++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 4 May 2003 09:00:39 +0100 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Trevor Day Reply-To: Trev at secornwall.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New K2 Options David, take a look at http://www.uksmg.org There are plenty of sites, but this is a good starting point and covers world-wide 6m issues, not just the UK :-) gl Trev G3ZYY (K2 and homebrew 6m transverter) In message <006601c3118e$4d2674e0$40e6fea9 at pnl.gov>, David Gropper writes >Ah!! 6 meters.... now that's a band I've been thinking of >trying out for several years now!! >Looks like I may get a chance during the years of the "Quiet >Sun" >Any special URL that might clue me in as to what, how, where >and activities?? > >Dave KK7SS >K2 #3003 +++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Douglas Westover" To: "elecraft" Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 14:54:41 -0700 Subject: [Elecraft] 6 Meters? With HF conditions currently ranging from "really bad" to "horrible" I'm looking for new worlds to conquer, or at least putter around with. I've never done anything on 6 meters (well I had a Gonset Communicator way back in '56) and the prospect of being able to build another neat piece of Elecraft gear is almost too much to ignore. So, questions, is the 20/25 watt power level out of the XV adequate for doing anything on 6? Or do you need at least 100 watts? I would imagine putting up something like the Force 12 6 element yagi. Is channel 2 TVI still a big problem? (I live in a channel 2 area). I realize that there won't be much in the way of F2 openings for a few years now but the Spring/ Summer Es season should provide some openings. So any words of encouragement/discouragement would be appreciated. Doug W6JD K2 #1626 +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 17:14:25 -0500 From: "Kenneth E. Harker" To: Douglas Westover Cc: elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6 Meters? On Mon, May 12, 2003 at 02:54:41PM -0700, Douglas Westover wrote: > So, questions, is the 20/25 watt power level out of the XV > adequate for doing anything on 6? Or do you need at least > 100 watts? I would imagine putting up something like the > Force 12 6 element yagi. Is channel 2 TVI still a big problem? > (I live in a channel 2 area). I realize that there won't be much in > the way of F2 openings for a few years now but the Spring/ > Summer Es season should provide some openings. 20 watts is more than adequate to enjoy many, many Eskip QSOs, especially with a six element yagi up 30' or so. I earned VUCC (VHF/UHF Century Club, the ARRL's award program for VHF+) the summer of 1996 with 10 watts and a three-element yagi. It was what got me interested in DXing and contesting, and provoked me to upgrade from Tech+ to Advanced and get on HF. Since then, many, many HF+6 radios have hit the market, and there are even more stations on the band that you can work with a few watts. Of course, more power will help with marginal conditions, long-distance tropo scatter QSOs, TEP QSOs, Auroral-E QSOs, etc. You can have tremendous fun on six meters. I had a lot of fun in the 50 MHz Spring Sprint last Saturday: http://lists.contesting.com/_3830/2003-May/078926.html The next big event on six meters is the June VHF QSO Party (June 14-15.) Some stations have made over 1,000 six meter QSOs in this 33-hour-long contest in recent years. ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 15:19:23 -0700 To: "Douglas Westover" , "elecraft" From: Jeff Stai WK6I Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6 Meters? At 02:54 PM 5/12/2003, Douglas Westover wrote: >With HF conditions currently ranging from "really bad" to >"horrible" I'm looking for new worlds to conquer, or at least >putter around with. I've never done anything on 6 meters (well >I had a Gonset Communicator way back in '56) and the >prospect of being able to build another neat piece of Elecraft >gear is almost too much to ignore. I for one can hardly wait to build mine! >So, questions, is the 20/25 watt power level out of the XV >adequate for doing anything on 6? Or do you need at least >100 watts? 25 watts is more than enough - when the band is open, you can work lots! Power can extend an opening when conditions are marginal, but antennas will help you more. In any case, the spoils go to the persistent. I have worked coast-to-coast and to JA/VK with as little as a 10W TenTec XVTR and a 3-element at 20 feet between two story houses. (Of course, more is always better...;-) >I would imagine putting up something like the >Force 12 6 element yagi. That's a very good one to imagine - also take a look at M2. I also have a pair of stacked KB6KQ loops to hear openings from all directions. http://www.m2inc.com/ http://www.kb6kq.com/ >Is channel 2 TVI still a big problem? >(I live in a channel 2 area). If everybody is on cable or satellite, probably not an issue. I have never had channel 2 TVI problems probably for that reason. Get the antenna as high as you can, and mind your grounding, etc. Crossing your fingers might help too... >I realize that there won't be much in >the way of F2 openings for a few years now but the Spring/ >Summer Es season should provide some openings. Yes it should, and already has - I hope I can get my 6m XV built before the season is over! Also don't miss the transequitorial stuff that happens around the equinoxes (equinoces?). Or ducting to Hawaii, or backscatter, or meteors, or even moonbounce! check this out: http://members.cox.net/aa7a/6M_EME/aa7a_6_meter_eme_project_page.htm good luck - hope to hear you on the band soon! - jeff wk6i Jeff Stai jds at twistedoak.com Twisted Oak Winery http://www.twistedoak.com/ Rocketry Org. of CA http://www.rocstock.org/ Amateur Radio WK6I +++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 15:17:21 -0700 (PDT) From: Jessie Oberreuter To: Douglas Westover Cc: elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6 Meters? You can actually have plenty of fun with 25w. My 6m shack rig is a little MFJ unit that puts out about 12w to a vertical (should be using a horizontal!!!) and I've worked all four corners of the US on it. For the VHF contests, James (ki7el) does just fine with his MFJ and an M2 loop. I run more power when I'm contesting on 6, but 25 and a decent antenna will definately bring you joy :). Two things to remember. 1st, 6m is fickle! Monitor, monitor, monitor! 2nd, best activity is during a contest. The sprint was this last weekend, the ARRL June VHF contest is coming up fast (see prev. message), and the CQ 6&2 should also net you some fun. In the mean time, keep that rig on idle in the evenings -- especially during the summer :). +++++++++++++++++ To: westalto at worldnet.att.net Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 07:57:38 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 6 Meters? From: k6se at juno.com Doug, W6JD wrote: "...is the 20/25 watt power level out of the XV adequate for doing anything on 6? Or do you need at least 100 watts?" ========== When 6m is open, it doesn't take much power at all. As an example, couple of years ago I built the Ten-Tec 6-meter transverter, which puts out only 8 watts. Within about a month I worked 36 states, 150 grids and 10 countries. Most of that was sporadic-E, which is independent of the sunspot cycle. It was a big thrill to work JAs on SSB via the F-layer. The antenna was a vertical ground plane 15 feet high. 73, de Earl, K6SE K2/100 #2622 +++++++++++++++++