From owner-qrp-l@LEHIGH.EDU Fri Oct 24 11:42:06 1997 Received: from fidoii.CC.lehigh.EDU (fidoii.CC.lehigh.EDU [128.180.1.4]) by oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id LAA01606 for ; Fri, 24 Oct 1997 11:42:05 -0400 (EDT) Received: from Lehigh.EDU ([127.0.0.1]) by fidoii.cc.Lehigh.EDU with SMTP id <35024-51380>; Fri, 24 Oct 1997 11:40:50 -0400 Received: from nss4.cc.Lehigh.EDU ([128.180.1.13]) by fidoii.cc.Lehigh.EDU with ESMTP id <34855-51380>; Fri, 24 Oct 1997 11:35:27 -0400 Received: from ns1.arlut.utexas.edu (ns1.arlut.utexas.edu [129.116.212.1]) by nss4.cc.Lehigh.EDU (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id LAA15090 for ; Fri, 24 Oct 1997 11:34:47 -0400 Received: from mail-firewall.arlut.utexas.edu (ns1.arlut.utexas.edu [129.116.212.1]) by ns1.arlut.utexas.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id KAA17229; Fri, 24 Oct 1997 10:34:24 -0500 (CDT) Received: from msmailgw1.arlut.utexas.edu (msmailgw1.arlut.utexas.edu [129.116.224.156]) by mail-firewall.arlut.utexas.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id KAA17195; Fri, 24 Oct 1997 10:34:22 -0500 (CDT) Message-Id: Date: 24 Oct 1997 10:33:15 -0500 Reply-To: rohre@arlut.utexas.edu Sender: owner-qrp-l@LEHIGH.EDU Precedence: bulk From: "rohre" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: How to use QRP Ten Tec on 6M X-To: qrp-l@LEHIGH.EDU, "tentec list" X-Mailer: Mail*Link SMTP for Quarterdeck Mail; Version 4.0.0 X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN Status: RO The Ten Tec reflector and qrp-l posts often mention the Ten Tec 20M to 6M transverter that allows a QRP rig on 20 to be used on 6M. Those new to 6M often wonder how to know when 6m is open, as they may check it at random for days and NOT hear a thing, nor get answers to CQ's. I mentioned an idea to a new 6M ham that I had heard over the years in VHF magazines and used at times, and will pass it on for what it is worth. ( This is in reference to the USA TV channel assignments.) You can easily buy a cheap black and white TV at garage sales, flea markets etc. Something like the 5 or 6 inch jobs. Then, make yourself an omni directional antenna for Ch. 2. (Like a vertical ground plane). Ch. 2 is so close to 6m band that when you pick up a fuzzy signal on it from a distant TV station, then you know 6m is likely open. Of course, if you have a local Ch. 2, this does not work. But, with the audio turned down, you could leave your Ch. 2 monitor on in your shack when you are doing other things, and if a video signal starts to show up, it would be good to check the 6M band for activity or start calling CQ yourself to raise some. If you can identify the city the Ch. 2 distant signal is originating from, you can rotate your beam to take advantage of the possible propagation from that direction. Let's use 6! Stuart K5KVH rohre@arlut.utexas.edu