60 meters

[w2amr]

I removed the tiny diode from my Icom 706MK2G that opens up the transmitter, and been having a lot of fun on 60 meters. I'm using my 75/40 meter vee with my old roller inductor ten tech tuner. There is a group every morning about 8AM EST on 5.330.5 USB.

[N8YX]

My Paragon IIs will operate there, as will a couple other rigs which are currently out of the lineup at the moment. Have to see what I can do for an NVIS setup for the band.

ETA:

I have all 5 60M frequencies programmed into the P-II's memories and monitor the channels in the evening hours. May have to listen in the morning too.

[w2amr]

One cool feature, the frequencies are spaced so far apart, there is no QRM.

[WZ7U]

Did you desolder it or do like I did; crush it with a needlenose plier?

Gotta get on 60. I bet it's fun!

[KG4CGC]

Are you enjoying 11 meters? The dx beacon for 10 meters?

[N8YX]

11 is deadsville here.

FCC is going to relax the 155mi rule for Class D communications, so we'll be "legally" allowed to work DX on the band (albeit with certificated equipment). That said, my Pro-40 and CP-2000 aren't seeing a lot of use these days. Not too many SSB-operating locals left and skip ain't up.

[KG4CGC]

I can look outside and tell when I can get into Greenwood SC. Pretty consistent phenomenon. Ducting I suspect. Met a couple of hams on 11m who live in that area. Went down to 80m and exchanged QSL cards.
Matter of fact, when the band is WIDE ASS OPEN, I hear a lot of hams running modern ham equipment on the band.

[WZ7U]

I can look outside and tell when I can get into Greenwood SC. Pretty consistent phenomenon. Ducting I suspect. Met a couple of hams on 11m who live in that area. Went down to 80m and exchanged QSL cards.
Matter of fact, when the band is WIDE ASS OPEN, I hear a lot of hams running modern ham equipment on the band.

On 60 or 11? Or both? :scratchchin: :lol:

[suddenseer]

I can look outside and tell when I can get into Greenwood SC. Pretty consistent phenomenon. Ducting I suspect. Met a couple of hams on 11m who live in that area. Went down to 80m and exchanged QSL cards.
Matter of fact, when the band is WIDE ASS OPEN, I hear a lot of hams running modern ham equipment on the band.I love the qrp ability of the higher hf bands. Tropo is a 'magic' weather phenomenon, those quick packet bursts can give you an idea of the direction, size, shape, etc, of the duct. That, and HAAT were 2 questions I probably bombed on my first phone exam. I have had much fun qrp on 6m with just a vertical.

[N8YX]

...Matter of fact, when the band is WIDE ASS OPEN, I hear a lot of hams running modern ham equipment on the band.

A couple of the area operators run their amateur equipment on 11 and openly brag about doing so.

Best story so far:

I'm tuning the 27.4-28MHz slice, looking for interesting things/signs of life/etc. and I happened upon a DXish conversation on 27.420LSB. Idiot IDed with his ham callsign after announcing he was running an FT-2000.

During the boom years, there were a LOT of folks using FT-101s (and at least one FT-901) on the air in NEOH. A certain denizen of a channel we all used to hang out on as teenagers lived about a mile from me; he shared a shack with dad. Their "CB" was a fully loaded TR-7. Ask yourself how much scratch that would set you back in 1980...

[N8YX]

I have had much fun qrp on 6m with just a vertical.

If working non-FM modes and no way to erect a beam antenna, put up a horizontally polarized loop (or better yet, a stack of 2) and watch the band come alive.

[KG4CGC]

To be sure, I run a dedicated 11m rig for 11m. Cobra 148 of 1982 vintage. My Corsair does not do 11m and has no modifications what so ever.
It won't even do 60m.

Eric, what?

[N8YX]

That Cobra is Best Cobra. It and the 2000GTL (148 chassis in a large case, with an included power supply and frequency display) are among the best performing Class D sets out there.

[WZ7U]

As a matter of fact, a friend gave me his Cobra 2000 because he knew I was still into radio. Besides, I'm the one that turned him onto the whole thing about 25 years ago. Now he doesn't care about it and I'm kinda like meh about an 11 meter only rig but hey; the price is right! When I get the space and time I need to go through it and check it out to see how well time has been to it. I suspect a major cleaning is in order and I hope against hope all the caps are still good. I need to re-felt the D104 base and a decent mic cord would be nice.

I hope that tote it came in will suffice to keep it dry enough to warrant fixing it should the need arise. It should be ok, but I don't like leaving stuff in a high humidity area for any length of time for obvious reasons.

Charles, what? Just wondered if the same guys there running 11 meters are also on 60 meters, that's all.

[KG4CGC]

<snip>

Charles, what? Just wondered if the same guys there running 11 meters are also on 60 meters, that's all.

Prolly. Idunno.
I was poking George ... with a steek.

[WZ7U]

Een thee eyee?

I notice his lack of participation after the slight hijack. Hmmm.

[WØTKX]

60 meters is a hoot, and the morning ragchew group on 75 moves there often late morning when the band starts to go away

For the record, I can run both. And I use my Johnson on 11 meters.

Insert joke here... :snicker:

Really I have a Messenger 352 and it is very nice, especially on SSB.

[w2amr]

Did you desolder it or do like I did; crush it with a needlenose plier?

Gotta get on 60. I bet it's fun!I de soldered it. I was afraid I would damage the circuit board if I crushed it.

[w2amr]

Prolly. Idunno.
I was poking George ... with a steek.Ouch.

[w2amr]

Een thee eyee?

I notice his lack of participation after the slight hijack. Hmmm. Threads can venture off topic from time to time, I have no problem with that. Keeps things interesting.

[K7SGJ]

Speaking of airplanes............

[w2amr]

Speaking of airplanes............That's the spirit!