Yes, 15M was also my favorite band as a Novice. It may be "ancient" but it's still active, and still an official band segment for Novice/Techs (21.025-21.200 MHz). The same goes for the Novice/Tech segment of 40M (7.025-7.125). There is a lot of activity at the top end of the old Novice segment of 40M. You can often find relatively slow code CW QSOs from 7.120-7.125.
Stop in and work these stations! There are many who frequent these segments. I know many FISTS and SKCC members who hang out in these areas. Some other folks are working on getting their code speed up. Not because they _have to_, but because they want to. I know a few "lifetime" Novices, that are active, but have no intention of upgrading. Yes, there are still Novice class licensees. The FCC does not issue new Novice (or Advanced) class licenses, but they can still be (and often are) renewed. Latest statistics from the FCC: Month Extra Advanced General Technician Novice ARS Total Apr-14 134,558 53,166 168,502 354,151 12,805 723,182 Bruce N1RX -----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2014 4:04 PM To: Elecraft Reflector; k...@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Elecraft] Activity in ancient 15-meter novice band (21.1 MHz) Thanks to the PX3 panadapter and the CQ WW CW contest, I just made my first QSO in at least three decades in the legacy 21.1 MHz U.S. Novice-license segment. I didn't expect activity to spread upward that far, but sure enough, blips appeared on the PX3 above 21.1, and I was able to make a quick QSO with WK1Q using 12 W (KX3 barefoot). This brought back a lot of memories. 21.1-21.15 was my favorite place to hang out back in the 1970s, when I was crystal-controlled on transmit, using a Heath HW-16. In those days I had a home-rolled 2-element 15-meter yogi made from 1/2-inch steel pipe and 2x4s. Must have weighed 40 pounds. Fortunately, my patient stepfather knew that getting that antenna up would keep me out of trouble (I was 15 at the time). Wayne N6KR ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to bef...@myfairpoint.net ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
