On Tue, 07 Jun 2005 01:03:47 GMT, james wrote:


Actually the 6 meter amamture band was carved out of the TV band. It
used to be channel 1. Back when TVs had an IF of 21 MHz. When TVs
moved up to 45Mhz IF, channel 1 became a nigh tmare for the receiver
local oscillator. So the 6 meter amature band was created.

Yep, that's what it was all about. Good thing they moved the TV I.F.
from 21 Mhz, or transmitting on the 15 meter band would be a problem

I had an old TV that had channel 1. It had to be a 1950's vintage.
Long before UHF tuners were required.


Yes living in areas where there is a channel 2 station is problems.
Generally precludes that you keep power levels under 50 watts.
Sometimes under 20 watts. Does play havoc for local ragches, but even
20 watts on 6 when it opens is more than enough on 80% of the time. I
have made transmissions from Ft Lauderdale to New Orleans with 3 watts
and a 60 inch whip antenna. I have even been heard in a DX contest
with that same setup.

Yep 6 meters is what the CB band was about 40 yrs ago. Nice and quite.
30 watts and you were a loud station.

6 meters has seen a bit of a revival of sorts. Thanks to cable and
satellite TV, TVI isn't near what it was before. Coupled with modern
radio designs which do a far better job at spurious output
suppression, RFI issues on 6 are a small percentage of what they once
were. I use 6 every day. A friend of mine has a repeater there, and I
run it when I commute. There's also some interesting DX that pops up,
especially at this time of year.

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

Here is a good little amp kit for the band:
http://www.communication-concepts.com/ar313.htm

John

"Rocky Roads" wrote in message
...
what do all thank

6 meters is an interesting band, however it has never had the popularity of
other bands from 80 to 2 meters. If you are in a fringe zone for channel 2
television, you will find out why.

Forget the hams; when you get a number of channel two television watchers
complaining to the FCC as well as to the channel, you will find out exactly
why it has never been as popular as other bands (best include 440 as well).

Hell, 220 is a US only band, so equipment is expensive. Not a
lot of market for it. It's pretty private, though. 440 has lots
of repeaters, but it's not as popular as 2 meters is.