[50mhz] Need advice on getting on 6M

[Peter Markavage]

Ken:
For consistent operation on SSB, CW, or AM on 6 meters, a horizontal
antenna is the way to go. Verticals generally suck for these modes since
most people are running horizontal polarized antennas. Even during a
Sporadic E band opening, guys running 100 watts PEP into a vertical,
generally are considerably weaker than guys in the same area running a
horizontal antenna when working a horizontally polarized station. In a
pinch, try a 75 meter or 160 meter wire antenna if you have one up. I had
great success with my 75 meter inverted vee during several band openings
when the beam antennas were down for maintenance. Since the 250 is a tube
final, SWR is less of a concern. Even with a 4 to 1 or 6 to 1 SWR, the
250 finals probably wouldn't give a hoot unless they were marginal to
start with. Even a simple dipole, PVC stock for a mount, with two pieces
of drill rod attached to the PVC pipe cut to the low end of 6M, will work
fine. Or make a turnstile, by taking two more pieces of drill rod, put
them at right angles to the two you have for the dipole, add a 1/4 wave
72 ohm matching section to interconnect them, and feed the thing with 52
ohm cable. If you have to go with a vertical (Ugh), don't mount it
straight up in the vertical plane. Angle it off the vertical 30 to 45
degrees (sort of like it's ready to fall over). This would help with the
horizontal polarization; it just sucks less.

Pete, WA2CWA

On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 23:26:09 -0700 "Ken Kaplan" <krkaplan at cox.net>
writes:
> 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