[50mhz] 6 meter packet frequencies / activity in your area ?

[Cboone@earthlink.net]

Most rptr coordinaton groups have no idea where packet is on 6..
(much less on 2!!)....I have heard of some people using 51Mhz channels
for 6...due to the fact that 6mtr rptrs are now using that area for
Inputs (1.7 Mhz and 500 kHz plans), it is NOT a good place to do it..

220 is more universal than 6 EVER has been......on 220, you have
ONE standard offset (1.6 MHz) and just about all states use 20kHz
EVEN channel spacing...you wont find that on 6!! Though the 1 MHz
and the 1.7 MHz offsets seem to be adopted by more states (and the
1.7 is growing), there are still oddball splits and channel spacings..
(if you note the 500 kHz split plan uses EVEN 20 kHz while the other
plans use the ODD 20 kHz channel spacing...what a MESS!)

As for freq, I would use 50.62...WHY NOT?? Packet due to its nature
can be used on a "calling freq" (isnt that an oxymoron in packet
terms anyway? As ANY freq used is a calling freq??? :)
I would stay out of the 51 Mhz range...and if you have TV 2 nearby
53 Mhz would not be a good spot for a high fixed operation rcvr on
6 (mobile users are ok there...but not for packet due to noise, 
etc from the TV 2 xmtr...as well as the TVI potential to TVs on 2!)
Plus the fact the band MUF usually stays below 51 MHz in a lot of
openings, you would do better using the 50.62 freq...you have a
better shot of a good freq there.

Chris
WB5ITT
ex-Technical Director;Texas Coastal Amateur Packet Society (TCAPS)
BUT a believer in the use of 6 for long haul packet links, etc!

J Thomas - KD4EVB wrote:
> 
> Howdy All,
> 
> Thinking of adding a 6m port to a node stack in Northern Kentucky here
> shortly.  Curious if there is any activity on 6m packet across the country
> anymore?  From looking around there seems to be some spotty activity across
> the country.
> 
> Seems 6m is a lot like 220, every area of the country has it's own different
> bandplan...for the better or worse :-)  Not trying to start a war over whos
> bandplan is the best, that battle has been fought and lost by others before
> me as we shot ourselves in the foot on this topic.