[Elecraft] 6 Meters?
Jeff Stai WK6I
[email protected]
Mon May 12 18:24:01 2003
At 02:54 PM 5/12/2003, Douglas Westover wrote:
>With HF conditions currently ranging from "really bad" to
>"horrible" I'm looking for new worlds to conquer, or at least
>putter around with. I've never done anything on 6 meters (well
>I had a Gonset Communicator way back in '56) and the
>prospect of being able to build another neat piece of Elecraft
>gear is almost too much to ignore.
I for one can hardly wait to build mine!
>So, questions, is the 20/25 watt power level out of the XV
>adequate for doing anything on 6? Or do you need at least
>100 watts?
25 watts is more than enough - when the band is open, you can work lots! Power can extend an opening when conditions are marginal, but antennas will help you more. In any case, the spoils go to the persistent.
I have worked coast-to-coast and to JA/VK with as little as a 10W TenTec XVTR and a 3-element at 20 feet between two story houses. (Of course, more is always better...;-)
>I would imagine putting up something like the
>Force 12 6 element yagi.
That's a very good one to imagine - also take a look at M2. I also have a pair of stacked KB6KQ loops to hear openings from all directions.
http://www.m2inc.com/
http://www.kb6kq.com/
>Is channel 2 TVI still a big problem?
>(I live in a channel 2 area).
If everybody is on cable or satellite, probably not an issue. I have never had channel 2 TVI problems probably for that reason. Get the antenna as high as you can, and mind your grounding, etc. Crossing your fingers might help too...
>I realize that there won't be much in
>the way of F2 openings for a few years now but the Spring/
>Summer Es season should provide some openings.
Yes it should, and already has - I hope I can get my 6m XV built before the season is over! Also don't miss the transequitorial stuff that happens around the equinoxes (equinoces?). Or ducting to Hawaii, or backscatter, or meteors, or even moonbounce! check this out:
http://members.cox.net/aa7a/6M_EME/aa7a_6_meter_eme_project_page.htm
good luck - hope to hear you on the band soon! - jeff wk6i
Jeff Stai [email protected]
Twisted Oak Winery http://www.twistedoak.com/
Rocketry Org. of CA http://www.rocstock.org/
Amateur Radio WK6I