on 50 MHz during the one weekend).
Vital through all of that was the antennas used.
WB2WIK/6
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K1KID on March 3, 2005
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I bought a Kenwood TS 2000 last year for HF work. It is such an amazing radio that I wanted to operate it on all possible bands, including 6 meters but didn't hear much there.
So I started a weekly 6 meter net on 50.200 SSB. (On Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm EST in case any one reading wants to join us). Didn't hear much activity before this. Started with a couple of club members joining and soon we had more than 40 different stations that have checked in, including check-ins from Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. We always have 10 or more regulars every week.
With the advent of many of the newer rigs including 6 meters as standard, there are more folks listening than ever before.
If everyone is just listening every one will think the band is always dead. Throw out a CQ on 50.125 once in a while. You may be frequently surprised at the calls that will come back.
73 de
Carl, K1KID
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0IU on March 3, 2005
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You can substitute the words “6 meters” for any other band, mode or activity in ham radio. Even though I have owned one iteration or another of the ICOM 756 family since 1999, I have never made a 6 meter contact. Why the heck is that? There are no deep-seated psychological reasons for not wanting to work this band, it’s just a choice. 6 meters is just one of several bands available for me to use. I believe one can have a full, rich and exciting amateur radio experience without using every mode on every band.
For me, I could pose the same question substituting “CW” for “6 meters”. While most modern rigs are capable of working 6 meters, every HF/MF rig is capable of operating CW. So why don’t more people us it? Now before everyone goes off on some tirade, it is not my intention to dredge up the pro-CW vs. anti-CW question (which will never be answered), it’s just that CW is a mode I happen to enjoy and am using it strictly as an example. Just like 6 meters, while I am not yet on the Honor Roll, I have also worked a lot of wonderful DX using this mode and have also met some terrific people on the air. Why else would people stick with a particular band/mode? If I worked nothing but lids, I would think the tendency for most of us would be to find another hobby!
John, I assure you that I am not trying to interfere with this article in any way. You asked the question and this is my answer. You are likely to get as many answers as there are respondents.
Ya know John, I never even thought of using the radio on 6 meters. Don’t wanna, can’t make me! HIHI
NØIU
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K8MHZ on March 3, 2005
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The guys in Oceana County, Michigan have started playing with 6 and are having a ball! I will be working their '64 repeater and someone will break in and say something like "Hey guys, 6 is open into Texas right now!" and then like Lemmings they bail from the repeater and start working their Magic Band.
I can't wait to get a 6 meter rig. It sounds like lots of fun.
73,
Mark
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W5AK on March 3, 2005
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Six Meters is a fun band. Sure, we enjoy sporatic E propagation in the Summer months and in Dec./January. The band can also open up any time, as it has for the past several nights. But, there is no need to wait for openings to enjoy this band. WSJT makes easy to have meteor scatter QSO's every day on 6 Meters. The random calling frequency is 50.260. You can go to www.pingjockey.net to made a schedule or just to see what is going on. Go to the K1JT WSJT site and download Joe's free software. Bottom line, get on 6 Meters and have a blast.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA4PRR on March 3, 2005
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I have been on 6 Meters for all of my ham life. I started out with a HA-460 rig on AM and later used a small 50 Watt transmitter and a HQ-170. Six has been a fun band and I still work it - only now with a SB110 and a 6 Element beam at about 50'. When I am in the basement, 6M is always on in the background - many times an opening will pop up with no warning.
Six meter operating is a lot like fishing - the fish are there, but you don't always catch them.
73, Ron
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N2NFG on March 3, 2005
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Good question I've often asked myself, lots of great responses. I wonder why more hams don't get away from the 75 meter night time mess and give 6 meters a try. Monitoring many QSOs there indicate that many are nightly affairs between relatively local guys who could just as well uses 6 meters and be free of the QRM and QRN of 75. 6 meters would also be an ideal place for the hi-fi ssb guys to tweek their systems. Back in the early 1990s, a bunch of guys in the Mid-Hudson Valley area of NY would congregate on 10 meters every night. Most of us were DXers and contesters, so we had a common thread. Usually there were anywhere from 5-20 folks chatting, most within a 50-75 mile circle. Of course anyone was welcome to join in and frequently did. Once in a while the band would open, usually to the southern states. No QRM, QRN, or bruised EGOs, no problem moving up or down 5 kc for more personal chats. A lot less stressful than 75 meters and it left the local repeaters open for other use. Of course this was when manufactures were just beginning to make tons of 6 meter capable rigs. Nowadays, outside of a few new licensees, almost every local ham I know has a 6 meter capable radio. But, outside of a few nets, 6 meter local activity is virtually nil. I now live in the Raleigh NC area, and there are tons of hams here. I set my 706MKIIG up to scan 50.050-50.225, covering the most popular CW and SSB frequencies as well as beacons. Day after day, night after night...nothing. I would regularly pick up the mic and give a CQ on 50.125, very rarely would I come up with a QSO. It almost seems that hams have an aversion to QSOs with local hams unless its via repeater! Out of several hundred hams within 6 meter shouting distance, I've had no more than a handful of 6 meter QSOs with a "new one". I'd just as soon talk to a local guy 40 miles away as one in California, In fact, we probably would have more in common to talk about. So, where is everybody? No fancy antenna needed for good local coverage, no excuse there! What's everyone waiting for?
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WB2AMU on March 3, 2005
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About a dozen years ago, Six Meters was truly the forgotten band. This spurred me to write the only dedicated book on Six Meters titled SIX METERS, A GUIDE TO THE MAGIC BAND in 1994 as published by Worldradio book. My main goal was to make the general ham population aware of the propagation modes that appear on Six Meters such as Sporadic-E and aurora as well as the fun that one can have on the band.
Since that time, more radios that contain Six Meters have come out and more countries (particularly in Europe) have allowed their amateurs Six Meter access.
The word continuously needs to get out to make both new hams and experienced hams aware of the great potential of Six Meters. My longest range contact on the Magic Band was made in October of 2001 when I contacted FR5DN in French Reunion Island from my Long Island QTH.
I have continuously updated and added more pages to my Six Meter book with each new edition. The book is now in its third edition and at 128 pages. My goal is to make hams aware of all of the equipment available to the band as well as the best times to monitor the band for the various propagation modes.
Inquiries about this book are welcomed at my e-mail at:
kneubeck@suffolk.lib.ny.us
73 and enjoy!
KEN WB2AMU
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 3, 2005
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Wow, lots of good responses for such a short period on this post! In fact though, with this number of responses, I guess this thread has been up long enough for me to respond to some of these fine thoughts!
First, let me jump in for a bit and dispel this notion of TVI (Television Interference) on 6 Meters. The only sort of TVI that can occur on 6 Meters is simple “Front-end overload” to the television receiver. The simple way to fix this is to lower your transmitter power. As many who operate 6 Meters have thusly said, you don’t need a lot of power to be successful on 6 Meter SSB or iCW! I typically near the low end of the band use 100 Watts output, and sometimes more, and have had no problems! Up in the FM portion near 52 MHz, I use 30 to 50 Watts.
For the idea of some who may now say, ‘I don’t want to take the chance of TVI’ well, hrrrrmmph! I thought we were supposed to be a hobby that prided ourselves on our scientific nature? Also, we are required by FCC regulations to maintain our stations to the best engineering standards so, would this be an admission that your station is not so maintained? Or is it just an admission that you are not up to the task of dealing with a technical problem? Actually, anybody who operates 10 Meters or other harmonically related bands is biting off a much greater threat of TVI! The 2nd harmonic of 10 Meters dumps you right in the middle of Channel 2 TV! Where do you think that puts 20 Meters?
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Now let me get into some of the specific posts. I really enjoy this sort of feedback! I have been writing articles on the VHF bands and above for many years now, and this is the only forum that allows real time corollary, so I think it is a great forum for “Elmer’ing! This first post I will respond to is a wonderful case in point!
“I am very new to the amateur radio world. I keep reading posts about, "When the band opens up". What do you mean by this? I hear that no one is on the 6 meter band anymore, but then hear people saying that they are waiting for it to open up. Just need a little clarification, like I said I am very new to this.”
What is being expressed when one says ‘I’m waiting for the band to open up is -- I’m waiting for the Maximum Usable Frequency or “MUF” to rise to my desired use frequency. When the “MUF” does reach the desired wavelength frequency that is because of ionization of one or more levels of the atmospheric ionosphere.
The most important levels that effect radio communication and signal propagation are the D-layer, E-layer, and F-layer. The D layer is an absorptive band of the ionosphere that becomes ionized with a few hours after sunrise. When the D layer is ionized, the lower bands at 160, 80, and 40 Meters will be somewhat attenuated. 160 is severely attenuated in this condition with 80 almost as bad, and 40 will be effected but, still usable.
The next layer, the E-layer and all layers above work positively to enhance communication when they are ionized. They most profoundly affect the upper HF frequencies at 12, 10, and sometimes 6 Meters. The E-layer may attain ionization for many reasons.
High altitude storms can provide ionization at the E layer. When this occurs, Sporadic E’ communication may appear on the 6 Meter band. This is sporadic and ethereal! When this form of ionization is lets say only at a simmering point as high as 50 MHz, distant signals at one or two skip zones away (1200 to 2400 miles) may wash in and out. However when the E layer is really cooking, as it does in the months of Spring from April through June or July, 6 Meters will support very strong and steady signals up to 3, 4, or even 5 skip zones! Also, when the MUF does make it up to 50 MHz by this mechanism, all frequencies down to 10 Meters or lower will be romping and stomping!
Another ionosphere layer that Ham’s exploit to support communication is the F layer, actually F1, and F2 layers. For 6 Meters this layer only achieves ionization at or near the top of the 11 year “Sun Spot Peak”. F layer skip on 6 is a real waiting game; it happens much more readily on lower frequencies such as 20 Meters.
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“I've never had a station on 6. I may someday but for now, here's why (correct any errors in my perceptions): Hams on six invest in yagis, towers, low loss feed and other hardware to work someone 600 miles away. I just get on 40 meters. There you have it off the top of my head, why I'm not on 6. Are these opinions based on ignorance? Maybe, and maybe I'll give it a try someday but for now, this is my take on it”.
Yes, many Ham’s do build and engineer their stations in this manner, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that but, let me put this thought into the mix. Over most of the 38 years that I have been active on 6 Meters, I have used simple omni-directional vertical antennas, and yes, I do this on Single Sideband (SSB) as well as iCW, and FM.
Many Ham’s will tell you that you must use horizontally polarized antennas for 6 Meter SSB, and that you need the signal gain that a good Yagi or other beam antenna will provide. It is certainly nice to have the gain of a good beam but, I have worked all states in our country, as well as several other countries, all with simple unity gain vertical Omni’s
I won’t negate the idea that in places like the RF noisy LA basin, you may never hear the DX without a good gain antenna but, when I lived in Riverside county, I typically worked the DX to the east about 45 minutes before the ‘big guns’ in LA could hear them. They would hear me call a VE3, or KL7 and start franticly calling him when I cleared the frequency. These guys were often using a Yagi with a one wavelength boom or greater, and could not hear the signal that I heard with a half-wavelength J-pole. Why was this?
One reason is that the vertical antenna provides a lower angle of radiation. This in effect equates to comparative signal gain. Another reason is, I did not have to have the antenna pointed exactly at the signal source! It can be a good thing, especially on 10 or 6 Meters, to listen on a low angle omni. If you can then go to a considerably higher gain beam, go for it! Uh, you can also put up a pair of shorter Yagi’s vertically polarized, and kick butt over much larger horizontal Yagi’s!
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“Seems like some sort of propagation enhancement might occur occasionally even now at the sunspot cycle minimum.”
As several folks on this thread have stated, there are more kinds of signal propagation on 6 Meters than simple F layer skip. That’s why they call it the Magic Band!
F-layer skip will almost only occur at or near the peak of the 11 year sunspot cycle. We are now almost at the bottom of Cycle 23, so we have about 5 years before we will again likely see very much F-layer skip on 6.
However, we have very recently had tons of E-layer and Trans-equatorial skip on 6. On regular and predictable intervals, Meteor Scatter on 6 Meters is very workable. My favorite is in December, on or about the 23rd of the month! This also is not like the meteor scatter that guys work on 2 Meters or 135 centimeters, where they use compressed packet bursts to accomplish the contact. Single Skip zone hop 6 Meter contacts will allow a 10 to 20 minute QSO via SSB voice. This will also, for the larger meteor showers, cover an area of several states as the Earth rotates below the ionized meteor trail.
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The other factor is when a really bad solar flare killed HF in January I worked 23 stations in the south and midwest because the same event that killed HF opened 6m. I've also found that ………. I would point out that of all the bands 6M has the most varied set of propagation modes. Those range from infamous sporatic Es, ducting, Meteor scatter, F2, Troposcatter, Backscatter, coastal inversion layer enhancement and aurora. I may have even missed a possible mode or two. For the really hardcore there is EME.
The above comment is probably the best and most comprehensive reason I have seen for folks to not waste the 6 Meter band on their spiffy new “HF” transceiver! Auroral skip can be really spooky and fun to work with its eery gravely sounding phase distortion. Like this Ham said, when such auroral activity occurs, ionizes the D-layer, and shuts down HF -- 6 meters will open to some really nifty DX!
All of the other methods of working 6 meter signals are also true! This in fact embodies some of the best scientific work that can be done on Ham radio! It is a real kick to not only work some rare signal at a band of frequencies that are typically only used for TV transmission (6 Meters was the original TV Channel 1), but it is wonderful to learn and understand what sort of signal propagation Mother nature is providing.
So, for all those guys out there that want to hang around only on 80, 40, and 20 Meters because, Mother nature makes that easy, I guess you can keep on ‘loading up the bed springs’, and take the easy way out. Some of us will take that spiffy new 6 Meter capable transceiver (that also actually makes it an even better engineered radio for the lower frequencies) and we will tackle the SCIENCE of Ham radio!
73, and thanks for all the fine feedback on this article! Keep it coming! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by NL7W on March 3, 2005
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I forgot to mention...
When I operated 6 meters in the early nineties, I put up a small yagi stack with a 10 meter yagi between them. This setup was on a short 30 foot freestanding Rohn 25 with a rotating 20 foot mast.
It worked!
When I came down off the tower to check the stack's match, I initially called "CQ" with the antennas pointed west (I was in Biloxi, MS). To my astonishment, PY5CC answered my very first call on Six with this stack, and off the back corner of the array! I almost fell over in my chair!
Needless to say, I worked many USA and DX stations that spring and summer of 1992. In fact, during the first week the antenna was operating, I went on to work VK3OT , VK5NY, and others around the Pacific Ocean -- all with 10 watts from an IC-551.
Pretty cool band -- where antennas DO COUNT.
73.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by X-WB1AUW on March 3, 2005
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“I am sometimes inclined to respond to such an ad and ask, “what band does that MoCom work on”. the answer is often ‘I told you, it’s VHF’. The last time I checked we had two, or even 3, VHF wavelength bands in the U.S that such a radio might work on!”
Well John, if you want to call people about a rig you aren’t interested in buying……..?
No mobile gear here, 99% of my time mobile is two wheeling.
No 6 meter rigs or antennas, or VHF gear.
None of my rigs have 6 meters. Played around with 10 meter repeaters for a few days, but got board with it.
If I want to catch short openings to USA, VE, Central and S. America, I can tune through the dead air on 10 meters.
Right now I tune through a lot of dead air on 20 meters around sunset. The band is open, but few ops on. And, my favorite rigs to operate do not have FM (when I turn them on, they glow); come to think of it, they don’t have a speech processor either. Don’t even need external DSP to null out “tuner-uppers” any more.
This month my new play toys are a Lionel J-38, and March paddles (13 month wait for them).
Guess I just plain having to much fun to spend $ on 6 meter gear. However, I do think a new antenna, 4 elements on 20, 2 elements on 30 and 40 would be a lot of fun (replace my tribander).
Bob
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KB3KAQ on March 3, 2005
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i earned my Tech ticket in July of 2003 and was living in a townhouse. i put up a 2m dipole and was working the local repeaters with an FT-227R. working the "distance" repeaters some 20 miles away was a thrill considering the very basic setup.
that October we moved into a single family house and i setup a 20m dipole in the attic so i could listen to the HF bands on my newly purchased IC746PRO. i accidentally hit the 6m band switch instead of 20m and to my surprise there was activity.
that night i stayed up past midnight working the seemingly endless stations along the Gulf coast of Florida. i worked 2 and 6 until i upgraded to General in Feb 04 and only recently have started to monitor it again.
the other night 4 land came to life and i jumped on the band working close to 20 stations in about 2 hours. picked up some new grid squares and made some new friends.
my station covers 80 thru 2m and hopefully i'll get something on 160 in the next month or so. it's hard to listen to them all, but 6 and 2 ssb are magic to me - they were my introduction to the hobby.
-steve
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KS1A on March 3, 2005
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New York to V73 on six cw with 50 watts and a dipole, and the QSL card to prove it!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KG6WLS on March 3, 2005
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For those of you who think the band is dead, you should have heard the opening today on 6 meters. Many 59 contacts from Calif. to Wash.
Throw out some CQ's once in awhile. You never know.
73
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by NI0C on March 3, 2005
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WA6BFH retorts: "For the idea of some who may now say, ‘I don’t want to take the chance of TVI’ well, hrrrrmmph! I thought we were supposed to be a hobby that prided ourselves on our scientific nature? Also, we are required by FCC regulations to maintain our stations to the best engineering standards so, would this be an admission that your station is not so maintained? Or is it just an admission that you are not up to the task of dealing with a technical problem?"
It's nothing of the kind. It's simply the result of my own cost-benefit analysis with regard to the hobby. My choice to work the HF bands rather than VHF is one of personal preference. I prefer to focus my technical abilities and monetary resources on the bands that I prefer.
I find your use of the word "admission" rather abrasive and pushy, and I get the feeling that I'm being proselytized to join a cult. I'm not interested at the moment, thank you. I gave you my honest reasons (you asked) why I haven't been on six meters, and didn't expect to be criticized for them.
73,
Chuck NI0C
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by NI0C on March 3, 2005
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The author continues his insults with "So, for all those guys out there that want to hang around only on 80, 40, and 20 Meters because, Mother nature makes that easy, I guess you can keep on ‘loading up the bed springs’, and take the easy way out."
This seems an arrogant display of ignorance.
And, "Some of us will take that spiffy new 6 Meter capable transceiver (that also actually makes it an even better engineered radio for the lower frequencies) and we will tackle the SCIENCE of Ham radio!"
Better engineered by what measure?
Does the author feel that HF radio is somehow less scientific ?
Gee, you wrote a nice article. You should have left it at that. Feel free to have the last word, because I'm through with your thread.
73,
Chuck NI0C
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Each to his own
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by WB2WIK on March 3, 2005
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Frankly, I don't blame HF enthusiasts for not bothering with six meters or lots of other stuff.
We can't all do everything.
Building a competitive HF station is exhausting (but hopefully rewarding) and can consume enormous resources in both time and money. I can easily see how many would just call it quits there and then spend their time happily operating HF.
Six is more experimental, but for a real challenge try 24 GHz!
I do wish, though, that more NCT's would give six a try. It's the best band for which they have privileges, and it's a pity more don't use it.
WB2WIK/6
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KC8VWM on March 3, 2005
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I always thought term "CQD" as used on the Titanic originated from the guy with the callsign KC5CQD.
I think he must be a pretty old fart.
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Each to his own
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by N1OFZ on March 3, 2005
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WA6BFH shhhhh.. Your letting one of the best secrets of ham radio out. Now all the HF riffraff might come up an pollute an otherwise excellent band.
Of course that was in jest but I must say I have never heard a rude person on 6m nor ever been chased off a freq. Many Q's are right on or around the calling freq yet you don't hear a bunch of lid's causing intentional QRM or laying claim to a frequency.
6m is a blast. Everyone should give it a try.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA2JJH on March 3, 2005
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15Meters is also a forgotten band. Used to be when 20M was too crowded, 15M was very active. In fact it had better DX than 20M
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA2JJH on March 3, 2005
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15Meters is also a forgotten band. Used to be when 20M was too crowded, 15M was very active. In fact it had better DX than 20M
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KB9YUR on March 3, 2005
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I've always considered 6m to be not only a fun band but also a challenge. Some people
can work all 50 states on other bands in a weekend, while it's taken me close to 4 years
just to get to 43 states and 7 countries on 6m. But I'm not giving up. And speaking of
contacts, back on 1/31/02 when the band was open for a few days, I had a chance to
work the Isle of Skye, Scotland (GM0EWX) from Chicago using only my Icom 746, about
90 watts with a Par Electronics 6m Horizontal loop at 30ft above ground.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N8NOE on March 3, 2005
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You mean, 220Mhz isn't the band we speak of?......
I have ran 6 Meter, and had lots of fun, But having a 220 Repeater here, Seems Nobody has gear anymore.. Well I'll kep it noisy here..
Jeff-N8NOE
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N4LI on March 3, 2005
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> but for a real challenge try 24 GHz!
You know, I might. But, perhaps I'll wait a few years until the sunspot cycle peaks, and we get those great 24 GHz F2 openings!
Nothin' like running a pile of Europeans on microwave!
:)
Peter, N4LI
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N6PEH on March 3, 2005
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I am not sure why the author of this article would infer that the 6 meter band is forgotten or not used much. I know a lot of VHF/UHF guys that work it almost exclusively. If anything, this band's popularity is on the rise. Also, I found this article a little hard to understand as well. I got the 6 meter part, I think, but the rest was a bit over written and a little too Mark Twainish.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KE4DRN on March 3, 2005
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Hi,
Here is a great antenna for 6m, build it for a few dollars worth of pvc and #12 thhn wire.
http://www.cebik.com/moxon/6m.html
Add a tentec transverter (used) and you are on 6M !
73 james
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 3, 2005
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Ok, I gotta ask, what do you mean Mark Twainish?
If you were referring to the follow-up that I just posted today, in response to several quoted comments from others, I will try again!
73! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 3, 2005
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KE4DRN, what is the aperture size of that antenna, and what sort of measured gain will it provide?
73! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W8JJI on March 3, 2005
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I've been listening to hf and vhf for almost 30 years and I have only heard traffic on 6 meters maybe 2 times.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W2RJJ on March 3, 2005
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The Six Meter Millennium Net meets every Wednesday at 9pm NY time, 50.135 USB. We talk about anything the checkins would like to discuss and anyone who can hear us is welcome to give a call.
Our web address is TheNetOn6.net
Hope to hear you. --73, Ray
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N6AJR on March 3, 2005
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some big investment.. I had an antron 99 cb antenna ( used $400 mounted at 20 feet on the chimminy, with a mfj tuner to load it on six meters, and one day I worked guatamala, chile, alaska and hawaii, on 100 watts, I had a friend who called on 2 m fm sayin the band is open.. go play..
another thing we have done here is to get on the local 2 m repeater and get a couple guys together and star playin psk31 on 6 m ssb, and by golly folks just start showing up.. just make some excitement and see what happens..
My new steppir 3 ele has the 6 meter add on, and I anticipate great fun on the up comming VFF contests..
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA2JJH on March 3, 2005
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The entire matter smacks of antisemitism!!!
Sorry wrong E-pub!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KC8VWM on March 3, 2005
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I for one have experienced a band opening on 6 meters.
All I have to say is, "What a rush!"
When 6 meters decides to open up, there is no mistake about it.
Even the most modest antenna system seem to work like a big gun at times.
73 Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0IU on March 3, 2005
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Chuck NIØC is right on target. Maybe us guys from the St. Louis area just aren't in tune with John's way of thinking, but at least I am not alone.
The author writes, "So, for all those guys out there that want to hang around only on 80, 40, and 20 Meters because, Mother nature makes that easy, I guess you can keep on ‘loading up the bed springs’, and take the easy way out."
It is no secret that John already thinks that most hams are nothing but unwashed toothless hillbillies who eat other people's housepets because we do not understand his logic, but now we are lazy too boot because we are taking the easy way out! John, you are not making friends here.
The author is quite fond of statistics so let me present this one for his consideration. My rig is an ICOM 756 Pro and is capable of operating on 10 different bands, one of them being 6 meters. As I said on a previous posting, I have never worked this band. That leaves 9 bands I have worked. Let's see, my graduate level training in research methods tells me that if I work 9 out of the 10 bands available to me, that would mean I am using 90% of the radio's capabilities in terms of bandwidth provided. 90% seems like a pretty high number to me. Remember, you will have to use one syllable words, but tell me again how using 90% of my radio's bandwidth capabilites equates to taking the easy way out?
Towards the end of your other "article" on the cluture of ham radio, you challenged a contributor to try and think of as many ham radio pursuits as he can think of so you can put together "a good compendium on just how varied our wonderful “hobby” is!" What a concept! And oddly enough it is yours! Go ahead and work 6 meters to your heart's content, but don't make me feel like I am somehow wimping out because I don't happen to share your enthusiasm for 10% of my radio's capabilities.
What will your next article be about, The Alure VHF Boat Anchor QRP Mobile DXing?
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 3, 2005
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My goodness, I thought that you had cried "Uncle", and run home to Momma! Since however you ask so nicely, I will entertain your sole request!
In the context that I already provided, that being the scientific attraction to 6 Meters, and in keeping with what we learned from Max Planck, think of it this way. If we were to operate even one octave lower, virtually none of these signal propagation methods would be available. We could not work meteor scatter, E-layer skip, or auroral skip. I suspect even the method by which I worked South America on 6 Meters would not have been possible at this lower frequency!
Also of course there is “Earth-Moon-Earth”, or Moonbounce. So, go ahead and hang about on those “DC” frequencies! In keeping with what has been exemplified by the majority of respondents to this article, we won’t miss you!
Regard’s de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N6AJR on March 3, 2005
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uuhhh make that $40 for the antron on my previous post.. 6 meters can be done well and cheeply..
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K8UPA on March 3, 2005
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Great thread. Reading thru most of the posts two things seem to come up a lot. One that the band is mostly dead and two it takes a modest investment for only one band. Like many of the others have stated six meters is “open” a lot more than you think! Sometimes all it takes is to have a local rag chew and sure enough out of the blue someone will pop in. That to me is the beauty of six. Investment wise? Sure, like anything else the skies the limit. My station consists of an Icom 551 bought at a swap for under $200, homebrew extended zep wire, vertical wire, and an $80 moxon. Total antenna cost maybe $85 and I could live without the moxon if my budget required it. TVI can be a problem if you run high power but usually for casual contacts when the band is open I found my old transverters running 6 watts worked just fine. Just my two cents.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W3DCG on March 4, 2005
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Now wish I opted for at least one HF radio that included 6m! I'm curious. It's a scale I can certainly manage. Oh well. Perhaps during the next upswing in the solar cycle. I've never been there, and I am very curious. I believe in science. I also happen to believe in magic. So since 6m is called the magic band, hey- I'm interested. Perhaps I'm saving the best for last. Who knows.
I'm one of those dummies who doesn't know how to work a 10m repeater, and never have tried. I used to listen for 10m beacons though.
Does 6m have beacons?
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WB2AMU on March 4, 2005
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to W3DCG:
Six Meter has a whole group of beacons worldwide with US beacons typically being between 50.060 and 50.080 MHz. Lists of beacons are available on the internet on different websites. These beacons are very important in identifying when the band is open, particularly with Sporadic-E propagation.
You and others that would like to know more about Six Meters might find my book on Six Meter helpful in explaining the magic of the band in terms of the propagation that appears on it. The book is titled, SIX METERS, A GUIDE TO THE MAGIC BAND and it is in its third edition with 128 pages and scores of pictures and diagrams.
Inquiries about this book are welcomed at my e-mail at:
kneubeck@suffolk.lib.ny.us
73 and enjoy!
KEN WB2AMU
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0IU on March 4, 2005
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OK, so let me make sure I understand this. On the one hand, you are interested in compiling data on all of the various pursuits possible in this wonderful hobby. In case you didn't get it, my line about VHF Boat Anchor QRP Mobile DXing was a tongue in cheek statement the point of which was to comment on the virtually limitless possibilities in ham radio. You have obviously immersed yourself in this singular aspect of ham radio. Go for it! Via con Dios!
I have an FCC amateur radio license and so do you. In the eyes of the folks in Gettsburg, we are equals. Obviously meteor scatter, E-layer skip, and auroral skip are propagation modes that fascinate you. On the other hand, it appears from your comments that one is not a "real ham" unless one uses 6 meters. Even though there are countless other pursuits in ham radio from DC to daylight, I am getting the feeling that you do not count us, not just me, but all of us who for some sick, demented, twised reason chose not to operate on 6 meters, as one of your peers.
John, this is a simple yes or no question. Is my statement above true or false?
Let me answer that. I looked up your callsign in the FCC ULS Database. In the box under Operator Class, you have a "G". For my callsign, there is an "E" in that same box. If we are not peers because I do not work one of the many available bands, then you are not my peer because you have not attained the highest operating class in amateur radio. Furthermore, I had to take two written tests past General plus a 20 WPM code test to make Extra and you could do it by taking only one written test. Sheesh, talk about taking the easy way out!
John, before you blow a gasket, I am just kidding. If you have been a ham since you were 14 (you said you have been working 6 meters for 38 years and you are now 52 so I just did the math) and you have not upgraded past General, obviously the Advanced and Extra class operating privileges were not something that you found necessary since you are a VHF kinda guy. I am an HF kinda guy. Isn't ham radio big enough for both of us without one of us being right and the other one being wrong in their choice of bands?
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W5ESE on March 4, 2005
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KE4DRN
------
> Here is a great antenna for 6m, build it for a few
> dollars worth of pvc and #12 thhn wire.
> http://www.cebik.com/moxon/6m.html
> Add a tentec transverter (used) and you are on 6M !
Thanks for the tip on the antenna.
I bought that transverter kit (Ten-Tec TKIT 1208
for $119) a while back, but haven't had a chance
yet to put it together. Really looking forward
to using it with my Ten-Tec TKIT 1320 as an IF
strip.
73
Scott W5ESE
dit dit
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N9OI on March 4, 2005
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Have been enjoying the comments on the magic band. A few years ago I wanted to experiment with 6 meters since it was available on my FT-847. For ten bucks in materials I built a 6 meter J-pole from a plan on the internet. The J-pole was mounted on top of a 10 foot 2x4 and the support was to lean it up against an old swingset. With a few watts of power I could easily work several local 6-meter repeaters and so we had a new mode to work in. A few weeks later the band "opened" and my simple arrangement easily worked stations from Prince Edward Island to New Mexico, not bad from Indiana. I've been hooked on 6 meters ever since.
Today the antenna is a homebrew 4 element quad up on several sections of old tower and rotated with a cheap TV rotor. For an antenna/rotor investment of less than $100 I can even work DX. I enjoy HF DX but when 6 meters is open you can find me there. (Unless the daughter, also a ham, has beat me to the shack. She, KB9ZLB, lets dad know quite regularly that she is still way ahead of him in gridsquare count.) Hopefully the info in these posts will convince others to come join us on the "magic" band.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K5UJ on March 4, 2005
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I'll give you this--when a solar flare shuts down HF, 6 is usually very active so having the capability to operate on it is good for a contingency plan, and it is probably possible to have a pretty good antenna on 6 by putting a 3 el. yagi on a light duty rotator and have that up on a 30 or 40 foot push-up mast.
Guy it with dacron and insulate it and you also have a vertical for 40 m.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 4, 2005
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For the chap who is waiting for the next solar peak (some 5 years away), please don’t do that! The MAGIC of the magic band is the OTHER signal propagation methods that allow it to work.
I think that METEOR SCATTER is probably the most fun of these! Take a look at the listing in your VHF Manual of the different meteor showers, or read the article associated with the link below. When I first got on 6 Meters I had a 10 Watt output “AM” transceiver, and a ¼ wavelength Ground Plane antenna at 30 feet. From Southern California I worked meteor tail skip from Texas, through New Mexico, through Utah, Montana, Oregon, and Washington state, as the Earth rotated below the ionized meteor trail.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2775/6mjant01.html
Another fun method of signal propagation on 6 Meters is E-layer skip. We are just now entering what many VHF Ham’s call E-season. When the big Spring thunder bumper storms of the mid-west start kicking around the upper atmosphere, E-skip will regularly occur about 24 hours after the bigger storms. Lots of things stir up or ionize the E-layer though. If 10 meters is cooking (now as we are at the bottom of the “F-season” {kinda sorta}, listen for things like Muzak broadcasters up in the commercial 30-50 MHz band. Listen also for the beacons as the other poster recommended. You will be able to measure almost to the nth degree, where the MUF is, and when 6 Meters will open. It happens often!
73! de John
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W3DCG on March 4, 2005
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"...and it is probably possible to have a pretty good antenna on 6 by putting a 3 el. yagi on a light duty rotator and have that up on a 30 or 40 foot push-up mast.
<Guy it with dacron and insulate it and you also have a vertical for 40 m.> "
Now it's starting to get really interesting.
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RE: A Thought About 24 GigaHertz
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by K4JSR on March 4, 2005
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WIK said, "Six is more experimental, but for a real challenge try 24 GHz!"
Hey, Steve, try 24 GHz mobile on the Interstate and
see how many people have Ku band radar detectors! :-P
Nothing like doing a bit of brake light testing to make a long road trip shorter!
But then this is only a fantasy. *NO HAM* would ever
do anything mean, would they?
73, Cal K4JSR
Bethlehem, Ga.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W3DCG on March 4, 2005
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Well, I'm getting jazzed about 6 meters.
I can imagine how it would be to get hooked on it.
As you all know, reaching the West Coast from the East Coast is no big deal on HF, but on 160m for a lot of people living in typical neighborhoods, it is a big deal.
And so it is I imagine with 6m.
Philosophically, I've always like Gray days, not brightly sunny, not wet and stormy, but sort of in between it all.
I love hanging out on a bluff overlooking the ocean, where the water meets the land, where things are right on the fringes of one or the other.
My favorite time of day is when Grayline propagation is occuring, I love best- the magic hour- 30 minutes before and after the sun is either rising or falling.
And so it seems, is 6 meters. Not quite HF, not quite VHF, but in-between, possessing facets of both.
I can fully understand why John is so taken by the magic of the band.
It offers it's own unique challenges and opportunities. The difference obviously between say, 160 on one end, and 6 on the other, is that everyone can participate on 6, even if, especially if, your conditions are restricted. Getting out and portable for a meteor shower is practical and attainable. The antennas are very easily managable. And with so many HF radios, the big ones and the little ones, including 6m these days, I for one can see, how the magic has loads of fun to offer. I don't have to have actually been there, to realize, that I am missing out on a very exciting aspect of ham radio.
My next transceiver purchase, will definitely include 6 meters standard.
Nice article. Thanks for stirring the my cauldron, and successfully resisting the urge to engage in class warefare.
73.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K7VO on March 4, 2005
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6m has always been my favorite band. If you have a good antenna (I.e.: a beam or quad) horizontally polarized the band is never dead as you'll work people for 300 or so miles around. When it's open.... Let's put it this way: at the peak of the cycle in 2000-01 a substantial number of hams earned DXCC on 6m.
Es (sporadic E) season is rapidly approaching and it provides opportunities to work around the country and sometimes into Europe from the eastern U.S. as well. The California crowd gets multihop to KH6 instead. Folks in south Florida and south Texas get trans-equatorial openings to South America in the spring and fall.
There are lots of ways this band opens. If you don't hear anyone put out a CQ. You may be surprised who answers.
Best way to miss openings: stay parked on 50.125 without tuning around and listen. First, activity, especially folks who are somewhat local to each other, doesn't usually land on the calling frequency. Listen anywhere from 50.100-50.200 and tune around. Those folks local to each other would generally love to talk to someone further away if the band has opened. Also don't forget CW below 50.100 and the beacons to check openings. Anyone who things 6m is "always dead" probably didn't do more than listen to static on 50.125.
6m isn't like 20m. It is not open on demand. DX isn't there on demand. It takes work, kind of like operating QRP on HF does.
73,
Caity
K7VO/8
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0AH on March 4, 2005
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6 Meters, watching the grass grow or bowling on TV.....choose your favorite.
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by W4KYR on March 4, 2005
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I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
Seems our favorite manufacturers forgotten that it exists. Somehow it was missing from the Ft 100 817 847 857 897, IC 706 746 , TS 2000
At least those models HAVE 6 meters.
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by WA6BFH on March 4, 2005
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That is because the 135 cm band is only a U.S. alolocation. The good news is that all of the radios you mention can quickly accomodate the addition of 222 MHz!
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by KC0LTV on March 4, 2005
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I love 6 meters. Sure, it isn't always open - but it is on an almost daily basis in June and July, often in May, and on a number of occasions throughout the rest of the year. You simply need to keep abreast of the prop information - and the internet makes that quite simple, as does having 50.125 USB programmed into your transceiver. When it's open, why not operate it? It's always interesting to see where the propagation is going to. My experience on 6 is limited to a few weeks last year (hopefully I will be set up on a consistent basis now in 2005), but I managed to make some interesting contacts, including one all the way to Bermuda from here in Minnesota, a distance of about 1,800 miles!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K7NHB on March 4, 2005
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John,
With statements like: "...
For the idea of some who may now say, ‘I don’t want to take the chance of TVI’ well, hrrrrmmph! I thought we were supposed to be a hobby that prided ourselves on our scientific nature? Also, we are required by FCC regulations to maintain our stations to the best engineering standards so, would this be an admission that your station is not so maintained?..." I wonder how much experience you have with solving TVI issues.
It's my understanding that your station can be in top shape and the neighbor's TV can be at fault - for those of us who have a local Channel 2.
If you think the issues in dealing with TVI are simply "techincal", you must live in a very rare neighborhood.
It's my understanding that once you have been identified as "that person who is messing up my TV", every little electrical glitch will be "credited" to you. It is not a casual conversation to suggest to someone that THEY invest money (for a filter) to fix THEIR TV that you are messing up.
But to say that, I am also making assumptions. It could be that you have dealt with many TVI problems and have found the nack of getting the neighbor to accept full responsibility for their TV and to bake you some cookies as a thank you for pointing it out.
But me, I'm a chicken. I run low power, I avoid problem bands like 6 meters (in my area), and I have lots of fun with ham radio. I also get along very well with my neighbors. I painted the pvc mast they see looking into the sky, sky blue. And I painted the mast they see looking back towards a Ponderosa Pine, like a Ponderosa Pine (except it is only 2 inches in diameter and doesn't have any branches).
My one mistake was to mention to a neighbor, "... I painted it so it would blend in..." to which she replied, "What, oh that, I never noticed it before. What's it for...".
73,
Paul
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K8MHZ on March 4, 2005
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Why is it that hams hold one another in contempt for their choices of frequencies or modes?
I am also puzzled at the attempt to attract a person to a particular frequency or mode by insulting them.
But I have only been a ham for a little over ten years. Maybe I just don't get it.
73,
Mark K8MHZ
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K8MHZ on March 4, 2005
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Why is it that hams hold one another in contempt for their choices of frequencies or modes?
I am also puzzled at the attempt to attract a person to a particular frequency or mode by insulting them.
But I have only been a ham for a little over ten years. Maybe I just don't get it.
73,
Mark K8MHZ
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K8MHZ on March 4, 2005
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Why is it that hams hold one another in contempt for their choices of frequencies or modes?
I am also puzzled at the attempt to attract a person to a particular frequency or mode by insulting them.
But I have only been a ham for a little over ten years. Maybe I just don't get it.
73,
Mark K8MHZ
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K8MHZ on March 4, 2005
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Why is it that hams hold one another in contempt for their choices of frequencies or modes?
I am also puzzled at the attempt to attract a person to a particular frequency or mode by insulting them.
But I have only been a ham for a little over ten years. Maybe I just don't get it.
73,
Mark K8MHZ
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 4, 2005
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Paul, I spent about four years as what the ARRL calls an “Assistant Technical Coordinator”. I then went on to spend several more as the “Technical Coordinator”. I was tricked (just kidding)!
I had thought that this job would primarily entail helping other Ham’s with technical design ideas. As I suspect you already know, it involved driving many thankless miles, to other neighborhoods, explaining to otherwise irate neighbors, why the dude with the big antennas next door was not the bad guy. Most of the time he wasn’t!
These days I only have my own neighbors to help through the slings and arrows of their outrageous TVI and RFI problems. In answer to your question, yes, I did learn a certain psychology in explaining to these folks that it was their home entertainment equipment, telephone, computer speaker system, infrared switched lighting, or garage door opener that was the culprit behind their woes! They did not offer me cookies and milk, and I probably would have been cautious about accepting any such offers! I am proud that on at least one occasion, I managed to get one previously enraged neighbor to become so jazzed about Ham radio, that he went out and got a license himself!
I do maintain the principle that I will not modify my operating practices at the whim of my neighbors. I will assist them (in terms of guidance and explanation) in resolving any such RFI or TVI problem they might have. I operate all bands from 160 Meters up through 23 centimeters contiguously, as well as one SHF band. I can operate up to the legal limit on HF, and can operate up to 250 Watts out on 6 & 2 Meters, as well as 135 and 70 centimeters. I typically only use about 100 Watts out on HF through 6, and even less on the higher bands. I have a very good Low Pass Filter on the output of my transmitter.
On the rare occasion, twice I think, that a neighbor did have a problem, I dedicated myself to stick with them through thick and thin. What I mean is, as long as they are willing to crawl through the attic installing common mode chokes, and otherwise doing the sweaty work, I will hold the flashlight, and explain why we are doing all of this! Like I said, on those couple of occasions where I have had to do this, they bought the beer when the job was done, and seemed happy to do it (I did only accept bottles that were previously un-opened)!
73! de John
PS
I made the statement that you responded to just to stir such commentary!
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KE8PA on March 5, 2005
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There still aren't as many 6 meter rigs around . Many hams are doing PLENTY with older HF rigs. The expense involved in upgrading, or even adding a "band-only" rig is overshadowed by what else could be done with the same money. Admittedly, 6 meters has had some fascination here since I was a teen/novice. But other rewarding aspects of ham radio turned out to be more accessible & enjoyable. One could homebrew a nice satellite antenna to use with your handheld, for example, for less $$, and be bound to spend plenty of time on it.Add some digital modes. Be a real retro-man & start chasing DX on CW. Very inexpensive.Volunteer as a radio/official for the local March of Dimes run...maybe get a free t-shirt & spaghetti supper.Maybe foxhunting. Rig cool antennas to use on field day ... Beat local antenna zoning regs somehow. So, foregoing any false pride, I must honestly confess, the grass has always been green enough over here, and though often thinking of adding 6 someday other aspects have prevailed.
As a thought, though, one might invest in some to resell when the sunspots heat up again. IMHO,
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KE8PA on March 5, 2005
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There still aren't as many 6 meter rigs around . Many hams are doing PLENTY with older HF rigs. The expense involved in upgrading, or even adding a "band-only" rig is overshadowed by what else could be done with the same money. Admittedly, 6 meters has had some fascination here since I was a teen/novice. But other rewarding aspects of ham radio turned out to be more accessible & enjoyable. One could homebrew a nice satellite antenna to use with your handheld, for example, for less $$, and be bound to spend plenty of time on it, hihi. Add some digital modes with your computer. Be a real retro-man & start chasing DX on CW. Very inexpensive. Volunteer as a radio/official for the local March of Dimes (or similar) run...maybe get a free t-shirt & spaghetti supper.Maybe foxhunting. Rig cool antennas to use on field day ... Beat local antenna zoning regs somehow. So, foregoing any false pride, I must honestly confess, the grass has always been green enough over here, and though often thinking of adding 6 someday other aspects have prevailed. Nothin' agin it-just busy elsewhere.
As a thought, though, one might invest in some to resell when the sunspots heat up again. IMHO, & 73's, KE8PA
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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Take a look at the TenTec 6n'2! It is one hell of a nice (and cost effective) radio for {DSP} all mode on two very good bands. It also works as a dandy I.F. for the higher bands.
Also, IT A'INT A SUNSPOT F-LAYER THING!!! If thats all you want, join the guys on 20 Meters (just kidding, sorta)!
73! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0IU on March 5, 2005
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KE8PA writes:
"Be a real retro-man & start chasing DX on CW."
Steve, you are wasting your breath. Assuming you are directing this comment to the author of this article, he is only a General. He is not one of us. If he became a Genereal after April 15, 2000, he only had to learn CW at the painfully slow speed of 5 WPM. If it was before that date, then he only had to copy it at 13 WPM. We both know that this is way too slow for any serious DXing.
Besides, he won't be able to work much DX anyway since he can't operate on the Advanced or Extra portions of the bands where we know most of the serious DX is found.
NØIU
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K4JSR on March 5, 2005
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Gee, KOE, JJH and VWM have all told me that Lawrence
Welk was the forgotten band!
Long live Spike Jones!
Of course if Joe Walsh was here he would be a bit
more Eagle-A-Tarian about it!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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In some secluded rendezvous
That overlooks the avenue
With someone sharing a delightful chat
On this and that
And cocktails for two ........ or beer!
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA1RNE on March 5, 2005
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I think the reason for this is that early on, most hams are given some very generalized assumptions about 6 meters that are obviously not entirely accurate.
For example:
"Historically, 6 meters is a "temperamental band" that is usually "dead" - compared to say, 160-20 meters, whose characteristics are more predictable."
Although at times this can be true, this general "stigma" is very one-sided and doesn't highlight the "magic" when 6 does open up and how to know when it's going to.
Just like a lot of things, the challenge is often what "makes" the game. So when a band in the low VHF range suddenly supports nation-wide direct communications, it tends to be more challenging and more fun to make it work.
This is especially true when you know that in most cases, you're able to pull this off with low power and antennas that are much physically smaller compared to their lower band counterparts.
For me, this is what constitutes the "magic" of 6.
73, Chris
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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I think that the primary reason is that instant gratification is easy on bands such as 20 Meters
and instant gratification is paramount!
Especially for over-achievers.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K6BBC on March 5, 2005
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Okay, so didn’t bother to read this one, but I do have some comments. First off, I don’t have a six-meter beam. I’d like one if somebody has an extra. Also, I noticed the author kept it shorter, which was good – then replied with another one of his novellas. Come on, who has time to read all this. Not me. Probably not you.
Oh, I don’t forget about the extra six-meter beam.
K6BBC
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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Yea, keep smak'n me around, and then expect me to give you an antenna!
Who's the guilty one? Maybe 2nd cousin to Harvey the rabbit!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K6BBC on March 5, 2005
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I’m just practicing a long tradition of Amateur Radio cheapskateism. PULL…!!!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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Uh huh.
If your serious about the antenna, I will give you an old Homebrew 2 element Cubical Quad
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K6BBC on March 5, 2005
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That’s very kind of you John. My wife puts up with the mini-33 and the isotrons but I don’ think she will appreciated the quad – no matter how efficient! Eventually I will get a beam, I am interested in 6. As you know, I operate 6-meter repeaters, or should I say monitor – not much talking going on there.
K6BBC
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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No, I din't know that! I take it that you mean the 53.62 box up on Mt. Harvard. If otherwise, maybe you will want to send me a e-mail?
Oh, and on "the Novella" some people might need that information. I am an Elmer ya know!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W0OX on March 5, 2005
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Great Thread.. Got my ticket in 1964..still love the DX on HF but about three weeks ago I picked up an old VHF antenna manual.. hmmmmmmm "hey these things have only ten foot elements" i love playing with antennas.. then a quick $150 MFJ 9406 on Ebay...A quicker six L yagi...Three elements are remains of a yard sale TH3 with the ends and traps tossed. forth is the boom of a crashed in flames cushcraft 11 L 2 meter beam. D3 and D4 were a CB vert i found at the dump. booms are easy out in Eastern Oregon. Horses trample the 2 inch irrigation pipe and it is now free boom for the taking.
The guys on six are wonderful..from the Big Guns with unbelievable EME arrays to my buddy NW of me who loads a long wire..
The permutations of varied propagations I am still learning...I still shake my head when I think of hearing AZ only off the back left corner of my beam and no copy at all when I turned it at him....
I can hear Seattle for 2 - 8 seconds when the C5A
s practice touch and goes at pendelton International.
wonder if they could circle my QTH for contests ???
Cant expound too much on how helpful everyone is..
My Bride loves my "cute little beams" and doesnt miss the 2L for 40M that I dropped for new band..
yes 6M is kinda dead at times(cold and wormy)..If your bored come on up..my ClippertonL and KWM2/75S3 and 20 and 15 monobanders awaiting DXCC country 301....hehe found out that my grid square DN05 is semi rare.. cant wait for my first pileup
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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After you are certain of the pattern on your beam, make sure to check for back-scatter -- when something is not in the right place!
6 Meters can be a twicky wascal, and you might just work South America!
73! de John
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KD7QXU on March 5, 2005
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Ok, I'm curious. Everyone talks about how reducing power helps with TVI and how location makes a big impact on your chances of causing TVI. Not once have I heard anyone mention anything like high pass or band pass filters, though. Why?
I must admit I was only on 6m for a very short time. Although I would really enjoy the opportunity again. I had a lot of fun that few months I was on it. My antenna was a simple wire dipole tacked to the wall near the ceiling being driven by an IC-756. From central WA I made a contact in to Pheonix, AZ during one opening, and another into southern CA with that setup. Also had a few local rag chews. I REALLY wish someone would come out with a 6m and 2m dual bander capable of (at least) FM and SSB.
Anyhow, my point was that I haven't used 6m much at all, and when I was I had no issues, even while running ~75W. However, for those that do seem to have issues, or are worried about the possibility of having them it sure seems to me that a simple bandpass filter would go a long way towards seriously reducing the TVI "issue". Am I wrong?
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K2WH on March 5, 2005
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To put it in a nutshell. For 10 years out of 11, 6 meters stinks. For 1 year out of 11, 6 meters is the best band available, even better than HF.
K2WH
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by VE3ELL on March 5, 2005
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I have been operating on 6M since I became licenced back in 1991.It is a great band when it is open.Check my modest antenna farm at www.qrz.com . 73 Russ VE3ELL FN04
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WB2GMK on March 5, 2005
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Wow, did this post draw a lot of comments! To the guys who said, "six is always dead", I say, "You've got to listen to the band whenever you're in the shack, so open up the pocketbook and let the moths out, buy an old, used six rig, or invest in a modern xcvr that allows you to watch the band while working the other bands". I operate a Jupiter w/linear setup, but also have an ancient FT-625RD with 150 watt after burner which is always on and listening to 50.125 whenever I'm in the shack. Both were cheap cheap, I found them on e-bay. If there's an opening when I'm there in the shack, boom! What fun! If not, no skin off my keying finger. I do the same with 10 meter FM! Have an elderly IC-751A which, rather than sell it when I bought the Jupiter, I kept it and watch the 10 FM channels with it whenever I'm in the shack. What fun when the band opens! If not, like currently at the bottom of the cycle, so what? Meanwhile, I can yell into the mike at pileups on the HF bands, or listen to the static on 160, and meanwhile, I'm ready for Freddy on six SSB and 10 FM. I get the maximum enjoyment of my short periods of free time in my shack. I once had an old Ford Econoline van I used to drive, years back, with a converted 10 meter FM commerical radio fixed on 29.600. Worked Japan while cruising down the FDR Drive in NYC one day -- what a thrill! Usually, I'd just be in the van driving wherever I had to go, with the squelch screwed tight and the AM radio playing music or news or whatever, but when that squelch cracked open and the band came alive with signals .... oh Momma, what a good time I had, mike and steering wheel in hand! Look, guys, ham radio is what you make of it. Saying "I don't operate six because the band is ususally dead," is a very lame excuse for missing out on the fun that's there to be had.
And that's the way it is, March 6, 2005. Ciao and 73, bambinos. de WB2GMK
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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KD7QXU, the problem with band pass filters is that, it is probably NOT YOU that needs to be filtered.
The band pass filtering in any of the manufactured transmitters, or transceivers is very much more than likely going to take ANY harmonic output down to well less than 40 dB. So, you are probably COOL!
The problem is that the typical Television receiver, or Tuner in a VCR etc, is NOT selective. So, reducing YOUR power is a COMPROMIZE to keep the neighbors happy.
It is sad that this is the case! Other countries do not allow the import of such receiving equipment that has such poor selectivity! Oh well!
……………………………….............................................................................
Most 6 Meter folks are usually much more cautious than they need to be! If you look at it from a ‘square of the distance’ sense, the available signal for your neighbors to detect is quite small anyway. Unless, you are running a KiloWatt!
So, if a neighbor suspects you of interference, FIRST make certain that they are really hearing YOU! Put a tape recording on playing your callsign at a nominal level of modulation.
If in fact they are hearing YOU, when you visit your neighbor to assess the problem, you can work with them to fix the problem.
……………………………….................................................................................................
I would suggest, IF this WAS IN FACT THE CASE, to have THEM provide filtering for their TV set, or Tuner.
With one or more ¼ wavelength high-Q traps on their TV set-up -- you probably COULD run a KiloWatt!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact me for clarification if you are worried! 73, de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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K2WH, you get the I DID NOT GET THE POINT of the article award. CONGRATULATIONS!
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by NI6G on March 5, 2005
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WA6BFH wrote:
"That is because the 135 cm band is only a U.S. alolocation."
That is incorrect.
The 135 cm allocation is available in many but not all countries in IARU Region II.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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N0IU, you will probably have an allie in K2WH!
Have a good time! Maybe someday I will catch you both on 20!
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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NI6G, that is not my understanding! I would welcome references to help enlighten me!
73! de John
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by WA6BFH on March 5, 2005
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Well, after doing about 45 minutes of specific research, I could find no answers on this.
So, why is there not a greater marketing latitude for 220 MHz Ham equipment?
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by NI6G on March 5, 2005
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WA6BFH wrote:
"NI6G, that is not my understanding! I would welcome references to help enlighten me!"
Hi John,
A few years ago, I worked XE2EED (DM12) on 222.110 MHz. I was running 25 watts to an M2 222-7WL @ 35' with an SSB Electronic SP-220 mast-mounted preamp.
Here is confirmation that Mexico is allowed to use 135 cm:
http://www.geocities.com/wd9ewk/xe-permit-qrv.html
One of the foremost proponents of 135 cm is VE3AX. He completed WAS on 220 MHz! This was before the US lost the 220 to 222 MHz segment. VE3AX is currently active on 222 MHz EME. He even helped to activate the dish at Algonquin Observatory on 222 MHz during the 1995 ARRL EME Contest.
Shilton, Peter VE3AX. (2001). EME on 222 MHz--An Update. In 27th Eastern VHF/UHF Conference Proceedings. Newington, CT: American Radio Relay League.
The Cuban contest station CO0FRC participated on 222 MHZ during the 1998 ARRL June VHF QSO Party.
http://frc.co.cu/vhf/qso3.htm
The world distance record for 220 MHz is held by KP4EOR and LU7DJ. In 1983, they completed a 5906 km QSO by Transequatorial Field Aligned Irregularities.
Pocock, Emil W3EP (Ed.). (1992) Transequatorial Propagation. In Beyond Line of Sight: A History of VHF Propagation from the pages of QST. Newington, CT: American Radio Relay League.
http://www.nzart.org.nz/nzart/vhf/world_dx_records2001.htm
I believe that a Guatemalan ham active on this website recently made passing mention of using 22O MHz FM simplex in his country.
As you can see, 135 cm has pockets of activity throughout IARU Region II.
73, Erik
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RE: I Thought the Forgotten Band was 222 Mhz
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by NI6G on March 5, 2005
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WA6BFH wrote:
"So, why is there not a greater marketing latitude for 220 MHz Ham equipment?"
I can only speculate on this matter. In the mid-80s, the IC-375A all mode transceiver was available as well as a plethora of FM mobile and hand held radios. Today's offerings are slim. The Kenwood TM-331A has been discontinued. The only FM mobiles are the Alinco DR-235 and ADI AR-247. Of course, 222 MHz is offered in the multiband Kenwood TH-F6A hand held and the forthcoming Yaesu VX-6R (144,222,440) tribander. I believe that ADI and Pryme are the only ones making 222 MHz monoband HTs. At any rate, a transverter is still the best route to take for the serious weak signal operator. Transverters for 222 MHz can of course be homebrewed or purchased from Down East Microwave or Kuhne Electronic (DB6NT).
Common questions are "Why can't Yaesu incorporate 222 MHz in their FT-817/857/897?" or "Why doesn't Icom make another all mode 222 MHz rig?"
As you realize, it would require a seperate PA module to generate respectable power at 222 MHz and raise the overall cost to a prohibitable level. However, I think the prime concern of the Japanese manufacturers is that 222 MHz is a Public Safety Band in Asia! I believe that this is the real reason why they are hesitant to place 222 MHz in a rig that covers all bands and that is marketed in -- and could be potentially "opened up" -- in Asia. In addition, there may be a prohibition for such release by the Japanese government. I don't know for sure. I think this something the Japanese manufacturers do not like to talk about openly.
As a side note, 220 MHz is now employed in parts of Europe for subscription Digital Audio Broadcasting.
As you adroitly hinted at before, "The good news is that all of the radios you mention can quickly accomodate the addition of 222 MHz!", the transverter route is the way to go.
73, Erik
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by NI6G on March 6, 2005
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I think that is very important that we respect the diverse interests that other amateurs have. Other amateurs should not be denigrated simply because they are not keen on 6 meters. There is nothing morally superior about operating on 50 MHz! Yes, it is at times challenging. However, much of it is "being in the right place at right time" and "location, location, location!" Naturally, in order to meet with success on this band and minimize frustration, it definitely pays to study various propagation modes, etc.
Before y'all flame me, I have operated ALL bands 1.8 MHz to 2.3 GHz. I am a member of the UKSMG (United Kingdom Six Meter Group). www.uksmg.org I have 43 states and 30 countries on 144 MHz EME. I'm just trying to give some balance to this discussion.
Again, I don't think it's appropriate to put someone down just because they enjoy 20 meters the most.
73, Erik
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RE: Working 6 meters is bad
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by K7IHC on March 6, 2005
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Since I've gotten into working 6 meters, it's taken too much of my Morse code study time away.
I am serious. Last May, I received my Element 3 CSCE. I then thoroughly intended on studying to be able to pass the Element 1 exam. The problem is that I bought an HF/6/2/70 rig (FT-857) and built a 6m dipole in Dec '03. Since then, I've put up a 3-element 6m Yagi and will shortly be placing a 6m Ringo vertical above that. Most of my contacts have been in the Arizona/New Mexico area (I'm in the S.F. Bay Area), but I've been told that good propagation can take place to the north, particularly to Washington. I've also been busy with starting up a few 2m and 70cm antenna projects for SSB.
I guess HF tx will have to wait.
Besides, working 20/40/75-80 meters seems too easy...
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0IU on March 6, 2005
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WA6BFH writes:
"N0IU, you will probably have an allie in K2WH!"
The word "allie" isn't in the dictionary, at least not the ones I have. Allie is a common female name which can be a shortened version of the name Alexandra, Alice or Alison. Maybe you meant to use the word "ally" which, according to Webster, means, "to connect or form a relation between (as by likeness or compatibility)
intransitive senses : to form or enter into an alliance"
Befour yu publish your compendium wirks and distribute them to the genral public, at least taik the tyme to run it threw a speel chekker!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0IU on March 6, 2005
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WA6BFH writes:
“I think that the primary reason is that instant gratification is easy on bands such as 20 Meters
and instant gratification is paramount!
Especially for over-achievers.”
He then goes on to write in a later posting:
“N0IU, you will probably have an allie in K2WH!
Have a good time! Maybe someday I will catch you both on 20!”
At least this over-achiever knows how to use the spell checker on his computer. Allie is a girl’s name which is usually short for Alice, Allison, Alexandra and other similar names. Maybe he meant to say that I have an ally in K2WH. I stopped spelling phonetically in the 2nd grade.
John, before you publish your compendium works about the culture of ham radio or the mode average cost of ham radio, u myt wunt to uze the speel chekker befour you send them out sew ewe don’t luk stoopid!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W0OX on March 6, 2005
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Darn... I think I missed the "Group Hug".......I re-read all the posts this morning after posting one yesterday.. and noticed a tad of testosterone ( and Allies estrogen also) Kinda made me chuckle as I am sure that everyone who posted varied opinions would also be more than willing to spend a couple hours of their time to help a newbie cut a dipole to resonance..And extoll the virutes of their bands and modes of choice !!! and all would have a different method of guying it... and how to solder and best insolate it and type of coax.....and after all 100 dipoles are up in the air the would all work just fine...NOT AS GOOD AS THE ONE I BUILT of course.
73
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 6, 2005
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Erik, I think that you are taking me the wrong way in some of your responses! Any negative sounding comments that I have posted are in response to a couple of guys, one in particular, that has been chasing me around {the different E-Ham articles I have written} and pretty much been beating me to death with ‘put downs’! While I do believe that thinking like this is small minded, and negative merely for the sake of negativity -- I am trying to get people interested in all of the VHF spectrum and above, that has largely gone {scientifically} un-explored since the close of World War 2!
I am active on all VHF and UHF bands, and am working toward similar status on the SHF bands. I myself am not very interested in FM {or other wide bandwidth pursuits}, at least in the context of articles such as this one but, SSB and iCW are the ‘Hot Ticket’.
I was hoping to get an e-mail or response from the chap along the lines of ‘so, how do you put these radios on 220’. I have not seen any such response yet but, maybe my next article will show the set-up to allow for the switching, and ALC power level controls, that make any of those other radios mentioned -- easy to put on 222 MHz.
Thanks for your fine response on that band! I would encourage you to write an article, perhaps explaining the broader pursuits, of those who engage in VHF and above ‘weak signal’ work!
73! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 6, 2005
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Ouch! I guess I hit a nerve, or pushed the right {or wrong} button!
Sorry about the speeling error! Maybe you will find Miss McBiel on 20 as well!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 6, 2005
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W0OX, I’m not certain that I understood all you meant in an earlier post about an MFJ tuner, and a quicker 6L antenna? Your not using a TransMatch for 6 Meters are you? I mean, I guess you could build up enough gain in the right kind of antenna (although it would take a lot more than 6 elements), to offset the loss in the tuner but, gee wiz, that’s why Mr. Yagi, and Mr. Uda came up with their quick and efficient gain antenna design!
A typical 6 element Yagi for 6 Meters would need about a 24 foot boom for optimum gain. Even then that would probably be only about 13 dBd, or so. You would probably loose about 9 dB’s or more in the TransMatch!
On your later post, I got the whole picture! I’ll bet you put up and install a mean dipole! Of course, mine is better!
73! de John
PS
Cubical Quads are even better!
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KE4DRN on March 6, 2005
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Here is a link for the sixclub on qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/sixclub
73 james
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K7VO on March 6, 2005
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K2WH: Six meters stinks 10 years out of 11? A quick check of the log to see how many years in the past 11 I've worked DX stations (not counting Canada, which is too easy to really matter) and I come up with... 11. Opportunities to work Europe have happened year after year after year. No, it's not every day like on 20 but it sure doesn't stink to me.
73,
Caity
K7VO/8
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by NI6G on March 6, 2005
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WA6BFH wrote:
"Erik, I think that you are taking me the wrong way in some of your responses! Any negative sounding comments that I have posted are in response to a couple of guys, one in particular, that has been chasing me around {the different E-Ham articles I have written} and pretty much been beating me to death with ‘put downs’!"
It is your belligerent attitude and ostentatious display that has provoked rebukes from others. Your credibility was called into question and you did not answer in a factual, reasonable, and mature manner.
Do you remember me from the Western States Weak Signal Society? In 1997, I was Vice President of the organization and you were an “Area Representative”. Part of the Area Reps duties at that time was to provide a brief quarterly report to the VP. I sent a gentle reminder to all Area Reps as I normally did. Rather than sending me a simple 3 or 4 sentence report (one or two paragraphs at most) like everyone else does, you berated for me over 2 pages! It was frankly bizarre and offensive.
Perhaps you should set aside your copy of Atlas Shrugged for a moment and examine your own behavior.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 6, 2005
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NI6G, I guess I will simply stand upon the commentary of another Ham, N6NB, near the time of the founding meeting of the WSWSS. You may recall what Wayne said in reference to the idea that we (of the WSWSS) should petition the FCC to make it illegal to use FM in the lower 300 KHz of 2 Meters. I am referring to his comments in a more general sense but, I think he pretty much hit the mark, and that you will understand!
Also, Ayn Rand was pretty ostentatious herself! I think she would agree with me.
73! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W0OX on March 6, 2005
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WA6BFH John the MFJ9406 is little 8 watt transceiver.. no tuner and yes my boom is 25 feet with the 6 L.....
Jim
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 6, 2005
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Cool Jim! I hope to work you on it! On them I mean!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KA0IES on March 6, 2005
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The times that I have enjoyed six meters, I have left a radio turned on but squelched all the time. When the band starts to open let the radio sit and don't hop on right away. The second time you hear the squelch break it will be a little stronger. About the third time the squelch breaks it is time to spin that antenna and point it where the opening is coming from.
I love the times I had openings to the east coast from here in Iowa. Hearing people and they are talking about having 500 watts or more into stacked 6 element beams on monster towers. They give me the report with a description of their station and I reply 10 watts 5 elements at 40 feet. NEXT!!!! They can't believe what they hear.
When the band opens the power level is not needed and the big killer antenna systems are not needed.
I have broken pileups in Texas with a CW signal from a 3 watt portable into three elements sitting on top of an aluminum 6 foot step ladder. That one always amazes my neighbor.
As to TVI I don't even interfere with my own TV on an attic antenna watching channel two in this area. The TVI fear seems to be something that used to happen a lot but with todays transceivers being clean it isn't as likely to happen.
Six meters is a blast. And sure, one does not hear a lot of activity on the band all the time. But if one is paitient, then the activity really explodes and it is real fun when it does open.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W8KQE on March 7, 2005
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For the 'newbies' here, there is no easier way to get onto 6m than with a horizontal dipole or a 6m loop. Stacking loops is even more effective and gives you omnidirectional coverage with a bit of gain. A few years ago, I had a ton of luck 'hilltopping' during a VHF contest, using a pair of stacked PAR 'Omniangles' on a 15 ft. collapsible 'painters pole', and an 8 watt MFJ 6m transceiver! The radio ran for 2 days on a portable car battery recharger I used as a power supply, and I worked 74 grids and 32 states in one weekend from the campsite! Also, being away from power lines and other 'man made noise' made this little transceiver all the more effective. Can't wait for this May thru August!
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RE: Each to his own
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by AH6FC on March 7, 2005
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N1OFZ
you know, you're right! During my last 6 m opening a few weeks ago my mic gain was up a little high and a caller said "not a criticism, but you're splattering just a little. Great audio just a little splatter." So I made the adjustments and things got better.
On Christmas day, on 20 meters, I was working an SV0 and some guy came on, "you F...... A...hole, your audio sucks." When I saw your comment I had to reply. You are right! (unfortunately).
The number of posts are amazing. Like others I started with a lunchbox and a ringo. Had to put time and $$ into HF rigs and antennas. I remember reading a story in QST circa 1969, written by a W2??? about his QSO with a ZD8. I even wrote him a letter asking more of the details. I've been intrigued ever since. Finally last year I got back on the air and now have decent 6 meter equipment and even 1 KW. When the band is open it's very exciting.
Hope to work you all from KH6.
73's & Aloha,
Bill
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WX3K on March 7, 2005
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The band may be dead often but when it opens, its a blast ! Auroral openings arent always obvious unless you know the K index is up. Plenty of space to rag chew on old vintage AM 6 meter gear.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 8, 2005
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Something that needs much more emphasis is the idea that especially for “Newbies”, horizontally polarized antennas are more of a limitation, rather than a benefit! Loop antennas are a terrible compromise in aperture area and radiation efficiency. In fact they are in effect a folded dipole, and I am not referring to the dipole design to achieve 200 to 300 Ohm feed point impedance. What I am saying is, they are folded, or ‘scrunched up’, and their radiation pattern reflects this!
Even conventional linear half-wavelength dipoles are less than desirable. This is because, unless you use a balun, the radiation pattern will be vectored in basically one predominant direction. One might be able to actually exploit a benefit from that but, there is a much simpler way to proceed! Also, if you use a balun, you may loose more in feed efficiency, than you benefit because of the now uniform radiation pattern.
A simple vertically polarized omni-directional antenna, especially an efficient one, has multiple advantages.
1) It has a lower angle of radiation than any modest size beam.
2) It is always pointed in the right direction
3) It is better usable for many modulation modes, SSB, iCW, AM. FM, etc.
As a DX antenna this low radiation angle, and pointing accuracy is a big benefit. The antenna is more efficient than any loop, and it is easier to mount our install. One particular vertically polarized omni-directional antenna the “J” or J-pole is the most efficient of all! This antenna mounted at a decent height, being hopefully at about 30 feet or better, is a very desirable and advantages DX antenna.
Remember that signal polarization shifts and changes as it transitions the ionosphere. So a vertical antenna at one end of the signal path, has little or no disadvantage in communicating with a horizontally polarized antenna at the other end of the signal path!
See the article below:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2775/6mjant01.html
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by YEPSURE on March 8, 2005
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I would also agree that with all the radio's made today which include the 6-meter band (among other bands), there are more people on 6-meters than ever before. I know I had no real interest in operating 6-meters until I bought my first mobile radio that happened to include 6-meters, which was a Kenwood TM-742A tri-band mobile. The town I used to live in had just put up two 6-meter repeaters and it was a lot of fun using this new band (new to me at least).
Later I purchased a couple Yaesu FT-8900 mobiles that also include 6-meters, as well as a Kenwood TS-2000, and several years later I'm still thoroughly enjoying it. The town I now live in has 3 6-meter repeaters with regular activity on 52.525 MHz FM. When band conditions permit I have a ball on SSB as well.
I definitely enjoy using 6-meters, but I know many places have absolutely ZERO 6-meter activity. People living in these areas would only be able to take advantage of band openings, which don't happen very often. About two years ago 6-meters was a JUMPING band though! Every single day yielded lots of activity and was loads of fun. I look forward to those days again!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K7VO on March 8, 2005
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WA6BFH: It is true that a vertical antenna will work fine for Es opening due to polarization shift in the ionosphere. I have both a vertical and a loop on 6m and I can tell you from experience, both at my present QTH and in the past, the there is more man made noise picked up on the vertical, a huge disadvantage. In addition, Es opening on 6m occur maybe 60 days a year. A loop is useful for SSB/CW/digital the other 300+ days a year when a vertical simply is not. Since probably 95-99% of the hams on 6m are on SSB/CW rather than FM, and since probably 95% of them are on horizontally polarized antennas I would recommend an omni loop over a vertical any day of the week. It's useful most every day of the year.
73,
Caity
K7VO/8
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 8, 2005
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Antenna radiation patterns know nothing of what modulation mode you are using!
If you are saying you use these modes for more local communication, yes, for ‘Direct wave’ contacts there will be approximately 20 dB’s of attenuation for cross-polarized situations. In such instances, I would probably go to FM, where EVERYBODY is vertical, I don’t need to talk to the LOCAL SSB guys. Although, nearly everyone I know here in Southern California, and progressively in Northern California has a vertical omni. They may also have a nice horizontal Yagi or two up on a 60 foot tower but, they monitor using the vertical omni!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 8, 2005
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Another thought!
If you have access to a network analyzer, take a look at the return loss on that loop. Compare this to any typical omni, even a quarter wave Ground Plane.
If you have the opportunity you might also do a polarization test on that loop. I know it is horizontal but, most of the 6 Meter loops on the market have a whopping vertical component! I suspect this is because they are typically mounted within a quarter wavelength or so of ground.
73! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KG4FET on March 9, 2005
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I see a couple of "band is always closed" comments. Seems to me that if you put even a small amount of effort into it, 6M is the most enjoyable of the "DX" bands. Try listening on 28.850 as it is the 10M/6M liasion freq. Also, check 50.050-50.080 portion of the band for many of the domestic and DX becons. Sound like a lot of work, it's no less then listening to 20M for hours on end and hearing nothing or the noise and static on 40M to talk the same distances you can on 6M regularly. Add to all of this easy to build, easy to handle, and MUCH smaller antennas that won't tax your tower or your trees you have a fun to work and build for band.
GL God Bless
Sandor KG4FET EM90dh
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Correction to the last post
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by WB2AMU on March 9, 2005
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The Six Meter liaison frequency on Ten Meters is 28.885 MHz....the last post is wrong.
73
KEN WB2AMU
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by AD6KB on March 9, 2005
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Granted the band is "closed" most of the time. But when it is open it can be spectacular: I worked Lord Howe Island (I think, I am at work and unable to check log)or one of those islands off of Australia from Northern California on 6m. rst 599. It was pretty amazing. Most openings aren't that spectacular.
I check it frequently just in case.
73
Tim
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by N0TONE on March 9, 2005
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I have a separate 6 meter rig. Mainly, the reason I don't like 6 is because I don't really like to dedicate the space for a separate antenna just for that band. And, 6 is not a great band, for those of us using random-length wires. Plus, I have a fair distance from shack to antenna; RG-8X works fine for lower HF, but for 6, I'd have to pay for "good" coax. All that extra effort and expense for just one band?
Then, too, I find that if six meters is open, then 10, 12 and 15 are even MORE open.
I sometimes listen to 6FM - spx and rptr - and haven't really warmed up to the personalities there. Not a lot different from FM operations on any other band. Channelized FM operators, at least in my experience, aren't drawn to the intrigue of the unknown, instead they want reliable comms. For that, I have a phone.
AM
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 9, 2005
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AM, I guess I could attempt to take each of your statements to task, but, I will only address one. When you say that when 6 Meters is open, 10, 12, and 15 are more open, this on its face is only true if we are talking about F-layer skip!
So, you are missing the magic of the Magic Band but, that is your choice. It is also of course in contravention to the purpose of this article but, what the heck! I too enjoy these upper HF bands that often almost work like VHF frequencies. I have had some great QSO’s on 15, 12, and 10!
In my experience though, nothing has replaced the wonder and fascination, when I think about the physics in the various types of signal propagation that Mother Nature has provided for me on 6 Meters!
73!
PS
I would also simply not use small aperture wire antennas for 6 Meters, unless maybe I was on top of a ‘30 dB mountain’ at about 8000 foot elevation!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W1NCH on March 10, 2005
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Cape Cod, Massachusetts to central Georgia using 5 watts on SSB into a coax-cable, 3-el yagi stapled to the rafters in the attic!
Truly amazing!
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 10, 2005
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W1NCH, You should tell some of those who, JUST DON'T GET IT! I guess you just did!
73! de John
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KB9YGD on March 11, 2005
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Yes what a good discussion.I have been on ``the magic band`` since 2000 with a c.c. ar-6 at 21 ft and ft-847 100 watts and when it opens wow,i have talked to guys in the mobil and even one fellow that had a magmount on his refridgerator in tx.i have worked SSTV on 50.680,psk31 on 50.290 AM on 50.400 & a lot of CW on 50.090 up to .100, and ssb & fm to.i try to check the band several times a day & if you do this it will be open sometimes.Its said that 6 is open all the time from somewhere to somewhere.Very good article.73,Norm.
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KE4KVW on March 11, 2005
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"ONLY band that talks that far for TECHS!""NOT" so I have worked 2 meter SSB as far West as Colorado and North into Canada,Michigan, Illinois,NY,NJ,& many other northern states from North Florida(EM80)with just 100 watts MANY times on 2 meters! 6 meters is a GREAT band and if you do not use it it is your LOSS! If I can hear them I can work them!ALWAYS got ONE rig sitting & listening on the MAGIC BAND!73's & God bless,ClaytonKE4KVWKissing Vanna White
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by WA6BFH on March 11, 2005
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Clayton, I am thinking of a future article that you might enjoy!
73! de John
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RE: A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by W2TXB on March 13, 2005
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I have been doing some 6-meter stuff for a long time, mostly FM and from on the road. Last summer, I installed a Yaesu FT-8900 in the Jeep and put the old TM-741A (with 6-M) into the house. I then took down the dual-band antenna and put up a tri-bander (6-M, 2-M, and 450 mHz) to go with it. There is a repeater nearby (53.05 mHz), and a couple of others that I have been able to access from home.
When there are openings, the band is a blast to operate. Even if only on FM, I recommend this band.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by K5RIX on March 13, 2005
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Six is a cool band. There are a lot of dedicated weak-signal VHFer's out there who operate very capable stations, and who are almost always listening. It's a good idea to know where to listen, and it's also good to be able to copy the beacons. CW is an excellent mode for scaring up some activity, particularly around dawn via scatter, and it doesn't take a monster station to participate.
I prefer to monitor six while operating HF, which is difficult to do with a single transceiver. It's neat that many current HF rigs include six, but to really get a feel for the Magic Band I find it best to listen more or less whenever I'm on the air elsewhere. Also, it's good to take a spin around the band after dinner to see who's around locally.
Interference to TV channel 2 is easily eliminated by using an open quarter-wave stub across the television receiver antenna terminals.
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A Thought About an Often Forgotten Band
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by KG6TCV on March 14, 2005
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I Love 6 meters especialy USB and I do use the FM as well, I'm located here in Riverside County CA. DM13ku what a rush to hear some static & noise in there and all of a sudden like the calm before the storm it gets ever so silent and then it's time to rock and roll CQ CQ CQ ....
I run a net 50.135 USB WSWSS " the Saturday Night Six Meter Net" Every Saturday at 8PM Pacific Standard Time, / 4:00 UTC.
I like to get all the stations, so I start off with a Vertical Antenna then shortly after move to the beam starting North and moving Counter Clock Wise to the west and so on..
Give it a try , I mean a real try. start by monitoring the band 50.110, 50.125, 50.135, 50.150 even some action around 50.170-190.
Wile monitering if it apears Quite by all means Call CQ CQ CQ.
And Yes I have made alot of Contacts, UT., OR., NV., MT., SD., ND., WY., just to name a few..
Good Luck & 73's Steven KG6TCV DM13ku Riverside CA.
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