I have only had a 6M capable rig for a few years, so I have not been through a sunspot low on 6M. Started out working 6M with my 20M dipole and was so encouraged that I put up a 3-el Yagi on my deck at about 15 feet with "arm strong" rotator. I primarily operate during the E Skip season, approximately from May 1st through Aug 1st, but have also made a couple dozen meteor scatter QSOs. Anyway, with a fairly low effort and marginal setup (except for the K3S of course), I have worked 10 countries, 40 states and 125 grid squares. 6M is known as the "magic band" because it can open magically and contacts across the continent can suddenly appear as 59 and be gone a few minutes later. And you can work meteor scatter with 100 watts and 3 elements regardless of sunspot count. You just have to be willing to get up in the morning when the meteors are at maximum whiz. __________ 73, Jim - N4ST
-----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary Smith Sent: Monday, August 22, 2016 12:33 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] OT - 6 meter DX activity in sunspot low I've made exactly five 6M contacts in the last 36 years, all of them a couple months ago during Field Day with my K3s. It piqued my interest as I have DXCC from 160 through 10 & this would offer a new challenge. I discovered DXEngineering has a 3 element, 6M add on that attaches to a tribander and gives decent gain. Considering my tribander is roof mounted on a ranch, I won't have a great antenna for 6 no matter how I slice it. Still, if there is something worthwhile I can do with 6M, I should. So my question is for those who have operated 6M for years and know how the band works during the lows of the sunspot cycle; is it like 17 & up where any DX openings are unobtanium, or does 6M behave differently at sunspot lows and DX openings are common? Thanks & 73, Gary KA1J ______________________________________________________________ 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 hamsh...@n4st.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
