Hi Ron
Nice article!
73's, Albert, WA7FXB
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dr. Ronald E. Milliman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2014 1:42 PM
Subject: Getting Started on 6 Meters


> Some discussion has popped up here on our list concerning 6 meters, so, I 
> am
> sharing an article with you below that I recently wrote for my local ham
> club's newsletter entitled: "Getting Started on 6 Meters." - Ron, K8HSY
>
>
>
> ###***###
>
>
>
> Getting Started on 6 Meters
>
> By Dr. Ron Milliman, K8HSY
>
>
>
> The "Mystery" Band
>
>
>
> The 6 meter band (50-54 MHz) is often referred to as the "mystery band" or
> the "magic band" by many hams. It is almost always available for short
> distances, like line of sight, but it occasionally opens up for some
> exciting DX opportunities too. You just never know when those exciting DX
> openings are going to happen. When it does open up, it might only last for 
> a
> few minutes and then, suddenly go dead, available once again to only line 
> of
> sight contacts or somewhat longer contacts with the help of a repeater, 
> much
> like two meters.
>
>
>
> 6 meter propagation is substantially controlled by sun spot and 
> atmospheric
> conditions. For instance, on 6 meters when the solar flux index numbers 
> rise
> to between 150 and 200, the F-layer skip can provide, literally, worldwide
> QSO opportunities. 6 can get really exciting when openings arise from
> sporadic-E, aurora, meteor-scatter, transequatorial and even moonbounce 
> can
> be used for some fun communications.
>
>
>
> Of these propagation events, sporadic-E is most often used for 6 meter 
> long
> distance communications. Sporadic-E openings usually hit maximum during 
> the
> solstices in the months of June and December. When these openings occur,
> such propagation often provides QSOs over distances of from a few hundred
> miles to possibly even a few thousand miles or more with what we call a
> "double-hop." These openings occur every year, no matter what the sun spot
> index is. Though this propagation opening can happen at any time, 
> normally,
> the E-skip is most prevalent from May to July, with another heightened
> opportunity during December and the first half of January. Again, such
> openings can last for a few minutes up to a few hours. It is lots of fun 
> and
> excitement while it lasts, and you can work the skip quite successfully 
> with
> very little power and with even a very modest antenna array.
>
>
>
>
>
> Equipment You Need
>
> It is especially easy to get on 6 meters these days because many of our
> modern transceivers are designed to cover 160 through 6 meters. If you 
> want
> to get the best results working DX, however, you will need a transceiver
> that provides more modes than just FM. You need a rig that will allow you 
> to
> work SSB and even CW if you enjoy operating CW. Ten watts is sufficient 
> when
> 6 is really open.
>
>
>
>
>
> Your Antenna
>
>
>
> There are numerous commercially made antennas on the market designed to
> cover the 6 meter band, including yagis, verticals, various types of wire
> antennas, single-banders, multi-banders, etc. The prices range from well
> below $100 to well over $1000, and they are available from most all of the
> well-known brand name companies.
>
>
>
> However, since the size of most 6 meter antennas is relatively small, they
> are also quite easy to build yourself. There is an endless repertoire of
> designs from which to select readily available online and described in 
> many
> articles published in the ham magazines. A simple dipole, for example, is
> only 9' 4" cut for the bottom of the band, and only 9' cut for the middle 
> of
> the band. Even with this very basic of all antennas, you can still make 
> lots
> of DX contacts when 6 meters is open. When it isn't open, a dipole will 
> also
> allow you to make solid local contacts working simplex or through 
> repeaters.
> Since a dipole has some directional characteristics, it is also desirable
> and quite easy to homebrew a rotatable dipole from light weight, aluminum
> tubing. In like manner, it is very easy to build a yagi; a 3-element yagi
> utilizing a director, driven element, and reflector, is still quite small
> and will give you considerable added DB gain over a simple dipole. 
> Excellent
> results can also be obtained on 6 meters from other simple antennas too. 
> For
> instance, ground-planes and J-Poles are popular 6 meter antennas.
> Construction details for all of these kinds of antennas are readily
> available from many online sources.
>
>
>
> Antenna polarization is another factor that needs to be considered,
> depending upon what kind of communications you are seeking on 6 meters.
> Antennas can be either horizontally or vertically polarized. While the
> details of antenna polarization are beyond the scope of this basic 
> article,
> let it suffice to state that for working DX on 6 meters, polarization is 
> not
> very important. However, in contrast, for working short distance, ground
> wave, how your antenna is polarized is considerably more important. In
> general, 6 meter Yagis or rotatable dipoles tend to use horizontal
> polarization, which have a higher angle of radiation than vertically
> polarized antennas. Of course, a yagi, for example, can be erected for
> either horizontal or vertical polarization, and some are actually designed
> for both. Verticals, ground-planes and J-Poles are all normally vertically
> polarized antennas. Vertically polarized antennas have a lower angle of
> radiation, and thus, they normally perform best over longer distances. The
> ideal antenna would be both vertically and horizontally polarized, and 
> there
> are such antennas available both commercially and construction details for
> homebrewing such arrays can be found online. One such design, for 
> instance,
> is an antenna called the "L" antenna described by L. B. Cebik, W4RNL (see
> his article athttp://www.antennex.com/preview/Folder01/lant/lant.htm).
>
>
>
> Listen for the Beacons
>
>
>
> To help you know when 6 meters is open and open into which area of the
> country or world, there are numerous beacons set up that you can listen 
> for.
> Here is the United States beacons can be heard in the frequency range
> between 50.060 and 50.080 MHz. However, in other countries around the 
> globe,
> they are more scattered across the 6 meter band. For a comprehensive and
> up-to-date list of 6 meter beacons go to:
>
>
>
> G3USF's Worldwide List of 50MHz Beacons
>
> http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/50.htm
>
>
>
>
>
> The 6 Meter Band Structure
>
>
>
> According to Dave Finley, N1IRZ in his article entitled: "Six Meters: An
> Introduction," published in QRPp, Spring 2000, "...six meters is much more
> rigidly structured in terms of what frequencies are used for what purposes
> than the HF bands tend to be. 6 meters has a CW-only sub-band which runs
> from 50.0 to 50.1 MHz... Also, Calling frequencies are used extensively.
> From 50.100 to 50.125 is a "DX Window," in which domestic QSOs tend to be
> discouraged. The DX calling frequency is 50.110. The traditional domestic
> calling frequency is 50.125." Several years ago, Back in the late 1990's 
> and
> early 2000's, there was a movement to extend the DX window to 50.130 and
> make 50.200 the new domestic calling frequency. The movement was
> precipitated by the extension of six-meter privileges to hams in other
> countries around the globe, resulting in a significant increase in the
> number of DX stations on the air. However, this movement never really 
> caught
> on. N1IRZ goes on to point out that "...The recommended CW calling 
> frequency
> is 50.090, but you will often hear CW CQs on 50.125, too. I would 
> recommend
> monitoring both 50.125 and 50.200, as well as 50.090, during an opening. 
> If
> the opening seems real good, start checking 50.110 for DX stations, too."
>
>
>
>
>
> Do You Know Your Grid Square?
>
>
>
> As N1IRZ points out you need to know your grid square when operating 6
> meters because you are likely to be asked for it. The grid square system 
> "is
> almost universally used as a locator system by VHF, UHF and microwave
> operators." It "divides the world into 32,400 squares, each 2 degrees of
> longitude by 1 degree of latitude. There are larger "fields" of 100 
> locator
> squares each, and each square is divided into smaller sub-squares. Most
> generally, it will be sufficient if you only know your 2 degree by 1 
> degree
> square."
>
>
>
> Dave, N1IRZ, says: "VHF operators collect grid squares like HF operators
> collect countries. Many are working toward the ARRL's VHF-UHF Century Club
> (VUCC) award, which requires confirmed contacts with 100 grid squares.
> During VHF contests, some enthusiasts go on "Gridexpeditions," to put rare
> grid squares on the air, while others become "rovers" to operate from
> several grids during the contest. Just as states or countries serve as
> multipliers for HF-contest scores, grid squares are the typical 
> multipliers
> for VHF-contest scores." To find your grid square, go to:
>
>
>
> http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/grids.php
>
> If you work 6 meters very much, it might be a good idea to even add your
> grid square number to your QSL card information.
>
>
>
>
>
> The Key Word When Working 6 Meters
>
>
>
> The key word when working 6 meters is 'patience.' It requires considerable
> patience, and you will need to make it a part of your ham operating 
> routine
> to check 6 meters frequently for band openings and to listen for the 
> several
> beacons that will let you know not only if the band is open, but the 
> beacons
> will let you know what part of the country or world is open to you. Of
> course, 6 is open pretty much all of the time for local communications, 
> much
> like 2 meters in that regard.
>
>
>
> Good luck...
>
>
>
> Ron, K8HSY
>
>
>
>
>
> Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
>
> Retired Professor of Marketing
>
>
>
> President: Millitronics, Inc. (millitronics.biz)
>