6 meters Newbie
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Just got up my three element 6 meter beam at about 25 feet. I know it is not high. Could someone tell me a good web site to access to learn more about 6 meters? Watch for openings? Etc. Also, is the pre-amp a good investment if I am going to do more 6 meters> Lee - K0WA Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See www.ksqsoparty.org for details In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. - J. Wolf ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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Lee,
I connect to a CC Cluster, specifically VE7CC-1, which allows me to filter spots by band. I have my filter for 6M set to give me spots only from IL and WI. His user program can be downloaded at http://ve7cc.net/. A very interesting web site is http://vhfdx.net/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&Map=NA&mycall=&myloc=&freq=&pro p Jim N7US -----Original Message----- Just got up my three element 6 meter beam at about 25 feet. I know it is not high. Could someone tell me a good web site to access to learn more about 6 meters? Watch for openings? Etc. Also, is the pre-amp a good investment if I am going to do more 6 meters> Lee - K0WA ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net
Lee,
Hello, The Elecraft 6M preamp is worth the money, It works very well. 6M is a blast , you will like it. June 20,2010 I worked KL7/KB7Q for my number 50 state. (WAS) on 6M , and already have his QSL card . Also worked 8 EU stations so far this year on 6M Don't hear EU very often here in Oklahoma. GL and 73 Ken K5DNL PS we worked 160M CW 12/05/09 ------------------------------------- --- On Thu, 7/1/10, Lee Buller <[hidden email]> wrote: > From: Lee Buller <[hidden email]> > Subject: [Elecraft] 6 meters Newbie > To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]> > Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010, 11:28 AM > > Just got up my three element 6 meter beam at about 25 feet. > I know it is not high. Could someone tell me a good web > site to access to learn more about 6 meters? Watch for > openings? Etc. Also, is the pre-amp a good investment if > I am going to do more 6 meters> > Lee - K0WA > > Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, > 2010. See www.ksqsoparty.org for details > > In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short > supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some > Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common > Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common > Sense. Is Common Sense divine? > > Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing > revealed truth in my mind. - J. Wolf > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by N7US
I highly recommend down loading CommCat, the DX advantage by W6HN. You not only will set it up to monitor what you want, but it is configured with the K3 to click on the station shown and it will take your K3 there along with any special changes such as off set. It's a winner. Google Commsoft. Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc [hidden email] www.LaMarcheEnterprises.com 727-944-3226 727-937-8834 Fax 727-510-5038 Cell www.w9dvm.com K3 #1605 CCA 98-00827 CRA 1701 W9DVM ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net
Lee, DX Sherlock is great for keeping tabs on 6M openings:
http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=NA great maps created from current posts ... worldwide info, etc. Others may differ, but IMHO I think you're likely to need the PR6 if you become serious about 6M, and you may also want a P3.. I have two K3s, but always choose my 756ProIII when I get on 6M. Right out of the box, with the same antenna, etc., it hears better than either of my K3s (which do not have PR6s)..... but I use the ProIII for other reasons, too (there's a KW amp behind it, and it has the built-in bandscope which is always helpful during 6M openings). Don, N5LZ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Buller" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 10:28 AM Subject: [Elecraft] 6 meters Newbie Just got up my three element 6 meter beam at about 25 feet. I know it is not high. Could someone tell me a good web site to access to learn more about 6 meters? Watch for openings? Etc. Also, is the pre-amp a good investment if I am going to do more 6 meters> Lee - K0WA Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See www.ksqsoparty.org for details In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. - J. Wolf ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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I use both the VE7CC cluster and the VHFDX.net as well but the VHFDX.net page has some drawbacks. Yes it does show you where the band is open to but those lines may be out of date, excessive time displayed. I've made postings to it and came back half an hour later and they were still shown. So that's where the DX cluster by VE7CC comes in. You can quickly jump to that page and see what is actually happening on 6 whether in the USA, Europe, Africa, ASIA or wherever. And you can also look at what's happening on 10, 2, 432 and others. But, only if people are entering what they are hearing/working on the bands.
By all means don't just trust the VHFDX.net display but do use the two together. You can "spot" what you hear and work on either of the two resource pages but if you spot a station on the VE7CC page it won't show up on the VHFDX.net page as a line from your qth (call sign displayed) to the station you either hear or worked. But if you post the same info on the VHFDX.NET page, you will need to know your grid square, then it will show up on both VE7CC and VHFDX.net Have fun. It's a different world and lots of fun, especially when the band is up and running. Larry W0OGH DM43ci --- On Thu, 7/1/10, Donald Butler <[hidden email]> wrote: From: Donald Butler <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6 meters Newbie To: "Lee Buller" <[hidden email]>, "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]> Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010, 9:47 AM Lee, DX Sherlock is great for keeping tabs on 6M openings: http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=NA great maps created from current posts ... worldwide info, etc. Others may differ, but IMHO I think you're likely to need the PR6 if you become serious about 6M, and you may also want a P3.. I have two K3s, but always choose my 756ProIII when I get on 6M. Right out of the box, with the same antenna, etc., it hears better than either of my K3s (which do not have PR6s)..... but I use the ProIII for other reasons, too (there's a KW amp behind it, and it has the built-in bandscope which is always helpful during 6M openings). Don, N5LZ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Buller" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 10:28 AM Subject: [Elecraft] 6 meters Newbie Just got up my three element 6 meter beam at about 25 feet. I know it is not high. Could someone tell me a good web site to access to learn more about 6 meters? Watch for openings? Etc. Also, is the pre-amp a good investment if I am going to do more 6 meters> Lee - K0WA Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See www.ksqsoparty.org for details In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. - J. Wolf ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net
You can also google the VE7CC dx cluster. There is CC software there that is VERY
configurable to your own personal requirements and one of the setup screens has a button that will have the software work with the K3. I controled it using LPBridge and it worked fine. Click on the freq and the K3 freq changes, but not the mode. You can also send the spots to other loggers like N1MM. There's also operation with Skimmer though I have not tried it yet. Oh...it's free too! ------------------------- 73, Greg - AB7R Whidbey Island WA NA-065 On Thu Jul 1 9:42 , "Phil LaMarche" sent: > >I highly recommend down loading CommCat, the DX advantage by W6HN. You not >only will set it up to monitor what you want, but it is configured with the >K3 to click on the station shown and it will take your K3 there along with >any special changes such as off set. It's a winner. Google Commsoft. > >Phil > >Philip LaMarche > >LaMarche Enterprises, Inc >[hidden email] >www.LaMarcheEnterprises.com > >727-944-3226 >727-937-8834 Fax >727-510-5038 Cell > >www.w9dvm.com > >K3 #1605 > >CCA 98-00827 >CRA 1701 >W9DVM > > > >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: [hidden email]','','','')">[hidden email] > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net
Some interesting sites shared here for the 50mhz enthusiast, but perhaps one
of the best sites hasn't had a mention. www.on4kst.com Real time chat with other like minded people, plus separate web pages for region 1 or region 2 (although when the band is open, you'll see 'users' logged onto both) It'll cost you nothing to check it out, I'm confident you'd find it useful. It's great as FS/W6JKV is currently working into EU and Jimmy is passing real time data on to users right now... 73, Andy http://gd0tep.com -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Lee Buller Sent: 01 July 2010 16:29 To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] 6 meters Newbie Just got up my three element 6 meter beam at about 25 feet. I know it is not high. Could someone tell me a good web site to access to learn more about 6 meters? Watch for openings? Etc. Also, is the pre-amp a good investment if I am going to do more 6 meters> Lee - K0WA Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See www.ksqsoparty.org for details In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. - J. Wolf ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by Greg - AB7R
I love the VE7CC cluster and cluster client. Wouldn't exchange it for anything, the filtering is wonderful. I use it with HRD via a localhost telnet connection so I have point and click to qsy with HRD's cluster window. But there is a significant delay between spots showing in the VE7CC client and them popping up in HRD, sometimes several minutes. I'd love to point and click to qsy directly in the cluster client, but haven't figured out how. I do have LP-Bridge between the K3 and HRD. Where do I look for the K3 setup in the CC software?
AB2TC - Knut
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Go to configuration-port/logging program and down in the lower right you will see enable K3 with a comport to select. After that just click on the frequency in the DX window. It changes only frequency not mode.
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In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net
Lee,
Don't worry about your beam being up 25 feet. At 6 Meters, that is almost a wavelength high. If you have a relatively quiet QTH, the PR6 preamp for you K3 will help pull out the weak ones on 6 Meters. Check out the Elecraft Archives for other info on this topic. The key to working DX on 6 Meters is to BE ON THE AIR when the band is open to your QTH. If you are around when it does open, you will work plenty of DX with your K3 and low yagi. The majority of the 6M DX that I have worked as been with a single yagi at 30 feet or less. It worked great during the peak of the sunspot cycle when the higher F2 layers were ionized as the MUF climbed above 50 MHz. >From my old MD QTH, DX was worked from great distances (FR, ZS, ZL, VK, JA, KH2, V7, etc.) with the beam on the roof at 30 feet. Now that we have E-Skip as the primary means of propagating signals, it is still possible to work plenty of DX with a low yagi and 100 Watts. My friend N4QQ, living in a VERY noisey suburban lot, last summer, worked over 40 countries with his K3 and a 3 element homebrew yagi at 20 feet. Yes, being in the east helps, but there is plenty of DX to be worked from the west, but you must be there when the band opens. You will find that some openings can be very short, lasting only a minute or so to your QTH before the propagation favors another QTH. >From my new VA QTH, using my barefoot K3 and the 20' high yagi, I've already worked almost 40 countries including 2 new ones (HA & E7) bringing the K1HTV DXCC total to 150 DX countries on 50 MHz. As far as a good web site which will let you know what what is happening to help you work 6M (and 2M) DX, check out this great site, which is maintained by EA6VQ: http://www.vhfdx.net/ Click on the "DX-Sherlock 1.97" bullet http://www.vhfdx.info/spots/map.php?Lan=E Clicking on the various tabs will give you a graphical depiction of who is working whom in the world or on NA, SA, EU, etc. continents. Click on one of the maps will produce a new window which will list the details of each QSO, including calls, distances, propagation mode, etc.. I think that you will find this site to be most helpful in catching band openings to your area. Have fun with your K3 and low yagi on the 'Magic Band'. 73, Rich - K1HTV http://www.k1htv.us = = = Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:28:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Lee Buller <[hidden email]> Subject: [Elecraft] 6 meters Newbie To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]> Just got up my three element 6 meter beam at about 25 feet. ?I know it is not high. ?Could someone tell me a good web site to access to learn more about 6 meters? ?Watch for openings? ?Etc. ?Also, is the pre-amp a good investment if I am going to do more 6 meters> Lee - K0WA ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net
I have not had ANY luck on 6 meters with K3 # 1713. I had been listening with my 80m horizontal loop, which my Palstar BT-1500 tunes to a flat SWR on 6m. Nothing heard over a full year. Since I still couldn't hear anything I built a 6m dipole a couple days ago and still no luck.
I can hear continuous carriers sometimes but nothing else. I routinely check DX spots sent by hams near me (Ohio by Lake Erie) and have no luck. I do use the internal preamp. Carriers on the 80m loop are louder than on the 6m dipole. I had the subreceiver installed last year by Elecraft (about 6 weeks turnaround) and did not notice any difference. Unfortunately I thought 6m was a dead band or my antenna was the problem at the time so I didn't think to ask Elecraft to check it out while they had the rig. Anything I could have screwed up on the rig to make 6m a dead band? No problems noted on any other band. Joe- another 6m newbie
73,
Joe, W8JH K3s, KPA 500, KAT 500 and KX3 happy user. |
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Joe, given where you live, in northern Ohio, you could go for days without hearing anything on 6 meters. I live in the Los Angeles area, and I sometimes just tune the K3 to 50.125 (the SSB calling frequency) and listen for activity while I'm working from home. There are three or four guys (in a metropolitan area of 8 million) who pop up on the band every day calling QRZ to look for sporadic-E contacts, and on some days, that's about it. When Sporadic-E opens up, it can get real lively.
You can check your rig's performance if you have any 6 meter repeaters in your area, but you'll need a vertical antenna (I use a 6 meter J-pole), since all the FM activity on 6 meters is vertically polarized, whereas most SSB activity is horizontally polarized. (However, some LA area ops work SSB with vertical polarization). The 6 meter FM calling frequency for simplex is 53.600 mHz. there is a 6 meter repeater in Detroit (53.94 output, 131.8 PL), and one in Toledo at 53.65, 103.5 PL). 6 meter repeaters are -.5 mhz offset for input. I don't see any listed in the repeater guides for Cleveland. You might try to hit those machines to test your rig, if you have the wide filter necessary for FM transmission with the K3 and can put together a vertical 6 meter antenna. If the "custom" in northern Ohio and Michigan is to use vertical polarization for SSB (as some ops do here in LA), then you REALLY need a vertical antenna, since polarization really makes a difference on 6 meters. Cross polarization can result in a loss of as much as 20 dB in signal strength, which could pretty much explain why you're not hearing anyone with a horizontal antenna (if the local ops are working SSB with vertical polarization). If you can hit one of the local 6 meter repeaters, ask any operator you reach what the local practice is for SSB. If you want to get serious about 6 meters weak signal (SSB), invest in the Elecraft PR-6 pre-amp designed for that band. It's worth the cost for its performance. Lew K6LMP On Jul 2, 2010, at 6:01 AM, W8JH wrote: > > I have not had ANY luck on 6 meters with K3 # 1713. I had been listening > with my 80m horizontal loop, which my Palstar BT-1500 tunes to a flat SWR on > 6m. Nothing heard over a full year. Since I still couldn't hear anything I > built a 6m dipole a couple days ago and still no luck. > > I can hear continuous carriers sometimes but nothing else. I routinely > check DX spots sent by hams near me (Ohio by Lake Erie) and have no luck. > > I do use the internal preamp. Carriers on the 80m loop are louder than on > the 6m dipole. I had the subreceiver installed last year by Elecraft (about > 6 weeks turnaround) and did not notice any difference. Unfortunately I > thought 6m was a dead band or my antenna was the problem at the time so I > didn't think to ask Elecraft to check it out while they had the rig. > > Anything I could have screwed up on the rig to make 6m a dead band? No > problems noted on any other band. > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by W8JH
On 7/2/2010 7:01 AM, W8JH wrote:
> I have not had ANY luck on 6 meters with K3 # 1713. I had been listening > with my 80m horizontal loop, which my Palstar BT-1500 tunes to a flat SWR on > 6m. I also have a BT1500A, but do not use it on 6m because it is specified for 1.8-29.5 MHz. You're are trying to use it at nearly twice it's effective highest frequency. Getting a low loss match will be difficult if not impossible. > Nothing heard over a full year. Since I still couldn't hear anything I > built a 6m dipole a couple days ago and still no luck. > You might try turning the dipole into a vertical position and working some local 6m ops on 50.125MHz, which is the de facto calling frequency. If you're putting out any signal at all a few pleas for assistance with a radio check in your area will likely result in some helpful replies. > Anything I could have screwed up on the rig to make 6m a dead band? No > problems noted on any other band. > Have you verified that you have the correct antenna selected? Or is there a low-pass filter in line that is putting an 80 dB stopband above 42 MHz or some other cutoff frequency below the 6m band? By the way, 6m has been open quite often during this peak season, which typically runs May through July. In fact, right now (1527Z) the band is well open between Europe and eastern USA. Regards, Gus Hansen KB0YH ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by W8JH
Joe, you need a better antenna. Try a 3 to 5 element Yagi on a 30 or 40 ft pole or maybe a Quad. You need to be above the trees, buildings and other absorbing structures in the area. The signals are mostly weak on 6 meters, but occasionally they will be stronger. The clusters and maps are good to give you an indication, but Sporadic E is very sporadic and you may not hear what is strong in the next county, or maybe even the next block. It requires a lot of listening to catch openings. When there is an opening to somewhere, you will start by hearing a rise in the background noise. Then someone has to transmit and you have to be tuned to their frequency when they do. Six is called the 'Magic Band' because after hours of listening a signal will pop up like magic and a few minutes later it will disappear like magic. That is why it is typical for a station to give you his call and grid number and not take the time to give you his name or
state. It is not called the 'Easy Band'. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ ________________________________ From: W8JH <[hidden email]> To: [hidden email] Sent: Fri, July 2, 2010 8:01:13 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6 meters Newbie I have not had ANY luck on 6 meters with K3 # 1713. I had been listening with my 80m horizontal loop, which my Palstar BT-1500 tunes to a flat SWR on 6m. Nothing heard over a full year. Since I still couldn't hear anything I built a 6m dipole a couple days ago and still no luck. I can hear continuous carriers sometimes but nothing else. I routinely check DX spots sent by hams near me (Ohio by Lake Erie) and have no luck. I do use the internal preamp. Carriers on the 80m loop are louder than on the 6m dipole. I had the subreceiver installed last year by Elecraft (about 6 weeks turnaround) and did not notice any difference. Unfortunately I thought 6m was a dead band or my antenna was the problem at the time so I didn't think to ask Elecraft to check it out while they had the rig. Anything I could have screwed up on the rig to make 6m a dead band? No problems noted on any other band. Joe- another 6m newbie -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/6-meters-Newbie-tp5244084p5247643.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by W8JH
> Anything I could have screwed up on the rig to make 6m a dead band? > No problems noted on any other band. Do you have the RX Ant selected (or ANT 2 if you have the KANT3 installed)? Antenna/Receive antenna status is stored per band so you might have the wrong antenna selected on just one band. My K3 is certainly sensitive enough - without the PR-6 - that I can hear/work some of the stronger DX (55 countries in the band) on a HF windom (since that's my only antenna that will take power on six). The noise about needing a beam on six meters does a big disservice to anyone who wants to try the band. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/2/2010 9:01 AM, W8JH wrote: > > I have not had ANY luck on 6 meters with K3 # 1713. I had been listening > with my 80m horizontal loop, which my Palstar BT-1500 tunes to a flat SWR on > 6m. Nothing heard over a full year. Since I still couldn't hear anything I > built a 6m dipole a couple days ago and still no luck. > > I can hear continuous carriers sometimes but nothing else. I routinely > check DX spots sent by hams near me (Ohio by Lake Erie) and have no luck. > > I do use the internal preamp. Carriers on the 80m loop are louder than on > the 6m dipole. I had the subreceiver installed last year by Elecraft (about > 6 weeks turnaround) and did not notice any difference. Unfortunately I > thought 6m was a dead band or my antenna was the problem at the time so I > didn't think to ask Elecraft to check it out while they had the rig. > > Anything I could have screwed up on the rig to make 6m a dead band? No > problems noted on any other band. > > Joe- another 6m newbie Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by K6LMP
I am a very casual 6M operator, but, living in Michigan with a sister in Columbus, OH, I can give a bit of ground truth.
I have a FT8900 (and sometimes FT100) in my car and have yet to get into the Toledo 6M repeater even when driving right through Toledo. The Lima, Ohio repeater is good, but would probably be out of range for you. Unfortunately 6M has many conficting band plans. In Ohio, repeaters are -1.0 MHz. In Michigan they are -0.500 MHz. There are also states where they are 1.7 MHz. With a Yagi at 25 ft, you should be able to make contacts when the band is open and there is someone at the other end of the open band. Most of my 6M contacts have been using just a mobile whip. This is enough for some contacts when the band is open. Last summer I repaired the antenna for someone who does much more 6M than I. She just used a coax fed 160M dipole about 40 feet up. That is admittedly higher than you, but when you figure in the coax loss, I would think you have better. Big towers and mast mounted preamps do help in marginal openings, yes. But some of the magic of 6M is that sometimes you get really GOOD openings where you don't need any fancy equipment. The thing is that there will often be days when you hear nothing. The most important thing is to listen for the openings. Of course, if everyone is listening and no one calls CQ, nothing happens, so give that a try sometimes too. Other than that, if you want to do something else, the first thing I would check is your coax... But now 6 should open to Florida or Texas for you fairly often. Ken McGuire KC8LTL |
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In reply to this post by Joe Subich, W4TV-4
I checked the Rx ant. again today, that's not the problem. I have the 80m loop tuned for 6m on ANT 1 and the 6m dipole on
ANT 2 with no luck despite trying to listen when I see lots of spots on for 6m. I know what you are talking about regarding beams etc. I
worked Italy from my car on a FT100 and an ATAS antenna. Thanks for the thought Joe, I was glad to meet you at Dayton
this year and tell you how much your stuff on the reflector (along with Don,
W8JI etc.) has been a help to me. No doubt I will get this sorted out
eventually. 73, Joe W8JH From: Joe Subich, W4TV-4
[via Elecraft] [mailto:[hidden email]]
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73,
Joe, W8JH K3s, KPA 500, KAT 500 and KX3 happy user. |
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In reply to this post by K6LMP
Thanks Lew, I appreciate the info. I don't have the FM filter but I can set up my FT100 on the
mobile for 6m and see if that hits one of the repeaters. From there I might be
able to set up a sked on 6m SSB for the K3. Thanks for the idea! 73, Joe W8JH From: K6LMP [via
Elecraft] [mailto:[hidden email]] Joe, given where you live, in northern Ohio, you could go
for days without hearing anything on 6 meters. I live in the Los Angeles
area, and I sometimes just tune the K3 to 50.125 (the SSB calling frequency)
and listen for activity while I'm working from home. There are three or
four guys (in a metropolitan area of 8 million) who pop up on the band every
day calling QRZ to look for sporadic-E contacts, and on some days, that's about
it. When Sporadic-E opens up, it can get real lively.
View message @ http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/6-meters-Newbie-tp5244084p5248232.html
73,
Joe, W8JH K3s, KPA 500, KAT 500 and KX3 happy user. |
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Many thanks to all who responded. I just heard my first signal on 6m CW! I copied a CQ from KE4PT who according to QRZ.com is in Florida. It was marginal copy at best so I didn't try to call him but it was exciting for me anyway. I have no idea why I have never found a station before today despite listening and checking DX spots for quite some time. I guess I have been on at the wrong times.
FWIW, I could only hear KE4PT on the 80m loop fed with 600ohm ladder line through the BT-1500. The dipole (only at about 20 feet admittedly) was noise. Althougth the Palstar is not spec'd on 6m I have read multiple reports of hams having good luck there. Now I have to think about the PR-6 and a better antenna! I'm sure one good opening would give me the fever. 73, Joe, W8JH
73,
Joe, W8JH K3s, KPA 500, KAT 500 and KX3 happy user. |
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