Nebie 10 meter question
 

I have a 2 meter radio. Been thinking of getting into 10 meters. How
des 10 meters work? I mean can it be used to reliable talk to people a
couple of states away or is it like am radio where reception in iffy
and you can only during certain times?

I mean, If there is someone one state away I want to talk to can I any
time of day?

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?

You need to get a good book on propagation. See the ARRL site for these
Radio Propagation -- Principles & Practice

http://www.arrl.org/catalog/index.ph...26+Propagation

But a brief freebee can be found at URL:
http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/wav...ropagation.htm

--
ruido de icógnito



"Don" wrote in message
om...
I have a 2 meter radio. Been thinking of getting into 10 meters. How
des 10 meters work? I mean can it be used to reliable talk to people a
couple of states away or is it like am radio where reception in iffy
and you can only during certain times?

I mean, If there is someone one state away I want to talk to can I any
time of day?

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?

"Don" wrote

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?

Yes!

On a 24/7 basis it has better ground-wave range than 2 meters, simply because it
isn't limited to line-of-sight. With a reasonably good antenna (dipole, ground
plane) and 100W a range of around 100 miles is typical.

But the real fun begins when the ionosphere cooperates --- then worldwide
communications is possible. I have 271 countries worked on 10 meters, and my
station is in the "Joe Tribander on a city lot" category.

Come on down!

73, de Hans, K0HB

On 2004-12-03, Don wrote:
I have a 2 meter radio. Been thinking of getting into 10 meters. How
des 10 meters work? I mean can it be used to reliable talk to people a
couple of states away or is it like am radio where reception in iffy
and you can only during certain times?

I mean, If there is someone one state away I want to talk to can I any
time of day?

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?


I do not intend this to be insulting, but from the way you asked the
question, I have to wonder if you actually have a valid amateur radio
license, that allows you to transmit on 10 meters.

Anyway --
most of the questions you asked can be only answered by "it depends".

"a couple of states away" can be a long distance if you live in the center
of Nebraska, but a much shorter distance if you live in Rhode Island.

A lot of distance can be achieved on 2 meters -- during a good band opening.
Propagation has a lot to do with how far a signal wil travel.

As for more "fun" -- that depends on what you like to do.


--
Alex / AB2RC
Linux is user friendly. However, it isn't idiot friendly.

"AB2RC" wrote


I do not intend this to be insulting, but from the way you asked the
question, I have to wonder .....


Regardless of intent, it WAS insulting.

73, de Hans, K0HB

Don wrote:
I have a 2 meter radio. Been thinking of getting into 10 meters. How
des 10 meters work? I mean can it be used to reliable talk to people a
couple of states away or is it like am radio where reception in iffy
and you can only during certain times?

I mean, If there is someone one state away I want to talk to can I any
time of day?

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?

Hey Don,

Good question. You are looking at things the right way. My friends are
tired of hearing me say that "ham radio is a hundred hobbies in one" but
it is true. If you get tired or bored of one part of the hobby, there
are 99 other parts of ham radio out there just waiting for you.

How about answering these questions for me:

1: Do you already have a 10-meter radio?
2: Do you have room for a dipole antenna? Around 16 feet long
3: Are you licensed now? If so, does your license include 10-meter
privileges?
4: Do you know of a ham who lives near you who could show you what
he/she has on HF?
5: What do you know about 6 meters? Do you have any interest in that
band (it's awfully fun also)?

Feel free to answer me, either directly by email, or by posting back to
this newsgroup.

And whatever you do, give us all an update here when you make a decision.

All the best, and 73,
Dave
KZ1O

According to DEE D, You now have to get the now you're talking book
written be Dick Bash in 1967 and relearn all of the novice privileges!

AB2RC wrote:
On 2004-12-03, Don wrote:

I have a 2 meter radio. Been thinking of getting into 10 meters. How
des 10 meters work? I mean can it be used to reliable talk to people a
couple of states away or is it like am radio where reception in iffy
and you can only during certain times?

I mean, If there is someone one state away I want to talk to can I any
time of day?

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?



I do not intend this to be insulting, but from the way you asked the
question, I have to wonder if you actually have a valid amateur radio
license, that allows you to transmit on 10 meters.

Anyway --
most of the questions you asked can be only answered by "it depends".

"a couple of states away" can be a long distance if you live in the center
of Nebraska, but a much shorter distance if you live in Rhode Island.

A lot of distance can be achieved on 2 meters -- during a good band opening.
Propagation has a lot to do with how far a signal wil travel.

As for more "fun" -- that depends on what you like to do.

From "Old Timer." Ten meters was at one
time the real "fun" band. Seventy-five was
the kilowatt-corner band, and one almost
needed an invite to be accepted. However,
for ten meters one started by building a tri-
tet oscillator with a war-surplus crystal and
quadrupled to ten. It was used for ground
wave, and could always be counted on for
surprising skip results. My first ten meter rig
was powered by the automobile vibrator
power supply and probably ran less than
five watts input. My antenna was an old
automobile antenna. That's how some hams
operated in those days. I recall one QSO
with an Aussie with that rig. The receiver
was a surplus ARC-5 with the receiver
oscillator and RF coils rewound. It converted
ten meter signals to the broadcast band
automobile receiver A.M. band. Now there
are repeaters on the ten-meter band and with
a little acquaintance with propagation fundamentals
you can have fun around the world. '73s W6BWY

Spike wrote:
From "Old Timer." Ten meters was at one
time the real "fun" band. Seventy-five was
the kilowatt-corner band, and one almost
needed an invite to be accepted. However,
for ten meters one started by building a tri-
tet oscillator with a war-surplus crystal and
quadrupled to ten. It was used for ground
wave, and could always be counted on for
surprising skip results. My first ten meter rig
was powered by the automobile vibrator
power supply and probably ran less than
five watts input. My antenna was an old
automobile antenna. That's how some hams
operated in those days. I recall one QSO
with an Aussie with that rig. The receiver
was a surplus ARC-5 with the receiver
oscillator and RF coils rewound. It converted
ten meter signals to the broadcast band
automobile receiver A.M. band. Now there
are repeaters on the ten-meter band and with
a little acquaintance with propagation fundamentals
you can have fun around the world. '73s W6BWY


Spike,

Man, that takes me back. And what about when the 11-year cycle is at
its peak???!!! You can work the world on a peanut whistle and a wet string.

There is a 10-meter repeater in this area (w1oj) that is occasionally
linked to a popular 2-meter repeater. I've heard guys who otherwise
could not get on HF who use the set up to regularly work guys all over
Europe. I know of three of them who upgraded to General because they
had no idea how much fun HF could be until they tried this!

Dave
kz1o

Dave Bushong wrote:
Don wrote:
I have a 2 meter radio. Been thinking of getting into 10 meters.
How
des 10 meters work? I mean can it be used to reliable talk to
people a
couple of states away or is it like am radio where reception in
iffy
and you can only during certain times?

I mean, If there is someone one state away I want to talk to can I
any
time of day?

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?

Hey Don,

Good question. You are looking at things the right way. My friends
are
tired of hearing me say that "ham radio is a hundred hobbies in one"
but
it is true. If you get tired or bored of one part of the hobby,
there
are 99 other parts of ham radio out there just waiting for you.

How about answering these questions for me:

1: Do you already have a 10-meter radio?
2: Do you have room for a dipole antenna? Around 16 feet long
3: Are you licensed now? If so, does your license include 10-meter
privileges?
4: Do you know of a ham who lives near you who could show you what
he/she has on HF?
5: What do you know about 6 meters? Do you have any interest in that

band (it's awfully fun also)?

Feel free to answer me, either directly by email, or by posting back
to
this newsgroup.

And whatever you do, give us all an update here when you make a
decision.

All the best, and 73,
Dave
KZ1O


How would I e-mail you?

Dave Bushong wrote:
Don wrote:
I have a 2 meter radio. Been thinking of getting into 10 meters.
How
des 10 meters work? I mean can it be used to reliable talk to
people a
couple of states away or is it like am radio where reception in
iffy
and you can only during certain times?

I mean, If there is someone one state away I want to talk to can I
any
time of day?

Is this band more "fun" than 2 meters?

Hey Don,

Good question. You are looking at things the right way. My friends
are
tired of hearing me say that "ham radio is a hundred hobbies in one"
but
it is true. If you get tired or bored of one part of the hobby,
there
are 99 other parts of ham radio out there just waiting for you.

How about answering these questions for me:

1: Do you already have a 10-meter radio?
2: Do you have room for a dipole antenna? Around 16 feet long
3: Are you licensed now? If so, does your license include 10-meter
privileges?
4: Do you know of a ham who lives near you who could show you what
he/she has on HF?
5: What do you know about 6 meters? Do you have any interest in that

band (it's awfully fun also)?

Feel free to answer me, either directly by email, or by posting back
to
this newsgroup.

And whatever you do, give us all an update here when you make a
decision.

All the best, and 73,
Dave
KZ1O


How would I e-mail you?

When I email to that address it says "undeliverable"?

Thanks for responding to my posting. I am new to ham. I have a 2 meter
radio mobile. I have been thinking of getting naother one. Is it better
to use base or mobile? Have also been thinking of getting into HF. Is
this more "fun" than 2 meters.

On another issue I have a little room to make a small base station in
my bonus room upstairs. I have a 20 feet or so tower with my tv antenna
on it. Can I mount a 2 or 10 meter antenna on this tower?
I appreciate your advice!

Personally, I find anything more fun than 2m fm, but that's just me.

I say go for it.

Just about time you're ready to throw the thing in the garbage because there
aren't many stations on right now, BANG!, you'll talk to someone in California
that's breaking your speaker ... then someone in Columbia, South America. Then
there will be a contest, and it will blow your mind just how many stations you
can work.
That's fun !

Start off with a CB antenna, or wire dipole and keep checking the band. We're
at the bottom of the solar cycle, so there aren't many stations on, but there
are some. As the sunspots increase, more and more stations can be worked and by
then you'll have the knack of it and you'll be hooked. I recall when I first
got on 10m, I had a Drake C line running 100w and a used 4 element beam up on
the roof of the house turned with an old TV antenna rotator pulled from the
trash.. I had the radio at the foot of my bed, and I remember sitting on the
end of my bed, talking to a TON of Japanese stations that were so loud, I
could hear the dog barking in the background, or their doorbell ringing.

That hooked me!

Go for it.

jw
k9rzz
milwaukee

Is the sunspot cycle going up now? When will it be at it's peak?
Can I make an antenna and put on my tv tower?

Is the sunspot cycle going up now? When will it be at it's peak?
Can I make an antenna and put on my tv tower?

Is the sunspot cycle going up now? When will it be at it's peak?
Can I make an antenna and put on my tv tower?

I don't think we're at the bottom yet, but no one will know that until they
look at the graphs after the fact.

Your TV tower would be a great place for your antenna, keep it a few feet away
from the TV antenna though.

FYI, the ARRL 10 meter contest is this comming weekend, so if you have a
receiver that's capable of listening to 28mhz, you'll get a taste of what it
has to offer, there will be a TON of activity.

jw
k9rzz

The solar cycle is going down -- see URL:
http://www.dxlc.com/solar/solcycle.html

Cycle 23 started in May 1996 with the monthly SSN at 8.0 and peaked in April
2000 at 120.8.
The next solar minimum will likely occur sometime in 2006 with cycle 24
peaking in 2010.

Yes you can make your own antenna and put it on the TV tower -- just keep it
away from the TV antenna to avoid interaction.

Yes u can build your own antenna See Antenna calculator at URL:
http://ac3l.com/antenna.htm

--
I post, therefore I am



wrote in message
ups.com...
Is the sunspot cycle going up now? When will it be at it's peak?
Can I make an antenna and put on my tv tower?