Friday, June 10, 2016

CQ 29.6


To the PNWVHF discussion group

> Ssb/fm 50, 144, 432 mhz

Not that the typical VHF bands are crowded, but do thoughts of operation ever drop to 10 meters.  The FM segment, typically 29.6 simplex, has operating characteristics similar to FM on 6 meters.  Most of the time it's dead quiet, then it opens up and the world comes rolling in.

I recently discovered, acquired (thanks HRO Portland) and yesterday installed the Diamond CP-610 vertical for 6 and 10 meters.

   http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9578

My idea is to use this for typically FM operation.  Scanning with the FT8900 when I'm in the shack and switching over to old slow packet when I'm not in.

So far, without trying to key up repeaters, I've worked the remote base in Shelton and that's it on 52.525.  Calling and calling on 29.6 returns nothing but static.  Surprising how much static there is even on FM.

So - anybody else playing on 29.6 and 52.525?

73
Bill, WA7NWP