VHF PLUS
Following up on last month’s column regarding the upcoming 6-meter Spordic-E (Es) season, I wanted to briefly expound on some of the band’s common modes of propagation. A survey if you will. No space here for detailed or technical treatments, but I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect, and when.
Most of the discussion below applies to weak-signal work on the band. Key frequencies to remember are 50.125 MHz USB for phone, below 50.1 MHz for CW, and 50.313 MHz for FT8. You will also find meteor scatter around 50.265 M
Hz, and the AM calling frequency is 50.4 MHz. During periods of heavy activity, operators will spread out across the band. Remember also that the quality of propagation will determine whether digital, CW, or phone is possible at any given time. (Yes, I know CW is technically digital, but humor me, as I believe it is an important mode and deserves to be recognized separately).
FM — No Static at All?
Well, maybe a little. FM simplex on 6 meters is centered around 52.525 MHz. In some areas of the country, there are heavy concentrations on FM, either for repeaters or simplex. In either case, the typical FM frequencies are 1-2 MHz above the season. I’d love to hear of your FM activity, whether simplex or repeater wise, so that I can share information about this activity with our readers.
