[SixClub] Six is open in Oklahoma

[Ryan Lughermo]

Instead of responding to all the responses I will respond to this post:

Thanks to all that have responded.  I clearly already understood the 
mechanical side of the radio's etc.    Mainly was looking to try to figure 
out when the 6 meter band is active, i.e. propagation related, and think 
that was answered below.  Many thanks to mikea   :)

Currently only have FM capability on 6 so will have to make do with that 
until I get an all-mode rig.  (Yaesu FT-8900r current radio)

Thanks again,

Ryan KC8PMX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mikea" <mikea at mikea.ath.cx>
To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 10:25 AM
Subject: Re: [SixClub] Six is open in Oklahoma


> On Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:11:49AM -0400, Ryan Lughermo wrote:
>> Some questions about 6 meter operating.
>>
>> 1.  Typically when is the band open more frequently, morning, evenings or
>> ???
>
> My experience, which may not be typical, is that it's more often open in
> afternoons and early evenings.
>
>> 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  +/-)
>
> I confess I don't usually look at the FM freqs. I probably should, but
> at the moment it wouldn't do me much good: my current HF+6 rig is a
> Yaesu FT-920 without the FM board. Gotta get that!
>
>> 3. Other issues I should look for such as weather conditions that help 6
>> meter propagation?
>
> Meteor showers can provide lots of 10 second and longer bursts of good
> propagation, from bounces off their trails of ionization, I understand.
> I've been the beneficiary of some of those a few times, working west
> from OKC to NM, AZ, NV, and CA one night. The best views of meteor
> showers are around your local midnight, according to the astronomers, so
> one or two hours each side of midnight (2200 to 0200 your local time)
> may give you the best chance of meteor bounce.
>
> Ducting caused by temperature inversions can help; my experience with
> that is mostly up around 2m. I've worked repeaters in Dallas (200 miles)
> from OKC, mobile, on mornings when there was a strong inversion. Listen
> to your FM broadcast radio. If you start hearing DX stations on it, then
> light up the rig and see what you can work on 2m -- and on 6m.
>
> Sometimes, when a front is moving in, you get interesting propagation
> because of the differences in refractive index at RF between the two
> layers of air at different temperatures. This is related to ducting,
> above.
>
> There's also transequatorial ducting, which is a different phenomenon; I
> don't recall seeing an explanation for it, but hven't really looked. It
> has been responsible for some of my more interesting mobile QSOs on 15m
> and 17m.
>
> Others?
>
> -- 
> Mike Andrews, W5EGO
> mikea at mikea.ath.cx
> Tired old sysadmin
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