Finally broke down and...

[KC9ECI]

made my first QSO on 30M. Thanks ZF2AH.

[WB2WIK]

Great band with very quirky condx...

30m is such a "cusp" band, it's very interesting. I've made many contacts where a 20/S9 signal drops into the noise all inside of five minutes, seems more abrupt than most other bands. When the MUF drops below 10 MHz, it's like a switch.

C U on 30!

WB2WIK/6

[N5BO]

Nice Tom, I've always been a fan of 30M. I'll look into getting something in the air again and maybe work you there instead of 6M. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KC9ECI]

I actually heard you ragchewing on 17M once.

I didn't have a whole lot of interest on 30 earlier as the 703 I had was very prone to RF feedback on 30 and 40. The 703+ that replaced the other one was much less prone and with the new vertical antenna it isn't a problem at all. I may spend a little more time on 30 now.

[KC9ECI]

In fact, right now, you're on 14.200 ragchewing with an Alaskan station.

[k0cmh]

I've just recently started working 30 meters also, just CW. Very interesting. When it works, it is wonderful -- when its down it is DEAD. But I have gotten more out of country DXs on it in the past two month than I have on all the other bands since summer.

[w8cbc]

Quote[/b] (WB2WIK @ Dec. 14 2005,16:06)]Great band with very quirky condx...

30m is such a "cusp" band, it's very interesting. I've made many contacts where a 20/S9 signal drops into the noise all inside of five minutes, seems more abrupt than most other bands. When the MUF drops below 10 MHz, it's like a switch.

C U on 30!

WB2WIK/6
Same here. I've had 'em go from 599 to nothing during a transmission. Drops right off the table it does. It's odd because 31-metre broadcast usually doesn't just up and die like that.

I like the way there's always someone ready to answer a CQ when the band's working.

[WB2WIK]

Quote[/b] (kd8bsr @ Dec. 15 2005,16:54)]Quote[/b] (WB2WIK @ Dec. 14 2005,16:06)]Great band with very quirky condx...

30m is such a "cusp" band, it's very interesting. #I've made many contacts where a 20/S9 signal drops into the noise all inside of five minutes, seems more abrupt than most other bands. #When the MUF drops below 10 MHz, it's like a switch.

C U on 30!

WB2WIK/6
Same here. #I've had 'em go from 599 to nothing during a transmission. #Drops right off the table it does. #It's odd because 31-metre broadcast usually doesn't just up and die like that.

I like the way there's always someone ready to answer a CQ when the band's working.
Maybe not so odd, we're all only running 200W or less, and the broadcasters can run as much power as they want.

You might be surprised how much power some of them run....one million Watts (actual carrier output power, not "ERP") is not an unusual power level in the SW BC band.

WB2WIK/6

[WA2ZDY]

Radio Moscow every ten KC with a megawatt on each transmitter and Sterba curtain type antennas. All from suburban Havana.

Yes, being a 13 year old Novice rockbound on 40m in the mid 1970s was a TON of fun. A heck of a challenge but fun and an education I am thankful every day for.

[w8cbc]

WIK/6: Quote[/b] ]Maybe not so odd, we're all only running 200W or less, and the broadcasters can run as much power as they want.

You might be surprised how much power some of them run....one million Watts (actual carrier output power, not "ERP") is not an unusual power level in the SW BC band.

Good point. BBC used to run up to 2MW some parts of the day at 9410kc when all the active transmitters on-frequency were added together.

Still, a CW sig needs magnitudes less strength to be readable, and under good conditions they can be as strong S-wise on the rx end as some off-the-beam broadcasts I listen to.

[AA0CX]

I love 30 and 40. Tend to 30 during the day...40 late afternoon and in the evening. But -- you're right -- when 30 dies, it crashes in a hurry.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KC0W]

Big plans for 30 meters (and other bands) next spring from here.

I received a 3 element Force 12 monoband yagi for 30 meters about a month ago. It will be masted at the 100' level on the 90' US Tower crankup. I opened the antennas box & have to say that I'm rather impressed with the first inspection of the yagi. The whole element riveting method that Force 12 uses still has me somewhat nervous though. This antenna should play nicely when feed with 200 watts from a 1000D.

I also have a Optibeam OB17-4 that I bought from Jay, WX0B at Array Solutions. This is quite the antenna. Typical German construction & even the packing of the antenna was a work of art!! This will go at the 92' level of the tower. Due to possibility exceeding the ratings of the tower, I plan on leaving the tower at the 70' level most of the time. If you are unfamiliar with Optibeam, here is the link to their site: Optibeam Antennas (http://www.optibeam.de/) Check out the OB17-4.......This thing is really a tank.

The real enjoyment of amateur radio will be next spring/summer for myself. As most of us know, the antenna is the most important part of the setup. I believe that I have made some wise antenna decisions.


Good DX,


Tom kcØw

[K0RGR]

Something wierd happens up here on 30 - I must live in an RF hole for that band. or something. 30 used to be one of my favorite bands but since moving to the upper midwest, I haven't found it very useful at all.

I had an 80 meter inverted L that worked fairly well on 30, too, but I'm thinking about going out in the snow and stringing up a 1/4 wave ground plane for the band, just to see if I can get something that works a bit better.