I'm on the same boat. I've done Slovenia, Italy, Argentina and Brazil the last 2 weeks on early spring. Now it's fairly dead. The equatorial theory really resonated with me (pun intended). It makes so much sense! Thanks Walt! 73 KD9ZMK!
My dad got me into 10 meter when I was going to college in Denver in the 90's. I used it like a cell phone (before I actually had one) and would relay message back to my dad that I was on my way home and by relaying messages from people all over, we could stay in contact while I was driving. We lived about 350 miles apart so we were too close to talk to one another by relaying messages. Really fond memories.
I worked LU1AAX in Buenos Aires from upstate South Carolina back in August, using JS8Call.. both of us were QRP, he was using a dipole, and i was using a ground mounted 5/8 vertical. 10 minute QSO over 5040 miles distance.
10 meters is booming! Sunday I worked Russia, Latvia, Switzerland. A special event station in Germany, DL100Radio. Belgium, Austria, France, Italy. I have worked 20 countries JUST ON 10m! Im only a tech, so 10 is my band right now. All with 100 watts and a Sirio 2016 5/8 wave CB antenna.
Loved this video Walt. 10 meters is why i upgraded to general....working 10m openings did it for me! I worked Buenos Aires Argentina this afternoon on 10. Such a cool band. Cant wait to see your videos on different 10 meter antennas, and thanks for all you do for the hobby!
Yep, 10m is why I went straight to general in a single testing session when I was first licensed. I had operated 11m, so I already knew the propagation patterns... and I wasn't going to settle for the allocation and power limits for tech plus.
Valid and important points, Walt. Also, remember that "the activity of a band is directly proportional to the number of amateurs willing to switch on their transmitters", to quote G2KQ (SK).
100% agree. I ask why is it dead. They say they don't hear anything. If everyone else is doing the same it will always be dead. I call CQ occasionally on 10 meters and listen. I here nothing except for one station. So I made the contact 12,620 miles away to Australia. 10 is dead because no one uses it.
10 meters is very popular in SÁ, for some reasons : down there wire antennas are not even part of the conversation. It’s always yagis and above, so the size of the antennas is important. Second is the price of radios, which push a lot of hams to use modified cb radios. Check the qrz page of SA hams, you’ll find the cobra 148 gtl very often in the station. That’s a radio hams like to modify. I, myself, as py2kgb, worked all dxcc entities that were on air (except 2) during my time as ham in 28mhz. Also got 225 11 meters divisions confirmed with qsl cards 😊😊 I like the 10 meters a lot, you can get tons of DX there. It has this issue you mentioned plus extra qrm from all sources, but it’s a great band populated with great DXers. 73!
Aloha Walt, here in Hawaii, 10 meters doesn’t open up until 10am or later. That’s why we can’t check into the 10-10 net from here. Lately, my average contact distance on one watt is 5,026 miles on my G90. Funny, I just can’t do the same on my 991A, the tuner on G90 is far more superior. I use a ground spike with a 2.5M telescopic with four 15’ ground radials. Great video, Walt. 🤙🏻
Thanks for the detailed explanation, Walt! I got my tech+ license back in '94 and oh boy, was ten meters ever hot back then. I worked the world from my '92 Ranger pickup and a 102' whip with my trusty Uniden President and a whopping 25 watts! As you mentioned, a big advantage with ten meters is that you don't need a huge antenna. I had a stealthy ten meter dipole on the roof of my house and never had one neighbor complaint. Had a couple of Q5 NZ contacts on ten over the last week. In my humble opinion, 10 meters should be labeled the magic band. 73's from Idaho.
I have to agree with you. I just made my first contacts on 10m as a tech using just a mag mount cb antennae on top of my truck. My first contact once the band opened up was from North Iowa to Mexico City Mexico during the early afternoon hours. I couldn't get over how far I was reaching. I'm hooked. Thanks for the great information.
Great explanation, been trying to wrap my head around 10m over the last few weeks and this helped tremendously. I have my foundation test booked here in Northern Ireland for 6 days from now, very excited to see what i can do with 10w on 10m!
Thanks Walt. I got my tech license in September 2023 and made some long distance DX contacts. Then summer came and nothing. This video explains why perfectly. Keep them coming.
Thank you for the video! I always learn something with the new drops. I was confused with the difficult propagation at times this summer despite the weather reports. Finally cooling down here in AZ from 115F and some POTA weather. Your enthusiasm always gets me excited to get out there w the gear! 73
Extremely valuable information, I have “heard” the majority of this information but you put it into terms I could “learn” thanks for helping me understand what makes this amazing band tick…function? Well. Thank you sir!
Thanks Walt, that makes a lot of sense! Having only been on HF since July, I was wondering what all the fuss about 10M was since I had never heard a single call there - until the last couple of weeks, when it suddenly came alive! It went from nothing, to routinely making 6,000 mile contacts across oceans - impressive! One thing I have noticed is on those distant DX contacts, I can hear then talking to other USA stations much closer to me - but I often don't hear the closer station at all! The skip propagation models you were discussing help make sense of that; I appreciate being able to match some theory up with what I see/hear happening. 73!
Thanks for watching! I'm actually putting together a video on "skip" so your comment is right on time. What you experienced was the DX stations were in your "skip zone" but the closer stations were not. Their signals were literally skipping right over you and not reaching you via groundwave. Thanks for the excellent comment! 73, Walt K4OGO
Hello, Walt, nice video. I was given 3 fiberglass whips. Two were identical. After getting tired of my 10 meter wire dipole ends oriented north and south all the time. I decided to make a rotatable dipole antenna. I trimmed them for 10 meters. I live in northern CA and have since worked a lot of DX to the far east and south Pacific. I employ the arm strong method of turning the antenna. 10 meters has been January through March this year. Gary KF6EWO
Thanks Walt, interesting video, remember my first sporadic e and tep experiences. Mainly concentrate on 10 fm these days, best dx being Qth Derbyshire mid uk to Reunion into long wire with 10 watts. I look forward to May June each year to play in this mode. Also rememember an 11 metre qso my daysbefore amateur radio 4 watts fm can contact from Outer Hebrides to a mobile contact on the motorway in central uk, don’t think the guy could quite believe it. Radio provides quite a few surprises certainly. Activating a mini expedition QRP from Welney lighthouse Hf/50/70 mhz in a couple of weeks, have managed to convince my XYL I need a couple of days operating fun. 73’s gd luck/dx Dave G0RGF
Great video! This video got me excited about 10m coming up this fall. We just got into CW seriously this year. In the spring, I trimmed a magmount CB antenna after watching one of your videos and made my first contact on 10m. During that time period, I made a handful of contacts that were further than I was used to. Then, I started having no "luck" with 10m. How I understand why! My wife and I also started doing POTA and have gotten regular contacts with Argentina. I haven't looked up the distances from the equator, but this video probably explains those too! 73 Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY
Thanks for your video …. I have been a Tech for a few decades ….. and am now working on my general to get into 20 and 40 meters . I have worked some 6 and 10 meters on a 10 watt unit and love the challenges . I now have a much better knowledge than I did before …. But you just taught me something that I did not know …. Very interesting video …. Now live in an HOA which has given more challenges to deal with …. The 10 meter band gets me on the air with some portable 10 watt equipment that the antenna is hidden in the garage and cable running to my basement . In the Spring and Summer …. I like taking it with me on camping trails with a Buddy stick …. But have always had trouble in the Summer …. Now I understand a lot better …. I couldn’t figure out why until now . Anyway thanks again ….. KB2UDD
Walt, I really like your approach with your videos. Clear and concise info with enthusiasm, just makes me want to go out and simply do it. What you are doing in all these videos really appeals to me in the low power and simple diy antennas. 10-11 meters is going off here DOWNUNDER . Have fun
Great info Walt, we all memerize answers to pass tests, but you just gave a great visual of how propagation works, especially on 10, looking g forward to jumping on, 73!
10, 11 and 12 are fantastic in the winter. I've worked 64 countries while truck mobile just since March when I got my call. I managed to snag the Falkland islands on 10m from Elizabethtown Kentucky while going down the road. It's gonna be interesting! 73 de KE8WLW
Thank you so much Walt! Fantastic explanation.. Our part 3 vid on how we pota is the activation. Excited to hear 10 is blowing up and I’m gonna have Katie do it as a tech (KQ4JUI). This will be her first solo activation, fingers crossed! ~airheadzradioadventures
Very good video, so refreshing to see someone getting excited about radio and explaining the possibilities of a particular band. This in turn gets others excited about amateur radio. It was nice to meet you at the Dayton/Xenia Hamvention this year. I was one of the folks at the Ten-Ten International table. Keep up the good work.
I started my HF journey on 20M hunting Pota around the US. Decided to try 10 Meters last week and got contacts from Southern Brazil and New Zealand. I was wondering how 10 Meters got me so much farther and I think you just answered that for me. Thanks!
I bought a FT-710 Built a 5/8 wave Ground mounted vertical out of speaker wire and a 4-1 balun from a broken mfj antenna right next to the base of Pikes peak in Colorado I talk with the East cost a lot Brazil, New Zealand and got Alaska and Hawaii on club calls a couple times . All my HF Antennas are home brew as a Tech I ncan even get the FT-710 to tune the 5/8 wave to 6m for weekly check-ins local. Walt is RIGHT Tech's have options for HF you do not have to wait for general! 😀
Thanks for the great comment! Building antennas is probably my favorite part of the hobby. So cool to see you are crushing it with home brew antennas. 73, Walt K4OGO
Great video. 10m is a favorite of mine. 12m has been open as well. Italy was coming in yesterday into N.Y. And I thought I head either Australia or New Zealand coming in but he was weak.
While watching this video I remembered I had a NZ contact recently and checked in my log for it. Sure enough, it was on 10 meters at 23:36 UTC, 7:23 PM local. His station is at 40.2 degrees south latitude and mine in at 32.3 degrees north. The bearing to his station from mine is 238 degrees. Maybe not transequtorial, but it all felt like magic anyway! Thanks for all you do.
Ha ha you trying to steal my ideas now. Hopefully will have my 10m Moxon finished this weekend. PVC and speaker wire lol. Will try it down in our harbour. USA comes in strong around the middle of our day in New Zealand. 73s Steve ZL1YX
Another great video, when 10m is open it’s a lot of fun. I remember in the old days there was a 10m event that would take place on Oct 10th 10/10. I’m sure it still takes place, I need to check into it.
Good points Walt. 10 Meters has been hot. Want to see the 10m band loaded with signals? Mark your calendar for Oct. 28-29th. for the CQWW SSB contest. I had never seen the band lit up like last year. This year will be even better. I go camping that weekend on my friends property where I put up a 10 thru 40 delta loop antenna. We have a great time and make most of our contacts on 10M. Keep the channel rockin my friend. Steve - Ad4xt in GA
This is an easy to build antenna for 10 Meters. This is what we used last year on 10M for the CQWW. Worked great for us. Steve - Ad4xt ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IJw6zvEFhhU.html
Thanks for the video, Walt. I have had 3 great 10 meter contacts recently. My first was California in the evening from GA. Another was Bosnia this past Saturday around 2 PM. There were plenty of other stations fading in and out, but the pileups were huge and I just couldn't get thru. I'm not giving up though. Can't wait to see the moxon, I really need ANOTHER antenna. LOL
Thanks Walt. I learned quite a few things watching this video. Once again from you. As I'm reading this in June, it's probably not the best period for 10m ahead as you say. but never mind. 73, Alain
Last year this time I was a freshly minted ham and all I had to work with was the AT-6666 clone in the truck. 10m was roaring and it continued all the way through until about April. Nice that it's coming back again. Makes the commute, short as it is, much more interesting :) Europe is starting to make more of an appearance. I caught a Russian station this morning for the first time in a long time. Haven't heard VK/ZL in the late afternoon yet, but I'm sure it won't be too long!
As always Walt superb vid as always, I made my first contact last night into Brazil from Scotland using 10w with the g90 I digress thanks 73 Ray MM7RWC
Not licensed. But I did set up an antenna and radio for 10m and I was amazedddddd. First day I had contacts from Long Island to LA California. Hit the Bahamas. Australia. New Zealand. And then Spain ! Such an amazing band. Would recommend to anyone new.
Way to go Walt....great lesson. I mostly play digital and notice lower numbers during the summer. However, I did reach down into SA and some into EU along with good numbers to NE USA. I usually start the day checking on 10M then to other bands. I have a hexbeam antenna which helps with DX. Thanks a bunch. This is a lot of great information.
NOT dead. I nailed a DX contact on 10m last week. 5100+ miles between Indianapolis, IN and Santiago, Chile. My only complaint is it the noise floor is ridiculous. wifi radios and wall warts LOVE to spit out interference in that range. I cant use it at home. I have to go "mobile" and run 10m from a park shelter to actually use it.
I got my tech a year ago about now. 10m was awesome until about April, then it was deeeeeead for SSB, pretty much just FT8. Was excited to see SSB open a week or so ago.
I waited well over a year to get my general. I am lucky with a large number of repeaters that have really good distance. It will not be that long before I go for the extra. I enjoy backpacking as far away as possible. The g90 isn't the best for that but it's working as first radio
This is happening to me currently in Knotts Island. New to the hobby I thought something was wrong with my EFHW to be hitting South America (only) so hard. Thanks for the explanation. 73. N4STS
Excellent! Ten meters is getting really good now. Having had some great 10 meter antennas, the best being a full size 6 element Yagi at 70 feet, I am pretty impressed with my three 10 meter dipoles during 10 meter contests and two dipoles at other times. When the band is open at all having a 10 meter dipole fairly broadside to the desired direction is not that far down from my best antenna! I figure I am giving up less than 2 S-units plus can instantly switch directions with a switch ( rotators are slow!). It only takes 32 feet of height to be one full wavelength high! Of course that makes any antenna pattern nulls very deep which is why I have the second dipole nearly at right angles to the first one. Ten meter propagation is not simple and your video is good info! 73, de N4DJ
The wife got me a 10M radio I've been eyeing for my birthday. Of course, we're going into the summer, so not the best time to get into 10M,but gosh is it exciting to be dipping my toe into hf voice (I've previously dabbled in 40M cw, it, uh, didn't go well)
Walt that Moxon is brilliant, I built one with some direction from Joe R and had a fabulous day with it yesterday up on the 12m Spider beam sitting on the 5th from the top segment. My Longest QSO 80W 14,500 Kilometers (9,150 miles) My area is fairly flat so no altitude assistance at all. I still cant get my head around UK to Australia on 80w SSB. It is very directional and extremely deaf behind the Reflector (Yes and its a reflector not a director (bloody obvious; my mistake!) I built mine for about £45 and £20 of that was the Jubilee clips - Next, I'm going to build a much lighter one and try to dual band it, 10 and 17M off Fiberglass telescopic masts But really cant wait to hear of your experience at the coast. 73
10 metres is in a range of frequencies from the high end of HF through to the low end of VHF. In that range it is possible to get ionospheric propagation from F, E and sporadic E layers, plus tropospheric ducting. In addition, specialized reflective modes from meteor trails and aurora can be had. I have worked all of those modes. Anyone saying that the band is dead in the Summer has not the slightest clue.
I think they do have a clue as they’re just referring to basic F2 layer HF skip and mostly for voice. I’ve monitored the MUF from both Europe and North America the past few years and these areas rarely got up to the 27 to 28 MHz range during the middle of summer. I mentioned tropo, aurora and sporadic E in the video, those are not daily reliable options.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES No, like many these days they are merely appliance operators that have passed some comical exam. If people want reliable point to point comms H24/365 they should use their cellphones. Amateur radio is about learning and experimenting.
Why isn't there more talk going on in the 12 & 15 meters bands? Just curious. A lot goes on the lower HF bands and enjoy listening there, but... Thank you for the videos and as always 73's from Big D Dallas Texas. 👍
Thanks for watching my friend! I think the reason you don't hear more on those bands is that they are not open at times and people just don't go there and check like they should. I love both 12 and 15 and have made some great contacts on those bands. 73, Walt
Mornin’ Walt.. I know it’s not the best timing (summer approaching).. but my CW friends here locally just started a 10m challenge (starts April Fools Day). We are going to see who can work the most states by the end of the year!! It’s going to be tough.. but how fun is that?! I’m counting on some summer sporadic E to assist! lol Mike - KK7MMN
Don't forget AM mode around 29.000 and FM around 29.600. Plus propagation depends on your location; your signals may be out there but bouncing into unoccupied areas, therefore the band appears dead.
Thanks, Walt, for interesting information on 10m band. Given that I live downtown with a lot of noise from different sources, would be ok to experiment with 10 m band in a noisy area? A dipole antenna length is only about 16,7 ft long so it's a bit easier to handle.
It seems hf is more like ducting on vhf .the ionosphere is so close to earth how cud a signal only have two hops ? And make it from America to Europe ,thanks for video
Something I'm not exactly wrapping my mind around is how they say "this band is an evening band, this one is a day band, great dx during the day" But I live in Brisbane Australia, so... anytime it's day for me, it's night for pretty much everyone else. So... I don't know it doesn't quite compute! I know the greyline helps, and local propagation has a day/night influence, but I find it hard to understand for DX?
Thanks! Get the Xiegu G90, it’s my favorite and it’s a perfect radio for a new ham. Great on 10 meters and it will be there with the other bands in the future. It also has a built in antenna tuner which is great. There’s an Amazon Prime Day coming up next week and they’re usually a deal on those days. 73, Walt K4OGO
Propagation is fickle…..I’m was using FT-891 at 100 watts (Queens NY) with a ham stick and magnet mount I’m hunting POTA there is a station 35 miles away in Robert Moses State Park and my signal report is a 4-1. I make a contact in Georgia signal report 5-7, make another contact in Canada and get 5-6 or 5-7 also Montana which was a 4-3 (this I can understand). In my own state 35 miles away I get the worse signal report
You antenna's takeoff angle as a vertical was suited for DX skip and thus the better reports farther away. You were skipping over the POTA station 35 miles away and that contact was a groundwave contact. Check out information on NVIS (Near vertical incidence skywave) and it will probably give you a clearer picture. A horizontal antenna versus a vertical would have probably given you a better signal report with that local POTA station. 73, Walt K4OGO
I was surprisngly able to contact someone 1700 miles away withnonky 10 watts, though im sure he had a really high gain antenna to be able to receive me
No one talks about 11m characteristics. I know its CB, and i dont use it either, but id still like to understand its propagation. I may need to use it one day.
