[50mhz] DX

[r miles]

I've only chased on 6m for 4 summers. When I left IL for NW TN the guys 
here said we are in a great 6m spot. I wasn't sure they were right when 
I saw all the East Coast spots & I heard nothing. But I've learned we 
are in a good spot. We often hear the Carrib when no one else is. I'm 
amazed what I do work.It's not like HF where you wait for the band to 
come to you. On 6m most of the time that doesn't happen. I started 
chasing DX on 160m about the time I started on 6m. I run 500w on 160m & 
I'm up to 126. I run only 100w on 6m.I  got into the two great Sunday 
openings on 6m last summer & worked #71.  I'm still amazed. I am 
looking at the KPA500 when it comes out to go with my K3. Maybe the 
extra S unit or two will help.
The most amazing thing I've heard on 6m from EM56 is the Japanese I 
often hear   in the summer. There will no other stn.s on 6m & there's a 
few JAs. Weak but workable. I can only dream of the sound of 6m if the 
Fs appear.
I operate 95% CW on both bands which helps I'm sure. My 6m antenna is a 
homebrew  5 element on a 12' boom @ 54'. A clone of the Cushcraft.
I don' have decades under my belt on 6m but I do see the enhancement 
just at the approach of summer storms. I end up with one eye on the 
cluster & the other on the local radar. Gud DX
K9IL