View Full Version : Monoband - Which band would you choose?
n1ese
10-22-2005, 04:07 PM
If you were an extra class operator and could only operate on one band due to equipment limitations, which band would you choose?
Yes, I know this is a very hypothetical question when we aren't limited to a particular band but I am curious as to what people would choose.
- JT
WA2ZDY
10-22-2005, 04:24 PM
I AM an extra - 40cw
KB5WX
10-22-2005, 04:49 PM
Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Oct. 22 2005,09:24)]I AM an extra - 40cw
I'm glad that I'm not in the situation of only having 1 band to operate . But I'd also have to go with 40cw if that were ever the case .
K3STX
10-22-2005, 05:27 PM
40 CW.
paul
kf6rdn
10-22-2005, 05:34 PM
11 Meters, CW.
Oh, wait.. #nah #I dont want to chose, they will have to pry the other bands from my cold, dead fingers.
Assuming kww doesnt get to me first..
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I think that it all depends what your operating interests are.
40 meters is a great CW band, but if you are into SSB it is a very problematic band. This is due to broadcasters & different international band plans. A somewhat larger antenna is also needed on 40 to put out a decent signal......CØW rating: 3 moos.
20 meters would be a good band to be on if I could only be on one band. Plenty of DX & contesting activities going on with 20 meters. Lots of SSB nets to discuss your bladder & colon problems with. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ....... CØW rating: 5 moos.
6, 10, 12 & 15 meters. Forget it......CØW rating: 1 moo.
17 meters is in the doldrums with the above mentioned bands. There are tons of great guys on 17 CW though. A good quiet band which makes working it while mobile kinda fun......CØW rating: 3 moos.
30 meters would be fun if there was more activity going on with that band. Most operating is done within only about 12 KC's. Fun band......CØW rating: 4 moos.
75/80 meters was never my cup of tea. Never have heard a drunk or lid on the CW portion though.......CØW rating: 2 moos.
160 meters. Spend the rest of my life with 160 being the only band that I could be on? I think not!!! A great band for the static crash lovers out there.......CØW rating: 2 moos.
I guess I would choose either 20 or 30 meters if I could only work one band.
Tom kcØw
kc5bdk
10-22-2005, 05:56 PM
id prob go with 20 meters because i can be on more during the day while 40 is mostly better at night
w8znx
10-22-2005, 05:58 PM
hello
this extreee would pick 80/75
this is the best
ragchew round table hf band
late winter nights dipole + 100 watts
you can rag chew
from east coast to the rockies
is also a great late night
mobile band
80 cw for running old and hb rigs
75 yeAM and slop bucket
for gas baging with old friends
Mac
PS.
I have run in to drunks on 40 cw
got so they had hard time sending
their call right, we are not talking
about new ops, but old timers
that you know can send well at 0100 GMT
but get kinda sloppy after 0500 GMT
heck
I realised that could realy run morse code
when could roll a cig. open another beer
and keep sending/receiving
kb9iou
10-22-2005, 06:36 PM
20wpm Extra --- 30 Meter CW all the way... can make a lot of good contacts between 10.105 and 10.112 MHz
kc0vrs
10-22-2005, 08:38 PM
if I had my Extra or even General ticket, I would take 17 meter SSB.
WA5KRP
10-22-2005, 09:44 PM
When I saw monoband, it made me think that if I was limited to a monoband yagi, which band would I build it for. (I know it's not the premise of this thread, but I think funny.)
17M
WA5KRP
Texas
K9STH
10-23-2005, 12:16 AM
For communications ability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (366 on leap year), the only answer is 40 meters. There is hardly any time of any day that the band is not open to somewhere.
The higher frequencies are much more affected by sun spots and the time of day. The lower frequencies (80 and 160 meters) are pretty much useless during the May through September period because of high noise levels. The 40 meter band can be used to communicate anywhere from a few miles to halfway around the world depending on conditions. But, unless there is a major solar flare where everything on HF is "dead", 40 meters is going to be "open" to somewhere any time of the day or night.
The broadcast situation on 40 meters is also being abated. The segment 7100 KHz to 7200 KHz has already been put in use for amateur operation outside of Region II and the entire 7000 KHz to 7300 KHz segment will become amateur only over the next several years.
Glen, K9STH
KC9ECI
10-23-2005, 12:36 AM
6M
Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Oct. 22 2005,20:16)]The broadcast situation on 40 meters is also being abated. The segment 7100 KHz to 7200 KHz has already been put in use for amateur operation outside of Region II and the entire 7000 KHz to 7300 KHz segment will become amateur only over the next several years.
Are you sure about that, Glen?
I'm pretty sure that Regions 1 & 3 will only get 7000 to 7200 in 2009.
7200 to 7300 will still be BC territory come 2009.
Quote[/b] (n3jja @ Oct. 23 2005,01:52)]Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Oct. 22 2005,20:16)]The broadcast situation on 40 meters is also being abated. #The segment 7100 KHz to 7200 KHz has already been put in use for amateur operation outside of Region II and the entire 7000 KHz to 7300 KHz segment will become amateur only over the next several years.
Are you sure about that, Glen?
I'm pretty sure that Regions 1 & 3 will only get 7000 to 7200 in 2009.
7200 to 7300 will still be BC territory come 2009.
Hello Sirs,
The U.K has 7.000 to 7.100 (Primary) & 7.100 to 7.200 (Secondary) at the moment.
And I believe you are right in saying that from approx 2009 7.100 to 7.200 will then be primary also,
73s de Samantha 2e1dau
Edit:
80m or 40m would be my choice
Ofcom notice for Seconday use of 7.100 to 7.200 http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radioco....a=87101 (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/Licences/notice_full/?a=87101)
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radioco....a=87101 (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/Licences/notice_int/?a=87101)
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radioco....a=87101 (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/Licences/found/?a=87101)
I've been a ham for too many years to not remember how great 20 meters can be during the "up" side of the sunspot cycle. There may be some years ( like right now ) when it is a bit tough sledding, but when its open, it's really OPEN ! I would have to pick 20 if it were going to be the only band I could operate on for the rest of my life, without question !
73, Jim
kd5rpo
10-23-2005, 01:32 AM
I have been an extra just since 2002, but found 17 meters to my liking. I am not a contester, just a ragchewer.
It would be hard to give up 40 meters though, just because the band is open so much of the time.
K9STH
10-23-2005, 01:41 AM
Much of the world has already allocated 7100 KHz to 7200 KHz on a secondary basis to amateur radio. When the 7000 KHz to 7200 KHz becomes primary for amateur radio in 2009 (a little over 3 years from now) I suspect that the 7200 KHz to 7300 KHz will start to be granted on a secondary basis in Regions I and III.
Technically it will be after 2009 that the upper 100 KHz becomes amateur only in Regions I and III. But, I do believe that as the broadcasters move out of the 7100 KHz to 7200 KHz range that those in the 7200 KHz to 7300 KHz range will start to move as well.
Glen, K9STH
ve2nsm
10-23-2005, 04:08 AM
10m... I just love it http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
w5alt
10-23-2005, 04:20 AM
Quote[/b] (w6fo @ Oct. 22 2005,12:07)]If you were an extra class operator and could only operate on one band due to equipment limitations, which band would you choose?
Well, in that case I'd find a way to overcome the equipment limitations. I haven't ever had a rig that couldn't be modified to work other bands or an antenna I couldn't tune elsewhere. So why should we resign ourselves to equipment limitations?
73,
Walt, W5ALT
k4kyv
10-23-2005, 06:51 AM
In winter, 160.
In summer, internet.
I am extra class.
20wpm Extra Class.
Tough choice! 20? 40? I guess I 'll see you on 20 in KW alley. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
w8amd
10-23-2005, 07:29 AM
Though I like to play in all the bands from 160 to 10 (keep promising myself an all mode 6 meter rig.) with 160 being my current thing. I'd have to go with 40 if limited to one. Great CW band, and almost always open to some extent. Phone operation can be dicey because of the International broadcasts but you can manage to squeeze in.
WA2ZDY
10-23-2005, 01:45 PM
Quote[/b] (kc0w @ Oct. 22 2005,13:35)]I think that it all depends what your operating interests are.
40 meters is a great CW band, but if you are into SSB it is a very problematic band. This is due to broadcasters & different international band plans. A somewhat larger antenna is also needed on 40 to put out a decent signal......CØW rating: 3 moos.
You're right. That's why I specified the CW end. HF phone interests me less than watching baseball on TV, and that interests me about as much as a permanent internal casket inspection.
As Glen pointed out, 40 is a great 24/7 band. 30 is too but the activity level is erratic and there are streches when if you were stuck on 30 you'd have nobody to talk to. And with Old Sol not behaving so well in our favour for the next few years, the higher bands are limited too. Great bands when things are good but awful at times like these. And while 20 is still good during the day, 40 works just as well for DX at night. And while 20 is dead at night, 40 is still good during the day.
40 is the best of all worlds. I've already spent much of my 31 years as a ham exclusively on 40cw. No reason to think it wouldn't keep me just as happy and entertained now.
2.45 gigs. No QRM no lids no long talkers and a cup of coffee heats up in 45 seconds. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
kl7aj
10-25-2005, 03:35 PM
40 cw. That's where I started out as a novice, and that's where I'll die http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
eric
I'd take 20m SSB http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
kc0vrs
10-25-2005, 04:57 PM
I'll take 10 GHz.
w8cbc
10-26-2005, 12:57 AM
30 metres for CW and 15 metres for voice are my current favourites respectively. But I think I'd go with 42 metres for all 'round conditions if I could only have one.
W9AFB
10-26-2005, 03:17 PM
I somewhat new on HF so I haven't spent much time on there, although I like 40 meters. In the summertime, you can almost always find me on six meters. What a great band! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
kl7aj
10-26-2005, 03:21 PM
42 meters? Is that a new "freeband" we haven't heard about? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
K0RGR
10-26-2005, 05:12 PM
If I had a better location and antenna for the band, 30 meters would be tempting. I could give up SSB, anyway. But I'd probably choose 40, because I've only seen it shut down completely a couple times in my 40 years on the air, and it does offer excellent local coverage in the daytime as well as excellent national and DX coverage at night if you have a decent station. The better the antennas, the more you will like this band, but you better have some real estate and a quiet location. A nice yagi on a tall tower makes a world of difference - my dad had one, and he worked things other people could only imagine. Of course, there's much more activity on 40, too. It will be great when we have 200 khz. worldwide.
K9STH
10-26-2005, 06:12 PM
AJ:
Technically 42 meters is the band! A wavelength of 40 meters actually comes out to 7500 KHz whereas 42 meters comes out to 7142.9 KHz.
Glen, K9STH
ve2nsm
10-26-2005, 11:14 PM
Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Oct. 26 2005,14:12)]AJ:
Technically 42 meters is the band! A wavelength of 40 meters actually comes out to 7500 KHz whereas 42 meters comes out to 7142.9 KHz.
Glen, K9STH
Yup, just like 28MHz... it's closer to 11m than to 10m!
OOPS, I said it! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
WA7KKP
10-27-2005, 01:11 AM
I'd go 10 meters hands down because:
It is a good band for local ragchews.
Openings can happen at any time, any place
When the sunspot cycle is high, you can work worldwide DX with QRP and a simple dipole.
There's plenty of room for all modes: CW, SSB, AM, FM
Mobile installation is easy -- using old CB antennas cut down for 10
You can modify CB radios to work here easily (ask the truck drivers!!!)
What else do you need?
Gary WA7KKP
w8cbc
10-27-2005, 02:58 AM
Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Oct. 26 2005,11:12)]AJ:
Technically 42 meters is the band! A wavelength of 40 meters actually comes out to 7500 KHz whereas 42 meters comes out to 7142.9 KHz.
Glen, K9STH
What you said. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
In the same way, 14000-14350 KC is really 21 metres and 21000-21450 is 14 metres.
Anyway. I hope to be mobile on 17, 14, and 12 metres before the year is out. It'll make the long trips more interesting than they are now with a dead-silent 146520 kC to keep me company.
kc0vrs
10-27-2005, 03:48 AM
Quote[/b] (WA7KKP @ Oct. 26 2005,18:11)]I'd go 10 meters hands down because:
It is a good band for local ragchews.
Openings can happen at any time, any place
When the sunspot cycle is high, you can work worldwide DX with QRP and a simple dipole.
There's plenty of room for all modes: CW, SSB, AM, FM
That is why I like 10 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
KB3KCJ
10-27-2005, 11:27 AM
I'm an Extra Class (Extra Light) [wish I had some Bud], and I didn't know there was any other favorite monoband frequency besides 17 meters. #Is there? #You mean they have some more? #Aw c'mon now! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
KD8ALY
10-27-2005, 11:51 AM
I'm an Extra Class and I choose 20m.