Getting Started on 6 meters, 50Mhz, THE MAGIC BAND!! 

I had a pileup back in December 2001 on 52.525 FM. Got about 80 contacts from Michigan, Canada, Kentucky, Florida and Texas, crazy! I was using an old Motorola Maxar 50 @ 50W on a crappy home made 1/2 wave vertical dipole.

I'M 62 JUST RETIRED AND GETTING STARTED, YOUR SMART AND HELPFUL. THANKS

Thank you for your great video. I love 6 mts when open.

Thanks for the video, I'm studying for tests now and I think these videos give great PRACTICAL knowledge, particularly for a time compressed individual thats just learning.

That's a cool green repeater on your shoulder!

For a number of years my boss had one of those birds in our office it crapped All the chairs in the conference room it was disgusting. OK so I’ll listen to the 6 m talk now thanks Lol.

I think your videos are very insightful. Thank you.

Like always, lots of great information here! Randy. California.

Good info. Love the parrot! I have a Green-Cheeked Conure, Jasper, and a Canary-Winged Parakeet, Zeke.

Excellent video. Getting my Technician soon and already looking at what I can do beyond local 2m and 70cm repeaters.

Thank you for this video. I just recently started getting currious about the 6m band. And being new to a club I am personally going to do what I can to study the magic of the 6m band and hopefully bring it to the club.

I enjoy your videos. It was good to see Sophie too. I see you and I have similar interest (Radio and Birds). I have a pet Parrotlet named Bella. She is just as sociable as Sophie is with you. I have been in Amateur Radio since 1977. Keep up the good work on the Amateur Radio videos. 73, WA6TWJ Dave :)

I built a 6-meter halo loop over the weekend and tuned it. The next day, my first QSO on the new antenna was from my spot in North Central Texas to Idaho. For a few brief minutes, I heard a Hungarian ham working a nearby ham buddy. Magic!

6 Mts, I call this band, “The crazy Band”. One time I spend one hold afternoon with a open squelch in my radio; and then open for 15 minutes, and I make contacts with Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Galapagos Isl. 100 watts with the MFJ-1896.

Great breakdown - Thanks

Thumbs up and subscriber. Only been a general for a few weeks. I built a 6 meter quad today and it is less than 1.5 across the band. i am excited about using the "Magic Band". Thanks for the video. I really enjoy your down to earth videos and exuberance. Bob KJ7VUL La PIne Oregon.

Wow. You upgraded my radio comms knowledge from high school to college level in one video....

Eric, you make my day man! Thanks for your help and encouragement! I look forward to our QSOs (me, just newly a tech). Thanks again dude!!

great video love your radio !!!!!!!

My first taste of 6 meters was with my 5 watt HT and mag mount antenna on my truck on 52.525 FM! I was living out side of Hershey ,PA and I made a contact into norther Florida ! Man i was pumped! KB3HEY

Thank you! Just put up a wire 6 meter dipole because of the time you took to make this video. I too have a FT 450..... AT...... After years of being a Technician class I'm gonna go General class....... 73's de kf4lbg

I worked a repeater with a 5 watt handy talky and a rubber duck from Southeast Texas to North Carolina once. I was sitting at my kitchen window. Long qrp contact with a handy talky

Love this channel. Sophie is beautiful!! :-)

Great informative Video O.M. .. i just got 6 meter a while ago.. ICOM ic-736 .. I operate portable from my Van , roof mounted Antennas ..73 look out for more of your Vids...73

I worked Jamaica from my living room in North Carolina ! I was using a little Icom SSB QRP " 2 WATTS " using it's telescopic antenna ! MAGIC it is !!!

Thanks for a great video. Next time I would like to hear Sophie call CQ.

Bill-N6EF-Great video. @14:40-The exact same thing happened to me on a POTA activation. The guy was even nice enough to spot me on the new frequency only to find there was a net on the new frequency. I wasn't happy and moved back to my original frequency and sat there for the next 3 hours racking up contacts. I won't fall for that again. This has me interested in 6M which I've never worked before.

When you were tuning around 50.068 mhz (at 11:36), the cw you heard was a beacon station. They're usually low powered stations that hams put on the air that other hams use as indicators as to where 6 m is opened to at any given time. They're all slow speed cw, so a little effort put into learning cw can give some indication if and to where the band may be opened.

Good info, keep the cam rolling and hf running.

I got into this listening to my realistic Solid State Communications receiver from the late 70s it is shortwave with single sideband and I really enjoy listening to it it goes all the way from 10 m to 80 m. a little bit more and a little less on each end. And on the Comm receiver the CB bands are relegated on b a n d, e, the opposite end of 20 m scale

I park on 50.125, leave my scanner on low band fire so I may hear fire calls from 1000 miles away, and I have the DX maps email me when it's open. I LOVE 6!! Especially AM on 50.4

Gorgeous bird.

Love it, "can work it with a lightbulb" x'D

A great advertisement for getting a VHF beam antenna....what a difference it makes!

That happened to me once, was told to move and he never moved, but I found a groove and had a blast.

Enjoy watching your videos ! Like your comments on the contester taking frequency. I'm afraid your right about it coming to that, it's now 2022, 4 to 5 years since this video was posted. Contest have gotten ridiculous.

Rci makes a 2950 variant the rci 5054dx... that’s made for 6m good entry level radio.

cool vid, will check out the 6 sometime

Some great knowledge here. I am limited to VHF for the time being and am really enthusiastic about 6m. Recently built a wire dipole that I can put up anywhere as it's a somewhat practical length! Hope to see more 6m videos from you!

I love the Par Electronics 6m omniloop. Tuned perfectly for SSB ops. I'm looking forward to that next band opening.

Cool video Eric, I am a weak signal OP myself. I saw my friend Peter VA3ELE in your log, way cool! Hoop to work you on 2M one day.

Great video. I usually scan the CW portion of the band to check for beacons and spot them on dxmaps. This year has been hard to drum up some SSB activity because of the FT8 craze.

When I was in Central Florida in the late 70's the running joke for those active on meters among hams was do you have your W.A.N award, work all neighbors. at that time local TV stations were on vhf low hand and Hams interfering on 6 meters on local channels was quite often. With better tv's and switch much of TV to UHf, now a differnt story

The club just loaned me a ICOM-551D, turning it on for the first time. Never did 6 meter before. Tried a test with a friend across town, I barely heard him, he never heard me. So will play with it a bit, maybe move the antenna, see how it goes on this new 6 meter adventure.

Some people really want that paper. Look at the results of the ssb contest before with a handful of people really working "hard" for that award. Thanks for another great video and making me have to get my spare attic dipole trimmed up for 6

Enjoyed this band in the 80s and 90s living in England when it was used for band 1 tv channels. Would have nothing but snow on the screen, Then 30 seconds later a strong testcard from a tv station in Russia, Spain, Italy and all over.

thanks for the dx maps website. I never knew about it

Good info❗️

6 meters got by me because I skipped the Tech license back in 1983. But it's interesting. They say back in late 50s 6 meters was wide open, worldwide. Small beam with many elements also.

You lucky OMs in the US can use full 6m band even as technician, amazing. 73

I love you green FT-450.

I am between 2 6 meter repeaters hear. KD2SL and W2IVB depending on weather I can get them both with a HT. there is more but but only 5W ht . I have herd repeaters from very far away when band opens. buy time i looked up PL the band dead. a part of 10 meter is open to tech also. I have a 70 Cm to 10M FM link hear. WA2HKS buffalo its fun when 10M opens. GREAT points on the 6 meter band. I never herd AM. My tube amp does all mode. I get crazy QRM 6 meter hear.

I love 💕 it

TNK's for video EA3DIX !!

when i was living near Portage WI. I worked a station in Madson Wi, appox 40 miles apart on 6 meters SSB on my Icom706 mkiig running 100 wats in to a 160 meter dipole(yes it was full length)

26:43 Was your 6m contact done using an IC-T8A handheld? I have one of these and love it (and it is one of the only 5W handhelds that I know of which does 6m).

i have Cockatiels one is named B1Rd.. they are always on me when I am on the radio

nice drums good topic

My uncle just got his tech ticket and should have his general in march. He might have his extra class by mid summer. He is motivating me to get all that too.

Be sure to check 53.670- 103.5 KD2SL! 100watts out of a giant Batwing array antenna originally used for analog TV! The thing crosses state lines in the worst conditions and during summer it is VERY popular. Kevin, the man with the plan is a great guy! He has details on his website. The thing is at 100watts partially because going any higher might cause the repeater to become not just an Upstate NY repeater but an upper East Coast one!

I had a yaesu VX5R that ran six meters. Only used it a few times.

I really like the idea of seeing VHF contesing but I doubt I could get much done with an HF end fed antenna.

Thanks!

6 meters almost sounds like the old "you can't get there from here" joke. It's all yours, techs....just FIND it. :) Good info. I need to go antenna shopping.

Awwww shes cute i love birds a lot

another great vid... you coming up to hamcation this year? I'll be making the trek from daytona. Ironically I was in your neck of the woods the past couple days for work. 73 wx4cb

Great video. How do you rate the 450 compared to the 450D ?

Really nice video. I'm a newb going for tech/general? Never fathomed that 6m would go that far.Sophie Is sweet.( in the vid) Do's she call CQ at night while you're sleeping?lol.Can she play double bass?Really nice video man.

Got it !

To bad 6 meters is dead right now. I love working 10 and 6 meters FM simplex. I have a older Icom 706 with a ldg pro200 tuner going into a 102 inch whip on my truck. The 102 turns everything from 20 meters to 6 with the tuner no problem. Can’t wait for the band to open back up again. Ki4agd.

One will find the exact same number of varying opinions out there as there are hams! Don't you love the diversity? It's very fun to watch! 73 y'all

like your bird

I'm in SoCal and check all over the 6m band daily and have only heard one other station up there in years. When I check the map, where I am is a black hole with reported activity stripes all around me... But nothing within 100 miles. Very strange.

I modified a public service surplus FM transceiver that operated on 47 megacycles. To operate on 47 megacycles to 54 megacycles. But it is FM only. The man I modified the radio for has never claimed his radio. It has been over a year. With many telling me that six meters is seeing some activity, I have been curious to turn the radio on. I know most DX is LSB and mostly USB. But, I wonder if there are any rougues that are using FM for DX? I guess there is no rule against using FM for DX. It just seems that many on the radiowaves are conformists and do not want to try the obviously different. But surely someone on the planet should be transmitting 6 meter FM for DX on a vertical antenna. I can not transmit because I have no license. There is no rule against using the radio to listen. It is not as if anybody will know if I am listening without a license. Besides, the guy that left the radio owes me some money for modifying the radio and it is one and a half years overdue. Surely he is not going to mind me plugging it up for a listen.

Love 6 meters. I really like 6 FM. Got 20 states on FM.

Excellent video, sad to hear about the guy who got you to qsy 73

I have a Nanday conure (about the same size and color, and VERY talkative!), and she, also, enjoys harassing me when I am on the air. 73, Ed -- KI6DCB

I have a LNR-END-FED. I talk all over with it is protable ... I have a 6m repeater over here I get into fine..

so would a tyt 9800 mobile be a decent rig for 6 or should i just go with an HF rig to start? Thanks 73 ko4kad

What sort of antenna and power were you using on 6m?

Thank you for your inspiration! de KF4LBG

Dude, I agree - Poor Form on that guy's part, but that's one heck of a radio you have there.

I’m a born again ham. I just upgraded to general. I’m thinking of getting a Yeasu 991A and MFJ 680. What’s your suggestions. I live in Ohio.

Ok what mode do you use ? SSB or FM ?

Just today a gun club member and club friend called me and said "I have 3 antennas in the boxes that were given to me". He went on to say, he has had them in the garage for over a year, and if I want them, pick them up. I did, and WOW, Free. A 5-BTV, a CHA250B, and a Cushcraft A50-3S. All still in the boxes, never opened. Anyway, I am thinking about the 6m, but not sure if its worth me buying a rotator for it, I can't remember the last time I was on 6m. Hmm!!

Tnx for your explenation about 6m band, I began some 20 years ago with a elektuur transvertor (1W) and the ft290 working with OE and experimental 2 ele 1m above te ground, THAT was something else than 2m hi, with my ft817 working from a ship on sea (max 5W) and a rubber duck, after came a 5ele tonna and the ft690 (10W) folow by the TS60 (90W)and later(now) the tS480 (100W)and a 4ele, I will be qrv (hope so) from JN55 & JN34 in june 2020 (contest to give points away) there was a time a worked soud-Africa and the Amerika's on 6m with 10W but now anymore ? Why ? too bad propagation - to mutch noise ? also ardf'er & ATV'er ON7ARQ ex ON1ARQ 73 de Patrick ( JO10VX )

I've been into radios all my life and I know how they work but recently getting into ham both am and FM I cannot use on my 40 channel CB with single Side Band it doesn't go that high.. so are you using a upper frequency I do have a dual band UHF VHF

Is that a doppler shift on 6m

Yep there are people out there that will just go over the top of you just so they can feel good about getting a piece of paper. People that behave like that maybe have a void in their lives that they feel they have to fill. So I suppose if a piece of paper does it for you. You get what I'm saying folks.

ERIC ..I SEE YOU HAVE A YAESU 450 CAN YOU TELL ME I PURCHASED MINE SECONED HAND & I DO NOT HAVE ANY COLOURS ON THE DISPLAY NOT EVEN IN THE MENUE ONLY shows up whit WHITE buttons not lit up,. IS THIS A fault or as something gone wrong with this radio

Beautiful green and red Macaw 🦜 I have a full size blue and gold.

I tuned in and in my area, Chicago area, I couldn't hear anything. I started DX on 6 back in the late 90's when I was a Tech. I had a MFJ-9406 SSB radio and a 3 element yagi and I worked a lot of DX! I think it's the best way for Techs to get used to DX. de KB9MNM

Where is your change range frequency until 50 Mhz, my frequency only 32 mhz

I made it to the first RU-vid ad at 2:36

I'm a bit confused as to why JT65 would cut through better than CW. Anyone knowledgeable care to qualify the statement ?

Cool bird. We have a wild flock of them here in st Pete Florida. Annoying AF though.

I'm just a tech and was learning a lot to fast & then my elmer took his life and i walked away from the radio Now i want get back on the air i got great radio icom-746 and a kenwood 440 sat A 10 meter virtical and a homebrew spyder with it set for listening on 3.9333 lsb I'm mostly just voice chat & need brush up on the Q codes I'll be adding the 6 meter to my spyder on the roof as inverted v feed point is from peek the roof running down both sides the roof and long wire runs north south in same way to the ends with double dog bone connectors tied to a post as not lot room in my lot ! But my question is where should i tune to moniter for voice on 6 meter am and or ssb I'm located in northern indiana

Yes 6 meters is techable. Plus techs can do all the fancy stuff on 2 meter. you can work tropo, moonbounce a d all that stuff, all it takes is the equipment.

Back when I got my tech license Tech did not have 6m privileges way back in 1995

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