WARC bands - what's your excuse?

[N2RJ]

I've been playing with the WARC bands lately, specifically 17 and 30 meters.

However, I notice a lot of weak signals, and the excuse usually is they're using an antenna for some other band "tuned down" to 17 meters (or 30 meters).

So why not put up a real antenna for them? Even a dipole will work! Consider this -

- They are free of contest activity
- They offer propagation characteristics similar to your other favorite bands, but unique in their own regard
- No "california kilowatts" on 30 meters. 200 watts maximum, legally.
- WWV is an excellent propagation beacon for 30m.

My MonstIR of course will do 30 and 17, but also my vertical with the 17m add on and the 30m kit does wonderfully as well.

The amp works well on 17, but is not needed most times, and not really allowed on 30. (it is, but I like to keep it barefoot)

Foundation licensees in the UK seem to love the 17m band, and therefore it is a great band to encourage newcomers to the hobby!

So why aren't more of you on WARC?

[KI4NGN]

I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[W4HAY]

I do most of my operating in the evening, and by then even 30 Meters has gone bye-bye. Heck, I often can't even hear WWV on 10 MHz!

I have a secondary dipole for 17 & 30 slung beneath my trap dipole. It's made from lengths of ladder line cut for 17 Meters, to which single wires long enough to resonate on 30 Meters have been connected to one of each of the ladder lines' conductors.

[KU0DM]

Great advice Ryan!
Have several nice DX contacts in my log as well as a handful of some nice SS CW contacts.
Most recent DX on 17 was AO1YO on 18.140 USB

Even though it is not allowed for contests, lots of stations conduct their "station checking" on there.
Right before CQ WPX last year, I worked a lot of DX getting ready for the contest on 17 meters.
They were just calling CQ hoping to adjust audio and make sure everything was running OK.

30 is the same.

[KI4ITI]

Quote[/b] ]So why aren't more of you on WARC?
My radio doesn't operate on them. I've heard good things about them too from local ops, though - especially 17m. Maybe one day a new rig will be in the cards.

73
Josh KI4ITI

[ae5bn]

I get on 17 sometimes.

[M0MJH]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Dec. 03 2007,08:33)]Foundation licensees in the UK seem to love the 17m band
Probably because they stand a chance in being heard because, whilst most people are shouting and screaming with their kilowatts on 20m, they're having a nice easy QSO on 17m!

I much prefer 17 and 15 (I know that's not a WARC band) to 20m. I haven't really tried 30m yet (might have gone on psk once), I'm still learning the code and I don't often have the computer to hand to do PSK etc whilst I'm in the 'shack'.

[ne3r]

The ARRL antenna book (20th edition) has a great tri band wire beam antenna for 12, 17, & 30 meters. I can't use it at my current QTH - but if I had the property, I'd probably have one of these in the air (if I didn't have a MonstIR).

73 de Joe NE3R

[ab9lz]

My latest homebrew rig is a "warc" band only rig for 30 and 17. (a 14mhz vfo and a 4mhz IF gets you both bands via the old school "band imaging" way).

30m is like 160, the gentlemans band, mostly due to the fact that I've never heard the word "destinated" (or any other word for that matter) uttered there ; )

17m provides great DX QRP opportunites, I now have hundreds of QSO's logged on that band, almost all at around 5 watts.

Ryan, half of the weak signals you hear are probably the plethora of QRP guys that hang out there, the other half are coming from the other side of the planet.

73 m/4

[K3UD]

I work 17 & 30 meters by tuning up existing antennas with a transmatch. 12 meters is always vacant when I check so most of the time it is out of mind. I often wonder how much use these bands get in relation to the other HF bands that we have had for years.

73
George
K3UD

[WA3KYY]

Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Dec. 03 2007,12:30)]I work 17 & 30 meters by tuning up existing antennas with a transmatch. 12 meters is always vacant when I check so most of the time it is out of mind. I often wonder how much use these bands get in relation to the other HF bands that we have had for years.

73
George
K3UD
No where near the usage as the "old" bands but on contest weekends activity does pick up. It becomes the place to hold rag chews. Digital activity on 30M is really picking up. There are a lot of Europeans above 10.140 and 30M does not exactly follow the 20M propagation patterns so you can often find activity there after 20M has closed for the evening. Grayline is a wonderful time to be on 30M. I suspect it will be a couple of years before any significant activity returns to 12M but it would pronably pay to throw out a CQ or two if 10 and 6 are open via Es. If you are tyring to increase your states total on 17M, try 18.165 at 1900z on Sat and Sun. The OMISS club operates WAS nets then.

73,
Mike WA3KYY

[ky5u]

Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,08:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Calling CQ on SSB on 17 are ya?

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (M0MJH @ Dec. 03 2007,11:02)]Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Dec. 03 2007,08:33)]Foundation licensees in the UK seem to love the 17m band
Probably because they stand a chance in being heard because, whilst most people are shouting and screaming with their kilowatts on 20m, they're having a nice easy QSO on 17m!

I much prefer 17 and 15 (I know that's not a WARC band) to 20m. I haven't really tried 30m yet (might have gone on psk once), I'm still learning the code and I don't often have the computer to hand to do PSK etc whilst I'm in the 'shack'.
Good point. Never considered that many people can only run barefoot on 17 so the M3s do like it on 17.

20m is often crowded, so I do try 17 and 15, because it seems to be less crowded there.

Worked quite a few yesterday, including Tom ZD7X.

60 meters seems to be unused as well, but I understand some folks don't like the "channels".

Incidentally I worked G6UW yesterday and it was actually Cambridge University ARC giving a demo to some new prospective M3's.

[M0MJH]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Dec. 03 2007,10:04)]Incidentally I worked G6UW yesterday and it was actually Cambridge University ARC giving a demo to some new prospective M3's.
Cambridge University Wireless Society (CUWS G6UW) is only about 25 miles away from me. They are the club that I took my full licence exam with.

I always suggest to newcomers to the hobby to get onto 17m as it's nicer to work when conditions are good compared to 20m. A lot less hooooooooooooooooooooolas too!

[N2RJ]

By the way, based on the frequency with which I can reliably hear WWVH, the band seems to be open to Hawaii quite often, and for quite a long time!

Of course with 10kW, anyone can be heard...

[ab9lz]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Dec. 03 2007,11:23)]By the way, based on the frequency with which I can reliably hear WWVH, the band seems to be open to Hawaii quite often, and for quite a long time!

Of course with 10kW, anyone can be heard...
It is, more often that not, when I call CQ on a seemingly "dead" 30m these days, I get a DX response.

When conditions are better than poor, 30m can be plugged with sigs from around the world between 100 and 120

73 m/4

[KI4ITV]

I use 30 meters almost daily. Lately, the band has not been so hot. There is a noticeable difference in conditions from a month or so ago...earlier this year it was really doing well for me.
I find myself hanging out on 30m for the same reasons the M3's hang out on 17. With the power limitations in the U.S. it is more about the antenna and less about the power. I find very few people using anywhere near 100W.
It's a fun place to play. Especially when using a variety of the narrow digital modes, or even a fuzzy one like HELL.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[A71AN]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Dec. 03 2007,08:33)]I've been playing with the WARC bands lately, specifically 17 and 30 meters.

However, I notice a lot of weak signals, and the excuse usually is they're using an antenna for some other band "tuned down" to 17 meters (or 30 meters).

So why not put up a real antenna for them? Even a dipole will work! Consider this -

- They are free of contest activity
- They offer propagation characteristics similar to your other favorite bands, but unique in their own regard
- No "california kilowatts" on 30 meters. #200 watts maximum, legally. #
- WWV is an excellent propagation beacon for 30m.

My MonstIR of course will do 30 and 17, but also my vertical with the 17m add on and the 30m kit does wonderfully as well.

The amp works well on 17, but is not needed most times, and not really allowed on 30. (it is, but I like to keep it barefoot)

Foundation licensees in the UK seem to love the 17m band, and therefore it is a great band to encourage newcomers to the hobby!

So why aren't more of you on WARC?
My TH-11 was covering 17 Meters, since 1993 this and was and still my favorite one, the same thing for the 30 meters, I had a mono bander for this channel, I could not find out where its all bit and pieces now, the same for 40 meters I had a 2 element mono bander from creative, this one also gone.

Last last 22 days I been working on 17 using the CP-6 vertical and the band was so well open, a lot of contacts with Japan , VK land and EU in general.

Many told me that I am a new one for them on this band.

Now I am just waiting for the lefting of my DX-B antenna which should cover the 160,80,40 and 30 meters.

30 meters for those who love cw, is the best band to my understanding.

For the 40 meters I also now plan to install my own build 100 meters receiving antenna on ground level, this will help to give me a better receiptions on 40 meters.

I put more time into improving my working conditions than anything else and do not complain of week signals, I try to pick them first as I also send no power but running per foot.

73

[KC7YPJ]

30m usually has all kinds of activity around .140 , I tend to hear allot of ZL stations in the evening but to date haven't seen a single eu signal on the waterfall, even when I know they are there from catching half the qso from a zl, I tune around a fair amount through the warcs, and honestly without a beam It has been mostly comatose for several weeks now, and I'm not running compromised ant for these bands, closest to a compromise that I have is my doublet on 30m wich oddly enough is what I get into zl land regularly with. 30 has the advantage of there being very few overdriven psk stations so thats always a plus, in fact other than 1 or 2 net check ins on 75/40 every couple of days I haven't been off the warc's in several weeks, I ran to the warcs and hid during the last contest weekend and forgot to come back.

[K8YZK]

Love 17meters, and lately worked a lot of DX. 30 meters is ok also. 12 meters well until the cycle goes up, it is going to be a lot like 10 meters.
Oh station here is nothing big. 100watts (or 10 watts with IC-703), into a G5RVjr up 12 ft or so.

[k2gsp]

I have been on 17 most of the time lately. It seems to take a little longer for the pile ups on the DX, so I have a better shot at it. Also seems to be much less noise as well.

[k0cmh]

I work 30 meters very often.

The antenna I use for that is supposed to be an end-fed zepp cut for 80 meters, fed with balanced line and a manual tuner, but it loads up well with a great SWR on 30 meters. I get good signal reports except for far away DX and long path contacts. Even then I get acceptable signal reports. I only run 100 watts, so there are probably some days I don't get anywhere.

[N5FOG]

17 seems to be on of the few "gentleman's bands" left.

No contesting, no lids that I've heard or QRMers and plenty of people that actually want to rag chew.

Hopefully 17 and the other WARC bands stay contester free.


FOG

[VO1GXG]

Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,05:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Seconded.

when i decide to build my fan dipole i will have 80, 40,20 ,15 That way i will have all HF bands covered. I will most likely not QRV on 160.

[kc4ylv]

I'm interested in 30 and 17 as I have found that I like 40m PSK31 a lot, but the noise is too high - and I like 20m SSB a lot, but the stations are just too packed and too many gators in the SSB allocation. I've started playing on 17 SSB and like it. Unfortunately my operating hours are nocturnal only except for the rare saturday morning, so I'm stuck on the lower bands for now...but I do try to make a presence on 30 psk whenever possible.

[n0iu]

Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,03:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
One of the first things my Elmer told me was that he never heard two receivers talking to each other! At some point in time, someone has to transmit!

What a concept!

Scott NØIU

[K3STX]

I use my 80 M vertical on 30, it is almost a third harmonic and it tunes up GREAT. On the East coast, 30 is fantastic just after sunset for the South Pacific, I used to LIVE there! I love 30. I slo loave teh 200 watt Max ( I have NEVER even been TEMPTED to turn on am amp on 30, I suspect almost all DXers honor this).

paul

[A71AN]

Quote[/b] (kc4ylv @ Dec. 03 2007,18:55)]I'm interested in 30 and 17 as I have found that I like 40m PSK31 a lot, but the noise is too high - and I like 20m SSB a lot, but the stations are just too packed and too many gators in the SSB allocation. I've started playing on 17 SSB and like it. Unfortunately my operating hours are nocturnal only except for the rare saturday morning, so I'm stuck on the lower bands for now...but I do try to make a presence on 30 psk whenever possible.
I work, 17 most of the time, almost every morning, 100w per foot, I have the amplifier but I do not antend to use it, If I get through per foot, it is great for me and when I fail, there will be another day.

73

[KI4NGN]

Quote[/b] (AG4YO @ Dec. 03 2007,09:52)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,08:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Calling CQ on SSB on 17 are ya?
Nope, just listening, as I do on all of the other bands.

[KI4NGN]

Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 03 2007,20:05)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,03:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
One of the first things my Elmer told me was that he never heard two receivers talking to each other! At some point in time, someone has to transmit!

What a concept!

Scott NØIU
Sure, I could call CQ.

Or, I could as I often do, just tune the bands looking for someone else transmitting.

Sorry if I operate differently than you and your elmer.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[K7JBQ]

This is one area where DX Spotting nets -- assuming you've set up your filters right -- are useful, even to those whose main interest isn't DX.

When you see plenty of 18 MHz spots, that should tell you something.

And yes, like many, I load up on 17 through the tuner. Obviously not as good as an antenna cut for the band, but I'm at (OK, slightly over) the XYL-imposed wire quota.

73,
Bill

[N2RJ]

DX spots are one thing - and I agree that they are very useful.

But no spots will come up if people aren't calling CQ on the bands.

[ab9lz]

At least a third of my DX qso's on the WARC bands come from calling CQ.

73 m/4

[n4cd]

I've been on the WARC bands for 10 years.

When I went on mini-DXpeditions to TI2, and FG land, I made thousands of contacts on cw and SSB on 30,17 and 12M.

The first band on the air at TI9M was on 30M with a soggy vertical and 25w on battery power for the first hour hand logged until the second rig and computer logging came on line. Made ten thousand plus Qs on the WARC bands during the TI9M expedition back 5 years.

The County Hunters starting using 30M - great band for county hunting during the day - someone has to use it. The SKCC folks and FISTS folks are on 30M. With the decline in sunspots, its flakier on 30M - longer skip during the day. Most county hunting activity now on 40M - better band at the bottom of the sunspot cycle, and of course in the evenings 80 and 160M.

In a few years, 15, 17, 12, and 10 will hopefully come roaring back. All the new rigs cover the bands. With loads of 'screwdriver' type mobile antennas, you'll have lots of mobile activity as well. Likely to be crowded and instead of:

There's almost no activity there

the cry will be

The bands are full end to end and I can't find a spot to operate!

When the DX contests or SS or FD are raging on the normal bands, you can go to the WARC bands and find nice quiet QRM free spots to operate - especially now on 30M.

[n8fq]

30 meters: a good band for contacts within North America. Unfortunately, the upper 2/3 of the band is a minefield of winlink stations. Most of my contacts are interrupted by a QRM mill at some point.
17 meters: good for DX, not so good for continental QSOs.
12 meters: perpetually silent, not because it isn't open, but because everyone assumes it isn't. I ran a beacon for a few weeks this summer using my main HF rig, and got quite a few signal reports. I am working on a dedicated transmitter for a permanent installation next year.

[wa9cwx]

I enjoy the WARC bands, and like others, especially during contests.
I got on 30 meters the first day it was available, back when there was a split at .106.

I have not checked my count in quite a while, but I THINK I have over 100 countries on all WARC bands.

My quad covers 12 and 17.
For 30, I used an 80 meter dipole and tuner for decades. Now I use my ladder line fed wire.

PSK on 30 is fine, I have HEARD the automated signals, but only rarely been interfered with by them.

I find that 30 is wide open. There has NEVER been a serious 'QRM' problem on the band. Either from regular operations, 'robots', or the govt. Digi stations.

Frank

[N8UZE]

Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 04 2007,09:11)]Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 03 2007,20:05)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,03:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
One of the first things my Elmer told me was that he never heard two receivers talking to each other! At some point in time, someone has to transmit!

What a concept!

Scott NØIU
Sure, I could call CQ.

Or, I could as I often do, just tune the bands looking for someone else transmitting.

Sorry if I operate differently than you and your elmer.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I'd recommend trying it now and then. You never know who might answer. I was listening to a guy stateside call CQ and a fellow in Nigeria answered him and they actually got to ragchew for awhile. I was green with envy.

[n0iu]

Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 04 2007,02:11)]Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 03 2007,20:05)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,03:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
One of the first things my Elmer told me was that he never heard two receivers talking to each other! At some point in time, someone has to transmit!

What a concept!

Scott NØIU
Sure, I could call CQ.

Or, I could as I often do, just tune the bands looking for someone else transmitting.

Sorry if I operate differently than you and your elmer.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Why are you apologizing to me? You are the one who could be losing out on all those QSO's.

I was just suggesting a way that might work if you were interested in fattening up your logbook.

Operate the way you want. It won't affect me in the least.

Scott NØIU

Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 04 2007,07:11)]Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 03 2007,20:05)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,03:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
One of the first things my Elmer told me was that he never heard two receivers talking to each other! At some point in time, someone has to transmit!

What a concept!

Scott NØIU
Sure, I could call CQ.

Or, I could as I often do, just tune the bands looking for someone else transmitting.

Sorry if I operate differently than you and your elmer.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I listen on 17 meters every once in a while. A few months ago I even decided to call CQ since there was nothing heard on the band. I tuned around and thought 18.115 should be a good frequency to try, as it was just above the lower band edge. I called CQ and a S9 + 20 station immediately came back to me informing me "the frequency is in use". That was the only time I heard a signal on 17 that evening.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (AC0FP @ Dec. 04 2007,13:54)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 04 2007,07:11)]Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 03 2007,20:05)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,03:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
One of the first things my Elmer told me was that he never heard two receivers talking to each other! At some point in time, someone has to transmit!

What a concept!

Scott NØIU
Sure, I could call CQ.

Or, I could as I often do, just tune the bands looking for someone else transmitting.

Sorry if I operate differently than you and your elmer.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I listen on 17 meters every once in a while. A few months ago I even decided to call CQ since there was nothing heard on the band. I tuned around and thought 18.115 should be a good frequency to try, as it was just above the lower band edge. I called CQ and a S9 + 20 station immediately came back to me informing me "the frequency is in use". That was the only time I heard a signal on 17 that evening.
I hope you QSYed and tried another frequency.

[k4avl]

Now that I bought an ICOM-718 recently, I can get on 17 as I couldn't before with my tube rig. I built a special 17m antenna (13' 1/4 wave vertical) on my roof using the metal roof as a ground plane. I don't hear too much activity there, but I did work 1 DX sation on SSB and 2 DX on psk31 over the past month. I don't stay on there long, as it's usually too quiet.
I can use the SB-200 linear that well, as when putting it in line, for some reason the SWR goes up and maybe I can get 200 watts at best, not much better than barefoot 100w and not really worth the hassle.

[A71AN]

Many here talking about tunning an antenna which is not designed for the 30 meters, I did this and managed to make some contacts on 30 meters, when I asked about this matter, some one told me that I might damage one of the traps on my antenna as it is not designed for 30 meters although I only run per foor, 100Watts.

Am I on the safe side or not, now my DX-30 is of no much use but noise over 40db ?

Thank you, 73

[kf6rdn]

17 is a great mobile band, most of my DX contacts came from there. There was a couple months the only contacts were a couple locals on the drive to work, a year or so back.

[aa8xr]

I get on 17 and 12 meters when I can mobile. They are great bands, always someone to work out there, usually the Caribbean from here in SW Florida. But always a great contact, fun to chat for some time without much issue. Yes, the 12 and 17 meter bands are a blast. 73 all. Joe

[KI4NGN]

Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 04 2007,11:17)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 04 2007,02:11)]Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 03 2007,20:05)]Quote[/b] (KI4NGN @ Dec. 03 2007,03:44)]I tune them in once in a while, don't hear anyone, and move on. That's my excuse. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
One of the first things my Elmer told me was that he never heard two receivers talking to each other! At some point in time, someone has to transmit!

What a concept!

Scott NØIU
Sure, I could call CQ.

Or, I could as I often do, just tune the bands looking for someone else transmitting.

Sorry if I operate differently than you and your elmer.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Why are you apologizing to me? You are the one who could be losing out on all those QSO's.

I was just suggesting a way that might work if you were interested in fattening up your logbook.

Operate the way you want. It won't affect me in the least.

Scott NØIU
My post was sarcastic because your response came across to me as either sarcastic or condescending, implying some ignorance on my part.

I'm quite familiar with ham radio operations, and as an adult I'm also quite familiar with using ham radio as I wish to enjoy it. I was calling CQ 38 years ago. Were you? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Mike

[n0iu]

I guess that's the problem with two people being sarcastic... no one knows who is being serious!

I am all out of chill pills so you will have to find some on your own.

Scott NØIU

[wz0o]

Yup had a good contact with Tom on 17.140 this afternoon. ZD7X from St Helena. Lots of far east also on 17 this morning Love the band.

WZ0O

[ab9lz]

30m was open to Lima Peru from my qth a few minutes ago.

73 m/4

[w8znx]

im with w4hay
late night op

by the time the fil are warmed up
40 meters is dead as a door nail

30 give me a break can't even hear WWV at 10 mhz

mac
read or die

[G0GQK]

I regularly use 17 and 30 metres there is a little problem though ! We are a little bit short of those sunspot thingies, and the bands don't really work well without a little help from the sun. As for the comment about not hearing anybody on 30 metres, you won't, or you shouldn't, be hearing anybody talking, its only for CW and digital operating.

The other band in the group is 12 metres, a poor neighbour to 10 metres, but I lived on the band from 1987 to 1993. During those years it was excellent and hasn't been the same since.

G0GQK

[KC2ESD]

I'v used 17M with my 20M dipole and a tuner and had some contacts. It's one band for me that there is no QRN. I worked a Florida station a year of two ago on only 5 watts on 17M, very nice. Right now the diplole is down, having to much fun with the Vertical. I'll either put the 20M dipole back up or make a new one for 17M after Christmas.

73 de Rick KC2ESD

[KB3LIX]

I use 17 a bit, even ran into Tom ZD7X (KC0W) about an hour ago. He was S-1, and 100% audible on a dead quiet band, so it translated into a 5-9, at least as far as I am concerned.
I have had several surprizes on a seemingly DEAD 17 meters. It works, and well too.

Don't sell 60 meters short either.
As has been mentioned, many do not like the channel concept, but you can only use what you get.
I have several DX countries confirmed on 60.
England, the Isle of Man, Croatia and Jamaica to name a few.
The 50 watt ERP limit levels the playing field and you do not have to compete with the KaliforniaKilowatts.

I haven't used 30 that much, but shortly after down loading DigiPan, I was able to work a VK6 on 25 watts from PA using a simple wire antenna.
About 10,000 miles on 25 watts,
I'll take that any day.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[N2RJ]

Not bad. Last I worked Tom it was on 17.

I was looking for him during the CW contest, but I figured his broken microkeyer would not allow him to work a lot of CW...