[WIham] -- Now "what happened with 2m skip last night?"
Todd Sprinkmann
sprinkies at excel.net
Thu Jun 3 11:40:32 EDT 2010
Hello List, (Hi Jimmy)
To the list -- I realize I'm replying to everyone. If you're not
interested in this discussion, then kindly delete it.
If you're interested in how guys in WI worked FL and TX
yesterday on 144.200 SSB (give or take a few KC), then
read on.
Jimmy -- and others who are interested --
The 144.290 MHz CW beacon out of La Crosse operates
24/7/365. It cycles 30 seconds on with its CW message, and
then 30 seconds off. It sends slowly, so a guy could copy the
dits and dahs to paper and translate the message later.
If I were you, I'd also plug 144.200 SSB into your rig. That's
the call freq. on 2m SSB. 50.125 SSB is the call freq. on 6m.
52.525 is the call freq. on 6m FM. 146.520 and 146.550 get
used sometimes. The reason our FM nets are on 146.460 and
146.430 is to avoid QRM'ing .52 and .55
144 SSB is dead most of the time, but in any true opening, you
could hear some activity. You will also hear activity during a
contest -- ARRL June VHF QSO Party is June 12-13. Details
are up on my website -- www.kc9bqa.com Don't forget my
articles called VHF Contesting School, either. I'm proud of
those and if you take an hour or so to read thru them, you will
be ready to try a V/UHF contest. We could use more activity,
so consider yourself welcome. If you've heard an HF contest
and thought, "That's too hectic for me", you might enjoy the pace
of a V/UHF contest. At least listen in and try something new.
The VHF Contesting School articles are at:
http://kc9bqa.com/?p=2641 There's plenty of good all-purpose
information in those articles.
Guys use horizontally polarized antennas on the SSB portions
of 2 and 6m, which is different from the vertical antennas on FM.
We also hear lots of white noise because setting your squelch too
high means you'll miss a lot of signals.
When I worked WD4AB in Miami, FL on 144.200 yesterday
about 4pm, he was super light. If I hadn't had the squelch open
all the way and been using headphones, I doubt I'd have ever
known he was there.
Most guys who get enjoyment out of the SSB side of V/UHF
also end up doing longer yagi antennas, as high as they safely can.
On "weak-signal" V/UHF gain is everything -- this isn't like HF,
where a random wire can work the world.
If the band does open, resist the temptation to camp out and
do all your activity right on 144.200. The idea is make a little
noise on the SSB call freqs and then take ragchews to another
freq. and leave the call open so others can use it.
Last night, with the sporadic E skip opening on 144, guys
were heard from 144.170 to 144.230 MHz. A lot more
contacts can be made when guys are considerate and don't
hog call frequencies. Not hogging the call freq. is especially
important when the band is open or busy.
V/UHF freqs. typically get better toward and after sunset,
overnight and into early/mid-morning. It has to do with
temperature inversions (warmer air aloft over cooler air near
the surface). Google is everyone's friend. I'm sure using
search terms like VHF/UHF Tropospheric Ducting would
keep a guy learning for some time.
What happened last night on 144 was not weather-related.
It was an ionospheric deal, where the E layer became ionized
for a short time. While this is common on HF, it's extremely
unusual on 2m -- may only happen 2-6 times per year.
"E skip" on 6m is common; it happens lots in the summer. In
fact, I'm sure many of you have seen E skip on TV or heard it
on the FM broadcast band.
But to have the MUF (Maximum Usable Frequency) go up
to 2 meters is pretty special. When it happens, you want to
be quick, get the Q in the log and keep looking for new ones.
Sorry for the length, but I imagine a few guys heard what
happened yesterday evening on 2m, so I hope this helps
explain it. I would be curious to hear from anyone who was
hearing long skip on repeaters or FM simplex. I was totally
immersed in 144 SSB and didn't think to listen on 146/147 FM.
73,
Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee
www.kc9bqa.com For Frequent VHF/UHF Updates
www.wivuch.com WI V/UHF County Hunters Award
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jimmy c" <kc9pxz at centurytel.net>
To: "WI_HAM ham" <wiham at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 8:10 AM
Subject: [WIham] [La Crosse Hams] [MVARA] La Crosse Area FM Simplex
Net146.46
>
>
>
>> Hi Todd,
>> thank you for the link. Ni im not on the magic band right now but
>> that is
>> one of my radio goals. Si if any know of a 6 meter rig that I can
>> pick up
>> at a fair price for somone on disibility let me know. I relize 6 is
>> not
>> open all the time but when it is Im told it smokes. I tune in
>> 144.290. I
>> have been trying to work simplex on 146.460. I can hit both Lacroose
>> repeaters I just dont know how well. I just wired a pair of sound pro
>> Pilot head phones to use with my Icom. Now all I need to DO is order
>> a 8
>> pin conector to wire the mic. I am going to make to set ups for this
>> head
>> set one for the shack and my Icom 2 meter rig and the other for my
>> HTs for
>> when I work the birds. I be listen to the beacon and 146.460 most of
>> the
>> day and scanning 2 meters I try the net tonight and later tonight as
>> well
>> as greyline ant sunset and again in th AM.
>>
>> how often does the 144.290 beacon transmit? I did a search there are
>> programs out there that I guess tell ya what beacons turn it is and
>> if it
>> transmitting or not, can you suggest one? I have missed 2 couple
>> other
>> opening on 2 so in trying to make it so I dont mis the next one. or
>> at
>> least try not to.
>>
>> 73
>> KC9PXZ
>> Jimmy C
>> Norwalk WI
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Todd Sprinkmann" <sprinkies at excel.net>
>> To: "Jimmy c" <kc9pxz at centurytel.net>; "Wisconsin Ham Radio"
>> <wiham at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 7:38 AM
>> Subject: Re: [La Crosse Hams] [MVARA] La Crosse Area FM Simplex Net
>> 146.46
>>
>>
>>> 144.290 Jimmy, CW beacon out of La Crosse. That's the
>>> only one you'd regularly hear with your setup. There used to
>>> be a stronger one out of the Blue Mounds area, on 144.297 but
>>> that has been QRT since at least February. Hopefully it will
>>> come back on.
>>> Guys in the central or northern parts of the state may hear
>>> the N8PUM beacon on 144.278 from Ishpeming, in the U.P.
>>> of MI. I hear that one fairly often, but I have stacked yagis
>>> up high.
>>>
>>> Actually, I will send a link to a far larger listing of beacons
>>> all across the USA. While nights like last night are very unusual,
>>> you may have some times where you hear DX beacons, if you
>>> have good antennas up high and are persistent.
>>>
>>> The main website is www.newsvhf.com.
>>> The 144 beacon list is http://www.newsvhf.com/beacons2.html
>>> Don't think you're doing 6 meters, but if anyone on the list is,
>>> they might want this 50 MHz beacon list:
>>> http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/50.htm
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee
>>> www.kc9bqa.com For Frequent VHF/UHF Updates
>>> www.wivuch.com WI V/UHF County Hunters Award
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jimmy c" <kc9pxz at centurytel.net>
>>> To: "Dave, WV9E" <dave at wv9e.net>
>>> Cc: "lacrosse_hams_list" <lacrossehams at qth.com>
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 7:21 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [La Crosse Hams] [MVARA] La Crosse Area FM Simplex Net
>>> 146.46
>>>
>>>
>>> KB9KTD - HUBER-LAN - EQ-REPAIRIM be on at 8:30 or a few min before.
>>> yep
>>> I guess 2 was pretty hot laye night. I found out it was open on a
>>> handiham net that I check into allot. I fig. Im going to reporgram
>>> my 2
>>> meter rig a bit so i cam listen for the beacons on 2 then when i
>>> hear it
>>> the games are a foot. What beacons or beacon you you suggest I
>>> program
>>> in? there is lots of memery left on this Icom. suggestoins welcome.
>>> just
>>> woundring wicth ones you all listen for?
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Jimmy C
>>> KC9PXZ
>>> Norwalk WI
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Dave, WV9E
>>> To: LaCrosseHams at qth.com ; Wisconsin Ham Radio ; Mailing list for
>>> the
>>> MVARA ; Winona Amateur Radio Club general discussion ; W9ET_list
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 12:28 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [La Crosse Hams] [MVARA] La Crosse Area FM Simplex Net
>>> 146.46
>>>
>>>
>>> Reminder, Thursday 8:30 PM turn the 2 meter radio on , set to FM
>>> and
>>> join in the chattter. Key the mic and say hi atleast.
>>> The net is open to all amateurs whether newly lisenced or used
>>> spark
>>> as a first rig..
>>>
>>> FYI.
>>> 2 meters was open to FL and TX on Wed late afternoon and 6 meters
>>> was
>>> full of calls till midnite. A good opening and we could see hams
>>> from
>>> very long distances check in because they hear us on 146.46.
>>>
>>> The big contest is little over a week away now.... June VHF.
>>>
>>> Hope to hear you on the air.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Dave, WV9E.
>>>
>>>
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