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I just put up a dipole today for 60 meter, when I got off the tower the temp was 32 degree brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
made a contact with G0HNW ! :D
Nice opening to England
5.403.5 USB
HAHAHA My buddy AB9LY just made contact with the same guy and he was using his FT-817ND!
60 is a nice band to use, as long as you don't have people occupying the channels in your area.
Of course some people don't want to use it because they feel the channels lowers them to CB... but anyway.
KI4WCA
02-25-2008, 02:36 AM
I just put up a dipole today for 60 meter, when I got off the tower the temp was 32 degree brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
made a contact with G0HNW ! :D
Nice opening to England
5.403.5 USB
What kind of rig did you use?I have a modified IC-718 I will be using there soon.I worked on the antenna some today.The sleet felt just great driving into my corneas.I expect massive improvement of course! :)
I use an IC-7000, FT-897D and an FT-817ND for 60 meter
kn4ds
02-25-2008, 05:28 PM
I haven't gotten on 60 yet, mostly because the FT-840, out of the box, won't transmit there... allegedly it can be made to, but that requires a mod that allows it to transmit anywhere... so I'm hesitant about making the mod.
I haven't gotten on 60 yet, mostly because the FT-840, out of the box, won't transmit there... allegedly it can be made to, but that requires a mod that allows it to transmit anywhere... so I'm hesitant about making the mod.
The FT-840 is one of the easiest I have seen to convert. You take a jumper wire and jump a certain terminal inside the radio to ground then power up the radio. Thats it. take off the wire and close it back up, if you want to bring it back to stock again, jump the same terminal back to ground and power the radio on again, thats it.
I just made a wire with an alligator clip at each end and that made it easy.
K8MHZ
02-25-2008, 10:35 PM
I just put up a dipole today for 60 meter, when I got off the tower the temp was 32 degree brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
made a contact with G0HNW ! :D
Nice opening to England
5.403.5 USB
You did that with 50 watts *PEP*?
Nice job OM!
kn4ds
02-25-2008, 11:46 PM
The FT-840 is one of the easiest I have seen to convert. You take a jumper wire and jump a certain terminal inside the radio to ground then power up the radio. Thats it. take off the wire and close it back up, if you want to bring it back to stock again, jump the same terminal back to ground and power the radio on again, thats it.
I just made a wire with an alligator clip at each end and that made it easy.
I know it's an easy mod... and I went ahead and did it. I put the "tuning frequencies" in memory channels, and then heard someone, so I called back... 2 quick QSOs on 60m.
You did that with 50 watts *PEP*?
Nice job OM!
I hope at least a few "Big DX Guns" on 60 are at least trying to adhere to the 50 W ERP rules ....It would be sad to loose future allocations because some DX hungry idiot fires up his 2 KW amp to get one more country !
KI4RVH
02-26-2008, 01:12 AM
I hope at least a few "Big DX Guns" on 60 are at least trying to adhere to the 50 W ERP rules ....It would be sad to loose future allocations because some DX hungry idiot fires up his 2 KW amp to get one more country !
I have never heard anyone on 60 that I thought was doing that. People do a great job of sharing those 5 frequencies very well also. Its truly a gentleman's band.
73
Chris
Yup, 50 watts, and like I posted right after I was done my buddy from 15 miles away contacted the same guy with his 5 watt FT-817ND!!!!
KB3LIX
02-26-2008, 03:24 AM
Don't sell 60m short.
Using 50 watts and a homemade doublet, I have worked the Isle of Man and Serbia with little trouble.
Not to mention quite a few domestic contacts and the Bahamas, Haiti and USVI here in NA.
60m is one band that I do occasionally make domestic contacts.
I have not heard one A-H on 60.....at least so far !!!!
MM0VMP
02-26-2008, 08:26 AM
Here in the UK we need an additional licence for 60m, a 'Notice of Variation' in OFCOM speak.
I received mine about a month ago, now just need to to:
A) Create an antenna of some description. In the true spirit of experiment I'm tempted to throw up some wire and set about it with the ATU.
B) Mod my radio so it will Tx on 60m, the UK version of the 857D does not Tx there natively.
KQ6XA
02-26-2008, 08:38 AM
The use of 5 MHz by amateur radio operators is expanding into more countries, with emergency channels, propagation experiment operation, secondary status, and normal amateur use.
Propagation on 5MHz fills in the distance gap between 40 metres and 80 metres, especially during morning and evening hours. It also provides different band openings during winter and at higher latitudes than 40 metres.
Here is a list of 5MHz channels, bands, and frequencies related to amateur radio worldwide:
Worldwide Ham Radio 5MHz Frequencies (http://www.hflink.com/5mhz/)
Here are some useful operating techniques for the 5MHz channels:
1. Put the 5MHz channels in your transceiver memory, including the USB mode. If possible, also include narrow TX bandwidth,and the correct transmit power level.
2. Before transmitting, check your transceiver's calibration against a time/frequency reference signal such as WWV on 5000.000 kHz. Select a channel, check your power setting, lock your VFO dial, and lock your microphone "channel Up/Down" switch and keypad.
3. Use your RIT or receive clarifier to tune other stations in. Do not change your main VFO dial or transmit frequency unless you discover that you are out of calibration.
4. Avoid long auto-tuning or manual-tuning times if possible. Transmission of a carrier, especially zero-beat, is not allowed in some countries (such as USA).
5. Before starting to transmit, listen on the channel for at least 3 minutes. If it is vacant, start by just saying your callsign. Similar to VHF repeater operation, it is not necessary to call a long CQ. Just announcing your callsign (phonetically) and your location is sometimes enough to start up a contact.
6. If you have a very high receive noise level at your QTH, be very cautious about transmitting because you may be interfering with primary users or a QSO that is already in progress between amateurs.
7. Try to peacefully co-exist and share the channel with other stations talking in the background. Unlike other HF SSB ham bands, 5MHz is channelised and very limited. Don't insist upon a totally clear channel, because it is possible for there to be several layers of QSOs going on simultaneously in different areas on the same channel.
8. ID more often than you normally would. Once you establish contact, say your callsign and the callsign of station you are talking to. This will help a lot when there are multiple stations simultaneously using the same channel.
9. Avoid longwinded ragchewing. Use short transmissions, drag your feet between overs, and give everyone a chance to use the channels. Be open to other stations calling each other between gaps in your QSO.
10. There are many 5MHz channels around the world now, and the list is growing. Among regular 5MHz operators, the channels are often called by the last few digits in kiloHertz, such as "403.5" (meaning the dial frequency 5403.5kHz).
73
G8ADD
02-26-2008, 09:19 AM
Bonnie, that channel/country list needs amending: the UK has 366.5 and 371.5.
73
Brian G8ADD
60 is a nice band to use, as long as you don't have people occupying the channels in your area.
Of course some people don't want to use it because they feel the channels lowers them to CB... but anyway.
It's not the channels that make it CB, it's the people. The old novice bands, or another portion of all the bands, should be set up the same way, the spacing cuts way down on QRM and not having to tune, makes for safer mobile operation. Been operating mobile with a FT-897D and a Lakeview hamstick, works out great.
Propagation on 5MHz fills in the distance gap between 40 metres and 80 metres, especially during morning and evening hours. It also provides different band openings during winter and at higher latitudes than 40 metres.
Propagation-wise, 60m looks very interesting. Watching the DX spots and playing with propagation forecasting software, I often wish I had modified my rig to transmit on 60m. But, I haven't gotten around to it yet. If CW and/or Digital were allowed, I would be far more motivated to actually do it. I rarely operate phone.
MM0VMP
02-26-2008, 06:31 PM
CW, digimodes etc are allowed here.
It's in here somewhere!
http://www.rsgb-spectrumforum.org.uk/5mhz%20operating%20practice.htm#Introduction
wa9cwx
02-27-2008, 01:01 AM
Not in the US. USB only, not even a tune up carrier, nor any gain antenna....
ke6jjr
02-27-2008, 01:23 AM
I've been listening at night on 60 but have not heard a soul yet. I'm disappointed that CW isnt allowed, its much more efficient than SSB.
I did hear some fishing boats in that freq. range using language that would embarrass a pirate!! :D