[AK-VHF] 6m Activity
Edward R Cole
kl7uw at acsalaska.net
Thu Apr 30 16:29:24 EDT 2020
Paul
At 10:44 PM 4/29/2020, Paul Kiesel wrote:
>Hi Guys,
>
>Yes, I've been watching the ak-vhf list along with
>the rest of you, and I'm glad to see activity on the
>VHF bands picking up and being well-coached by you.
I have to give credit for this to Brandon.
>The big opening we had to South America probably
>did have TEP involved, but just like you, we do
>not have a direct connection to TEP, either, as
>we also are too far north. The main propagation
>mode, as I said, was sporadic E. In fact, the
>propagation near the end of the opening was
>oriented north-south, with W6 and southern W7
>stations in strongly. During summer months when
>north-south openings occur, there is often an
>extension north to northern British Columbia,
>Yukon and Alaska, and sometimes the opening
>extends all the way to Japan. We 6m DXers down
>here know to look north for Alaskan stations
>when this occurs.
OK. Having spent so many years up here, it was I real thrill to
operate 6m in the 2018 CQ VHF Contest from DN70 in CO. Timing was
great with a 4-hour opening (Es?) that reached all US borders form
there. I ran 150w and a moxon from our trailer parked in a St. Park CG.
Although I began ham radio in Michigan, primarily on 2m AM, and
experienced many long range tropo events working as far as 500 miles,
time dimmed my memory of those experiences. All but a few AK
stations consider VHF as an "around town" medium (and build a
station, accordingly). 2m has the most activity, with some on 222
and 440. 6m is considered pretty dead (I do not monitor 6m FM so
would not know of such activity).
>My message before was not intended to cause all
>Alaskan hams to convert to DXing, as I know not
>all hams have an interest in that. I just wanted
>to nudge those who might harbor some hidden
>interest in working 6m DX. Of course, I'm also
>interested in somehow raising the probability of
>a lot of 6m operators down here working Alaska.
>
>I will certainly be looking north this E season,
>and hope that I can connect with a lot of you.
Our intention, as well. Our reasoning is that we might attract some
HF folks who could easily setup for 6m with existing radios, only
needing an antenna. This is a different population than we normally
involve on 2m and above. Thus originally a workshop topic and now a
You-Tube session (when we get it done). Maybe it would go faster as
a pdf. posted on the club website??
We did obtain ARRL Ham licensee records for AK and have developed an
e-mail list for invitations to the workshops. This helps reach more hams.
73, Ed
PS: shack reorganization is progressing. Re-cabling involves using
different length modification and installing connectors; taking a lot
longer. Hope to day to restore use of 6m and some other bands. Once
6m is functional i could consider running FT8 or WSPR for extended
periods at 50w to my 3-element yagi. I'll report back on that.
>73, Paul K7CW / VE7IB
>
>On Wednesday, April 29, 2020, 10:02:16 PM PDT, Edward R Cole
><kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:
>
>
>Brandon, Paul:
>
>Good time to start promoting 6m activity with the begin of sporatic-E
>season. Paul, I've never heard that TEP works this far north so we
>enjoy hearing about the activity down there not likely going to help
>1400-mile farther north.
>
>Most Alaskan hams have all their VHF antenna in Vertical polarization
>(including 6m so they can work 52.525 FM). Not helpful working SSB
>over a 100km ground wave path with stations like mine that are
>Horizontally oriented. Many years ago I even put up a 6m j-pole and
>could not access the anchorage 6m repeater with 125w - so no
>incentive for me to have vertical pol antennas (just to work
>non-existent local FM). Hopefully, we can encourage a few hams in
>southcentral AK to put up at least a dipole (or moxon).
>
>I'm still without use of my 6m-eme array (awaiting finish of a thrust
>bearing and rental of a man-lift to replace my rotator). Also the
>SWR went bad on the array so not usable at all until I can get up to
>check cables.
>
>So I am with only a 3-element yagi fixed toward the West Coast and
>80w (antenna will not handle 1000w). Good enough for Es opening,
>though and I could do some FT8.
>
>With no 6m antenna pointed toward Anchorage still not able to hold a 6m Net.
>
>73, Ed
>
>At 03:53 PM 4/29/2020, Brandon Clark wrote:
> >Hi Paul,
> >
> >It's great to hear from you, and I couldn't agree more about the 6 M
> >band. When I was doing hilltop VHF contesting in southern Ca that
> >was THE band for activity. One time Hawaii came through in a brief
> >opening. Everyone on the Ca side went ape $#!+ calling them. Fun times!
> >
> >Over the last two years I've asked around about band openings to
> >Alaska, and they absolutely DO happen. I've come across many people
> >who have worked the lower 48, and even Japan, on that band. I think
> >the roadblock these days is what you pointed out: too few stations
> >on the Alaska side listening and calling, so the openings are
> getting missed.
> >
> >For a while now a number of us have been brainstorming about how to
> >encourage 6 M activity, and a few projects are already in the works
> >behind the scenes. Below is a tentative preview:
> >
> > * To help hams get on-air cheaply and simply, we are preparing
> > instructions, photos, and videos for a simple 6 M dipole antenna
> > that can be built for just a few dollars. It isn't a Yagi, but it's
> > a way to start. Call it the "gateway drug" to bigger 6 M antennas.
> > * We also need local activity as an incentive to work that band. We
> > have in mind an ALL DIGITAL net on the 6 M band using HORIZONTAL
> > polarization and a rotating selection of modes.
> > o This also opens up a weak-signal club activity for hams who
> > don't have 2 M SSB.
> > * If we can give hams real-world statistics about openings that would
> > also help a lot.
> > o One option is to set WSPR beacon/monitor stations to run 24-7
> > over the course of a year. With what we learn we can then back
> > up ideas and stories about openings with real data.
> > * Distance records are also fun; nothing incentivizes hams like
> > bragging rights!
> > o Working Anchorage-Fairbanks has been a personal challenge since
> > I moved here. A rover route with a stop in Fairbanks could allow
> > using digital modes to work Anchorage. Achieving that helps
> > disprove the "you can't do anything with VHF" narrative that I
> > hear a lot in Anchorage.
> > o Other paths would also be interesting, as well as good for
> > outreach (Look at what our club can do!). Paths like
> > Anchorage-Kodiak, Whittier-Juneau, and so forth would be just
> > plain fun. 6 M make those possible.
> >
> >Those are a few ideas that we have cooking behind the scenes. When
> >you get right down to it, ham radio is about setting challenges and
> >having FUN! I think it would be a blast to push the envelope on 6 M
> >and show the rest of the ham community what we can accomplish.
> >
> >Brandon
> >
> >
> >On 4/29/20 12:27 PM, Paul Kiesel via ak-vhf wrote:
> >>Hello, All!
> >>Been a while since I jumped in here to say anything,so now would be
> >>a good time to do it.
> >>As you all know, 6m is a VHF band and has the most activity
> >>world-wide. This year, we in the lower-48and lower Canada have been
> >>experiencing some pretty good propagation conditions on the magic
> >>band. A little over a week ago, many US and Canadian stations
> >>experienced a big opening to parts south,including all the way to
> >>Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and Colombia. There were many stations
> >>on in Mexico and Central America, as well. This
> >>particular opening was unexpected, as it came well short of the
> >>usual beginning of the Northern Hemisphere sporadic E season, which
> >>normally starts up in May. Since the opening to South America, the
> >>band has continued to open sporadically to areas around North America.
> >>
> >>There is a lot of recent chatter about stations not having heard
> >>Alaska for many years. Many stations have never worked Alaska on
> >>6m. So, I am going to urge those Alaskans who think they might have
> >>an interest in working DX on six meters to consider getting up a
> >>decent-gain antenna and give
> >>it a shot. By decent-gain, I mean at least a fiveelement yagi and
> >>have it be as high as you can getit. This means devoting some time
> >>and money to it,and some won't have the opportunity because of
> >>where they live. For sporadic E, antenna polarization is not
> >>important, but I suggest horizontal because of ease of mounting the
> >>antenna and the elimination of tower parts getting in the way of
> the elements.
> >>The majority of QSOs on 6m these days are being made using the FT8
> >>mode of WSJTx. The 6m band-plan frequency for FT8 is 50.313 MHz.
> >>This is where you would find a lot of 6m activity.A good place to
> >>keep an eye on activity is the ON4KST Region II Chat page. You will need to
> >>register just once to use it.
> >>
> >>Knowing when to watch for DX on 6m takes some getting up to speed,
> >>as there is a lot to take into account. But, sporadic E is
> >>generally a daytime mode that sometimes extends into the night.
> >>That's enough for now. If you think you might have an interest in
> >>talking to people beyond the otherside of town, consider making the
> >>move to get on six meters in a way that will get you heard by the DX.
> >>BTW, I think Ed keeps track of Alaska VHF distance records. A fun
> >>activity is establishing and breaking a distance record. I keep
> >>track of distance records for the Pacific Northwest VHF Society
> >>members. You can view it here:
> >>PNWVHFS Distance Scoreboard
> >>
> >>|
> >>|
> >>|
> >>| | |
> >>
> >> |
> >>
> >> |
> >>|
> >>| |
> >>PNWVHFS Distance Scoreboard
> >>
> >>
> >> |
> >>
> >> |
> >>
> >> |
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>73,Paul K7CW / VE7IBAVG Awards Guy
> >>______________________________________________________________
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>73, Ed - KL7UW
> <http://www.kl7uw.com>http://www.kl7uw.com
>Dubus-NA Business mail:
> <mailto:dubususa at gmail.com>dubususa at gmail.com
>
>
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73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
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