[SixClub] FM On Six

Wed Jun 2 11:29:58 EDT 2010

Welcome to the Magic Band! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun--and be hooked 
by the end of Summer.

Sporadic E propagation is just really starting to cook now, with the average 
annual "peak" about two weeks away, and lasting well into August/September. 
Tropo is also more common in June. Check around Sunrise/Sunset. I often hear 
guys ragchewing on 52.525 in the mornings, in my area. Even a little tropo 
enhancement can extend your "normal" range by 100 miles or more.

Since you're currently limited to FM, let me offer some tips on operating 
that mode.

1.) Monitor 52.525 Simplex all the time during the Summer. When Sporadic E 
is first starting, signals will be weak, so it's best to "open" your squelch 
when trying to do weak signal work on this mode. Otherwise, you may miss a 
few calls.

Best times (though there are no rules) for Sporadic E are in the morning 
between 10-Noon local, and again in the afternoon from 3-6PM. That being 
said, I've seen Sporadic E at all times of the day & night.

2.) Be sure to operate in the ARRL VHF Contest coming in 10 days. June 12th 
& 13th. There is usually quite a bit of FM activity during the contest, and 
sometimes a "special event" station too. Last year's contest saw a special 
event station on FM--something to do with trains, as I recall. Anyway, they 
worked a bunch of guys on FM.

3.) FM attracts more casual operators. Often when the band opens, and I 
check 52.525, I hear guys rag-chewing, and they may not be aware that the 
band is even open. They also may not have a clue what a "grid square" is. 
Just look them up later on QRZ.com to find out which grid they're in, unless 
they're mobile.

4.) Don't forget the "capture effect" on FM. That means your receiver can 
only receive the strongest signal. This take a lot of getting used to. 
You'll be in QSO with one station, only to suddenly find another station 
booming in. Make QSO's quick and be sure to get the vital information first. 
Callsign, and grid square. Then signal report.

5.) Unfortunately, I've never made an FM contact anywhere on the band except 
for 52.525. There are lots of other simplex channels available, but unlike 
on SSB, operators just don't seem to move off the calling frequency. Best 
strategy is to "work them while you can" and keep QSO's short.

6.) CQ July contest also sees a lot of FM activity.

7.) As soon as you can afford it, get on SSB. FM is a great mode (even for 
DXing) but SSB offers a huge advantage for weak signal work.

Hope this helps--and we'll see you on Six!

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Donald Dubuque W4DJD" <ke4iap at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 10:12 AM
To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [SixClub] Six is open in Oklahoma

> 2.  Does anyone even bother with the FM calling frequency or nearby
> frequencies?  I know it isn't the sexy SSB section, but right now thats 
> all
> I have to work with.  (i.e. 52.525mhz  +/-)
>
> FM your to narrow in freq and your distance is reduced greatly.
>
>
> Don Dubuque-W4DJD
> Admin for the following sites
> Six Club/Hamwave/10m/6m Club/Hamradiotube/W4DJD/Stavingeeks
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 10:11, Ryan Lughermo <kc8pmx at charter.net> wrote:
>
>> Some questions about 6 meter operating.
>>
>> 1.  Typically when is the band open more frequently, morning, evenings or
>> ???
>>
>> 2.  Does anyone even bother with the FM calling frequency or nearby
>> frequencies?  I know it isn't the sexy SSB section, but right now thats 
>> all
>> I have to work with.  (i.e. 52.525mhz  +/-)
>>
>> 3. Other issues I should look for such as weather conditions that help 6
>> meter propagation?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Ryan KC8PMX
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "mikea" <mikea at mikea.ath.cx>
>> To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 8:30 PM
>> Subject: [SixClub] Six is open in Oklahoma
>>
>>
>> > Right Now (0030Z, 1930 CDT)
>> >
>> > QSOs to New Mexico, San Diego, Minnesota. Hearing 3-land, 2-land,
>> > 1-land, 6-land, 7-land.
>> >
>> > --
>> > Mike Andrews, W5EGO
>> > mikea at mikea.ath.cx
>> > Tired old sysadmin
>> > ______________________________________________________________
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>> >
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>>
>>
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