Mississippi Ten-Tuners (05/08/2011)

Those of you who have been Amateur Radio Operators for a long time most likely remember how wide open 10 Meters was about 12 years ago and how it peaks every 11 years, allowing worldwide contacts, even while mobile, all day long.

Those of us who became Hams after the last Solar Cycle Peak have heard the tall-tales about these amazing contacts and wondered if they were true. Well they are, and we got a brief glimpse of what its going to be like last November when the number of sun spots suddenly rose dramatically and opened up ten meters all around the globe.

With the current Solar Cycle gradually reaching the peak of its 11 year cycle, 10 Meters is about to really open up in a big way. The greater number of sun spots during solar peak allow practically constant long distance contacts to be made via the F2 layer of the ionosphere as the Sun moves across the globe. In North America, for instance, F2 brings Europe and Western Asia in the morning, the Americas during midday, and the Pacific and East Asia in late afternoon and early evening. The current Solar Cycle is predicted to reach its peak in May 2013 which means long distance (DX) contacts on 10 meters are going to get better and better over the next twelve months and remain great for at least another year or so. Even Technician Class Amateurs have voice privileges on 10 Meters, so all Hams are able to join in on the fun.

Due to the excitement this has generated, several of us who are members of Ten-Ten International have decided to form Mississippi's first and only chapter of Ten-Ten International. We cordially invite each of you to join the Mississippi Ten-Tuners chapter of Ten-Ten International. Established in 1962, Ten-Ten International Net, or 10-10 for short, is an organization of amateur radio operators dedicated to maintaining high levels of amateur radio communications on the 10-meter amateur band (28.0-29.7 MHz).

10-10 offers the 10-meter enthusiast the opportunity to share in a wide variety of activities internationally, not the least of which is meeting new and old friends. By keeping the band active through participation in 10-10 nets, QSO parties, and certificate collection, 10-10 offers both satisfaction and challenges, while promoting learning and courteous operating practices. The combination of on-the-air activities, awards, a bi-annual convention, and the quarterly paper 10-10 News creates an unusually strong bond among 10-10 members.

We welcome you to join Mississippi Ten Tuners. There is no membership fee to join our chapter. All you have to do is join Ten-Ten International first ($15 annual fee). Then email us with your Ten-Ten Member number letting us know that you'd like to join our chapter. We are getting a website set up and soon we will announce its address as well as the day and time of our weekly Ten-Tuners Net, which will of course be held on 10 Meters.

In order to join Ten-ten International you have to make ten contacts with Ten-Ten members on 10 meters. The easiest way to do that is to check into one of the daily Ten-Ten International Nets which meets every day (except Sunday) at 1800Z on 28.8 and 28.380 MHz SSB. The Net Control Operators are always very happy to have new folks who are interested in joining and will assist you in making your required number of contacts right then and there over the net.

Additionally, the members of our chapter would also be happy to make contact with you on 10 meters and give you our member numbers to help you join. Upon joining Ten-Ten International you will receive in the mail your Ten-Ten membership number, a nice membership certificate suitable for framing, a member card, a member patch, and every quarter you will receive in the mail Ten-Ten News.

You can read more about Ten-Ten International online by clicking here. We will send you an updated email when we get our website going. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Rez Johnson, K1REZ
Mississippi Ten Tuners
K1REZ@ARRL.NET