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Maybe someday
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I operate over seas a lot of the time. Mainly in the Philippines and dont believe I can legally use it there. But maybe can on Guam or Hawaii, as soon as my ships Master will let me operate
Posted by
N6HPX
on November 3, 2009
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60 meters
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I have tried 60 from Long Island a few times. Only had one QSO and during that QSO some guy read me the "rules" about keeping it short and listening between breaks for other stations. We were listening and obeying the 60 meter "rules", but that sure ruined it for me. Oh, well back to 30m !
de K2JX
Posted by
K2JX
on November 3, 2009
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60M BAND
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Today is Nov 3d 2009. For the last two weeks 60M Amateur (shared) frequencies have been full of digital interference and absolutely unusable here in Louisville KY. At best there may be one "channel" you can use, sometimes! I've been on this band since March of 2004, and this is the worst it has ever been.
Posted by
K4SFC
on November 3, 2009
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60 Meters and keep'n it alive
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I'm more interested in our VHF,UHF, and SHF bands, but I am all about keeping ALL of our spectrum alive!
Posted by
WA6BFH
on November 3, 2009
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Pointless as no CW
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What is the point of a band with no CW?
Raj, N2RD
Posted by
N2RD
on October 31, 2009
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60M
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Most hams would complain if they were hung with a NEW rope! Who are hams to believe that they are entitled to the ENTIRE radio spectrum? Instead of gratitude for a token allocation to test a new area of the spectrum, all I hear is WHINING about the size of it or the modes allowed. GROW UP, babies. The world does not revolve around hams!
Tom DGN
Posted by
WB6DGN
on October 30, 2009
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60M
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Most hams would complain if they were hung with a NEW rope! Who are hams to believe that they are entitled to the ENTIRE radio spectrum? Instead of gratitude for a token allocation to test a new area of the spectrum, all I hear is WHINING about the size of it or the modes allowed. GROW UP, babies. The world does not revolve around hams!
Tom DGN
Posted by
WB6DGN
on October 30, 2009
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AF6IT
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Ditto the "Its not a band it is a set of channels" comment. Quite restrictive, and I don't use my mic very often. Too many other things I'd rather spend my time & effort with.
Posted by
AF6IT
on October 30, 2009
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60 Meters
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I have been active on 60 meters since its inception and have enjoyed the new "channel allocations" immensely. With only 20watts I have worked all states with the exception of Hawaiithus far. (As a side note.. if I lived in Hawaii "Paradise" my radio time would be limited as well) On 5.403.5 I have worked the UK as well with just 20 watts. For me it is important to utilize all the bands I am entitled to. I work everything from 432 SSB to 160m, 60meters is exciting for me because it allows experimentation with limited ERP. I utilize a 530' loop @ 75 feet and a vertical @ 100' with ground radials and have had amzing results. 60m is just one more band to enjoy as an active ham :)
Posted by
N3WVB
on October 29, 2009
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listened and that was enough
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Actually there was no correct answer for my opinion. My tuner will make my antenna work for 60 meters but no antenna just for it.
I did listen, and from what I heard, when I did was a lot like 75 meters, some clicks and maybe hog the channel. (yes it is a channel). Haven't listened to it for the last several years so maybe it has changed.
Above is my opinion only, yours will vary most likely.
KT
K8YZK
Posted by
K8YZK
on October 28, 2009
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Forgot one reply
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Not even remotely interested
Posted by
N5LRZ
on October 28, 2009
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60 Metres
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60M is available in the UK on a Notice Of variation (NOV). I have been using the band, or 7 channels if you prefer, for a few years now. We can use any narrow-band mode.
http://www.rsgb.org/spectrumforum/hf/5mhz.php
73, Stewart GM0GTU
Posted by
GM0GTU
on October 28, 2009
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60 Metres
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60M is available in the UK on a Notice Of variation (NOV). I have been using the band, or 7 channels if you prefer, for a few years now. We can use any narrow-band mode.
http://www.rsgb.org/spectrumforum/hf/5mhz.php
73, Stewart GM0GTU
Posted by
GM0GTU
on October 28, 2009
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"The 50w ERP is nice because all stations are equal. 100w would be nicer, so we wouldn't need to remember to cut back a 100w rig."
So just build an antenna system with 3dB loss compared to a dipole.
300 feet of RG-58 feeder will do it.
;-)
73
Dan
Posted by
N3OX
on October 25, 2009
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60 meters
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I am a CW lover, but I also enjoy 60M. The channelized operation makes it easy to monitor or scan, and activity that starts up is always on frequency. The propagation is a nice mix of what you get on 40 and 80. The 50w ERP is nice because all stations are equal. 100w would be nicer, so we wouldn't need to remember to cut back a 100w rig.
Posted by
W3DL
on October 24, 2009
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Not in the UK, but still enough to be getting on with
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I ticked "What's 60m?". Just checked the RSGB site and note no 60m allocation in the UK. I generally work 20m as that suits my antenna which suits the space I have to build it in. I don't use the tuner for 20m. It gives me an interesting range of contacts on often QRP power levels, mainly Europe, some Russia, once America though I had to increase to 20W. Maybe with some alterations I have 40m and 80m to look at some day.
That said, for some emergency use or if just interested in Near Vertical Incidence operating, I hear that allocations in that frequency area could be very useful.
Posted by
M0RJC
on October 24, 2009
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Not a Ham Band
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60 Meters is not a Ham Band like the other Ham Bands. 60 Meters is like 11 Meters was years ago before '58 in the USA and '62 in Canada here. Hams were allowed to use 11 Meters Years ago until the decision came to make Citizens Band or General Radio Service as it is officially called in here in Canada. The 60 meter band is not open to us Canadians but we were allowed on those Frequencies briefly if Granted Special Permission by Industry Canada. NTIA and the FCC made special concessions to Allow US Hams to use 60 Meters. That is why only USB mode on the assigned Channels and the 50 watt ERP limit is in place on that Band. That band a Military or US government Band they are Primary Users. They very kindly are letting the US Hams use those 5 Channels. I think a lot of Hams are missing this very Important point. I am looking forward to giving 60 a try if us Canadians ever get Permission to use 60.
73
Gerry VE7BGP
Posted by
VE7BGP
on October 22, 2009
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Homebrew 60M TX
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Funny, I do 99% CW and don't care for the idea of channelized operation, but ... I wanted my next homebrew project to be SSB and I thought, why not put it on a band that my current rig doesn't cover. So I did. 10 watt SSB, DDS frequency control, conventional crystal filter design. I made two or three contacts to prove that it workd and haven't been on 60 since. But that doesn't mean I won't go back.
http://kennnick.googlepages.com/60meterssbtransmitter
Posted by
WA5BDU
on October 20, 2009
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Back to 60mtrs
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So it's back to 60 mtrs for me. As a MARS member in the '60s, I plugged a 5395 Kc Xtal into my Heathkit DX-20 transmitter, and picked up traffic from the Big Kahuna, station WAR. To me, the new channelized band is something like 2 meters, but with longer range--up to 1000 miles for me. Good for a short chat.
Posted by
W9NPI
on October 19, 2009
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Few contacts
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I have made two contacts, the most recent Saturday with K4M (surprise surprise). I am building a tuned dipole to utilize it more efficiently AND have a tunable antenna for our Alaska only 60 meter allocation. My G5RV tunes 60, but not well. I do not expect a lot of contacts, given my location up here, but love to play with new bands.
Posted by
AL7GA
on October 19, 2009
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60 meters
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I'm new to HF (General only since June), so I'm new to 60 meters as well as everything else. I've had a few QSOs there, as my long-wire antenna fed with an AH-4 autotuner and an IC-706MKII seems to do well those. Mostly regional QSOs, though, but that's fine. I like the fact the band is quieter, with far less QRM and "splattering" from all the poorly-tuned high power amps (like on 80m).
I wish all bands were like 60, as the general incivility I've found on some bands (like 80m) is almost enough to make me leave the hobby.
Posted by
KG4GPJ
on October 19, 2009
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channelized?
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I really don't like channelized arrangements.
Why don't we allocate 60 meters and some of the other useless warc freqs to net operations so we can get 40 and 80 back for real amateur use. Nets are becoming commercialized use of amateur radio.
Posted by
KD7YQM
on October 19, 2009
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Limited Poll choices
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Why can't there be a simple Yes/No choice?
I don't operate sixty meters, not because my rig won't work there, but because I don't want to operate on a channelized band of limited utility.
Let the emcomm whackers have 60. It's perfect for them. As a ham band tho, its the pits.
73 Gary
Posted by
WG7X
on October 18, 2009
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I don't like SSB enough.
ERP power limit is pretty convenient though. My 80m vertical tuned with tuner in the shack has just a tad over 3dB feedline loss to keep me legal without turning the rig power down :-)
But I don't really use the band so far besides making a few contacts for the heck of it when it first opened up.
73
Dan
Posted by
N3OX
on October 17, 2009
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No interest
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As the band is presently confiqured with no cw priviledges I don't have much interest.
Larry
WA8QNN
Posted by
WA8QNN
on October 17, 2009
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Wow, eye-opening comments
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It's very interesting that some folks have such strong
opinions based on erroneous information. The primary
users of the range of frequencies we know as 60 meters
are the federal government and the military. Since hams
share use of those frequencies, the primary users
wanted/needed a way to quickly communicate with the
hams during times of emergency in order to ask us to
cease operating. That was done most easily by restricting
the hams to use upper-sideband only. CW was not
banished because it was never authorized to hams in the
first place. And the mode restriction was not the work of
some large committee. It was from the NTIA, the federal
agency that governs frequency spectrum for the U.S.
federal government.
If you go back and read the fine print about the story of
how 60 meters got authorized to U.S. hams in the first
place you will see that the FCC was all ready to allocate
hams a real band in the vicinity of 60 meters -- primarily
to facilitate emergency communications when the MUF
was too low for 40 meter use -- when the NTIA stepped
in at the last minute and voiced its strong opposition. So,
when we got the 5 channels with mode and power
restrictions, it wasn't the FCC's idea. It was the result of a
heavily negotiated compromise between the two federal
agencies. Heck, you guys can't even accurately blame the
ARRL for the situation. We're lucky to have what we have.
More recently, the ARRL petitioned the FCC to increase
the allowable PEP ERP output from 50 to 100 watts, to
change one of the 5 frequencies because of continued
interference from a federal user and to authorize CW and
PSK31 use within any of the 5 designated channels. Since
each channel is more than a couple kilohertz wide, several
CW or PSK31 signals could fit at one time.
In time, we might really get a real band -- 50 to 150 kHz
wide -- but probably not for a while yet. Heck, a source at
ARRL told me the Coast Guard even asked during these
discussions if hams could be mandated to use VOX
because "some of those guys really get long-winded and
if we need the frequency in a hurry for an emergency, it
would be hard to get their attention." No VOX mandate
yet as far as I know.
73, N4KZ
Posted by
N4KZ
on October 15, 2009
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Maybe later
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Perhaps next year I'll try it. There is enough action on 40 and 75/80 most of the time to keep me happy, and I get to use CW. Only one of my rigs will work 60M, and it's not been in service for a couple of months now. Maybe later ...
Posted by
K4IQT
on October 15, 2009
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What frequency
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What is the allocation for 60 mtr
please ? In SA we are not allowed that band.
Let me know via email ZR4LP@lantic.net if possible.
ZR4LP
Posted by
ZR4LP
on October 14, 2009
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60M BAND
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One other thing, there is some QRM from boats, on the edge of our shared amateur frequencies from time to time. I don't know why but apparently the FCC can't get it stopped.
Posted by
K4SFC
on October 14, 2009
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60M BAND
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My first QSO on 60M was on March 6th 2004. Been there every since. I love this band AND the restrictions. It keeps the "more fire on the wire" guys somewhere else. Come enjoy where the QRM ain't. Saw a few wrong postings about this band. First of all there are no nets on this band that I know of. Maybe they are not allowed. I have NEVER seen anyone act like a "channel" belongs to them. However, if you break in to join the QSO, be sure to pass it back to the others. I had one guy join us, then he had a breaker, and he NEVER quit talking with the other guy. The rest of us got left out. Not very nice of him.
Posted by
K4SFC
on October 14, 2009
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CQ Contest....
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On a weekend, after you've heard enough....
"CQ Contest, CQ QSO Party"....
"Again, again?"
"QRZ'ed? Again"?
....come to 60 meters and join in the fun. The band is not the greatest in the summer because of the static, but easy to work Europe in the winter. In fact, a good 24 hour band in the winter.
73, Bill - WA8MEA
Posted by
WA8MEA
on October 13, 2009
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Every time i try it out I hear nothing. The band has never been open in my area. I hear plenty on 40m and 75m but not a thing on 60m.
I will keep trying though.
Posted by
N7MYW
on October 13, 2009
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I agree
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I have to agree. It is not like a CB band. The rules are there because we are NOT the primary user. I am damn glad we have even a little slice on 60m. I know the ARRL and others are working slowly to get us a section of the band instead of 5 frequencies. Time will tell. If you feel that 60m is not for you then stay way. That will leave more air time for the rest of us that do. Some folks just have to complain even if the hangman is using a new rope.
Posted by
N0FPE
on October 13, 2009
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Not yet
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I'm working on it, slowly. My new antenna should work there. I need to get my SWR analyzer set up so I can use it to tune my tuner - neither of my two rigs that operate on the band will transmit a carrier for tuneup purposes.
Posted by
K0RGR
on October 13, 2009
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It's on my "to-do" list. I now have an antenna and rig that will cover it. I'm not much of a phone guy but would like checking out the propagation there. I like the power limit, that's what also makes 30 a fun band.
Posted by
WA5VQM
on October 13, 2009
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channelized, power
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I don't think the rules on 60M are stupid at all. There are good reasons for them, because it is a shared band. It is not CB just because we are restricted to specific frequencies.
I like the fact that it is channelized and transmit bandwidth is limited.
Instead of hit or miss across a couple hundred KHz you can monitor any one of the 5 frequencies and have a good chance of hearing a CQ. More channels would be nice though, and then a couple of them could be designated as calling channels.
Everyone on 60M is sociable and no one hogs the limited channels available. No idiots 1 KHz away from you even though they obviously hear you.
I like the fact that power is limited to 50 W. No idiots on the frequency or 1 KHz away overmodulating with a 1.5 KW leeenyar amplifar. No one feels the need for 1.5 KW because there are no contests.
Posted by
KC2WI
on October 12, 2009
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60 meters
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It's set up like another CB band and hams don't like being channelized. I see no use for it myself. Stupid rules and just one more reason I have lost respect for the FCC.
Posted by
K0SEP
on October 12, 2009
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60 meters
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Great Band - stupid rules - the sorrier your antenna and feedline, the more power you get to run - no cw - - must have been a very large and diverse committee to come up with that ****
Posted by
K4ESE
on October 12, 2009
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Busy Every Morning
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A bunch of us get on 60 every morning after our 75 meter nets. It has great propagation characteristics for medium range rag chewing. I enjoy it a lot.
Posted by
W2FBS
on October 12, 2009
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Rarely use it
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Since the band is limited to SSB, I don't have much use for it. I've noticed some use it for their local ragchew nets, I guess that is OK, but it is like 80 SSB, and some get irked of someone else is on "their" frequency.
Posted by
WB4M
on October 12, 2009
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60 meters
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It is very good that we have anything in this part of the spectrum, notwithstanding the restriction to SSB. There is a nice group of people who hang out on this band, and it has propagation characteristics that favor medium distances. I do wish there were more activity there.
Would also be great if we could be given some privileges in the 500kc and /LF/VLF range.
Posted by
WA2DTW
on October 12, 2009
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60 Meters
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I have worked 60M 4 or 5 times. If they would make the band a real ham band like the rest of them continuous VFO controlled from 5.325 to 5.405 if would be a popular band.
Posted by
KA5ROW
on October 12, 2009
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rarely
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I've used it rarely, and not at all in past year or so. It has great potential if opened up, especially for ARES, but with only 5 channels and limited to SSB it leaves out a lot potential.
Ed K7AAT
Posted by
K7AAT
on October 11, 2009
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Not too interested
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1. It's a set of channels, not a band.
2. CW is not permitted. (It wasn't "banished" from 60m, it wasn't ever allowed).
3. With the the power limit specified in terms of ERP, there's not much incentive for antenna improvements there (except perhaps for receive antennas).
I may try it some day, but am in no rush.
73,
Chuck NI0C
Posted by
NI0C
on October 11, 2009
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60 Meters
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I don't use 60 Meters because the FCC chose to banish CW from the band. Wonder if that's because there's no one at the FCC who can copy morse code??
W4GFA
Posted by
W4GFA
on October 11, 2009
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Busy Local
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Some local hams spend long periods of time on 60 meters in extended rag chews, when they happen to go on the air. At most times it is a very quiet band, except for these QSOs.
Traffic will pick up as more and more hams listen to the band and then participate on it.
Posted by
AI2IA
on October 11, 2009
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60 meters
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i am a technichan so, no.
Posted by
KF6NNR
on October 11, 2009
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Occasionally
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Most of what I've heard was local but the dx was always on 5.403.5.
Posted by
KI4NCX
on October 11, 2009
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