[MRCA] M&S Today

[mstangelo at comcast.net]

Since 60 meter channel 3 frequency of 5357 is in the worldwide 60 meter band allocation the FT8 opeation takes over in the evening and is a poor choice.

You could use another 60 meter channel but the radios have to tune in a step of 500Hz and I thought channel 3 was chosen because many legacy mil radio tune in steps of 1kHz. If this is not an issue you can choose another channel. You mentioned 1800 EST; we're still on EDT. 

There is another 60 meter net on channel 2 5346.5, the Short & Sweet Net, pre net checking starts at 5PM Eastern time. The net starts at 5:30PM Eastern time. It is not a military radio net but they discuss the various radio, antenna, mechanical or house projects they have been working on. I join to this net when I have the time.

Personally, I like a noontime net. Even though I am retired my day is filled with chores, appointments and activities with the wife. I find I am free around noon between the morning and afternoon activities. People who work also have a lunch break at this time.

We also forget this was started as a "on-patrol and reconnaisance" net so I use it to practice my goal of setting up a portable station within 15 minutes. I also enjoy portable operation because the QRM is much lower. I find I have to use a radio with effective Noise Reduction to operate 60 at home during the day.

Mike N2MS

> On 10/25/2024 8:38 AM EDT Ray Fantini <rafantini at salisbury.edu> wrote:
> 
>  
> Maybe the net can consider trying something like 1800 EST and see what happens? Think the issue then may be all the digital crap?
> 
> Ray F/KA3EKH
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mstangelo at comcast.net <mstangelo at comcast.net> 
> Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2024 6:00 PM
> To: Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>; Ray Fantini via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net>; MilComm Guy <m38inmaine at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [MRCA] M&S Today
> 
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of Salisbury University. Please exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments from external sources.
> 
> 
> Last summer I could work the net with 20 watts and people could hear me. This year I need 80-100 watts to be readable. Recently I am having issues hearing stations in northern New England - VT NH and ME even when operating at low noise locations.
> 
> We are nearing or at the sunspot peak. Could the increased solar activity increase signal absorption in the D layer?
> 
> I also particpate in a net at 5:30 PM local time and the conditions are much better as the sun sets.
> 
> Mike N2MS
> 
> 
> > On 10/24/2024 1:41 PM EDT Ray Fantini via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Don't know what's happened to sixty the last couple years, can do communications within one hundred miles or so but not much beyond that. Often I hear stations like N2MS or K3TZJ a couple states over but almost never hear WB2JWU down here in MD. Couple years back he was always booming in down here. The 7296 Saturday USB net has had reduced coverage too but still works for most stations, at least it works if we don't have issues from the AM community.
> >
> > Ray F/KA3EKH
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Easy one today, not a single copy, just noise here in Maine.
> >
> > 73
> > K1HF