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Tech on 6m and 10m
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by N9ZRZ on November 3, 2009
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I am new to these bands - not even on the air yet. Just picked up a rig and hope to try it out soon. As a Technician I know I can get on 6m and limited use on 10m. Can anyone help me be sure of my frequency privileges for voice on these 2 bands or have suggestions on the best frequencies to catch other hams on these bands? Thanks!
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RE: Tech on 6m and 10m
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by W6VPS on November 3, 2009
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A touch of self-education might be in order here.
Perhaps these links will help you.
US Amateur Radio Bands
http://www.arrl.org/search/?exp=1&q=US+Amateur+Radio+Bands&x=9&y=7
FCC Part 97
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=a256d8b618af1abb3bd28faee448c647&rgn=div5&view=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.6&idno=47#47:5.0.1.1.6.4.157.1
The ARRL chart is probably the easiest to digest as it is color coded and laid out in a failry understandable manner. The FCC rules are a bit like eating a salad made of grass and tree bark.
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RE: Tech on 6m and 10m
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by N3OX on November 3, 2009
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The answer to the first part is here:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/Hambands_color.pdf/
In terms of centers of activity, informal agreements, etc:
On 6m, especially outside of summertime, you probably will have the best luck listening to 50.125. This is a "calling frequency" and is usually the first frequency to have any activity at all on it when the band opens up.
Of course, if you've got locals talking to each other they may correctly pick a frequency different than 50.125 ... but generally SSB on 6m is most active between 50.125 and 50.200. 50.110 to 50.125 has SSB but is used almost entirely for DX, roughly speaking, that's used by US and Canada stations trying to work someone outside of the lower 48 and Canada and by DX stations calling for US/Canada.
The range between about 50.075 and 50.110 is mostly CW, domestic and DX... sometimes there will be SSB DX stations in the 50.100-50.110 range when the band is pretty hot.
Everything below 50.075 is beacons, beacons, beacons. They can be a good indicator of an open band. Even if you don't copy CW if you hear a lot of it from 50.075 and down you're probably hearing beacons.
On 10m, pretty much all of your allowed SSB range from 28.300 to 28.500 is decent territory for QSOs. There will be a cluster of activity around 28.400 when the band opens up but (fortunately) I think more people tune OFF 28.400 when they're looking for 10m stations. The devotion to 50.125 on 6m gets a little excessive such that you'll hear ten guys trying to complete QSOs on that frequency every time the band opens.
Usually if 10m is open though, someone will be on 28.400, 28.405 ... etc. I haven't done much 10m at the bottom of this cycle but at the bottom last time it seemed that 28.440 and up was best for DX, though there would be a lot of South and Central American stations spread across the 28.3 to 28.5 region. At the bottom of the cycle, there's nothing above 28.500 besides Generals and higher trying not to talk to Techs :-) When things pick up, 10m will get VERY crowded though so people start to spread out above 28.500. Right now you're not missing anything by not having access up there.
73
Dan
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RE: Tech on 6m and 10m
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by KB3LSR on November 3, 2009
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Check out the ARRL's bandplan: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/Hambands_color.pdf
The bandplan will help you learn where you can and cannot operate with your license class.
6M and 10M are kind of dead right now. You might get a 6M opening, but I've usually found them to be in the spring/summer. 10M will have sporadic openings, but since it's at the bottom of the solar cylce, you will need some patience.
Whenever I'm on 6M, I usually scan around 50.120 (international SSB DX calling) and 50.125 (SSB calling). When 6M opens up, it will sound a lot like 20M (stations all over the place). I usually scan around those frequencies because that's where most of the 6M action is at (I'm not into 6M FM, if you are, then 52.520 is the FM calling frequency).
As far as 10M, I start in the basement and work my way up. I'll start scanning for some CW stations at 28.000MHz and go from there. If you want SSB, then a technician can operate from 28.300 to 28.500. That's where I've found most of the 10M SSB activity when it's opened up anyways.
Usually, 10M will be open before 6M. If 6M is open, then it's very likely that 10M will be open. But if 10M is open then 6M may or may not be open. I like 6 the most because it's a challenge.
I cheat and use some DX reflectors. You can find them in Google if you search for "50MHz DX Reflector." The reflectors are collections of reports from various stations about who they can or cannot hear. Those help a lot with finding openings.
Here's a good article on how 6M propagation works: http://www.qsl.net/zs6dx/articles/6prop.htm
Of course, you could always upgrade to General and not have to worry about what the technician HF privileges are ;) Really though, once you make a few DX contacts, you will want to upgrade, so just save yourself the future trouble and be ready for the top of the solar cycle.
But congratulations on your license! Always good to see another ham interested in the hobby!!
73 de AB3HJ
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