View Full Version : Which HF bands work best for you?
Sorry, folks, but I'm in a poll mood.
When you do get on the air, what bands do you appear to have the most success with?
WØTKX
02-07-2013, 03:21 PM
All of 'em except 160, depending on conditions. For now.
60 meters has been interesting this winter with the new rules on modes and ERP.
I get out well on 20 but when 10 is hot, it's my favorite. 40 kinda sucks around my QTH—the noise level is atrocious most of the time.
Since I primarily operate contests, my best bands (based on number of QSOs per band) are:
1) 40m
2) 20m
3) 80m/75m
4) 15m
WARC band and 60m activity here is sparse, at best.
KB3LAZ
02-07-2013, 05:11 PM
Im a ragchew kind of guy.
In this order.
80/75
10
40
Not necessarily due to propagation so much as finding people to BS with.
wa6mhz
02-07-2013, 07:37 PM
I can barely work out of California on 40 and 80
20 is a DOG FIGHT
17 I only have a miserable vertical on
15 I do pretty well on
12: same vertical problem
10: not open very often, but when open, great.
KG4CGC
02-07-2013, 08:01 PM
When 10 is hot it's like using a landline. I was getting into Idaho pretty regular for a while and conversed with Hobo Bill. I must say though that, I'm not a big fan of 10 due to the ease of abuse by interlopers. (GOML)
20 and 40, everyone knows how they work. It was no different here.
80m, great entertainment on a nightly basis. (or am I thinking 75?) I used that band regularly until the last couple of years. At my QTH if you can hear Europe, you can work Europe.
KC2UGV
02-07-2013, 08:10 PM
30 is my fav. Then 10, and then 20. I think I'd be into 40 if I had a longer antenna.
I can barely work out of California on 40 and 80
20 is a DOG FIGHT
17 I only have a miserable vertical on
15 I do pretty well on
12: same vertical problem
10: not open very often, but when open, great.Pat, you are doing something wrong. I do pretty well with verticals, and I don't have a good radial field down... you should be doing at least as well. Especially since you have something I don't: Amps.
Pat, you are doing something wrong. I do pretty well with verticals, and I don't have a good radial field down... you should be doing at least as well. Especially since you have something I don't: Amps.
Pat seems to have a lot of trouble that others in his state don't have. His constant bitching makes one wonder if he's just full of shit.
I can work CA stations left, right, and center on both 20m and 40m, with 100 watts and wire antennas. The only time I've heard Pat was on 15m during one of the QRZ holiday nets last year. Even then, he wasn't above S7 here, and I assume he was using an amp at the time.
KC2UGV
02-07-2013, 09:53 PM
Pat seems to have a lot of trouble that others in his state don't have. His constant bitching makes one wonder if he's just full of shit.
I can work CA stations left, right, and center on both 20m and 40m, with 100 watts and wire antennas. The only time I've heard Pat was on 15m during one of the QRZ holiday nets last year. Even then, he wasn't above S7 here, and I assume he was using an amp at the time.
Methinks Pat has some issues in regards to antenna. With my subpar antenna, I hear CA just fine.
Methinks Pat has some issues in regards to antenna. With my subpar antenna, I hear CA just fine.
No problem hearing CA here either.
PA5COR
02-08-2013, 02:36 AM
160 with the inverted L as with 80 40 and 20 tuned with the auto tuner MFJ 998.
17, 15 12 10 with the vertical, worked all continents with that in no time flat.
20 also with the OCF antenna on every band i can chose between vertical and a horizontal antenna.
XE1/N5AL
02-08-2013, 05:49 AM
Unfortunately, we don't have operating privileges on the 60 meter band.
Based on DXCC totals, 20 and 40 rule the roost. But I don't have a problem with any of them at the moment except 160, no antenna there.
Methinks Pat has some issues in regards to antenna. With my subpar antenna, I hear CA just fine.That may be. I've seen the pictures of his domicile, though... with those towers and beams up, let alone his linears, he should be doing just fine.
Don't know if or when I would be getting out towards San Diego in the immediate future, or I'd offer to come over, help him string a few more radials, and get those Butternut verticals up to par. Would only cost him a couple of Ten Tecs from the collection. [Spiders don't bother me, I'm used to doggie doughnuts in the back yard, and I can deal with pit bulls... especially when armed with an aluminum baseball bat, they won't mess with me!]
KC2UGV
02-08-2013, 08:38 AM
That may be. I've seen the pictures of his domicile, though... with those towers and beams up, let alone his linears, he should be doing just fine.
Then, he's a piss poor operator, because he claims he can't get any stations, because he's not a "Big Gun" station.
Don't know if or when I would be getting out towards San Diego in the immediate future, or I'd offer to come over, help him string a few more radials, and get those Butternut verticals up to par. Would only cost him a couple of Ten Tecs from the collection. [Spiders don't bother me, I'm used to doggie doughnuts in the back yard, and I can deal with pit bulls... especially when armed with an aluminum baseball bat, they won't mess with me!]
Might want to bring an ARRL operator's manual as a gift to leave him :)
Not a bad idea Corey, but for what those manuals cost new these days, if Pat wants one, he can find it on eBay. There's usually enough selection of books there that he shouldn't have to worry too much about the alleged Rat Bastids.
WØTKX
02-08-2013, 09:41 AM
Would only cost him a couple of Ten Tecs from the collection.
Ohhhh, the HUMANITY!
It's not healthy for Ten Tecs to be in the Crest Museum environment.
The inherent Yaesu bias does not give them much of a chance at all.
Liberate them, and hook 'em up to antennas that work. ;)
wa6mhz
02-08-2013, 09:53 AM
NO Ten Tecs in my collection. That is one brand not found. Would like to add an Argonaut some day.
My main problem is that I am at WORK when the band is open, and it is closed when I get home.
Just checked the other night. 20 dead, 17 and 15, notta peep. I get in my DXing Sunday morning before church. Can't work DX if the band isn't open. I miss the great SUNSPOT years where 20 would be open around the clock.
OH, I get out alright. I have the QSLs to prove it.
KC2UGV
02-08-2013, 09:55 AM
NO Ten Tecs in my collection. That is one brand not found. Would like to add an Argonaut some day.
My main problem is that I am at WORK when the band is open, and it is closed when I get home.
Just checked the other night. 20 dead, 17 and 15, notta peep. I get in my DXing Sunday morning before church. Can't work DX if the band isn't open. I miss the great SUNSPOT years where 20 would be open around the clock.
Every band is always open somewhere.
OH, I get out alright. I have the QSLs to prove it.
So, why would you post the following:
I can barely work out of California on 40 and 80
20 is a DOG FIGHT
17 I only have a miserable vertical on
15 I do pretty well on
12: same vertical problem
10: not open very often, but when open, great.
Because Drama Queen is full of Hyperbole. :roll:
NO Ten Tecs in my collection. That is one brand not found. Would like to add an Argonaut some day.
< snip >What? What? No! Say it ain't so, Joe!
Well, seriously, I'll tell you what Pat. I may be looking at thinning the herd a little, soon, so there may just be a PM-2B or an Argonaut 505 in your future. I like having the rigs here, but I'm just not using them that much, and there are a few things I do need in the shack, so we shall see. (But don't hold your breath)
WØTKX
02-08-2013, 11:07 AM
Don't you dare expose those radios to that environment. :omg:
Where the fuzzuck is 11 in that poll?
Don't relegate that 505 to gather dust in Pat's garage, let me buy it from you and actually use it!
Where the fuzzuck is 11 in that poll?
Back of the bus....
Don't you dare expose those radios to that environment. :omg:I figured that would get a rise out of someone. You win the booby prize.
Don't relegate that 505 to gather dust in Pat's garage, let me buy it from you and actually use it!If I reach the point where I have to find it a new home, you're first on the list to contact.
WØTKX
02-08-2013, 01:32 PM
Well, I don't need a PM-2B, even tho I had one as a kid... ;)
If I reach the point where I have to find it a new home, you're first on the list to contact.
Kewl, thanks.
BTW, do you still want that Bencher paddle? There's been a bit of upheaval around here lately and I sort of lost track of things over the past month or two.
wa6mhz
02-08-2013, 03:10 PM
Maybe I can find a deal on an Argonaut at Dayton this year. Will give me something to look for. Yuma Hamfest is next weekend
Maybe I can find a deal on an Argonaut at Dayton this year. Will give me something to look for. Yuma Hamfest is next weekend
I'm catching a ride with another ham on Saturday morning. I'll keep an eye out for you, Pat.
Maybe I can find a deal on an Argonaut at Dayton this year. Will give me something to look for. Yuma Hamfest is next weekendBe aware that there's a known issue with the audio power out transistors (2N4105 & 2N4106) on the Argonaut 505 (that's the original one). A lot of 505's have started collecting dust because the original germanium transistors are no longer manufactured, and Ten Tec service no longer has them (It IS a circa 40 year old radio!)
The good news is that there are NTE direct-equivalent replacements available. With shipping, it came to something like $15 for the lot.
The repair itself is relatively easy... replace them... although getting the heat sink out of the way is a minor pain.
You can also find a lot of info about the older Argonauts (505, 509 & 515) on VE3AB's web site (*). Earl had a lot of nice articles about restoring them as well, and he was looking into new circuit boards that would replace some of the older ones that have been... for lack of a better term, let's say hacked up by previous owners/repairers. Earl also was working on a new final PA board that would be a direct drop-in replacement for the 515, and would bring the 505 & 509 up to the 515's power out (7 to 8 W out as oppsed to 2 to 3 W out)
It's a nice little rig.
What I should do is make a decision on the Argonaut V that I got from W3WH. It's only putting out about 5 W, not 20. (Ten Tec said it had lightning damage and is unrepairable). On the one hand, I ought to troubleshoot it, and down the road at some point I will. On the other hand, if I leave it 'as is' then I can use it to drive my 1208 6 meter transverter, plus run it on HF for PSK 31. We'll see.
(*) http://www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com/505argo.html
Kewl, thanks.
BTW, do you still want that Bencher paddle? There's been a bit of upheaval around here lately and I sort of lost track of things over the past month or two.I figured it was something like that. Yes. Whenver you get a round tuit.
I'll try to get it out to you today. I have the day off.
WØTKX
02-08-2013, 04:31 PM
Those old Argonauts work very well, and surprise folks that are used to new radios.
20m for me. When I was first licensed 6m was a blast when it was open.
20m for me. When I was first licensed 6m was a blast when it was open.
The year after I got my Advanced license I got hold of an HA-460...dipole at 20 feet...and managed to work the Caribbean during an opening. Still have all that in the log.
40 and 30 because I have a distinct advantage there. 20 not so much because it's almost closed when I get home.
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