Any hams that do 6 meters?

[rayydio]

The last week or so, JA has been open to the SW US on 6 meters FT8 via Tropo Ducting in the afternoons and evenings.  I have snagged 4 myself with just my PAR OA-50 and less that 100 watts.

NASA was saying that we are in solar maximum for the next year or so, so you can load up bed springs and work the world!

73 Jim K6KGW

[shortrackskater]

Hi Jim
Mark here... N6JCQ. I'd LOVE to try this. I'm still a novice... at this!  Actually I'm a General Class ham, but have primarily been only on 2 meters. Finally about four years ago, I bought a used Kenwood (totally forgot the model), rigged up a long wire on the roof with an antenna tuner and had a blast making contacts as far as Alaska with just a piece of wire strung on my roof.  Unfortunately that radio crapped out and I sold it when I had to make a major life change moving far from my old city, where I had just got into an emergency group in Costa Mesa with VERY well known ham in it. Maybe you've heard of him: Gordon West WB6NOA.  I'm planning on getting something, probably a Yaesu - soon as I get a few more home improvement tasks done.
That's very interesting though making those contact! I recall a few friends contacting people in Japan on good old 11 meters, decades ago. I wonder if anyone still tries that?

[rayydio]

Hey Mark,

Well, you know that 11 meters and 10 meters are very close in frequency and 10 meters has been hopping for several years now!  It is open almost daily to Asia and Australia/New Zealand.
 Oh yes, I think also every ham has heard of Gordo West.  I had one of his General class study guides many years ago.

I became interested in the Magic Band several years ago and I operate there almost all the time, only venturing off when there is no 6m propagation.  It is unusual for 6m DX so late in the season, but that is what makes ham radio and especially 6 meters so interesting.  One minute it can be dead and the next the waterfall can be full of DX!!

73 Jim

[shortrackskater]

Hi Jim
I really want to get more involved in this but need the gear and the antennas. I just have to prioritize things here as I still settle into this home, after TWO years.
I actually had his radio class in person, decades ago so it was really fun with him there. Back when I was living in Costa Mesa, I either saw him (he'd give my stuff I'd pick up at his house) or hear/speak with him on our weekly net and then again on his simplex net afterward.
Unfortunately I could no longer afford to live in my OWN city due the insane housing costs there. A "fixer upper" home there will cost you a minimum of about 1.1 million, MAYBE. So I moved 80 miles North East to the high desert.