View Full Version : 6 meter noob
After 32 years in ham radio, i finally made a contact on 6 meters!
Fortunately for me, its the ARRL 6m test, i actually made 7 contacts, 5 grids and 3 states. The band is open. That was a rush! Now its off to work, dammit!
w2amr
06-15-2015, 03:10 AM
After 32 years in ham radio, i finally made a contact on 6 meters!
Fortunately for me, its the ARRL 6m test, i actually made 7 contacts, 5 grids and 3 states. The band is open. That was a rush! Now its off to work, dammit!
Congrats Adam , You're 95 grids away from VUCC award.8)
BTW. The ARRL fall contest is Sept. 12-14.
Congrats Adam , You're 95 grids away from VUCC award.8)
BTW. The ARRL fall contest is Sept. 12-14.
Hell yes! Im hooked.
I was stoked all day with my meager accomplishment. I double checked and found that i indeed worked 4 states instead of 3...only 46 more for WAS 6M.
I was using my 20m Vee, i didnt think i would actually hear anything, much less hear loud signals all over the place. Im all in on this 6 meter stuff! I will be activating FN54 this september. :)
WØTKX
06-15-2015, 07:29 AM
You'll find it very interesting working from the coast. :yes:
Get yourself a smallish (3-4 el) yagi or quad, a few sections of military mast and a tripod to mount it on, a 10w SSB/CW rig and a portable source of power. Head to a rare (preferably, elevated) grid, set up, point antenna in the direction of states you need and begin announcing yourself.
You'll be surprised at how magically the band opens.
Ah ha! What a blank canvas i have to work with. :)
KG4NEL
06-15-2015, 11:24 AM
Hell yes! Im hooked.
I was stoked all day with my meager accomplishment. I double checked and found that i indeed worked 4 states instead of 3...only 46 more for WAS 6M.
I was using my 20m Vee, i didnt think i would actually hear anything, much less hear loud signals all over the place. Im all in on this 6 meter stuff! I will be activating FN54 this september. :)
I already have that one. Move.
:snicker:
I already have that one. Move.
:snicker:
That's why rovers were invented.
Roof-rack horizontal loops for the win!
w2amr
06-15-2015, 11:54 AM
Ah ha! What a blank canvas i have to work with. :)Here, start filling in the blanks.:mrgreen:
http://www.newsvhf.com/grid-na.gif
I already have that one. Move.
:snicker:
I sure ran into a lot of EM12.
KG4NEL
06-15-2015, 01:46 PM
That's why rovers were invented.
Roof-rack horizontal loops for the win!
For whatever reason, VHF/UHF contesting seems to annoy me a lot less than the pandemonium of an HF DX pileup. Just sucks that I'm two hours from any decent kind of elevation for a rover...
I’m thinking about activating DM 22 for the December contest. DM 02 is more highly sought-after, but it would require a boat and I get seasick.
w2amr
06-15-2015, 03:27 PM
I don't have EN54. Too long for ground wave, too short for E skip.
WØTKX
06-15-2015, 05:24 PM
I have done roving twice. It was a hoot, and pretty mellow unless 6 opens up.
kb2vxa
06-16-2015, 08:10 AM
They don't call it the magic band for nothing as you'll soon find out. I worked every propagation mode on 6M and got this rare F2 during the last decent sunspot cycle. I WANT MY ANTENNAS BACK!
I don't have EN54. Too long for ground wave, too short for E skip.
Aurora or meteor scatter are your friends... ;)
w2amr
06-16-2015, 04:38 PM
Aurora or meteor scatter are your friends... ;)True that.
I find myself checking 6 a lot more these days. I plan on making a 6m beam once we are settled in, for now, its the 20m inverted V...but im still hearing stuff! :)
w2amr
06-20-2015, 05:11 PM
I find myself checking 6 a lot more these days. I plan on making a 6m beam once we are settled in, for now, its the 20m inverted V...but im still hearing stuff! :)If I'm in the shack during the day, I leave the 706 on 50.125 with the squelch on.
The beam will make a big difference. In the mean time, have fun with what you have.:cool2:
Don't forget to SMIRK this weekend...
Don't forget to SMIRK this weekend...
https://psibrone.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/black-and-white-bruce-willis-smirk-favim-com-185469.jpg
w2amr
06-21-2015, 03:51 AM
Don't forget to SMIRK this weekend...Tnx for the reminder. I will be listening on 125 when I'm in the shack.
suddenseer
06-21-2015, 08:59 AM
When I go FD, I take my all mode hf with 6, and a 6M Ringo, it gets hoisted up about 80 ft. in a tree. I introduced my club to the VHF multiplier. We logged about 300 qso's multi mode, the best was 12 states, and several Canadian Provinces. Es, the summer opening, scatter, it's all good, and it all works. On good days, it reminds me of 75M daytime, or right after sunset.
WØTKX
06-21-2015, 03:01 PM
First contact on 6 this season besides local. Worked W6JRA in DM13 on 50.145.
About 750 miles. :dance:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/cb/95/56cb957194cbe7a82edc58b10db8bd54.jpg
w2amr
06-21-2015, 03:24 PM
Man, the band is hopping this afternoon. Midwest just pounding in. Picked up a new grid EN-54.
6m JT modes are popping...
14050
I worked DM13 here too, different call. First non-local contact on 6!
Heard beacons in KS, MN, yesterday and just heard KA0CDN/B in CO.
I've got squat for an antenna. Just the buddipole version. Still fun listening though!
WØTKX
06-21-2015, 03:56 PM
Umm, we could try? 50.200? Just worked Alberta and BC.
Just popped into the IRC room.
Yes, let's try it. I'm hearing Colorado on CW
Well, THAT was cool!
Just worked W0TKX at 50.200 with the buddipole!
We actually had a real conversation!
A bit of fade in and out, but it worked!
I'm STOKED!
All I have for an antenna on 6m is a vertical (monster home-brew copper pipe j-pole) but I'm up to give it a try.
Ok, let me change the orientation on my antenna, and let's give it a go
stand by
ok, 50.200
will call now.
No joy. Gonna listen in on 50.125 for a while.
w2amr
06-21-2015, 04:45 PM
No joy. Gonna listen in on 50.125 for a while.I heard a couple of stations from the left coast, but nothing I could work.
I have a multiband vertical at 45ft for working AM/FM simplex and repeaters on 6. Methinks it's time to look into a horizontal loop, mounted as high as I can get the thing.
I see yet another Moxon in my future.
WØTKX
06-21-2015, 06:17 PM
Hiya... Had to take off after the QSO. AFIK, vertical/horizontal is no big deal once the signal bounces a few times.
I have been using my 145' dipole doublet fed with ladder line. I do have a 6 meter vertical I wasn't using.
Signals were up and down. But I recognized your voice right away Jan. It's been a while. :)
Hiya... Had to take off after the QSO. AFIK, vertical/horizontal is no big deal once the signal bounces a few times.
I have been using my 145' dipole doublet fed with ladder line. I do have a 6 meter vertical I wasn't using.
Signals were up and down. But I recognized your voice right away Jan. It's been a while. :)
Too bad you couldn't hang for a little longer. Your signal was either 5/9 plus or ZIP.
What a cool band. We must try this again.
I went on today, no luck in landing a qso (i certainly tried), but i was hearing beacons from all over, and some 4's and 9's coming through nicely. I really am excited...basically, everything i would work will be a new something!
I'm QRV on 50.125. Thought I heard someone calling CQ there but it was the '660 lighting up on the 10M calling frequency instead.
w2amr
06-22-2015, 12:01 PM
I went on today, no luck in landing a qso (i certainly tried), but i was hearing beacons from all over, and some 4's and 9's coming through nicely. I really am excited...basically, everything i would work will be a new something!You can really knock off the grids when you first start out. After I got about 90 confirmed, it got a lot tougher to find new one's. The secret to six is, be on the air when it opens up. Which means you will spend a lot of time listening to noise.:mrgreen:
You can really knock off the grids when you first start out. After I got about 90 confirmed, it got a lot tougher to find new one's. The secret to six is, be on the air when it opens up. Which means you will spend a lot of time listening to noise.:mrgreen:
:lol: No problem, i make a living doing that!
w2amr
06-22-2015, 04:49 PM
:lol: No problem, i make a living doing that!Ha!
w2amr
06-22-2015, 04:58 PM
We should come up with an Island call frequency on 6. Maybe 50.200?
I just happen to check 6 and it was wide open for about 20 minutes to the east coast from NV...i pulled in K2MUB and Dave, K1ZZ for a couple of new states and grids. Pretty cool!
In a matter of minutes, silence.
Major geomagnetic storm today, the A Index was 73 at one point. That'll cause all kinds of interesting stuff to happen on 6m.
Im sitting here now, scanning back and forth. Every so often i hear a little something trying...long after the band should be dead. Im hoping to work some aurora off the 20m Vee.
w2amr
06-23-2015, 03:51 AM
I just happen to check 6 and it was wide open for about 20 minutes to the east coast from NV...i pulled in K2MUB and Dave, K1ZZ for a couple of new states and grids. Pretty cool!
In a matter of minutes, silence.Good job.:agree:
w2amr
06-23-2015, 04:20 AM
Being in the right place at the right time.
14056
14057
14058
14059
14060
w2amr
06-23-2015, 04:20 AM
14061
14062
W9WLS
06-23-2015, 04:57 AM
6 is open more than a lot of people realize, try scanning the Beacon sub-band frequently.
That's not to say that you'll find anyone to talk to, but if no one is talking (or calling CQ ) everyone thinks the band is dead, make some noise.
If there are several hams in a given area that can get on 6 , get a round table going on a regular basis / schedule , you might be surprised who will pop in and say a few word's.
I have an old FT-620B tied to a home-brewed 6 meter loop that I leave parked on 50.125 most of the time and know several others that do something along those same lines just so they can catch band opening's.
6 really is "The Magic Band" , when it's open, it's wild , but you can still have a good bit of fun when it "seems" to be closed also .
George's cards bring back some memories...early 80s saw me use an old HA-460 into a dipole at 20ft, oriented so its lobes were N/S. Worked Jamaica one July day. 10w out. Fun... :dance:
KG4NEL
06-23-2015, 11:55 AM
My first DX was Scotland on 50.110. F2 prop.
w2amr
06-23-2015, 12:13 PM
George's cards bring back some memories...early 80s saw me use an old HA-460 into a dipole at 20ft, oriented so its lobes were N/S. Worked Jamaica one July day. 10w out. Fun... :dance:On 6 AM, now that's cool!
w2amr
06-23-2015, 12:43 PM
Hearing Puerto Rico coming through @ 1738 UTC. on 125. Not very strong.
On 6 AM, now that's cool!
It's the main reason why I brought the TS-660 out of storage. The other 6M rigs I have on-hand (FT-726Rs) are all-mode with the exception of AM.
Also cool is that the rig covers 10M. Was going to play around on 29.6 with FM during yesterday afternoon's Sporadic E opening but it faded before I was off the clock and out of meetings.
w2amr
06-23-2015, 01:57 PM
It's the main reason why I brought the TS-660 out of storage. The other 6M rigs I have on-hand (FT-726Rs) are all-mode with the exception of AM.
Also cool is that the rig covers 10M. Was going to play around on 29.6 with FM during yesterday afternoon's Sporadic E opening but it faded before I was off the clock and out of meetings.One summer I set up a 6 AM station in work. A gonset communicator and Saturn 6 halo. I listened every day on 50.4 the entire summer. Never heard a damn thing. Sold the communicator and moved on.:mrgreen:
George, great cards! I am a DXer at heart so everything will be new to me on 6.
Speaking of which, what a great day yesterday on the magic band. I hauled in about 20 new grids and nearly as many states...plus a couple of Canadians. This morning i pulled in Colorado and a local guy...hey, he gave me NV and DM26, as well as a new SKCC number. Devie called me away from the rig right as i was calling an Oregon station. I am going to try and get all the states if i can.
w2amr
06-24-2015, 03:14 PM
George, great cards! I am a DXer at heart so everything will be new to me on 6.
Speaking of which, what a great day yesterday on the magic band. I hauled in about 20 new grids and nearly as many states...plus a couple of Canadians. This morning i pulled in Colorado and a local guy...hey, he gave me NV and DM26, as well as a new SKCC number. Devie called me away from the rig right as i was calling an Oregon station. I am going to try and get all the states if i can. Congrats on the contacts Adam, sounds like you are really having fun. Are you going to go for the ARRL VUCC award and WAS ?
I am a collector anyway, so i probably will be chasing those. I am most intrigued by DXing on 6, but i think i need a beam and some other things for that. Its ok, i have a decent SWR on the Vee so far. Considering how crappy the bands sound, its nice to hear some signals somewhere.
w2amr
06-25-2015, 02:53 AM
I am a collector anyway, so i probably will be chasing those. I am most intrigued by DXing on 6, but i think i need a beam and some other things for that. Its ok, i have a decent SWR on the Vee so far. Considering how crappy the bands sound, its nice to hear some signals somewhere.I worked that DX with a 4 El yagi @ 20'. A storm turned the yagi into a pile of scrap aluminum. The halo is ok, but it can't compare to the beam.
PA5COR
06-25-2015, 02:28 PM
still have thhe 5 elements beam up and with 200+ watts from the FT 2000 - D it might just work a bit ;)
w2amr
06-25-2015, 03:17 PM
still have thhe 5 elements beam up and with 200+ watts from the FT 2000 - D it might just work a bit ;)Yeah , that ought to get it done.
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