RadioBanter - [K0NR] Six Meters Is the New VHF On-Ramp

In article ,
(K0NR via
rec.radio.amateur.moderated Admin) wrote:

Post : Six Meters Is the New VHF On-Ramp
URL : https://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2020/...w-vhf-on-ramp/
Posted : 9 July 2020 at 5:28 pm
Author : Bob K0NR

Many hams start out with ham radio by using FM on the 2-meter band (and maybe
the 70 cm band). Clearly, the Technician license privileges are focused on
VHF with 2 meters (146 MHz) being the most popular band.

Bob-

Over the years, Two Meter FM repeaters have come to dominate, but there
has been continuous activity on Six Meters. Of course the amount of
activity has been affected by band conditions and sunspots, et cetera.

Back in the 1960s, one popular rig was the Heathkit Sixer. It was a
simple AM rig with a crystal-controlled transmitter that put out around
5 Watts. There was also the Tenner and Twoer, as well as the CB-1.

I found a used CB-1 that I converted into a Sixer. Band conditions were
so good back then, that I was able to work DX with the Sixer sitting on
the floor, a quarter wave ground wire on the floor, and a quarter wave
vertical element tacked to the wall. ("DX" on Six Meters means
out-of-state!)

Band conditions have started to improve recently. Two or three times a
week I have heard some CW beacons in the 50.01 to 50.09 MHz region with
SSB activity in the 50.1 to 50.2 MHz region. There is a 50.125 SSB
Calling Frequency, some D-STAR QSOs on 50.210, and occasional AM on
50.400.

I no longer have the old Sixer, and now use an Icom IC-9100. See you on
Six!

Fred
K4DII