[Elecraft] Advice on 6 meters...

[Keith Heimbold]

I am a huge fan of 6m and 6m DXing but the fact is that a lot depends on geography where you live like on top of a mountain or in a valley, antenna and QTH. 

On the west coast we have far fewer openings than elsewhere in the US especially east and southeast coasts. PNW and north Midwest even fewer still. The band is about patience this side of the country. So don't overspend on 6m out west. When I got the 6m bug I spent a lot of money on a stack of large 6m antennas and discovered that when the band is open a more modest antenna will suffice even with 6m DX openings. 

If I Iived in the northeast or even Texas or Florida I would probably put up something bigger because you will have 4-5x more opportunities and openings to use it there than out here.

Is the band worth investing in? The answer is a resounding yes but invest wisely and you will be happy. Also one other point, for us worker bees out west the band opens always when you are at work or busy with family. When you sit down in front of the radio the band almost never opens. 

Good luck!

Keith
AK6ZZ

Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos

> On Feb 26, 2014, at 10:09 AM, "Phil Hystad" <phystad at mac.com> wrote:
> 
> I have seen some comments recently about six meters and I have never operated six meters.  I don't really have a descent antenna for six meters, just my 80-meter (ladder line fed) dipole or my hex beam that I can at least tune to six meters.
> 
> The band is always dead quiet with the small exception of some noise spikes here and there but very rare.
> 
> Question:  is there any activity for six meters that I should invest in a nice multi-element 6 meter bean antenna?
> 
> My most dominant operating mode would be CW but maybe some SSB from time to time.  I have no idea what's there as this band has always been blank to me.
> 
> 73, phil, K7PEH
> 
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