[50mhz] CALLING OUT THE RIGHT WAY TO GET NOTICED.

[caitlynmaire@earthlink.net]

Hi, Mitchell,

In this part of the country (Piedmont of North Carolina) the activity is
98% SSB, 1% AM, and the rest split between someone trying to make a
digital QSO, CW, and FM.  We have plenty of 6m repeaters.  Nobody uses
them.  OTOH, there are frequent ragchews going on 50.135 and 50.200 and
SSB nets just about every night of the week and Saturday morning.  It
really depends on what part of the country you are in, but here a 6m FM
rig is an absolute waste of time.  OTOH, if I heard you on 6 FM I'd
certainly talk to you.

The good news is that when the band is open you are not limited to one
part of the country.  The bad news is that it takes a much stronger
signal on FM and many openings that you can work on SSB or CW you will
never work on FM.

Honestly, I'd trade that FM only rig in on a multimode rig or an SSB/CW
only rig.  I've seen some nice ones go by in the under $200 price class
on the used market.

73,
Caity
KU4QD
FM05