DXing on 60 Meters
Sixty meters, known as the “channel band” since it is the only amateur band with FCC-specified channels, has been around since July 2003, and I have been on the band from the start. In fact, I led the first 60-meter DXpedition in July 2003 to the island of Montserrat and was hooked. Since then a lot has happened, particularly after that first DXpedition. Beginning March 5, 2012 there have been frequency, power, and mode changes that took effect on March 5, 2012.
Rules of the Road
As of 2012, with the new modes added to USB, the established frequencies for CW / digital on the five channels are: Ch. 5 = 5405 kHz, Ch. 4 = 5373 kHz, Ch. 3 = 5358.5 kHz, Ch. 2 = 5348 kHz and Ch. 1 = 5332 kHz. The corresponding channels for USB frequencies are: 5403.5, 5371.5, 5357, 5346.5, and 5330.5 kHz. CW is NOT allowed on the USB frequencies and USB is NOT allowed on the CW frequencies. These are FCC regulations (see sidebar for exact FCC rules).
Channel 5 is the main DX calling frequency that is monitored by most DXers around the world with channel 4 being an alternate for DXing during times of channel 5 QRM. There is very little split operation on the band due to the space limitations. With the advent of FT8
