[50mhz] Need advice on getting on 6M

[Lance Collister]

Ken Kaplan wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am seriously thinking about trying 6m. Never been there & never listened but I've read a lot 
> both here and other places. It seems like 6m might fit me. The 2m & above repeater thing 
> just does not interest me. HF is not an option as I have a tech license and antenna 
> restrictions would kill things anyway. I do have a Cushcraft AR6 Ringo that I can "sneak" up. 
> A while ago, I picked up an old Swan 250 that may or may not be up to specs. If not, I can fix 
> it. What I don't know is what modes are most commonly used? Is SSB the common way to 
> go like on HF? Is AM used? I see that a lot of mobile rigs use FM. Is that for repeater 
> access? I know where to get info on propagation factors as well as antenna design. I 
> understand electronics well (tube & semiconductor - I are an engineer <g>). What I have no 
> info on is how to operate on this band. The Ringo instructions indicate that the antenna 
> tuning stub needs to be tuned to a 1 mHz portion of the 6m band. What portion of the band 
> should I focus on? My goal is to have a base station and do dx and maybe work all 50. I 
> know, probably not with a Ringo but I have to start somewhere.
>
> Although I've had my license for quite some time, I've never really been on the air. I see 6m 
> as possibly changing things for me. Is there a website or a book that I should be reading to 
> get me started on 6? Any Phoenix, AZ hams out there who would be willing to give me a 
> show-tell?
>
> Thanks,
> 73 Ken kb7rgg
>
> Moderator: Ray Brown, KB0STN
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>   
Hello Ken,

6m is a very interesting band, and offers many different types of 
propagation possibilities, although certainly not as reliable as the HF 
bands.  I got on 6m 11 years ago, and it has really become my favorite 
band ;-)

We are now entering the E skip season, so you will find it possible to 
work much of the USA when there happens to be Es on 6m.  This is the 
bottom of the sunspot cycle, so there is no chance to work DX on F2, but 
it is also the BEST time of the sunspot cycle to work DX by bouncing 
your signals off the moon.  I have worked 50 different DXCC by using the 
moon, and most of those contacts have been with single yagi stations 
using the new weak signal digital mode of JT65A during their moonset.  
More and more stations around the world are getting on 6m EME all the 
time.  You can see much more about 6m and EME on my web page below. 

If you are around the Phoenix area, there are many active 6m stations.  
AA7A is perhaps the most famous.  Good luck and have fun!  VY 73, Lance

-- 
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: (406) 626-5728   
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
2m DXCC #11, 6m DXCC #815