2 meter band openings

[KB9YCO]

The area of northeastern Illinois that I live in has been experiencing some decent conditions in 2 meters, actually a fair amount in UHF as well as I heard a number of repeaters in GMRS and 440. Anyone else getting these conditions or hearing anything interesting? I noticed that Michigan has been booming in quite a bit lately; although that's not such a big stretch since I'm probably only 15 miles west from the lakefront and getting across the lake is fairly easy with a little enhancement. Either way, some interesting contacts and people checking in to our local repeater [145.290, 107.2]. Just curious... 73

[kb9khf]

we've had several full quieting hits into some of the local repeaters here in NW IL from IN, and NE IL the last few days.

[w5lda]

I've been licensed for 15 months and still waiting on a band opening here in tulsa.. Equipment is as follows.

Kenwood ts790a
Yaesu ft 857d
cushcraft 148-20t 10 ele dual polarity. alt.about 805ft asl
rf concepts max-amp 45 about 200 watts out

i seem to talk to texas,arkansas,missouri and kansas at will but any farther just havent got a good path http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

Larry kd5vsg

[kg4kww]

The TROPO along the East Coast here has not been all that good either. I have talked from Va to Ny but, haven't been able to get any futher North. I hope that
the conditions will get better soon.

Just listen for beacons on 2 meters that are with a 100 to 150 miles of you. This is a good indicator of how band conditions are. Also, check out the TROPO reports at:

VHF/UHF TROPO FORECASTS (http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo.html)

Also, check out this Beacon list to see where the closest 2 meter beacons are to you.

Beacon List (http://www.newsvhf.com/beacons2.html)