[50mhz] What happened to Six

[Michael N Hopkins]

> There were people on 6 back in those days.<
>
 
Wonder why?

In my study of it, I've identified four groups who made the 50s (and
'60s) roar on Six Meters.  Let's try to follow those unusual suspects:

1.  Ex Parte Five Meter homebrewers who drilled holes in boards to mount
210s without the bases to put a pair up on 58 mc in Push-Push.
-- We still see their stuff in Silent Key sales but it gets hauled to the
dump, usually.

2.  Civil Defence Operators -- From whom would we now defend?

3.  Folks who want a radio in their car -- Two Meter FM consumed these
first and they have cell phones now.

4.   High Pass Technicians who could go no lower -- They went up instead.

So of all the factors favoring Six then, none now exist.  There was no
magic to The Magic Band, as a silly little book termed it a few years
ago.  Six in the Golden Age was a creature of regulations, largely.  It
was something of a RF ferryboat and, when it docked, the travelers got
off.  You can still go out to the island, but there's not much there
except fascinating propagation and, like every picnic place, the flies of
20M style DXing about the time you get comfortable.

73 de ab5L, Student of Tecraft and 6M's Golden Age, 1956-58
Michael, MNHopkins@JUNO.com, Box. 226841, Dallas 75222