[AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! I will be back on the low end tonight around 3.7 +or -15, maybe I can get a ssb to respond. Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble.Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Hi Bernie, I sorta hung up my Viking II RCA AR-88LF combo into retirement mode up on the shelf here several years back for the very reason you mentioned about 40-meters... I'd call call CQ at various hours of the day with no responses whatsoever. So I finally stopped trying. As for 75-meters, well, I guess some old habits are slow to die...but from what I've been hearing up around the window of 3800-3885-KHz, more than a few of the regular AM denizens seem to actually enjoy the challenges of standing-up to the random (and by times, downright vicious!) heckling from a few of the more expressive within the SSB crowd... NOT the sort of place you'd really want to demonstrate the joys pleasures of AM phone, to visitors in the shack! The part of the band around 3.7-MHz seems far more civilized. I enjoy SWL'ing the gentlemen who come down there for some interesting technical QSOs on AM... ~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ *** - Original Message - From: Bernie Doran qedconsulta...@embarqmail.com To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:03 AM Subject: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! I will be back on the low end tonight around 3.7 +or -15, maybe I can get a ssb to respond. Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble.Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
There is lots of AM activity here on 3870 Mondays San Diego net, Wed West Coast AMI Net, Saturday Morning Northern Nevada/Ca. Round Table. Every time I call CQ here 80% of the time I can find someone to chat with on AM. On 9/27/2009 8:16:54 AM, Edward Swynar (gswy...@durham.net) wrote: Hi Bernie, I sorta hung up my Viking II RCA AR-88LF combo into retirement mode up on Y the shelf here several years back for the very reason you mentioned about 40-meters... I'd call call CQ at various hours of the day with no responses whatsoever. So I finally stopped trying. As for 75-meters, well, I guess some old habits are slow to die...but from what I've been hearing up around the window of 3800-3885-KHz, more than a few of the regular AM denizens seem to actually enjoy the challenges of standing-up to the random (and by times, downright vicious!) heckling from a few of the more expressive within the SSB crowd... NOT the sort of place you'd really want to demonstrate the joys pleasures of AM phone, to visitors in the shack! The part of the band around 3.7-MHz seems far more civilized. I enjoy SWL'ing the gentlemen who come down there for some interesting technical QSOs on AM... ~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ *** - Original Message - From: Bernie Doran __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Why the endless congregating around the so-called calling frequencies? Maybe it's the watering hole effect - people tend to go where they know the action is, even if it is too crowded and dangerous. I've noticed a growing trend of 100w-class stations reporting less success in recent years. I have a theory that this is due to the ever-climbing local noise levels in our neighborhoods. This noise will tend to mask the weaker signals at the receive end, resulting in fewer possible recipients for low and medium power CQs. I find I have to be very diligent about tracking down and eliminating sources of noise in my own house just to keep my receive noise level reasonable. I'm seeing the same thing in AM and FM broadcasting - long-time home-based listeners to our radio stations are having more trouble in recent years hearing the same old stations transmitting with the same power levels - the background noise is covering up the fringe reception. Mobile reception doesn't seem to be as troubled - except by the recent trend of traffic light systems that produce VHF interference at intersections. Another factor on both ends of the potential amateur contacts may be the more limited antenna options many operators are stuck with - makes it harder to use the 100w power level. Steve WD8DAS sbjohns...@aol.com http://www.wd8das.net/ - Radio is your best entertainment value. - __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
On the broadcast frequencies, most of the noise comes from 'Hybrid Digital', or HD implementation. Some of that trash on the ham bands is overmodulated PSK-31 or other digital mode comms stuff. The rest is good old hash from crappy appliances and bad electrical distribution grid. The digital encroachment axiom is bad enough in a technical sense, but the accompanying popular devotion is leading real radio straight into hell. Next thing you know some hams will be doing podcasts! Just one old buzzards' take, your mileage may vary. 73 W7TFO -- Looking for the truth is like looking at the sun: It is sometimes better to not go directly at it. __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
I don't operate at night, but appreciate not having to tune all around the band looking for a good AM qso. 3880 is tough for me, some plasma TV interference on 3880 at nasty high levels, 3870 is clear. I suppose I could learn the garbage for an extra ticket, but don't know where/who gives the test. Besides, I balk at having to take the test, when my station is all home brew, the the person giving the test likely could not figure out how to operate it, let alone build it. I have a commercial FCC license, does that not count for anything? (no). Brett - Original Message - From: Edward Swynar gswy...@durham.net To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:16 AM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters Hi Bernie, I sorta hung up my Viking II RCA AR-88LF combo into retirement mode up on the shelf here several years back for the very reason you mentioned about 40-meters... I'd call call CQ at various hours of the day with no responses whatsoever. So I finally stopped trying. As for 75-meters, well, I guess some old habits are slow to die...but from what I've been hearing up around the window of 3800-3885-KHz, more than a few of the regular AM denizens seem to actually enjoy the challenges of standing-up to the random (and by times, downright vicious!) heckling from a few of the more expressive within the SSB crowd... NOT the sort of place you'd really want to demonstrate the joys pleasures of AM phone, to visitors in the shack! The part of the band around 3.7-MHz seems far more civilized. I enjoy SWL'ing the gentlemen who come down there for some interesting technical QSOs on AM... ~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ *** - Original Message - From: Bernie Doran qedconsulta...@embarqmail.com To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:03 AM Subject: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! I will be back on the low end tonight around 3.7 +or -15, maybe I can get a ssb to respond. Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble.Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Brett, Glad ur plasma qrm stays put. the stuff like that I get seems to slowly make its way up and down the band. I am having fairly good luck with one of those MFJ phase canceling boxes; it either eliminates or attenuates a lot of junk. DX Engineering makes a higher quality product that does the same thing but I think through 360 degrees (the MFJ covers a bit less range). Mine has made some qsos go from tolerable to pleasant. Noise level usually drops a few S units when its in and one of the best things is that because it is an analog device there isn't any dsp type distortion. Not an ad for MFJ but a plug for the method. Timewave may make one too. Only reason I use the MFJ is that a guy had one new in box for sale at Dayton 2 years ago for $70. 73 Rob K5UJ On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 12:47 PM, Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net wrote: I don't operate at night, but appreciate not having to tune all around the band looking for a good AM qso. 3880 is tough for me, some plasma TV interference on 3880 at nasty high levels, 3870 is clear. I suppose I could learn the garbage for an extra ticket, but don't know where/who gives the test. Besides, I balk at having to take the test, when my station is all home brew, the the person giving the test likely could not figure out how to operate it, let alone build it. I have a commercial FCC license, does that not count for anything? (no). Brett __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
hi Rob: yep I made a contact on 7290, almost still in shock. I just do not hear any activity most of the time, just seems like a shame. some of our Canadian friends do operate 3725 consistently so they are down there. I believe there was a post a short time ago from a chap that did order a bunch of low end crystals to sell and also wondered what happened.I was just running the ft1000 of 7290 with a 40 w carrier, 40 is probably my favorite band. It really changed fast when I was talking with Rick. - Original Message - From: Rob Atkinson ranchoro...@gmail.com To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 12:27 PM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters Hi Bernie, I heard u in a qso this a.m. with WA3MJY and enjoyed reading the mail and was gg to jump in and relay to da botayas that u were trying to tell each other that the other guy had faded out but didn't get to the rig before another QSO came up out of the aether...but anyway if some sort of effort is made to populate 3.6 to 3.7 I'll give it a try--I think the so called am window is used because there's a safety in numbers notion and maybe a lot of the guys have their dipoles cut for the top of 75 and/or have xtals up there (yes a few run rock bound stuff) in addition to the other reasons. I know a few hams who don't want to upgrade now that there is no code test. But yes, there's some nice clear real estate down there below 3700. I tried to do my part to keep 7160 open this morning; tried calling cq and found someone already there on LSB, so I qsy up to 7165 which sounded clear for a few khz up and down and ran 300 w. and had a great qso with Kevin WB0JZG but the SSB gang was getting restless and when we wrapped it up some UFL (that's unidentified flying lid) preached a nice sermonette and finished by telling us if we want broadcast audio to go buy broadcast stations. On the other hand I got this very nice email a few minutes ago from a ham who I won't identify because he may not like my forwarding his email to a reflector so I'll just put in the text: I was monitoring 7.165 sunday morning and heard you and WB0JZG in qso. I wish to congratulate you on your AM station and the broadcast quality signal heard on sunday morning - very nice S9 + 10 carrier with fantastic audio. Also your qrz bio was informative and humorus at the same time. Enjoyable to read. In fone I operate mostly SSB but AM adds spice, variety and enjoyment to my operating activities. I was listening to you both on a restored Collins 75 A1. My AM transmitter is a Collins 32 V2 with 2 channel EQ to give added mid range to base generated by the Collins. I have made AM contacts on my Icom 7800 and alpha 89. More fun using the Collins on AM. Well, that made my day especially after I saw the subject line which was Your AM signal in my in-box and I got geared up for a flame from some p.o. s/b operator! 73 Rob K5UJ __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Hi Brett: I think most of the hamvention/ swapmeets have VEs so unless they are miles away that is a possible option. regretfully for some it is difficult or impossible to get to a test location. - Original Message - From: Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 1:47 PM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters I don't operate at night, but appreciate not having to tune all around the band looking for a good AM qso. 3880 is tough for me, some plasma TV interference on 3880 at nasty high levels, 3870 is clear. I suppose I could learn the garbage for an extra ticket, but don't know where/who gives the test. Besides, I balk at having to take the test, when my station is all home brew, the the person giving the test likely could not figure out how to operate it, let alone build it. I have a commercial FCC license, does that not count for anything? (no). Brett - Original Message - From: Edward Swynar gswy...@durham.net To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:16 AM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters Hi Bernie, I sorta hung up my Viking II RCA AR-88LF combo into retirement mode up on the shelf here several years back for the very reason you mentioned about 40-meters... I'd call call CQ at various hours of the day with no responses whatsoever. So I finally stopped trying. As for 75-meters, well, I guess some old habits are slow to die...but from what I've been hearing up around the window of 3800-3885-KHz, more than a few of the regular AM denizens seem to actually enjoy the challenges of standing-up to the random (and by times, downright vicious!) heckling from a few of the more expressive within the SSB crowd... NOT the sort of place you'd really want to demonstrate the joys pleasures of AM phone, to visitors in the shack! The part of the band around 3.7-MHz seems far more civilized. I enjoy SWL'ing the gentlemen who come down there for some interesting technical QSOs on AM... ~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ *** - Original Message - From: Bernie Doran qedconsulta...@embarqmail.com To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:03 AM Subject: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! I will be back on the low end tonight around 3.7 +or -15, maybe I can get a ssb to respond. Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble.Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List
[AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
From: Bernie Doran qedconsulta...@embarqmail.com what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble.Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie I got on the air later in the evening, about 11 PM local time, and had a good QSO on 3885 with no QRM, SSB or otherwise. The QSO outlasted me, and I consider myself a night-owl. I have found it easy to operate down below during the autumn/winter months when the QRN is low, but during static season, activity drops off, and usually about the only activity I can find is up in the Ghetto. When condx improve, I find the Ghetto too crowded, not only with SSB QRM, but with AM stations, and any QSO established very quickly accumulates 5, 6, 7 or more stations and I don't care for large groups, so I find that the ideal time to QSY down lower in the band. I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. My solution to that was to build my automated CQ caller. I just turn it on, the recorded CQ is transmitted, and after the initial call it automatically stands by for 30 seconds and then transmits another CQ, until I manually take control of the station. That way I con work on a project at the bench, read something, or round up my tools and tidy up the shack while the CQ is running. If, during one of the stand-by periods, I hear someone come back, I run over and take manual control of the station and reply to the CQ. That way, I am not wasting a half hour or more sitting at the rig calling CQ before I can contact someone when the band is sparsely populated. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. Well, from what I have read on some of the CW mailing lists, they are trying to gather support for a petition to the FCC to do just that. They feel that a big hunk of the cw band was stolen from them. Their justification for changing it back is that phone stations are rarely using the segment from 3600 to about 3680, so it should be returned to CW. But in rebuttal, I would point out that the CW ops have not lost any frequencies. It is still perfectly legal to operate CW on 3600-3700, so if they find that segment devoid of phone activity, there is no reason why they can't operate CW there, just as they did befor the phone band expansion. But most of the time, unless there is a QRMtest going on, there is plenty of empty space between 3500 and 3600 as well. And I can't see altering the band allocations just to accommodate QRMtests that might occur a few weekend nights a year. But they do bring up a point. When the band was first expanded, there was a big scramble to get on the air on the new frequencies, and there was loads of AM activity down in the lower part of the band. People were ecstatically commenting on how much better it was down there, away from all the QRM and chaos up in the Ghetto. But as weeks passed, the activity down below gradually dwindled, and one by one, stations migrated back up to the old frequencies, until it became somewhat of a rarity to hear any AM below 3875, and particularly, below 3600. The SSB activity on 3600-3700 has fallen off as well. At one time the entire CW band from 3500 to 3750, past the old Novice band, was as congested with CW activity as 3500-3580 is now. But just before the change, 3600-3700 was almost always empty of signals, except for a few early evening traffic nets and a few RTTY/data signals. That was one reason the FCC reallocated the frequencies. Use it or lose it. If we don't start using those frequencies, next thing we know amateurs will be kicked off part of the band and we'll be listening to Brother Stair on those frequencies. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! That brings out the point that the situation on the bottom end of the phone band is more a matter of Incentive Licensing and licence class sub-subbands, than phone vs CW/data allocations. I will be back on the low end tonight around 3.7 +or -15, maybe I can get a ssb to respond. Try calling CQ-AM. You might be surprised how many SSB'ers will try out their ricebox appliances on AM for the first time. Once in a great while, someone will like AM well enough to want to try it again, and eventually end up setting up a real AM
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Don, I have informed folks this end, we will give it a go over the next few weeks, now we are over the equinox the low bands will start to wake up a bit. :-) 73 Max M0GHQ/KJ4ISS - Original Message - From: D. Chester k4...@charter.net To: amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 9:03 PM Subject: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters From: Bernie Doran qedconsulta...@embarqmail.com what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble.Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie I got on the air later in the evening, about 11 PM local time, and had a good QSO on 3885 with no QRM, SSB or otherwise. The QSO outlasted me, and I consider myself a night-owl. I have found it easy to operate down below during the autumn/winter months when the QRN is low, but during static season, activity drops off, and usually about the only activity I can find is up in the Ghetto. When condx improve, I find the Ghetto too crowded, not only with SSB QRM, but with AM stations, and any QSO established very quickly accumulates 5, 6, 7 or more stations and I don't care for large groups, so I find that the ideal time to QSY down lower in the band. I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. My solution to that was to build my automated CQ caller. I just turn it on, the recorded CQ is transmitted, and after the initial call it automatically stands by for 30 seconds and then transmits another CQ, until I manually take control of the station. That way I con work on a project at the bench, read something, or round up my tools and tidy up the shack while the CQ is running. If, during one of the stand-by periods, I hear someone come back, I run over and take manual control of the station and reply to the CQ. That way, I am not wasting a half hour or more sitting at the rig calling CQ before I can contact someone when the band is sparsely populated. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. Well, from what I have read on some of the CW mailing lists, they are trying to gather support for a petition to the FCC to do just that. They feel that a big hunk of the cw band was stolen from them. Their justification for changing it back is that phone stations are rarely using the segment from 3600 to about 3680, so it should be returned to CW. But in rebuttal, I would point out that the CW ops have not lost any frequencies. It is still perfectly legal to operate CW on 3600-3700, so if they find that segment devoid of phone activity, there is no reason why they can't operate CW there, just as they did befor the phone band expansion. But most of the time, unless there is a QRMtest going on, there is plenty of empty space between 3500 and 3600 as well. And I can't see altering the band allocations just to accommodate QRMtests that might occur a few weekend nights a year. But they do bring up a point. When the band was first expanded, there was a big scramble to get on the air on the new frequencies, and there was loads of AM activity down in the lower part of the band. People were ecstatically commenting on how much better it was down there, away from all the QRM and chaos up in the Ghetto. But as weeks passed, the activity down below gradually dwindled, and one by one, stations migrated back up to the old frequencies, until it became somewhat of a rarity to hear any AM below 3875, and particularly, below 3600. The SSB activity on 3600-3700 has fallen off as well. At one time the entire CW band from 3500 to 3750, past the old Novice band, was as congested with CW activity as 3500-3580 is now. But just before the change, 3600-3700 was almost always empty of signals, except for a few early evening traffic nets and a few RTTY/data signals. That was one reason the FCC reallocated the frequencies. Use it or lose it. If we don't start using those frequencies, next thing we know amateurs will be kicked off part of the band and we'll be listening to Brother Stair on those frequencies. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! That brings out the point that the situation on the bottom end of the phone band is more a matter of Incentive Licensing and licence class sub
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Hi Don: yep, I probably work about 50% ssb at the low end and about half will try AM. - Original Message - From: D. Chester k4...@charter.net To: amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 4:03 PM Subject: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters From: Bernie Doran qedconsulta...@embarqmail.com what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble.Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie I got on the air later in the evening, about 11 PM local time, and had a good QSO on 3885 with no QRM, SSB or otherwise. The QSO outlasted me, and I consider myself a night-owl. I have found it easy to operate down below during the autumn/winter months when the QRN is low, but during static season, activity drops off, and usually about the only activity I can find is up in the Ghetto. When condx improve, I find the Ghetto too crowded, not only with SSB QRM, but with AM stations, and any QSO established very quickly accumulates 5, 6, 7 or more stations and I don't care for large groups, so I find that the ideal time to QSY down lower in the band. I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. My solution to that was to build my automated CQ caller. I just turn it on, the recorded CQ is transmitted, and after the initial call it automatically stands by for 30 seconds and then transmits another CQ, until I manually take control of the station. That way I con work on a project at the bench, read something, or round up my tools and tidy up the shack while the CQ is running. If, during one of the stand-by periods, I hear someone come back, I run over and take manual control of the station and reply to the CQ. That way, I am not wasting a half hour or more sitting at the rig calling CQ before I can contact someone when the band is sparsely populated. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. Well, from what I have read on some of the CW mailing lists, they are trying to gather support for a petition to the FCC to do just that. They feel that a big hunk of the cw band was stolen from them. Their justification for changing it back is that phone stations are rarely using the segment from 3600 to about 3680, so it should be returned to CW. But in rebuttal, I would point out that the CW ops have not lost any frequencies. It is still perfectly legal to operate CW on 3600-3700, so if they find that segment devoid of phone activity, there is no reason why they can't operate CW there, just as they did befor the phone band expansion. But most of the time, unless there is a QRMtest going on, there is plenty of empty space between 3500 and 3600 as well. And I can't see altering the band allocations just to accommodate QRMtests that might occur a few weekend nights a year. But they do bring up a point. When the band was first expanded, there was a big scramble to get on the air on the new frequencies, and there was loads of AM activity down in the lower part of the band. People were ecstatically commenting on how much better it was down there, away from all the QRM and chaos up in the Ghetto. But as weeks passed, the activity down below gradually dwindled, and one by one, stations migrated back up to the old frequencies, until it became somewhat of a rarity to hear any AM below 3875, and particularly, below 3600. The SSB activity on 3600-3700 has fallen off as well. At one time the entire CW band from 3500 to 3750, past the old Novice band, was as congested with CW activity as 3500-3580 is now. But just before the change, 3600-3700 was almost always empty of signals, except for a few early evening traffic nets and a few RTTY/data signals. That was one reason the FCC reallocated the frequencies. Use it or lose it. If we don't start using those frequencies, next thing we know amateurs will be kicked off part of the band and we'll be listening to Brother Stair on those frequencies. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! That brings out the point that the situation on the bottom end of the phone band is more a matter of Incentive Licensing and licence class sub-subbands, than phone vs CW/data allocations. I will be back on the low end tonight around 3.7
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Bernie be sure to check these spots: 3678, 3685, 3700, 3705, 3735 kHz A LOT Of AM ops have obtained crystals on those frequencies - ones that they got since the band was opened up to phone. Bry, AF4K On 9/27/2009 8:03:10 AM, Bernie Doran (qedconsulta...@embarqmail.com) wrote: what is this fascination with 3880 to 3885? last evening my s meter did not fall below +20 tuning through that area and each side. there is no possible way to have a QSO at times like that unless you are talking to your next door neighbor! I gave up and went to 3705, called cq for 30 minutes untill dave w9ad ran across me. I could find only three or four ssb stations between 3.6 and 3.7. the low end is almost not used, if it is not going to be used the band might as well be changed back where it was. And yes, I know this has been brought up before, and yes I know there are generals, not an excuse for most, a few hours with the license manual and you are an extra. I talked with a 13 year girl a while back that was an extra!! I will be back on the low end tonight around 3.7 +or -15, maybe I can get a ssb to respond. Of course maybe it is just that no one wants to talk to me!! I have also been listening and calling on 7160 and 7290 for several days without a nibble. Just about ready to throw in the towel and get rid of my junk. Bernie __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Hi Group, Name here is Bill and I am essentially a newbie to AM Operating. I've just completed assembly of my vintage AM station and have spen time fruitlessly calling CQ on 7.290 and 7.160 when I can get in between the SSB lids. Was able to finally complete a QSO with Warren, W1GUD down in Tampa tonight on 7.155 as he was wrapping up a round table with a couple other guys that the QRN and QRM was keeping me from copying. I'll be out there only on 40 until I can get my long wire antenna back up then 80/160 will be open to me as well. Watch for me. I'm running a Johnson Viking 1 and an HQ 170-A from up here near DC. 73 Bill-WF1L Reston, VA --- On Sun, 9/27/09, Rob Atkinson ranchoro...@gmail.com wrote: From: Rob Atkinson ranchoro...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009, 12:27 PM Hi Bernie, I heard u in a qso this a.m. with WA3MJY and enjoyed reading the mail and was gg to jump in and relay to da botayas that u were trying to tell each other that the other guy had faded out but didn't get to the rig before another QSO came up out of the aether...but anyway if some sort of effort is made to populate 3.6 to 3.7 I'll give it a try--I think the so called am window is used because there's a safety in numbers notion and maybe a lot of the guys have their dipoles cut for the top of 75 and/or have xtals up there (yes a few run rock bound stuff) in addition to the other reasons. I know a few hams who don't want to upgrade now that there is no code test. But yes, there's some nice clear real estate down there below 3700. I tried to do my part to keep 7160 open this morning; tried calling cq and found someone already there on LSB, so I qsy up to 7165 which sounded clear for a few khz up and down and ran 300 w. and had a great qso with Kevin WB0JZG but the SSB gang was getting restless and when we wrapped it up some UFL (that's unidentified flying lid) preached a nice sermonette and finished by telling us if we want broadcast audio to go buy broadcast stations. On the other hand I got this very nice email a few minutes ago from a ham who I won't identify because he may not like my forwarding his email to a reflector so I'll just put in the text: I was monitoring 7.165 sunday morning and heard you and WB0JZG in qso. I wish to congratulate you on your AM station and the broadcast quality signal heard on sunday morning - very nice S9 + 10 carrier with fantastic audio. Also your qrz bio was informative and humorus at the same time. Enjoyable to read. In fone I operate mostly SSB but AM adds spice, variety and enjoyment to my operating activities. I was listening to you both on a restored Collins 75 A1. My AM transmitter is a Collins 32 V2 with 2 channel EQ to give added mid range to base generated by the Collins. I have made AM contacts on my Icom 7800 and alpha 89. More fun using the Collins on AM. Well, that made my day especially after I saw the subject line which was Your AM signal in my in-box and I got geared up for a flame from some p.o. s/b operator! 73 Rob K5UJ __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
I like 40 meters, but during the daytime, say 10am to about 2 pm. I have no time for radio until winter is here, plus I think 40 works better in the daytime when there is some sunspot activity. I have no idea what 40 does at night, must go real long, but up till now, its always been filled with sw broadcast at any sane hour. I put the 40 meter antenna up a bit higher yesterday, since the vertical came down and sold at the hamfest today. While at the fest today, I had a K2 I was trying to sell and heard a good AM signal on 40 but did not catch who it was. There was an sx111, and an SX16, and a nc183, each for $100.00 I think. I cleaned out the basement and made $600.00 towards the flex 5000. Brett - Original Message - From: Bill McCourt - WF1L wemcco...@yahoo.com To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 9:04 PM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters Hi Group, Name here is Bill and I am essentially a newbie to AM Operating. I've just completed assembly of my vintage AM station and have spen time fruitlessly calling CQ on 7.290 and 7.160 when I can get in between the SSB lids. Was able to finally complete a QSO with Warren, W1GUD down in Tampa tonight on 7.155 as he was wrapping up a round table with a couple other guys that the QRN and QRM was keeping me from copying. I'll be out there only on 40 until I can get my long wire antenna back up then 80/160 will be open to me as well. Watch for me. I'm running a Johnson Viking 1 and an HQ 170-A from up here near DC. 73 Bill-WF1L Reston, VA --- On Sun, 9/27/09, Rob Atkinson ranchoro...@gmail.com wrote: From: Rob Atkinson ranchoro...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service amradio@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009, 12:27 PM Hi Bernie, I heard u in a qso this a.m. with WA3MJY and enjoyed reading the mail and was gg to jump in and relay to da botayas that u were trying to tell each other that the other guy had faded out but didn't get to the rig before another QSO came up out of the aether...but anyway if some sort of effort is made to populate 3.6 to 3.7 I'll give it a try--I think the so called am window is used because there's a safety in numbers notion and maybe a lot of the guys have their dipoles cut for the top of 75 and/or have xtals up there (yes a few run rock bound stuff) in addition to the other reasons. I know a few hams who don't want to upgrade now that there is no code test. But yes, there's some nice clear real estate down there below 3700. I tried to do my part to keep 7160 open this morning; tried calling cq and found someone already there on LSB, so I qsy up to 7165 which sounded clear for a few khz up and down and ran 300 w. and had a great qso with Kevin WB0JZG but the SSB gang was getting restless and when we wrapped it up some UFL (that's unidentified flying lid) preached a nice sermonette and finished by telling us if we want broadcast audio to go buy broadcast stations. On the other hand I got this very nice email a few minutes ago from a ham who I won't identify because he may not like my forwarding his email to a reflector so I'll just put in the text: I was monitoring 7.165 sunday morning and heard you and WB0JZG in qso. I wish to congratulate you on your AM station and the broadcast quality signal heard on sunday morning - very nice S9 + 10 carrier with fantastic audio. Also your qrz bio was informative and humorus at the same time. Enjoyable to read. In fone I operate mostly SSB but AM adds spice, variety and enjoyment to my operating activities. I was listening to you both on a restored Collins 75 A1. My AM transmitter is a Collins 32 V2 with 2 channel EQ to give added mid range to base generated by the Collins. I have made AM contacts on my Icom 7800 and alpha 89. More fun using the Collins on AM. Well, that made my day especially after I saw the subject line which was Your AM signal in my in-box and I got geared up for a flame from some p.o. s/b operator! 73 Rob K5UJ __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio
Re: [AMRadio] AM 75- 80 meters
Bill, Sorry u having trouble finding hams to work. One other thing to keep in mind (not only you Bill but others) is on any given evening, some % of ops this time of year are QRT because of wx. For example I'm shut down right now because thunderstorms moving through tonight.you don't have to be right under them--QRN from them will make operating miserable for any ham within a few hundred miles of one depending on time of day. Anyway welcome to AM Bill you will find as I have that it is a lot of fun and all the ops are great people. 73 Rob K5UJ On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 8:04 PM, Bill McCourt - WF1L wemcco...@yahoo.com wrote: Hi Group, Name here is Bill and I am essentially a newbie to AM Operating. I've just completed assembly of my vintage AM station and have spen time fruitlessly calling CQ on 7.290 and 7.160 when I can get in between the SSB lids. Was able to finally complete a QSO with Warren, W1GUD down in Tampa tonight on 7.155 as he was wrapping up a round table with a couple other guys that the QRN and QRM was keeping me from copying. I'll be out there only on 40 until I can get my long wire antenna back up then 80/160 will be open to me as well. Watch for me. I'm running a Johnson Viking 1 and an HQ 170-A from up here near DC. 73 Bill-WF1L Reston, VA __ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: AMRadio@mailman.qth.net To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-requ...@mailman.qth.net with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
