Sporadic E season starting

As posted in the QRZ article, "Sporadic E season starting", which very interestingly provides forecasts for the upcoming season. Before we get to far along, e-skip is the type of propagation that results from radio waves reflecting of off clouds of ionized gas in the e-layer of the atmosphere allowing much greater range of communication on the 28, 50, 70 and 144 MHz bands than is normally possible. The E layer of the atmosphere is about 60 miles above the earth and is what makes the Magic Band magic.

I still hear folks lay claim that they never hear any DX or skip on six meters. Well like they say, if you want to catch fish, you have to have your line in the water first. If you want to work skip on six meters, you have to monitor the frequency. That being 52.525 the national calling frequency on FM, or 50.125 which is the same on upper side band which is where a majority of the E-skip traffic will be. Also, it will add to your success to have a properly polarized antenna. Yes, you can work skip on a vertical. I have. Heck, you can work skip with a wet piece of string when the conditions are right; however, if you want to maximize your chances for success weak-signal and sideband modes primarily use horizontally polarized antennas. In truth all signals propagate best from a horizontally polarized antennas, however that is not very practical or convenient for many applications. The norm has become to use vertical antennas for FM and horizontal for AM and SSB. According to Ken Neubeck, WB2AMU the author of A Guide to the Magic Band, an antenna only need be 20 feet above ground to work e-skip effectively. There are always exceptions, but as a rule of thumb, 20 feet up and as much in the clear as possible is a good start for a six meter SSB antenna for e-skip operation. A simple dipole up 20 feet feed with inexpensive RG-8X (assuming it not too long) will work a great number of stations via e-skip. The first e-skip season I operated on six meters, I worked sixty stations in a three month period using this exact setup: A hamstick dipole up 20 feet fed with a 70 foot run of RG-8X. The coax with PL-259s attached along with all the parts to make the hamstick dipole were purchased from WBØW for about $85.00. The antenna was $45.00 and the coax was $30.00. An inexpensive but effective setup that you can use for e-skip and local ground wave, and since hamsticks are fairly wide-banded, you can also work the lower part of FM with it.

But you say, "Jeff, you've got this backwards, why put up an antenna when I don't even have an all-mode rig for six meters? Don't a need a radio first?" Nope, I did this right. Trust me on this. Put up the antenna first. Rigs are easy. Plug them in and turn them on. The antenna is what takes effort, so do it first. Really, in all honesty, if you don't already have a rig put up the antenna first, or at the very least get everything you need to put up the antenna before you buy the rig. You'll be glad you did as when you get that shiny new (or used) rig and want to try it out right now! you'll have something to plug it into.

OK, so hopefully you take my advice on the antenna, do you also need a tuner for it? A tuner is not required for six meters as you should be able to tune the antenna effectively with low SWR in the area you wish to operate most often. However, a tuner will allow you get more bandwidth out of your antenna on the fringe areas. It also allows you to monitor the output of your station and you will easily be able to tell if something is amiss with your setup. This something I see more to protect your investment in the rig than to make the antenna work better. Let me say what a tuner is not. It is not so you can load up your 20m dipole or 2m ringo on six meters. While it is entirely possible to make anything LOOK like it has low SWR to the output of your rig, low SWR does not give any indication you are actually radiating a signal. After all, a dummy load has perfect SWR. A good choice for a tuner is the MFJ-945E. It's a small, compact, manual tuner that sells new for $119.00 from various outlets including the folks at WBØW.

I have more to share, but I'll save it for later. I will say that the enjoyment I receive from my station is directly proportional to the amount of effort I have put into the antenna system. Period. If all you desire to work is FM then this may not apply, but if you intend to work sideband or any weak-signal modes, then put your effort where it really counts. In the antenna. Anything worthwhile takes effort. It's not like cell phones or video games. Some assembly is required to effectively work six meters. But the reward is worth it. Working E-skip on six meters is loads of fun. The folks that frequent six meters when the band is open tend to be very courteous, friendly operators that are there for the same reason you are, to enjoy the band and the hobby.


73 to all!

Jeff Kerr, KCØVGC

Building a digi network from here to KC.... From Ken, KA0PIZ

Ken, KAØPIZ sent me this request. I'm posting it here on the blog as if there are any out there at all interested, I'm sure Ken would be open to being contacted. I think Ken as a great idea in extending a digital packet network from here to the KC area. I have already responded directly to Ken's e-mail and said that all topics of amateur interest are welcome including radio over the Internet. Below is Ken's message. If you wish to contact Ken his e-mail address is good on QRZ.com.

Below is Ken's message to me.

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I'm probably way too far north to participate, but ideally I'd like to work with some people to extend a packet net like this to a wider group.

Is the idea of creating a digi link over the internet taboo to this kind of group? I am a big fan of radio-only packet, don't get me wrong...

At the same time, if I could get a local group of folks engaged and active, getting the radio infrastructure would only be a matter of time!

Thoughts?

Ken / KAØPIZ

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A wealth of information for stealth operation

Most everyone I know that lives in the area has issues with restrictions on putting up antennas. Here is a wealth of information passed on to my by Kevin, WBØOSP on operating stealth. These sites have everything from attic arrays to flagpole antennas.

Attic operations: http://www.geocities.com/n0hc/attic.html

Steath VHF/UHF antennas: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/AntVentures/baseants.html

Force12 - This company makes several high-quality, low profile antennas.
http://force12inc.com/sigmasv5gt5info-002.htm

These are just a few of the possibilities. Basically, "no antenna" is no excuse. If there's a will, there's a way as these examples show.


-Jeff /KCØVGC

This week....

This week we had the following fine fellows stop by...

KCØTQD James
KØAWD Alan
WBØRJR Bob
KQØQ Lance
KØDPS Doug
ACØHA Cecil
KC5MNP Mike
KDØCUT Tom
WBØOSP Kevin
KCØWSE Robert

Bob, WBØRJR made mention that his is expecting arrival of his Celwave 900Mhz vertical for use on the 900Mhz 927.5375 repeater. Cecil asked if a diplexer is required for HF/6m rigs.... the response was that you can go either way... use a diplexer or a coax switch. Tom, KCØCUT asked for information on how to best study for the General exam. Several answers were given. Most of them involved self-study using the ARRL Handbook and the ARRL Operating Manual using them to look up questions that you did not understand while taking the practice tests. Lance, KQØQ commented that he was awaiting arrival of his recent purchase of a 900Mhz handheld.

Hope to see everyone next week,

Jeff / KCØVGC