[AK-VHF] 6m Activity
Paul Kiesel
k7cw at yahoo.com
Fri May 1 13:06:15 EDT 2020
Good to know. When I sense there is an opening to the north, I'll be sure to check on .125.
73, Paul K7CW
On Thursday, April 30, 2020, 5:49:32 PM PDT, Tom Elmore <tom at telmore.com> wrote:
I have a six meter 5 element beam here in Anchorage and I just put a Drake TR-6 online. I leave it on in the evenings around 50.125 mhz in case anyone wants to QSO the old fashioned away on phone.
-Tom / KA1NVZ
> On April 30, 2020 7:34 PM Paul Kiesel via ak-vhf <ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
>
> Brandon,
> Doing it the hard way always pays off (unlessyou're a pseudo-scientist who tries to convinceothers that propagation enhancements are broughton by earthquakes and stuff like that). HI.
> Paul
>
> On Thursday, April 30, 2020, 1:13:29 PM PDT, Brandon Clark <kl7bsc at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Paul and Ed,
>
> Good ideas from everyone. It's definitely doing to take a little work
> and time to get activity up, but ultimately I think it's going to be a
> lot of fun. There's nothing like getting an idea, running into all kinds
> of difficulties, and then enjoying the satisfaction of having it come
> together in the end. And best of all . . . it's an excuse to put up more
> antennas! (/But dearest, it's for propagation research. It's science!/)
>
> Brandon
>
>
> On 4/29/20 10:44 PM, 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.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > 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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> > >>
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> > >______________________________________________________________
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> >
> > 73, Ed - KL7UW
> > http://www.kl7uw.com
> > Dubus-NA Business mail:
> > dubususa at gmail.com <mailto:dubususa at gmail.com>
> >
> >
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Thank You
Tom Elmore
Anchorage, Alaska
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