Advice on 6 meters...
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I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters.
The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. 73, phil, K7PEH ______________________________________________________________ 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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Phil,
You'll probably get a ton of replies from the 6-meter / VHF aficionados, but unless you have some means of monitoring the band, either with your radio, or some web site, I think you'll may be disappointed. I've been licensed for 50 years and have made only 20 QSO's on that band; 19 SSB and 1 CW. Most likely because I'm not aware that it is open. For me there are a lot of other bands (HF) where at least one is open 24-7 so I simply don't venture up there very often. That being said, I have operated in a couple ARRL VHF contests and was surprised at what I worked. My very first ever 6 meter QSO was with VE7JH on CW back in 2012. The other 19 QSO's included CA, BC, CO, and NE. All were made with a K3 - 100 watts into my 88 foot long, 450 ohm ladder line fed doublet at 45 feet. On the other hand, if I were allowed to have a tower (dang CC&R's) I probably would by now have built some sort of yagi for that band. There are lots of articles on doing just that, and the size of the boom and elements makes it something very affordable to construct, install, and tune. YMMV..... :-) Jim / W6JHB On Wednesday, Feb 26, 2014, at Wednesday, 10:08 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: > I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. > > The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. > > Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? > > My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. > > 73, phil, K7PEH > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 Phil Hystad-3
Phil, 6 meters is vacant most of the time except for locals. When it is good, it is mostly E skip with occasional F skip. Some of us who have more than 200 countries on all bands except 160 and 6 like it for the challenge, but figure on a lot of tuning for an occasional opening. There is very little CW, but there is some around 50.090 to 50.095. Most of the CW band is clobbered by beacons when the band is open. A large portion of the stations on 6 meters have Technician operators who do not do code often. If you find yourself tuning 10 meters during the sun spot nulls, you will find 6 meters much like that during the sun spot peaks. A four or five element beam will make 6 meters look like 10 with a dipole or a vertical when the band is open. Most QSOs will not even exchange names, just grid codes and usually don't even bother with 59. In spite of all this, I still like it and operate it some. It is much more interesting to me than
RTTY or PSK and one of the few CW stations you hear there will be K5EWJ. So if the lower bands bore you and Digital bores you even more, then maybe 6 meters is your game. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart ________________________________ From: Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> To: elecraft <[hidden email]> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 12:08 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. 73, phil, K7PEH ______________________________________________________________ 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 Phil Hystad-3
Hi Phil, tune up your hex beam and start listening on 50.125. Also there
are beacons between 50.060 and 50.080. Also watch for spots on your favorite cluster. But most importantly call CQ once in a while on 50.125 ssb. Sometimes you'll find a dead band is really open. You can also try CW around 50.099. This will get you started. If you end up wanting to step up, a 3 element is inexpensive. You can put it on a cheap 20 foot pole lashed to a fence post. You can work a lot with this simple setup. Have fun! Jeff wk6i On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a > nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? > > -- Jeff Stai ~ [hidden email] Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.com/ Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/twistedoak ______________________________________________________________ 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 Jim Bennett
Jim, you have several CA neighbors who worked me from Ecuador last year.
Yes, they all have very good antenna systems but when 6 is open you can work many stations, including DX, with a wet noodle. I have been on 6, intermittently, since 1961 and I *know* you have to be listening to catch the openings. It is less true today with Internet access and real-time propagation systems but you *do* have to be monitoring in some fashion. A great example of this is the day I was hearing the KH6HME beacon from coastal Ecuador and worked *no one* during that opening. I had no Internet so could not notify the world and there was, obviously, no one monitoring since I called CQ for the two hour period the beacon was in, often at an S5+ signal levels! A big yagi is nice but for typical domestic operations a smaller antenna might be better. The big yagi will have a narrow beamwidth and high front/side and front/back ratios, making pointing critical. A small yagi or a one-wavelength loop might suit your needs and Sean's as well. I emphasize the loop because it is simple to build and, if dimensioned correctly, can be fed directly with 50-ohm coax. Mine was fed at the bottom and was twice as high as it was wide, with only a ferrite choke at the feed point to prevent radiation from the feed-line. VWR was under 1.5:1. It's gain, according to modeling I did, was comparable to a 3 or 4 element yagi. Give 6 more of a chance, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Jack, W6NF/VE4SNA On 2/26/2014 10:27 AM, Jim Bennett wrote: > Phil, > > You'll probably get a ton of replies from the 6-meter / VHF aficionados, but unless you have some means of monitoring the band, either with your radio, or some web site, I think you'll may be disappointed. I've been licensed for 50 years and have made only 20 QSO's on that band; 19 SSB and 1 CW. Most likely because I'm not aware that it is open. For me there are a lot of other bands (HF) where at least one is open 24-7 so I simply don't venture up there very often. That being said, I have operated in a couple ARRL VHF contests and was surprised at what I worked. My very first ever 6 meter QSO was with VE7JH on CW back in 2012. The other 19 QSO's included CA, BC, CO, and NE. All were made with a K3 - 100 watts into my 88 foot long, 450 ohm ladder line fed doublet at 45 feet. > > On the other hand, if I were allowed to have a tower (dang CC&R's) I probably would by now have built some sort of yagi for that band. There are lots of articles on doing just that, and the size of the boom and elements makes it something very affordable to construct, install, and tune. > > YMMV..... :-) > > Jim / W6JHB > > > On Wednesday, Feb 26, 2014, at Wednesday, 10:08 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: > >> I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. >> >> The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. >> >> Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? >> >> My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. >> >> 73, phil, K7PEH >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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 |
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In reply to this post by jeff stai-2
Ps. Regarding the availability of CW, I think that depends on the time you
spend on the band and the nature of the opening. When the dx is afoot from outside the us there can be as much CW as ssb. In fact my main motivation to upgrade from tech was to be able to work dx CW on six meters. But as someone else said YMMV ;) 73 jeff wk6i On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, Jeff Stai <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hi Phil, tune up your hex beam and start listening on 50.125. Also there > are beacons between 50.060 and 50.080. Also watch for spots on your > favorite cluster. But most importantly call CQ once in a while on 50.125 > ssb. Sometimes you'll find a dead band is really open. You can also try CW > around 50.099. This will get you started. > > If you end up wanting to step up, a 3 element is inexpensive. You can put > it on a cheap 20 foot pole lashed to a fence post. You can work a lot with > this simple setup. > > Have fun! Jeff wk6i > > On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','[hidden email]');>> > wrote: >> >> >> Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a >> nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? >> >> > > -- > Jeff Stai ~ [hidden email]<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','[hidden email]');> > Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.com/ > Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/twistedoak > -- Jeff Stai ~ [hidden email] Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.com/ Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/twistedoak ______________________________________________________________ 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 Cookie
Sorry, Willis, but the beacons are operated in a narrow range of
frequencies well below the normal CW DX frequencies of 50.080-50.100MHz. From Ecuador I heard many beacons from South and Central America, the Caribbean and the US, and none of them were anywhere near my operating frequency of 50.097MHz. Roughly 2/3 of my QSOs were CW and the remainder SSB so the statement "there is very little CW" is absolutely untrue. Jack, W6NF/VE4SNA On 2/26/2014 10:45 AM, WILLIS COOKE wrote: > Phil, 6 meters is vacant most of the time except for locals. When it is good, it is mostly E skip with occasional F skip. Some of us who have more than 200 countries on all bands except 160 and 6 like it for the challenge, but figure on a lot of tuning for an occasional opening. There is very little CW, but there is some around 50.090 to 50.095. Most of the CW band is clobbered by beacons when the band is open. A large portion of the stations on 6 meters have Technician operators who do not do code often. If you find yourself tuning 10 meters during the sun spot nulls, you will find 6 meters much like that during the sun spot peaks. A four or five element beam will make 6 meters look like 10 with a dipole or a vertical when the band is open. Most QSOs will not even exchange names, just grid codes and usually don't even bother with 59. In spite of all this, I still like it and operate it some. It is much more interesting to me than > RTTY or PSK and one of the few CW stations you hear there will be K5EWJ. So if the lower bands bore you and Digital bores you even more, then maybe 6 meters is your game. > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman > K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart > > > ________________________________ > From: Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> > To: elecraft <[hidden email]> > Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 12:08 PM > Subject: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... > > > I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. > > The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. > > Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? > > My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. > > 73, phil, K7PEH > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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 |
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In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3
Bill, six is a very interesting band. Are you familiar with the phrase, hurry up and wait? That describes six meters as it relates to CW and/or SSB. Generally there is no activity on six, except in major cities where there are some six meter FM repeaters. Other than I know that they exist, including here in Phoenix, I know nothing further about FM on six. A good six meter antenna is important to hear and work CW and SSB when the band opens. My six meter station consists of the Kenwood TS480SAT driving a Commander legal limit amp. My antenna is a 9 element yagi from M Square. My six meter antenna is at approximately 82 feet. My six meter feed line consists of LMR900DB from my shack out to the bottom of my tower, the vertical run up to the top of the tower is made of LMR600, and my rotor loop is made of LMR600UF. I generally run about 1200 watts on six. Here is the thing though, the band is hardly ever open, so my TS480 basically just sits there doing nothing. It is important to leave it turned on though, because if the band does open, I might easily miss it. Band openings can last for a matter of a few minutes, to many hours, but usually only about 15 or 20 minutes. Therefore, if the rig isn’t on, I probably won’t know about it. When I catch an opening, I can work 20 or 30 stations in a matter of 5 minutes say. However, I haven’t caught an opening now for probably 2 months, Hi. When it happens again, I sure hope that I am in here and ready to go, Hi. The band is total chaos during a big opening. It is hard to believe how many stations instantly come out of the woodwork. Six meters can be thrilling or boring at the same time. I love it, as do most of the gang that chase grid squares. 73 Alan/KD7GC Alan R. Downing Phoenix, AZ From: Phil Hystad-3 [via Elecraft] [mailto:[hidden email]] I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Advice-on-6-meters-tp7584767.html To unsubscribe from Elecraft, click here. |
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In reply to this post by W6NF
Jack, your idea of lots of CW and mine differ quite a bit. If your CW is concentrated in the top 3 Khz of the CW band and you willingly give up most of the band to beacons and don't even miss the bandwidth you are not my kind of CW affecionado. I do at least venture down to 50.090 for my CQs and much to my surprise I sometimes get an answer. I made it my goal to get some activity for the Straight Key Century Club anniversary celebration this January and I was able to make 3 contacts during the month on 6 meters and one non "SKCC contact. But I only have a 21 meter high tower and beam and a KW on 6 meters. If five contacts in a month in only two states, all ground wave is not very little, we have a definition problem. In comparison I made 452 CW QSOs on all bands and 90 on 160 meters.
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart ________________________________ From: Jack <[hidden email]> To: [hidden email] Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 12:58 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... Sorry, Willis, but the beacons are operated in a narrow range of frequencies well below the normal CW DX frequencies of 50.080-50.100MHz. From Ecuador I heard many beacons from South and Central America, the Caribbean and the US, and none of them were anywhere near my operating frequency of 50.097MHz. Roughly 2/3 of my QSOs were CW and the remainder SSB so the statement "there is very little CW" is absolutely untrue. Jack, W6NF/VE4SNA On 2/26/2014 10:45 AM, WILLIS COOKE wrote: > Phil, 6 meters is vacant most of the time except for locals. When it is good, it is mostly E skip with occasional F skip. Some of us who have more than 200 countries on all bands except 160 and 6 like it for the challenge, but figure on a lot of tuning for an occasional opening. There is very little CW, but there is some around 50.090 to 50.095. Most of the CW band is clobbered by beacons when the band is open. A large portion of the stations on 6 meters have Technician operators who do not do code often. If you find yourself tuning 10 meters during the sun spot nulls, you will find 6 meters much like that during the sun spot peaks. A four or five element beam will make 6 meters look like 10 with a dipole or a vertical when the band is open. Most QSOs will not even exchange names, just grid codes and usually don't even bother with 59. In spite of all this, I still like it and operate it some. It is much more interesting to me than > RTTY or PSK and one of the few CW stations you hear there will be K5EWJ. So if the lower bands bore you and Digital bores you even more, then maybe 6 meters is your game. > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman > K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart > > > ________________________________ > From: Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> > To: elecraft <[hidden email]> > Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 12:08 PM > Subject: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... > > > I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. > > The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. > > Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? > > My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. > > 73, phil, K7PEH > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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 kd7gc
Wow.
Lots of opinions on-line and those I received off-line on 6 meters and the span from "forget that wasted band" to those who have DXCC and WAS on six meters. Not sure yet if I learned anything specific or if I learned everything with no peaks in the information signal. But, thanks for the comments and I see this is a topic gathering some interest and varying opinions. 73, phil, K7PEH ______________________________________________________________ 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 Phil Hystad-3
I am a huge fan of 6m and 6m DXing but the fact is that a lot depends on geography where you live like on top of a mountain or in a valley, antenna and QTH.
On the west coast we have far fewer openings than elsewhere in the US especially east and southeast coasts. PNW and north Midwest even fewer still. The band is about patience this side of the country. So don't overspend on 6m out west. When I got the 6m bug I spent a lot of money on a stack of large 6m antennas and discovered that when the band is open a more modest antenna will suffice even with 6m DX openings. If I Iived in the northeast or even Texas or Florida I would probably put up something bigger because you will have 4-5x more opportunities and openings to use it there than out here. Is the band worth investing in? The answer is a resounding yes but invest wisely and you will be happy. Also one other point, for us worker bees out west the band opens always when you are at work or busy with family. When you sit down in front of the radio the band almost never opens. Good luck! Keith AK6ZZ Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos > On Feb 26, 2014, at 10:09 AM, "Phil Hystad" <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. > > The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. > > Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? > > My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. > > 73, phil, K7PEH > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 Phil Hystad-3
I live in an HOA infested area, my mistake.
Six meters is a LOT of fun now that the concerns over channel two interference are gone. When it is open, it's 'magic' to the point that almost anything works well. I intend to put up a 'TV' beam antenna (not allowed by the HOA but others are around so that practice is ignored). At least to the uninformed, it 'looks' like a TV antenna in size and shape. I will take advantage of the common ignorance that HDTV is UHF, not VHF (need a smaller antenna now). It will 'just happen' to resonate REALLY well on six meters. ;o) It's not my fault the HOA is ignorant and I don't intend to inform them of this matter. ;-) The only real trick is that I don't own the roof or the outer 'skin' but since I'll be getting a new roof, I figure a case of beer or a bottle of Scotch to the actual roofer will be helpful in making connections to the roof. I'll have them install a weatherhead for feedline, then have THEM attach the anchor to the roof and supporting mast (it will already be >40' above dirt, can't be taller because of a nearby airport). Then I'll um, simply take advantage of what they left behind (and do the install when folks are at school/work). I may even try it on a TV. ;o) In the meantime, I made a J pole tuned for the upper end of the band (back deck, completely HOA legal). I can work the club repeater and others, while listening for band openings (KRX3). It isn't ideal (too many of my computers, too close to the house), but I'm still building the station up while keeping most of it stealth. Six meters has better coverage in hilly country than two meters, so wide area coverage is pretty easy here (Sierra foothills). [The club repeaters are 6M-900Mhz with interties possible so we saturate our target area.] So yes, a beam would be an excellent idea. The cost for building a J pole varies with the cost of copper (don't use thin wall and don't use half inch on the lower halves, it flops too much, ask me how I know). 73, Rick wa6nhc On 2/26/2014 10:08 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: > I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters. > > The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare. > > Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? > > My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me. > > 73, phil, K7PEH > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 Keith Heimbold
My 2 cents: I am on the West Coast, and I have a 3-element beam at about
18 feet for 6 meters. I run 100w from my K3, CW only. During the summer when there are sporadic E openings, I have worked stations all over the US, including the East Coast. VHF contests are also an excellent time to get on. But it's mostly dead, especially in winter. I haven't experienced a single F2 skip opening this cycle (if there was one, I missed it). I recall working stations all over the country with about 5 watts of AM phone in 1957. Imagine 6 meters full of heterodynes, wall-to-wall AM stations! DX, too. But those days are probably not going to return for a while. -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ ______________________________________________________________ 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 Rick WA6NHC
Rick,
Be careful who you call ignorant. HDTV is NOT UHF only. After the digital transition most stations went to UHF. However, there are still a lot digital stations in the high VHF range (channels 7-13). I can receive 4 high VHF stations in my area (Fort Collins, north of Denver CO). There are also still a handful of digital TV (full power) stations in the US in the low VHF range (channels 2-6). On Channel 2 there are 8 left in the US (nearest to me is KREX-TV in Grand Junction, CO) and 2 in Canada. There are also more low power TV (LPTV) stations on Channel 2 (on the order of 50 in the US). Since LPTV stations haven't been required to transition to digital yet there is a mix of analog and digital LPTV stations. So, if anyone asks, tell them you are trying to get DX reception of KSNV-DT in Las Vegas (nearest full power RF channel 2 to you) or KFTY-LD in Santa Rosa, CA (nearest low power digital TV station to you). John AC0ZG On 2/26/2014 1:43 PM, Rick WA6NHC wrote: > I live in an HOA infested area, my mistake. > > Six meters is a LOT of fun now that the concerns over channel two > interference are gone. When it is open, it's 'magic' to the point > that almost anything works well. > > I intend to put up a 'TV' beam antenna (not allowed by the HOA but > others are around so that practice is ignored). At least to the > uninformed, it 'looks' like a TV antenna in size and shape. I will > take advantage of the common ignorance that HDTV is UHF, not VHF (need > a smaller antenna now). It will 'just happen' to resonate REALLY well > on six meters. ;o) It's not my fault the HOA is ignorant and I don't > intend to inform them of this matter. ;-) The only real trick is that > I don't own the roof or the outer 'skin' but since I'll be getting a > new roof, I figure a case of beer or a bottle of Scotch to the actual > roofer will be helpful in making connections to the roof. I'll have > them install a weatherhead for feedline, then have THEM attach the > anchor to the roof and supporting mast (it will already be >40' above > dirt, can't be taller because of a nearby airport). Then I'll um, > simply take advantage of what they left behind (and do the install > when folks are at school/work). I may even try it on a TV. ;o) > > In the meantime, I made a J pole tuned for the upper end of the band > (back deck, completely HOA legal). I can work the club repeater and > others, while listening for band openings (KRX3). It isn't ideal (too > many of my computers, too close to the house), but I'm still building > the station up while keeping most of it stealth. Six meters has > better coverage in hilly country than two meters, so wide area > coverage is pretty easy here (Sierra foothills). [The club repeaters > are 6M-900Mhz with interties possible so we saturate our target area.] > > So yes, a beam would be an excellent idea. The cost for building a J > pole varies with the cost of copper (don't use thin wall and don't use > half inch on the lower halves, it flops too much, ask me how I know). > > 73, > Rick wa6nhc ______________________________________________________________ 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 Phil Hystad-3
I’ve enjoyed 6-meters since I was introduced to it in high school in the mid-60s. All I used for many years was a Squalo antenna mounted on my Dad’s chimney on our house in Maryland. With that and a 1-watt crystal controlled AM transceiver (Lafayette HA-650), I had a ball working across the country and even down to Mexico and Cuba when the band opened. Now-a-days I use a 6M dipole for monitoring the band. I also have a 4-element beam when I want to get a bit more serious. But from my location here in the Dallas area, I can work both coasts with the dipole when the band opens. The trick is to know when the band opens.
73, Phil – AD5X ______________________________________________________________ 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 Phil Hystad-3
I have a friend that loads his G5RV for 6m but his signal is always
about 20-dB weaker than mine. I have a 3-element yagi that I converted from a Decibel-Products 73-MHz yagi that I scrounged up from pile of surplus stuff. The elements were 3/8-inch aluminum tubing so I added some tubing that slid over the ends and use small metal hose clamps to hold them in place. But making a small yagi or even just a dipole is easy. The background noise will really pickup when you have a resonant antenna vs the 80m dipole. I'm not familiar with a "hex beam" so if it can tune to 6m then is ought to work good. Activity is spotty with not much happening between openings, contests, or local nets. I ran with this small yagi at 20-feet for years. I now have a 6-element yagi on a dedicated tower so the 3-element is fixed to the side of my HF tower pointed toward the US West Coast (az=130) so my KX3 can monitor 50.125 whenever not is use otherwise. 10w works when the band opens! Otherwise 100w will get out better with ground wave. http://www.kl7uw.com/Tower_2_6m_2.jpg http://www.kl7uw.com/6m.htm 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Cookie
First, I never said I only operated the top 3kHz on CW...nice try.
Second, the "lots" of activity I mentioned was during specific band openings. I have been on 50MHz, intermittently, since 1961, including operation from North Dakota, which is the definition of desolation when it come to working stations when the band is closed. I accomplished 6-meter WAS from there more than 30 years ago. I did say the beacons do not impact 50.080-50.100 which is where most CW activity takes place, with occasional CW signals just above 50.100. In fact, you can find beacons down to almost 50.000 but they are *very* widely spaced. My use of 50.097 from HC was just an example of one operating instance. Jack, W6NF/VE4SNA On 2/26/2014 11:31 AM, WILLIS COOKE wrote: > Jack, your idea of lots of CW and mine differ quite a bit. If your CW > is concentrated in the top 3 Khz of the CW band and you willingly give > up most of the band to beacons and don't even miss the bandwidth you > are not my kind of CW affecionado. I do at least venture down to > 50.090 for my CQs and much to my surprise I sometimes get an answer. > I made it my goal to get some activity for the Straight Key Century > Club anniversary celebration this January and I was able to make 3 > contacts during the month on 6 meters and one non "SKCC contact. But > I only have a 21 meter high tower and beam and a KW on 6 meters. If > five contacts in a month in only two states, all ground wave is not > very little, we have a definition problem. In comparison I made 452 > CW QSOs on all bands and 90 on 160 meters. > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman > K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* Jack <[hidden email]> > *To:* [hidden email] > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 26, 2014 12:58 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... > > Sorry, Willis, but the beacons are operated in a narrow range of > frequencies well below the normal CW DX frequencies of 50.080-50.100MHz. > From Ecuador I heard many beacons from South and Central America, the > Caribbean and the US, and none of them were anywhere near my operating > frequency of 50.097MHz. Roughly 2/3 of my QSOs were CW and the remainder > SSB so the statement "there is very little CW" is absolutely untrue. > > Jack, W6NF/VE4SNA > > On 2/26/2014 10:45 AM, WILLIS COOKE wrote: > > Phil, 6 meters is vacant most of the time except for locals. When > it is good, it is mostly E skip with occasional F skip. Some of us > who have more than 200 countries on all bands except 160 and 6 like it > for the challenge, but figure on a lot of tuning for an occasional > opening. There is very little CW, but there is some around 50.090 to > 50.095. Most of the CW band is clobbered by beacons when the band is > open. A large portion of the stations on 6 meters have Technician > operators who do not do code often. If you find yourself tuning 10 > meters during the sun spot nulls, you will find 6 meters much like > that during the sun spot peaks. A four or five element beam will make > 6 meters look like 10 with a dipole or a vertical when the band is > open. Most QSOs will not even exchange names, just grid codes and > usually don't even bother with 59. In spite of all this, I still like > it and operate it some. It is much more interesting to me than > > RTTY or PSK and one of the few CW stations you hear there will be > K5EWJ. So if the lower bands bore you and Digital bores you even > more, then maybe 6 meters is your game. > > > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman > > K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Phil Hystad <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> > > To: elecraft <[hidden email] > <mailto:[hidden email]>> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 12:08 PM > > Subject: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... > > > > > > I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never > operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six > meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that > I can at least tune to six meters. > > > > The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise > spikes here and there but very rare. > > > > Question: is there any activity for six meters that I should invest > in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna? > > > > My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from > time to time. I have no idea what's there as this band has always > been blank to me. > > > > 73, phil, K7PEH > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[hidden email] <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] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/> > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > > > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > http://www.avast.com > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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 |
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In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3
6M is one of those bands, like Marmite you either love it or hate it...
Most of the time, like 10M, it seems as dead as a doornail but when certain conditions are right, it opens up. However, you have to be there when it does. A good antenna is a must. You can work the world on a 6M dipole or vertical, in the same way as you can use a 20M end fed wire on 160M, but you are putting yourself at a dissadvantage. Personally, I would always use CW on 6M. 1. It's my favourite mode 2. fewer people use it on VHF (less competition) and 3. for modes like Aurora it's easier than SSB, in my opinion. My best years on 6M were using a 5 element Yagi/Uda in a house on the side of a hill that faced North. The Auroral reflections were great! I also worked people using Sporadic-E and TEP propagation. I would like to put up a 5 ele for 6M (or even 4M) here and get back on the 6M or 4M bands. Dave (G0DJA) ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:08 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... >I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never >operated six meters. I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, >just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at >least tune to six meters. ______________________________________________________________ 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 Cookie
Personally, I used 50.090MHz as my centre of activity.
I used to notice on the DXCluster that, during a major opening, DX stations would drop down to frequencies around 090 to use CW for a bit of a rest from the pile ups on SSB, the Policemen on 110 and the other chaos of a 6M opening. Yes, the Band Police are as active on 6M during an opening as they are on any other Amateur Band, yes, on SSB it can get intense in the pile up as on any other Amateur band and, yes, there are alot of CW operators who operate on or below 090. I know, I've worked them in the past. ;-) I was not on in January for SKCC, I will admit, but then again I've wimped out of many SKCC events recently on other bands as well. Dave (G0DJA) ----- Original Message ----- From: "WILLIS COOKE" <[hidden email]> To: "Jack" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 7:31 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... Jack, your idea of lots of CW and mine differ quite a bit. If your CW is concentrated in the top 3 Khz of the CW band and you willingly give up most of the band to beacons and don't even miss the bandwidth you are not my kind of CW affecionado. I do at least venture down to 50.090 for my CQs and much to my surprise I sometimes get an answer. I made it my goal to get some activity for the Straight Key Century Club anniversary celebration this January and I was able to make 3 contacts during the month on 6 meters and one non "SKCC contact. But I only have a 21 meter high tower and beam and a KW on 6 meters. If five contacts in a month in only two states, all ground wave is not very little, we have a definition problem. In comparison I made 452 CW QSOs on all bands and 90 on 160 meters. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart ______________________________________________________________ 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 Keith Heimbold
In my divorce, my ex cited my Amateur Radio 'interest'. I still think that
6M was one of the contributors to her point of view. Other than the fact that she just wanted to get rid of me, and did the same to another guy after our divorce, who was not a Radio Amateur, of course. 6M and 4M (only available in some countries) can really get under your skin. Like I said, like Marmite, you either love it or hate it... Dave ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 7:49 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters... > Is the band worth investing in? The answer is a resounding yes but invest > wisely and you will be happy. Also one other point, for us worker bees out > west the band opens always when you are at work or busy with family. When > you sit down in front of the radio the band almost never opens. > > Good luck! > > Keith > AK6ZZ ______________________________________________________________ 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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