I've been a ham for 29 years. Never cared for contests. When I find that contesters have taken over a band, I turn off the radio.

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.

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

That's a cool green repeater on your shoulder!

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.

Did techs not remember in their ham study that they can use 6meters?

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!!

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.

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.

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)

Thank you for your great video.

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.

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.

I think your videos are very insightful. Thank you.

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

Good info.

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!