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Triplecguy
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 4:32 pm: | 
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Could anybody out there please explain to me why 6 meter radios are so expensive as compared to other 10 meter/ham radios? Plus, on top of being expensive, they only put out like 10 watts of power. What the heck is going on?
DAN |
bruce
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 6:23 pm: |
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because they are made in such small numbers I have been active on 6 meters almost 40 years and its always been that way I recomend if you want to go on 6 meters either a all band radio or ranger 5054 the new one runs 100 watts STAY AWAY from the swan 250 all swans are junk but this is the YUGO of swans!
bruce |
707
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 6:25 pm: |
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Because it's a ham radio. Sales of 10m rigs are much more brisk for the freeband/cb market than the ham market, whereas 6m only rigs are strictly for hams. I don't know many hams who run 10m only rigs. It's a matter of supply and demand. The demand for 6m rigs is low, and 10m is high. Volume manufacturing is cheaper.
As for power..6m has always been touted as the "Magic Band". When it's open you only need a few watts. When it's closed, 500w won't get you far. (unless you run a big antenna way up high with a good receive pre-amp). I used to sit for hours, primed up and ready to go with 250w, 5el beam at 40ft on a hilltop, on 6m, waiting for that brief opening or a chance to work a distant mobile. It got boring. Sound familiar? Not a lot different than 10m but with fewer good openings. 6m shares some advantages with VHF and some with HF, but mostly VHF. This is not to say it wouldn't get used more if there were lots more 6m repeaters, especially of the crossband variety. Notice how many manufacturers have added 6m as a "bonus" to HF rigs? If it doesn't start getting used more, it is in danger of being taken away. |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 6:40 pm: |
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...to my knowledge...the ALINCO 6 meter mobile transmits 20 watts...but is FM only.....the RANGER 5054 mobile ( looks a LOT like the 2950 ) transmits 25 watts, has am/fm/ssb/cw...plus there is a HIGHER wattage RANGER ( not sure of model number ) just introdiced last month or so that does 100 watts compared to the earlier listed model that just does 25 watts.........BIG FOOT |
bruce
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 8:33 pm: |
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The Alinco runs 160-6 meters ALL modes there are 2 ver one is 20 watts on 6 the other 100 i have 2 and they are GREAT radios so is the ranger 5054 very nice have one of them too
bruce |
Znut
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 9:35 pm: |
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Triplecguy,
I have a Ranger 5054DX, costs about the same as a 2950DX and is the equivalent radio for 6 meters.
I have made contacts EVERY TIME the band is open and I'm on the air. This is with barefoot 25 watts. Upper sideband, slow scan television (pictures), and FM. And I've talked to local folks an AM, by the way, it kicks a.. on AM, I guess the CB'er in me said that!(J/K)
It truly is the "magic band". You can enjoy it with a modest setup. You don't need a big "rig" to enjoy these days!
Znut |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 12:03 am: |
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...what are the usual AM frequencies for 6 meters and 2 meters ?? BIG FOOT |
bruce
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 7:18 am: |
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bigfoot there is NO AM activity on 2 meters at all but some on 6 meters at 50.4 mhz although i haven't heard any in a long time. I agree if you want 6 ONLY the 5054 is a great radio it will hold its own with anything!
bruce |
bruce
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 9:47 am: |
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NETS that are AM mode on 6M!
SCV AM net SCV,CA Sunday Morning kc6wfs 09:00 PM PST 50.400
So. Cal 6m Club Sunday morning 10:00 AM PT 50.400
Toledo, Ohio Sunday Nights 18:00 AM EST 50.360
Sacramento, CA Sunday Nights w6pjj 19:00 PM PST 50.400
Media PA Sunday Nights 21:00 PM EST 50.550
Wadsworth, Ohio Sunday morning 10:00 AM ET 50.550
Northwest AM Net Sundays and Wednesdays 18:00 PM PT 50.400
Washington, DC Sundays 09:00 AM ET 50.400
Arizona AM Net Saturdays 20:00 PM MT 50.400
Mass/Cape Cod Saturdays 08:00 AM ET 50.400
Orlando FL Tuesday nights 20:00 PM Local 50.400
Moline Il Tuesday nights wc9m 20:00 PM CT 50.400
Fort Wayne Ind Every Evening! 19:00 PM EST 50.580
Here is a few informal 6M AM "chat" type NETS.
Albany, NY Nightly 8:00 PM ET 50.400
Northern PA Saturday Nights 8:00 PM EST 50.400
Ill have to lissen my self to see if i can hear any of them
Bruce |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 2:43 pm: |
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...BRUCE you may be able to hear ORLANDO, other wise you will be relying on SHIP to hear the rest..I will listen too and let all know what I do hear...everything apparently is on 50.400 except for a few on others.....2 meter AM is not existing ? come on now my ft-100 YEASU has AM mode in it for 2 meters, sure there is something in this great country ( usa ) on 2 meter AM..if I just had one or two freq. to listen to...the ARRL repeater book is NO help ( but it is a repeater book, not simplex)......BIG FOOT |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Saturday, August 24, 2002 - 12:29 am: |
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...heard mentioned tonight on 6 meter net at 9 pm cst asking of an AM common freq. for 6 meters & 2 meters... man in charge of the net had NO idea of a 2 meter AM freq. but mentioned 50.400 for am on 6 meters....so you are right ( again )...BIG FOOT |
Znut
| | Posted on Saturday, August 24, 2002 - 1:49 pm: |
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Here in middle GA I will be most likely to hear those nets you mentioned in Ohio, upstate NY,and Mass., maybe norhtern PA.
Possibly Orlando with a temperature inversion (tropo) in the evening (more common in the morning).
I'll be able to talk to Bruce on 6 when I get that HUGE M square 11 element yagi! |
bruce
| | Posted on Saturday, August 24, 2002 - 7:59 pm: |
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Wana bet this cream puff is back on ebay in a week?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1375723991 |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 3:00 pm: |
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...6 meters is open this afternoon ( 2 pm c s t ) on 50.125 ...a few stations fading in & out from the north east, as far west as Missouri/Ohio area, may be gone within the hour....BIG FOOT |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 3:23 pm: |
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big foot i was lissing but its not open here in tampa 50.125
bruce |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 8:21 pm: |
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nothing on 6 but worked south america from the car on 10 meters my new filters are too narrow i may have to go to a FM only radio since the system works so well on the other modes well time to dig out and install the alinco fm rig i bought got 2 of them real nice 100 ch fm only very small the 70 caddy is going to get crouded under that dash! |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 9:46 pm: |
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..new 6 meter repeater in puerto rico...info on qrz.com.....BIG FOOT |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 10:14 pm: |
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i had WR4ANA from 1974-1982 on 52.55 - 53.55 maby one day ill try again hey my mfj945 tunes up on 6 meters great ! now i dont need 2 boxes1 |
RFBurns
| | Posted on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 9:15 pm: |
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Znut, where is the slow-scan TV on 6? I know its popular on 2 but I've never really heard of much ATV activity on 6 meters.
R.F. |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 9:25 pm: |
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rf what frequency????? |
RFBurns
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 2:57 pm: |
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Bruce, thats my question. On what frequency can I find ATV on 6 meters? |
Znut
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 6:40 pm: |
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50.2900 and 50.3250 here in GA I know. When the band is open, it is somewhere in that vicinity. The last time it was right on 50.325 where we locals hang out for SSTV. I guess folks just heard some action and joined in.
6 meters is so cool, even when the band is WIDE open, folks know the band is pretty darn wide and take turns and/or spread out. I don't think the pileups on the calling freqs are nearly as bad as on some other bands.
I am currently just monitoring. My power supply took a little lightning surge and blew one of the regulating transistors(2N3055) and I haven't ordered them yet. I'm going to get all six of them, it'll be easier to slap them in than to check them. I listen with a 3 amp PS. I could key up a few watts but SSB, especially with slow scan TV would wipe the little PS out.
I can't get over how the Ranger kicks it! No, maybe it's not as rock steady as an $1800 Icom rig but I've been having a blast with it. The 2950DX may be in the future around here if the 5054DX continues to prove worthy.
Znut |
Znut
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 6:47 pm: |
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RFBurns,
I just thought about your question. ATV is a little different than SSTV. ATV is really video, like TV but SSTV is real slow, practically just sending 320X240 pictures one at a time or in series. They take a couple minutes each.
Znut |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 8:18 pm: |
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Znut I been on 6 meters almost 40 years and the Ranger will hold its own with any radio made. Now I not a ranger fan but I have a pile of 6 meter radios all the way from a 30 year old regency and 28 year old yaseu ft-620 to several new alincos and a new alinco fm only radio. I can tell you that your 5054 is as good as any..... dosnt have the recive bells and whissles but on 6 that is not a big problem. If anyone on this forum asks me what radios do i like AFTER the all band all mode sets like the yaseu for a no code who want s 6 the 5054 wins hands down. It works great moble its as stable as my yaseu and only 300 bucks! You can buy a 100 watt one but you dont realy need it my FT-620 is 10 watts and ive worked the world on it! Ranger in a month is supose to anounce a 20 and 40 meter monobander intresting! |
Znut
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 8:32 pm: |
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Here is an example. Remember, I'm in middle GA.
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