10 meters is not dead!

[wi4l]

Ten meters was open like a charm for the recent arrl contest. I was not in the contest but,worked many who were. The band did not just open for the contest. The sunspot #'s and solar flux were very low yet I worked stations early am and after midnight.If we would just transmit on ten and not just listen maybe the band would open without a contest going on(just a joke).
Seriously,transmit on the band w/locals or just give an old cq and lets get this band alive.Even when I did not hear any beacons during the contest ,there were 20 over signals. The band IS OPEN when you least expect it.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Enjoy 10 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[K3STX]

Man, if you call that "open" you should just wait to see what it is REALLY like when it is open!! Stations 20 dB over S9 from Southern Africa, stations in Europe pegging your S-meter. Ahh, those were the days. We had a weekend like that about a month ago..
apul

[wi4l]

Maybe I should make the subject more clear. I have seen the band much better than it is now with Europe in the morning to Japan at night with 20+ signals and having to move up the band to find a clear frequency but, the POINT IS, THE BAND IS OPEN and alot of us don't transmit or even listen thinking it is dead. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[N8CPA]

At this moment, it is quite open. I'm receiving VA2MGL/BCN on 28.1957 599 in Columbus, Oh. 5 minutes from now might be another matter entirely, and probably will be.
10M propagation depends on where you are when and where you're tuned for how long.
This past weekend, it was terrible in the mid-northern latitudes except for a N-S path, with sporadic E-W openings. It may have been the worst I've heard it for the contest.

[kj5t]

I very much agree that we should get on the bands and call CQ, I do it all the time.. Regardless of if I hear anything or not. I did it on 20 meters one evening when I did not hear anything.. Alaska came back 59+. We had a great QSO.. and now I am going to send a card and confirm Alaska on 20 meters.. Same thing happened on 15 meters when I called CQ and got a station mobile QRP (10 watts) into a hamstick using an IC-703. What about the time I called CQ on 40 one evening and brought several stations. Sadly I had to leave before I could work them all..

Get on 10 and call CQ, I hope I can hear you ;)

[ka8kho]

Quote[/b] (wi4l @ Dec. 16 2004,08:00)]Ten meters was open like a charm for the recent arrl contest.

I was not in the contest but,worked many who were.

Seriously,transmit on the band w/locals or just give an old cq and lets get this band alive.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Enjoy 10 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Last Saturday I missed most of the contest due to the fact that I was putting one of these back together:

http://www.rigpix.com/swan/astro150.jpg

That evening I finally got the rig mounted in my truck...contest was going strong; copied many stations in 4- and 5-land while running some errands.

Sunday saw me hand out a number of contacts while mobile...but at 7 PM (end of the contest) it was like someone had hit the "Off" switch. Furthermore, I've heard NOTHING all week...no beacons...or CW...

I hang out around 28.400 in the evenings, calling CQ on the drive home from work. Maybe I'll catch a band opening one of these days - failing that, another local op.

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

[kj5t]

What time do you come home from work? I need Ohio on 10 meters, so one of these days I will have to listen for you..

[ka8kho]

Quote[/b] (KD5OWO @ Dec. 16 2004,22:38)]What time do you come home from work? I need Ohio on 10 meters, so one of these days I will have to listen for you..
4-5 PM in the afternoons...

I'm planning on doing a lot of operating over XMas vacation (next week and the week after) and so will have one of my main station rigs on 10M throughout.

I'll be glad to give out Ohio on any mode you wish - except for SSTV; haven't got a setup for that yet. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[N8CPA]

Steve, if for some reason, KHO can't meet you, let me know. I'd be glad to give you an Ohio contact--even (gulp) on SSB. I'm sure I've got enough Listerine to wash that nasty yackrophone taste of my mouth, afterwards. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[kb2hsh]

10 during the ARRL 10-Meter Contest was decent...but I wouldn't go overboard. I DID work 3 new countries for my QRP DXCC, so I can't complain THAT much. But, the person that posted pertaining what 10 is like at solar peaks...he's right! 10 during the solar maximum is THE most amazing thing to witness. I can recall as a Novice hearing a gentleman in England using about 100 mW SSB...and he was easily 59 in FN03. I was shocked.

I also agree about calling CQ. Even if SSB isn't your thing...I call CQ daily on 28.120 with PSK/Hell/MFSK8 AND 16...and 28.080 RTTY to see if there's anything going on. The fun of 10 is NEVER knowing if/when/where it'll open to during solar declines.

Good DX,

John KB2HSH

[kj5t]

Quote[/b] ]I'll be glad to give out Ohio on any mode you wish

Quote[/b] ]Steve, if for some reason, KHO can't meet you, let me know. I'd be glad to give you an Ohio contact--even (gulp) on SSB.

Thank you guys very much.. My goal for 2005 is to get WAS on 40 and 20 meters.. worked OHIO on both of those states already.. now I am working on 15 and 10 meter WAS and if I am lucky I can get that in the next few years ;) I am not a paper chaser, but I sure love working stateside DX!

Quote[/b] ] I DID work 3 new countries for my QRP DXCC, so I can't complain THAT much.

Thats is great for QRP, I don't think I really worked anything new.. I take that back I the ZF1 was a new one for me.

You must have one heck of antenna to do QRP on 10 meters..

[kb2hsh]

Quote[/b] (KD5OWO @ Dec. 17 2004,09:20)]You must have one heck of antenna to do QRP on 10 meters..
As far as an antenna, I have a ladder-line fed 300 foot horizontal loop. It is simply amazing.

[N8CPA]

I usually work ZF1A during 10M, but not this time. I have been to Grand Cayman twice in the last 2 years, but have yet to operate there, since there's no 3rd party agreement. I have thought about dropping off a QSL card at the club station, but the taxi ride might be a bit tough. Sure is a nice, but expensive, port of call for cruise ships.

[kb2hsh]

Quote[/b] (N8CPA @ Dec. 17 2004,15:03)]I usually work ZF1A during 10M, but not this time. I have been to Grand Cayman twice in the last 2 years, but have yet to operate there, since there's no 3rd party agreement. I have thought about dropping off a QSL card at the club station, but the taxi ride might be a bit tough. Sure is a nice, but expensive, port of call for cruise ships.
Yes, that was one of my "new ones" in the 10-Meter ARRL Contest! What a coincidence that you'd bring that up. (They had a GREAT signal on 28.004 MHz CW!)

[ka8kho]

Called CQ via CW a few times on 28.020 yesterday afternoon/evening...heard a PY2 attempting to respond but he was very weak - and sigs had a bit of flutter to them. (Sporadic-E trying to get its act together?)

Checked around 28.400 and thereabouts on 'phone. Nothing...will try again today.

[K0RGR]

Eskip should be alive and well on 10 about now. It should be more common than it is on 6. Eskip tends to peak around the summer solstice, with a lesser peak at the winter soltstice, and tends to get more common when sunspots are low. It might pay to monitor one of the more active CB channels - when you hear 'skip' on Channel 19, you can bet that 10 is open too, as well as 12 meters...

[ka8kho]

A brief opening to CA and western VE-land from Ohio today...tried to work a VA9 with my mobile rig but condx were marginal.

This evening, heard CW beacons from FL and TX around 28.270; called CQ in the phone segment numerous times...to no avail.

SOMEONE'S gotta be listening on 10M somewhere...right? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif