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:ml-node+s365791n7584767...@n2.nabble.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 11:10 AM To: kd7gc Subject: 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 _____ 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 <http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=unsubsc ribe_by_code&node=365791&code=a2Q3Z2NAcS5jb218MzY1NzkxfDE3MzQ0NDk4ODY=> . <http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=macro_v iewer&id=instant_html%21nabble%3Aemail.naml&base=nabble.naml.namespaces.Basi cNamespace-nabble.view.web.template.NabbleNamespace-nabble.view.web.template .NodeNamespace&breadcrumbs=notify_subscribers%21nabble%3Aemail.naml-instant_ emails%21nabble%3Aemail.naml-send_instant_email%21nabble%3Aemail.naml> NAML -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Advice-on-6-meters-tp7584767p7584775.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
