[Elecraft] Activity in ancient 15-meter novice band (21.1 MHz)

[Bruce Beford]

Yes, 15M was also my favorite band as a Novice.

It may be "ancient" but it's still active, and still an official band
segment for Novice/Techs (21.025-21.200 MHz). The same goes for the
Novice/Tech segment of 40M (7.025-7.125). There is a lot of activity at the
top end of the old Novice segment of 40M. You can often find relatively slow
code CW QSOs from 7.120-7.125. 

Stop in and work these stations! There are many who frequent these segments.
I know many FISTS and SKCC members who hang out in these areas. Some other
folks are working on getting their code speed up. Not because they _have
to_, but because they want to. I know a few "lifetime" Novices, that are
active, but have no intention of upgrading.

Yes, there are still Novice class licensees. The FCC does not issue new
Novice (or Advanced) class licenses, but they can still be (and often are)
renewed.

Latest statistics from the FCC:
Month	 Extra	Advanced	 General	 Technician	 Novice	 ARS
Total  
Apr-14 134,558 	53,166	 168,502	 354,151	 12,805	 723,182

Bruce N1RX

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Wayne
Burdick
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2014 4:04 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector; KX3 at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Elecraft] Activity in ancient 15-meter novice band (21.1 MHz)

Thanks to the PX3 panadapter and the CQ WW CW contest, I just made my first
QSO in at least three decades in the legacy 21.1 MHz U.S. Novice-license
segment. I didn't expect activity to spread upward that far, but sure
enough, blips appeared on the PX3 above 21.1, and I was able to make a quick
QSO with WK1Q using 12 W (KX3 barefoot). 

This brought back a lot of memories. 21.1-21.15 was my favorite place to
hang out back in the 1970s, when I was crystal-controlled on transmit, using
a Heath HW-16. In those days I had a home-rolled 2-element 15-meter yogi
made from 1/2-inch steel pipe and 2x4s. Must have weighed 40 pounds.
Fortunately, my patient stepfather knew that getting that antenna up would
keep me out of trouble (I was 15 at the time).

Wayne
N6KR

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