[NLRS] WHO IS ON VHF? WHEN WILL 50MHz OPEN? WHEN WILL E LAYER OPEN?

[Todd Sprinkmann]

  I have meant to reply to this for several days, but tonight's wild aurora 
activity has focused me.

  I have also been very grateful for KA0PQW's 6 meter alerts.  Another place 
I try to monitor anytime I am on the computer is a great website/chat room 
devoted to just about everything you'd ever want to know about 6 meters. 
The page is located at www.dxers.info.  Registration is relatively painless 
and you can just hang out there and get the feel of the place;  you're under 
no pressure to chat if you'd rather not.  If you don't care to register, you 
can still make use of real-time global propagation and spot info for all 
bands from 160m right up thru UHF.  That in itself is a great resource.

  Almost any time between early morning and late night, there are active, 
enthusiastic 6 meter fans there.  Most of them are from the US, but a few 
Europeans come in from time to time, as well.  While there are plenty of 
dead times to just gab about whatever, folks at www.dxers.info are usually 
the first ones to hear the openings.

  When the band comes alive like it did tonight, the spots and info fly 
across the screen.  It can almost be overwhelming sometimes, but it helps 
you  understand a lot about propagation and all the various techniques and 
equipment these sixers use.

   The site is owned by Tim, W4TRH.  He's run it as a labor of love for over 
3 years now.  He has recently started asking for donations, but that's 
voluntary on  your part.  I contribute because I hang there all the time and 
have learned so much.  I also make use of a neat review feature that the 
chat has.  You can click on review and see what's been talked about by 
everyone as far back as the last 24 hours.

    I am also pleased to say that this chat room remains free of the 
aggravations that pop up on the various prop loggers.  While Tim can't be 
there 24/7 (he has a day job), he makes sure that profanity and bashing is 
not allowed.  In over 2 years, I have never seen a problem and we all strive 
to keep it that way.

   With Eskip season coming up, this site is a great tool to have, if you 
really want to get the most out of 50mhz.

    73,
    Todd  KC9BQA  EN63ao
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <christenson at charter.net>
To: <NLRS at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 11:20 AM
Subject: [NLRS] WHO IS ON VHF? WHEN WILL 50MHz OPEN? WHEN WILL E LAYER OPEN?


>
>
> Been a long time since any chatter about 6 or 2. Local AU and a minor blip 
> about 6 weeks ago and now what, nothing! Will it ever open? No big e-skips 
> on 2 either. There were some interesting enhancements this winter. I 
> worked KC0SIX (Oakdale, MN) from the base of my tower here in Owatonna, MN 
> into a J-Pole 500mW on 2M FM. I guess that is why these are my favorite 
> bands. No sched no e-mails just monitor or call CQ.  Like a box of 
> chocolates. Hi Hi
> I don't have a very big station on 6 but I am going to get my new 6m5x up 
> soon.
> I operate 2M often with N0VZJ, KC0RQH, WB0JMG, KC0MSQ. We can be found 
> most evenings around 9:15 to 10:00PM on 144.220. It would be nice to get 
> some more activity on 2M. I think this is where a lot of people get 
> interested in VHF and beyond week signal work. (like me). If there is no 
> one there then what does that say to a new Ham getting into it? Also, 
> allot of new radios are all modes all bands that include 2M/432. A great 
> chance to get people into this part of the band plan. (that's what 
> happened to me) It was not to long before I had to build a 5 element beam 
> for 2 and then bigger and then a tower and so on. I don't know if I will 
> ever get above 432 but I know that with the knowledge of this club there 
> would be no problem getting started.
> I want to thank N0VZJ and KA0PQW for there elmering and encouragement. And 
> with that I hope that there are others that will get Hams into the VHF and 
> UHF bands. Lets not forget the basics. Just getting some traffic out there 
> and get people ready for the e-skip season!
>
> KC0REO
>
> Kris
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