In the late 60s I lived in the hills on the SF peninsula and had satisfying AM rag chews on 10 meters after dark. So sending a CQ around 29.010 MHz was worth trying.  

----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Byrne <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sunday, November 23, 2014 7:39 am
Subject: Re: A Primer on the AM Mode

>
>
> Howard pretty well summarized it Richard.  After dark, ten meters is, 
> as a rule void of signals.  The same is likely for fifteen meters, 
> but not necessarily always the case.  But if the band is "dead", all 
> forms of signal, C W, SSB, F M and AM will all be gone.
> Hope this helps.
> pat At 08:25 AM 11/23/2014, you wrote:
> >Hi Pat!
> >
> >Thanks for your below.  I really appreciate you telling me where (what
> >bands) and when (night) to troll around to hear AM transmissions!  As a
> >furtherance of this, indeed I notice that the 10M band seems to "close" for
> >me at night; at least where I live in Los Angeles and in USB.  Might what
> >you say below mean that transmissions on this band in the evening would be
> >better in AM rather than USB?
> >
> >73,
> >Richard KK6MRH
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >On Behalf Of Pat Byrne
> >Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2014 10:17 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: A Primer on the AM Mode
> >
> >Richard,
> >A M is the way we used to comminicate via voice on the ham bands, likely
> >long before you were born!  Not to begin a long, old fart rave about the
> >mode, but it was the way that things were in the late fifties when I got
> >licensed.  However, single sideband was coming along then and eventually A M
> >lost favor.  The cons are that it takes up at least double the bandwidth of
> >a voice comunication using both sidebands.  And, watt for watt it takes more
> >power than an equivalent sideband transmission.  And a good A M transmitter
> >requires a lot more engineering than its sideband equivalent.  I'll back
> >away from that a bit and say different engineering and equipment.
> >The big pro is the possible great sound of A M.  If you listen around
> >seventy-five and forty meters, probably more night time than day, with your
> >receiver set to A M, you may hear some really good sounding transmisions.
> >There are a few hams still enjoying the mode a lot.  When ten is open, the
> >frequencies just above 29 mhz. might have some A M transmissions around.
> >And it is a mix of old, fifties and earlier equipment and the newer
> >transceivers that you will hear.
> >I could go on a lot longer but this should give you the idea.  Occasionally
> >listen on ten meters and try the other lower frequency bands after dark and
> >find out what there is to hear.
> >Hope this helps.
> >Pat, K9JAU who started on A M and still loves the memories.At 10:41 AM
> >11/22/2014, you wrote:
> > >Hi!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >As a new ham, I am curious about the AM mode.  I would like to learn a
> > >bit more about it.  I think I basically understand the USB, LSB and FM
> > >modes, but the AM mode is a mystery to me.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >When, where and why does one use AM?  What are the pros/cons of it?
> > >Can you direct me to some reading about its use?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >73,
> > >
> > >Richard KK6MRH