Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: rookie 6M opwerator questions  (Read 1314 times)

KD0VE

  • Member
  • Posts: 1490
rookie 6M opwerator questions
« on: July 20, 2020, 05:46:25 AM »

New to 6M.  SSB DX my favorite op.  Central MN QTH with a six element beam at 25' 100w. max.  what would be reasonable expectations for SSB contacts with this set up?

I understand band openings are much more irregular than HF.  Is there a cellphone app that will provide notifications when the band opens?

thx to anyone taking the time to offer advice.
Logged

WD4AOG

  • Posts: 10
    • HomeURL
Re: rookie 6M operator questions
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2020, 07:29:26 AM »

While more is often better in terms of antenna height (and your antenna system is the most important part of any station) it looks like your station is more than adequate to work 6 meters.

I don't know if there is a phone application specifically for 6 meters but there very likely are spotting applications which could perhaps be set just for 6. 

I'd recommend tuning the low end of the band listening for beacon stations.  That will tell you right away where you have propagation.  Also, you can always check websites like this one and others which report recent "spots" and look for those on the 50-54 mhz frequencies. 

And finally, download and learn to use software for the weak signal modes.  Simply monitoring that while connected to your rig, you'll see the call signs of any DX stations currently on the air.  While those modes don't appeal to me, they do work when SSB isn't getting through and would be ideal for determining propagation at that moment.

Hope this helps.  I love 6 meters, too, so perhaps we'll connect on the air sometime.

73,
Michael
Logged

K0EKL

  • Member
  • Posts: 78
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2020, 08:15:54 AM »

I'm been on 6m for as long as I've been a ham - I was licensed in 1976. 6m is truly a "magic band"!

From your location with your station should should be able to work stations in the Twin Cities almost anytime at all. During Sporadic E "Es" openings you should be able to work nation wide and the Caribbean Islands. The most common path for Es from Minnesota is to the SE. You'll work tons of stations in Florida, the Carolinas, Tennessee, etc.

Trans-equatorial will make South America possible, and Europe, Alaska and Japan have all been worked from Minnesota in the past couple months. Point your antenna north and you should be able to work stations all over the Midwest via auroral propagation.

If you're not already working FT8 you should look into it. It's become extremely popular in 6m

Logged

K0RDG

  • Posts: 49
    • HomeURL
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2020, 10:23:38 AM »

Wouldn't hurt to check out the Tropospheric Ducting forecast page..have a great time..6 meters can be a lot of fun due to it's uncertainty..
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html


Logged

K0UA

  • Member
  • Posts: 9589
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2020, 11:36:07 AM »

I use the DX finder app on android. Just set it to 6 meters as the band of interest if you want.
.
FT8 is by far the most popular mode on 50.313 Mhz. You have a lot more antenna than I do, I have a Moxon (2 element) at 42 foot. I have 35 confirmed and 48 states. With a few more "out there", worked but not confirmed. 100 watts. You should also be able to work a lot of states with Meteor scatter when the E skip dries up in about 3 weeks. MS is available year round, and good for about 1100 miles max.

Again go download the WSJT-x suit to get FT8, FT4 and MSK-144 (used for meteor scatter).  To work more meteor scatter, you need to log on to ping jockey. You need to know when and which way to point your antenna. It is thrilling to hear your first meteor bursts. Obviously things are better during "showers", but meteors hit the atmosphere all the time. Yes these reflections are weak, and very short duration, this is where the software comes into play. Morning hours are best as the earth rotates into the swarm of meteors each day. If you need help, let me know and we can talk by phone, or do screen shares if you want.  73  James K0UA

https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

https://www.pingjockey.net/cgi-bin/pingtalk


Logged
73  James K0UA

G8FXC

  • Member
  • Posts: 533
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2020, 09:46:44 AM »

New to 6M.  SSB DX my favorite op.  Central MN QTH with a six element beam at 25' 100w. max.  what would be reasonable expectations for SSB contacts with this set up?

I understand band openings are much more irregular than HF.  Is there a cellphone app that will provide notifications when the band opens?

thx to anyone taking the time to offer advice.

That configuration should get you plenty of DX on 6 when the band opens. It really is a band that does not need spectacular equipment for amazing results. My best was achieved quite a few years ago using a Yaesu FT-817 barefoot into its rubber duck antenna while sitting on a beach in Western France. I tuned around and heard a rather crackly SSB voice signal calling CQ. I replied and found myself having a reasonably solid QSO with the DXpedition station on the island of St. Kilda. I subsequently measured it at close to 1000 miles - not bad for 5W into a rubber duck antenna! I even got a QSL card from them, so it was not wishful thinking!

Martin (G8FXC)
Logged

N6ORB

  • Member
  • Posts: 334
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2020, 10:00:11 PM »

The best tool I've found for finding out if the band is open is dxmaps.com. On this site spots are placed on a map, with lines drawn on the map between the spotted stations and the stations spotting them. Since the primary propagation mode for long distance contacts is sporadic E, you look for where the lines cross on the map. That's where the the E clouds are located. Point your antenna there and you have a good chance of contacting someone on the other side of the crossing point.
Logged

G8FXC

  • Member
  • Posts: 533
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2020, 03:03:25 AM »

The best tool I've found for finding out if the band is open is dxmaps.com. On this site spots are placed on a map, with lines drawn on the map between the spotted stations and the stations spotting them. Since the primary propagation mode for long distance contacts is sporadic E, you look for where the lines cross on the map. That's where the the E clouds are located. Point your antenna there and you have a good chance of contacting someone on the other side of the crossing point.

WSPR is also good - during the spor season, I will often let the PC ping out a few WSPR beacons and check the database to see where I am being heard.

Martin (G8FXC)
Logged

K3CXG

  • Posts: 47
    • HomeURL
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2022, 05:48:26 PM »

Try http://aprs.mennolink.org for vhf conditions.
Logged

WY4J

  • Member
  • Posts: 222
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2022, 06:41:21 PM »

DX sherlock is a good source to view 6m band openings.
https://www.dxmaps.com
Logged

AF5CC

  • Posts: 1664
    • HomeURL
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2022, 09:52:17 PM »

Slack has become one of the main chatrooms for 6 meters.  N5TM kind of coordinates invites for that, and there are several different channels that people use for discussions, including rover-raregrid.  Much of it is geared towards FT8 but SSB would aid from it also.  I have the app for it on my cellphone as well, so I can keep tabs on what is going on when I am out of the shack.

If you are interested in it, emailing N5TM can get you started on it. 

You have more station that I do on 6 and I have worked 625 grids and 53 countries on 6 since moving to this QTH in 2001.  Worked Chile and Bonaire for new countries this year.  Also have worked Brazil, Belize, Mexico, US Virgin Islands, and Venezuela this year on 6 so far.

73 John AF5CC
Logged

KE8KMX

  • Posts: 265
    • HomeURL
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2022, 03:30:31 AM »

6m SSB?   Nope.

 FT8 has killed SSB and CW on 6m          99.99% of the 6m activity will be on FT8.   You could work 50 or more countries in EU this summer on FT8.    THere will be days this summer you can knock out VUCC in a single day.  You could spend the rest of your life trying to do that on 6m SSB.    I started on 6m two years ago.  My VUCC count is over 600. I have 86 countries confirmed and 48 states.

I have a hexbeam at 30' and a 5 element yagi at 16' although if the the weather holds off I should have it up to 26' later tday.

PSK Reporter is a greta tool for FT8.  Also - install JTAlert after you install WSJT-X.    You can us JTAlert to alert you to states, DX and grids you still need. 

Gino - KE8KMX
« Last Edit: June 08, 2022, 03:33:32 AM by KE8KMX »
Logged

W1VT

  • Member
  • Posts: 6071
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #12 on: June 08, 2022, 03:56:36 AM »

Apps aren't as useful on 6M as HF for working DX.  Multi-Hop openings are quite selective as all the bounces have to line up for an opening good enough for SSB.
Listening a lot helps.  I talked to a guy who was building an amp to work Hawaii for his last state from the Midwest.  He said he heard and worked Hawaii while building the amp!
Logged

KB1GMX

  • Member
  • Posts: 2252
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #13 on: June 08, 2022, 07:15:14 AM »

6M expecttions..

With a 6 element beam at 25ft, your in, higher over larger beam
is better as trees eat signal.  However with 5 Elements at 34ft I've done
47 countries and hunting Alaska and Hawaii for all states. Some of that,
my first 35 countries  was accomplished using 3 elements at 20ft.

Generally 6M activity has times (nets and contests), or places, as in
you had to be there on the air.  I have a radio dedicated to listening
on 50.125mhz for activity and I'm also on 10M as a an increase in
skip on 10 (or even 11M CB) indicates a possible opening on 6M

Local weak signal work out to 120-160 miles is not uncommon.

Sporadic E we are in the season for it NOW,  can be world wide.

Meteor scatter is popular even when there isn't a widely reported
shower.  There are always rocks falling, how often and how big
varies.  Same is true for reflections off aircraft.

Troposphere ducting happens as well.

Contesting, we are now 3.5days from the start of the annual
ARRL/RAC VHF/UHF contest (always second full weekend in june).
That brings everyone out. For CW/SSB and FT8.

FT8 is a dominant other mode and is likely to be active when SSB
is apparently dead, usually because everyone is on FT8.  If all
else fails make noise, people are often listening.

Six is the magic band.

Allison
Logged

KD7RDZI2

  • Member
  • Posts: 689
Re: rookie 6M opwerator questions
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2022, 07:43:50 AM »

Your setup has much greater gain than mine. My antenna is an omnidirectional horizontally polarized omniangle by Parelectronics. Often I use a 8 watt MFJ 9406. I find extremely easy having QSO when the band is e-sporadic open at continental level SSB. I do only CW and SSB. I use dxsummit and see the spots from 50.000 to 50.250 Mhz (CW and SSB). I am not interested in FT modes so I just skip the FT spots (50.3Mhz). I also listen the CW beacons from 50.000 to 50.070 Mhz, if you can hear them you can make easily CW SSB QSOs pointing to that direction.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up