[SixClub] Saturday Morning on Six Meters

[Randy Tipton]

I don't know how many Six Club members operate the weekly six meter activity
period so I will attempt to explain a little about it. The activity periods,
called Random Hour are each Saturday morning from 1400 - 1500 UTC on
50.260MHz. The propagation mode is meteor scatter and participating stations
are using either FSK441 or JT6M modes. Both modes are found in the WSJT
application by K1JT.

Random Hour starts and stations either call CQ on 50.260 MHz or listen on
50.260 for other calling stations. During the hour, it is very likely you
will have copied several other stations. Sometimes the meteor pings are
short but generally you will hear several burns. You might also hear other
stations via tropo. The purpose of the activity period is to work stations
via meteor scatter so local or tropo stations are ignored. When strong tropo
stations are close to each other, they can both work distant stations via
meteor scatter by both transmitting during the same sequence. (They both
then listen at the same times) It is important for all stations to have
precise time so as to not overlap sequences and for all stations to follow
the Random Hour Operating Procedures. 

Stations calling CQ use either the "Simplex" or "Offset" methods. During
Random Hour, most stations choose to use the simplex method. That is they
answer and call CQ on the call frequency of 50.260MHz. Normally when calling
CQ it is best to call using the "off-set" method. This is not "Split". If a
station is calling CQU10, he is listening on 50.270 MHz and will move his
transmit up 10 kc when he hears someone calling him. (If he was calling CQD5
he is listening on 50.255MHz) For Random Hour, with many stations calling
and making contacts on 50.260MHz many pings will be copied. This provides
those who want to test their receive set-up with opportunities to copy many
pings / burns. Also, it provides all operators with lots of activity to be
copied and enjoyed.

It is not uncommon to work several contacts during the activity period. Last
Saturday I worked K4FJW, W0IOH and KE7NR. We copied K4KO, KM5ES,AF4O and
WB9F. After the activity period is completed, participating stations send in
their reports of stations heard, called and worked to N5SIX. Bruce puts
together a simple report and emails it to the WSJTGROUP generally Friday
night before the next Random Hour Session.

It is not uncommon to hear stations continuing well into the next few hours
still calling and making contacts. (Especially when a newbie arrives or when
conditions are good) There is an award for working 15 Random Contacts during
Random Hour with web endorsements for additional 15 contacts. Several
stations now have worked over 100 initial contacts via meteor scatter during
the Random Hour Sessions. (WA3LTB is the Awards Manager) 

Prior to the Six Meter Random Hour sessions each week there is a Two Meter
session from 1300 - 1400 UTC. The call frequency on two meters is
144.140MHz. It really can round out the Saturday morning to work a few
stations on both two and six meters during dead-band conditions. 

High Speed Meteor Scatter I realize is not everybody's cup of tea. But for
those who might be unaware of what is happening on six meters every Saturday
morning; we just wanted to share this with you. Hope to see you on the Rocks
or during band openings.

If you are interested, the links below should be of some help.

Randy Tipton WA5UFH (Tip)
Edna, Texas EL19pa
Email            : wa5ufh at ykc.com
__________________________________

HomePage    : www.qsl.net/wa5ufh 
NA Activity Periods : http://www.ykc.com/wa5ufh/  
DigitalOnSix : http://www.ykc.com/wa5ufh/DOS/index.html