[50mhz] QSO's and Band Openings - Food for thought

[Bernie McClenny]

Ugh!  Normally I would let this go but then everyone would just think Dave's
message below is the way things should be.  I disagree with almost
everything below.  If you want to rag chew do it on HF where the conditions
will hold out much longer.  Or work a local on 6 meter ground wave.  Now
I've only been on 6 meters just two years so I may not know everything about
the band.  But one of the first things I learned is that when 6 opens it is
a fun band and you better work them fast or you won't get in the log.  Here
in W3 land the local experts tell me there have only been three extremely
short (minutes) openings to Japan in the last 20 years.  I hope I never hear
someone give more than 339 FM19 to a JA during the next opening.  Whoever
gives much more than that will be known as a complete lid by everyone else
who wants to work the rare DX station.  Martti rarely ever gives any other
info when he's on a DXpedition.  However when he is home you are right.  On
HF he gives all his particulars.  The bottom line is when the band is open
keep it short and think about the guys that you can't hear that are on the
frequency that would like to work the station you are now working.  Also
50125 is the starting point.  Once you establish the band is open move up
the band and keep 125 clear of QSOs.  It's a calling frequency not a rag
chew frequency.

For those of you who agree with Dave's comments below my name is Bernie
McClenny.  I've been a ham since 1977 I live in Glenwood, Maryland (FM19).
I use an FT-847 and a commercial solid state KW with the C3I 7 element 6
meter beam up 115 feet.  The weather here today is 65 and mostly cloudy.  I
have 300 feet of hardline going from the rig to the antenna.  If you want
more info I'd be glad to work you on HF where we can carry out a rag chew.

73
Bernie, W3UR 59 FM19



Bernie McClenny, W3UR

Now more than ever - you need The Daily DX and The Weekly DX - to keep up
with the DX news from around the globe!

Editor of - The Daily DX <-- two free weeks http://www.dailydx.com/order.htm
          - The Weekly DX <-- free sample
http://www.dailydx.com/weekly2.html
          - How's DX

http://www.dailydx.com

-----Original Message-----
From: 50mhz-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:50mhz-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Dave, K2DP
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 04:10
To: 50mhz at mailman.qth.net
Cc: W5GCX (h); W2GCX; K0BX; W2FLA (h); Propper, S D; W0GOM; AE3T
Subject: [50mhz] QSO's and Band Openings - Food for thought

It occurred to me today while listening to a nice "sporadic-e" band opening
to Florida from the mid-west, that folks are so keen on running pile ups,
that they are failing to keep the "ham" in ham radio !!!!! Conditions were
solid for better than an hour and yet when in QSO with a particular station
in Florida, the only words I could get this OM to utter were "5x9, EL 96"
!!!! This was disappointing in that each QSO on 6 meters, is an opportunity
to meet another ham who has precisely the same interests and high degree of
patience and persistence that you do, just validated by the mere fact that
you are both 6 meter enthusiasts !!! While achieving WAS or DXCC on the HF
bands might take an active amateur 12-24 months, this might represent a life
time endeavor for a 6 meter amateur !!!!!! Those of us who are avid 6 meter
enthusiasts are a fraternity within the fraternity of Amateur Radio ! Let's
at least take the time to introduce ourselves to one another by name and
provide a little bit of information about ourselves such as our actual QTH
(we don't address snail mail to EL 96 , do we ?), etc. After all, even
during the outstanding DX openings on 6 meters to JA in December , 2001, we
had the time to exchange our "handles and QTH" and still work plenty of
stations. As another example, listen to world renowned DX-er, Martti Lane,
OH2BH, when he runs a pile up on 20 meters ( not a contest) and note the
courtesy that he extends to each amateur he works by introducing himself as
Martti and giving his QTH, etc, in addition to the signal report of the
station he is working !!!!  Let's have fun on the air and let's enjoy those
great 6 meter band openings when they occur, but let's also take the time to
get to know one another better. Friendships make amateur radio the great and
strong hobby that it is. 

Thanks for the bandwidth, 73 & c u on 6 meters.....Dave, K2DP (ex-WB2PMP),
University City, MO
Moderator: Ray Brown, KB0STN
_______________________________________________
50mhz mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/50mhz
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
Post: mailto:50mhz at mailman.qth.net