Amateur Radio

Six Meter Operation Notebook
Link: Real-time Propagation Reports

SSB (USB-Domestic)

* Most domestic SSB is found between 50.125 and 50.200.
* The ARRL encourages 50.200 as the new calling frequency.
* Only during hot F2 openings do you find SSB much above 50.200.
* In very active F2, DX can be found from 50.100 to 50.250.
* Most Amateurs monitor 50.125 (the old domestic calling frequency) for band openings.
* When you hear someone on 50.125, tune around from 50.1 to 50.250 -- you'll hear others.
* Call CQ on 50.125 ONLY if the band seems dead, otherwise the Frequency Police will be heard!

SSB (USB-DX)

* Monitor 50.110 for SSB DX openings.

* DX Stations usually call CQ around 50.110, the "old" calling frequency.

* 50.110 is the most popular SSB DX frequency, and 50.100 to 50.124 should be used only for DX.

* Some Amateurs try to discourage (and then flame) U.S. domestic stations from calling CQ in this "DX window."

FM

* 52.525 is the calling frequency.
* There are many Repeaters.
* Most Repeaters use PL.

CW

* Monitor 50.090.
* 50.0 to 50.1 is reserved for CW work in the U.S.
* CW beacons are typically below 50.085.
* Most CW QSOs occur between 50.085 and 50.100.

AM

* For AM (yes, AM), the frequency is 50.400.
* There is a very active 6m AM community that meets every Saturday and also on Sunday in some places, at 6AM So it is 6AM on 6AM (no kidding).

Beacons

* There are many, many operating beacons.
* Most beacons operate between 50.0 and 50.1.
* See listing in ARRL Directory.

Guidelines for Operating Six-Meters

* Tell someone, tell everyone, when and where you are going out to operate portable. Have them look for you. If you just can make one contact, others will move their beams your way and you will most likely make many contacts.

* Get a directional horizontal portable antenna if possible. Even a 2 element beam can work well, and be very small. Use nothing less than a HORIZONTAL dipole, halo, loop, etc. Get it up in the air as high as you can.

* Stay close to town if you only have a small portable antenna, otherwise you may not talk to anyone. If they have a beam, pointing east, and you go South, they may never hear you.

* Find a mountain or hill to hike to. Nothing adds more S-units to your signal than a tall mountain. No extra batteries to carry!

* Stay on the calling frequencies when operating portable and the band is not open. EVERYONE listens on these frequencies. 50.125 is the place to be. Period. After making a few contacts decide if it is time to change frequency. Calling CQ on 50.130 will result in very few contacts unless the band is open.

* June is the big DX month on Six meters. Six is open almost every day IF you have a good horizontal beam up in the air and know when and where to look. May, July, and December are also decent months for DX openings on Six. Of course, this is Six meters we are talking about...so be prepared for an opening to Australia one day and then nothing for months. If you don't have a second hobby, Six meters may not be the band for you.

* Most openings occur before noon or around sundown. Know when to listen. Better yet, listen all of the time.

* Use propagation indicators to check for possible band openings. The FT817 can listen everywhere. Use that feature to check for TV carriers and DX signals below Six meters to see where the band will open to, or if an opening is even possible.

* I currently use a 3 element portable yagi on a short mast with my FT817. I usually hike to a hilltop and operate from there. I have been able to work into Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Missouri in the last few months with the yagi and 2.5 watts. Have also worked as far as 120 miles on ground wave so far. Most of my contacts are with local stations however.

(From a posting to the FT817 yahoogroup by Pete, WA7JTM)

Choice of Aerial

* For weak-signal SSB/CW work, horizontal gain aerials (yagi, quad, quagi, &c) rule the air.
* For DX work during a good opening, polarization becomes less significant.
* Since most contacts will be local, use the polarization used by the locals (usually horizontal).

10 Meter Liaison

* 28.885 MHz is the Six/Ten Meter Liaison Frequency.
* The "10 Meter VHF Liaison Frequency" is where Amateurs report VHF openings and schedule contacts.

~~6 Meter Band Plan~~
50.000-54.000
50.0 50.1 CW, Beacons
50.060 50.080 Beacons
50.1 50.3 SSB, CW
50.10 50.125 DX window
50.125 SSB CQ
50.3 50.6 All modes
50.6 50.8 Data
50.62 Packet
50.8 51.0 Remote Control (20-kHz channels)
51.0 51.1 Pacific DX window
51.12 51.48 Repeater Inputs (19 channels)
51.12 51.18 Digital Repeater Inputs
51.62 51.98 Repeater Outputs (19 channels)
51.62 51.68 Digital Repeater Outputs
52.0 52.48 Repeater Inputs (except as noted; 23 channels)
52.02 FM Simplex
52.04 FM Simplex
52.2 Test Pair Input
52.5 52.98 Repeater Output (except as noted; 23 channels)
52.525 Primary FM Simplex
52.54 Secondary FM Simplex
52.7 Test Pair Output
53.0 53.48 Repeater Inputs (except as noted; 19 channels)
53.0 Remote Base FM Simplex
53.02 Simplex
53.1 Remote Control
53.2 Remote Control
53.3 Remote Control
53.4 Remote Control
53.5 53.98 Repeater Outputs (except as noted; 19 channels)
53.5 Remote Control
53.6 Remote Control
53.7 Remote Control
53.8 Remote Control
53.52 Simplex
53.9 Simplex

Propagation Over the Last Few Weeks of Winter 2001-2002
Peak of the Suspot Cycle

* When the band opened for DX, it started about an hour after sunrise.
* Opening can be northeast, to Europe, or southeast to northern South America and/or Caribbean or, rarely, both at once.
* These openings lasted for an hour or so to (rarely) three hours.
* Africa (rare) came through mid morning to just after noon.
* Alaska began early afternoon for an hour or two.
* Japan (very rare) or New Zealand (very, very rare!) were late afternoon, to around sunset.
* Except for backscatter, we've had almost NO stateside openings for the past few months!
* 50.125 is the International Calling Frequency, and that's where you'll usually hear action first as the band opens.
* DX also uses 50.110, both SSB and CW, a lot.
* CW action only is 50.075 to 50.100, tho you'll hear some CW DX activity thruout the 50.100-50.125 "DX Window" and sometimes even higher in the band.
* It is considered very bad practice for U.S. stations to CQ in the DX Window, but of course we respond to DX CQs down there.
* Don't be afraid to call a CQ on 50.125 on a "dead" band; you may just stir something up!
* During good openings, I've worked DX as high as 50.250!
* However, most activity will be below 50.200.
73, Joe/W9JUV (From a posting to the Yaesu FT-817 Yahoo Reflector)

Return to AE3C Homepage

Copyright ©2004 AE3C

Terms of Usage

Some Materials are Patent Pending

Privacy Policy