[MRCA] Band Changes -Moose and Squirrel Net

[Rob Flory]

Hi All,
It seems y'all are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Pay attention to the image that Fearless Leader shared.  Note that it is
dated 2007, the dead bottom of the sunspot cycle.
These days optimal NVIS frequency exceeds 10MHz on the regular.
At noon, 7MHz is really much better propagation-wise than 5MHz, but has the
USB problem.
Shifting in time might be the way to make 5MHz viable.
I understand DX QRM turns into an issue in the evening.
Maybe that QRM factor is better in the just post-sunrise period when there
is a brief window of good NVIS on 5MHz.
Remember that quaint phrase, "Improvise, ADAPT, Overcome"?
73,
RF



On Thu, Dec 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM Al Klase <ark at ar88.net> wrote:

> Gang,
>
> Let me say this about that.
>
> When I set up Moose & Squirrel, I chose 60-meters because it was a good
> daytime band, and the suggested mode was USB, making it friendly to our old
> military radios that only do USB.  Further, Channel 3, unlike the other 4
> channels, is centered on a 0.5 KHz freq. so the carrier is 5357.0, again
> friendly to the old sets.
>
>
>
> 60 really is the best band for us.  If we run USB on 40, there are lots of
> idiots who will complain.
>
> I'm going to leave it up to the current M&S participants to decide what to
> do.
>
> 73,
> AL  a.k.a. Fearless Leader
>
> On 12/11/2025 10:20 AM, Michael St. Angelo via MRCA wrote:
>
> I decided to look at Al Klase' posting about the Moose and Squirrel Net and noticed he recommended the other channels as an alternate. During some events 5371.5 KHz was used and they vacated 5403.5 KHz (Channel 5) which is the designated 60-meter calling frequency:
> https://www.mrca.ar88.net/Old%20Pages/Net/MandS.html
>
> Maybe we could QSY to 5371.5 in the future.
>
> I don't know when the rules take effect but in the past they took effect when entered into the Congressional record.
>
> Let's discuss during today's and Saturday's net.
>
> Mike N2MS
>
> https://www.mrca.ar88.net/Old%20Pages/Net/MandS.html
>
> On 12/10/2025 5:35 PM EST mstangelo at comcast.net wrote:
>
>
> Another option is to keep at on 5357 at 15 watts but you need a quiet receiving site. I can find a quiet portable site when the weather is warm but these old bones can't take the cold weather.
>
> Mike N2MS
>
> On 12/10/2025 5:26 PM EST mstangelo at comcast.net wrote:
>
>
> This summer we tried 7260-62 LSB after the noontime net and conditions were better than 60. I would suggest LSB 40 because USB is tough on a narrow band such as 40.
>
> Another option is another 60 meter channel but some mil radios cannot support 500 hz spacing.
>
> Maybe we can discuss on tomorrow's and Saturday meeting.
>
> I do M&S because of the portable aspect and it fits well in the noontime hour.
>
> Mike N2MS
>
>
>
>
> On 12/10/2025 5:10 PM EST Ray Fantini via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net> <mrca at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
>
> This may be the year of change! Kind of like the idea of limiting 5357 to just 15 watts for field exercises but its a real issue for any distant stations. But then again looking at the new channel layout see a group of good new channels we can use for field and remote work on sixty. I only have one radio that is rock bound for sixty and think this is a good reason to install one of those little VXO devices.
> Maybe time to consider also moving the Saturday morning forty meter USB net to 7.280 to get away from the issues with some of the AM stations? Or something different? Think the QRP SSB calling channel for forty may be 7.285 but not certain. Just know that lately there have been a lot of AM QSO on 7.29 and 7.295
>
> Ray F/KA3EKH
>
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>
> --
> Al Klase - N3FRQ
> Jersey City, NJ
> http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/
>
>
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