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Message |
    
Assaulter
Junior Member
Username: Assaulter
Post Number: 16
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 12:19 am: | 
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Question.... Is FM the most common used mode on 6 meters? Seems impossible to find any 6m rigs with ssb or anything else on them, other than FM. I'm mostly on 2M and I've never messed with the 'magic band' but i've been thinking of checking it out.
Looks like the 5054 DX's are discontinued, so are there any more all modes? and would I need anything other than FM?
Chris |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1878
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 7:39 am: |
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assaulter
Many HF radios have 6 meters on them the alinco DX-70 TH is one so is the IC-706. Haveing been on 6 40 years there are guys using just about any mode ( http://www.qrz.com/wa4gch late 60's 6 and 2 am station ).
6 meters is set up like this ........
50.00 to 50.10 CW ONLY
50.100 to 50.200 SSB ALL SSB IS USB !!
( CALL FREQUENCY 50.125 )
50.400 AM ( little activity )
52.020 to 52.510 nets mostly FM
( TAMPABAY is 52.020)
INTERNATIONAL call frequency FM is 52.525
Note.....
repeaters can be found above 51 mhz check with your local groups ..... unlike 2 and 440 there is no real standards. |
Assaulter
Junior Member
Username: Assaulter
Post Number: 17
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 7:17 pm: |
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Bruce, How did I know you'd be the one to respond? lol! You seem to be the resident expert on the 6 meters topic.
I love two meters, and 70cm but I've wanted to try six. I've heard even groundwave can go an awesome amount of distance on there. I'd like to have a standalone 6 meter rig, but I cant seem to find any all mode standalones!
Also, what goes on on the 1.2 ghz band, if anything? How far can one talk groundwave up there?
Chris the exploring amateur radio operator |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1883
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:01 pm: |
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This is SMIRK the 6 meter ver of the 10-10 club. It started back in the mid 70's and now had 6600 members. Im number 70.
http://www.smirk.org/
I worked 1296 mhz back 30 years ago its a very intresting band HOWEVER VERY LINE OF SITE. Its a money pit unless your a microwave nut very costly.
2 meters and 440 SSB can yeld good dx ranges many hunderds of miles But buying radios for thoes bands unless your buying a ic-706 is a wast .... I have a ft-100d STAY AWAY FROM IT ! Yaseu is not supporting this radio unless they have too and all ready the AM filter is very hard to get. The ranger 5054 can be found used and TENTEC makes a transverter for 6. Older radios can be found on e-bay but I DO NOT RECOMEND OLD RADIOS! I have a ft-620 b very nice bought it new in 1976 but i have pampered it. Most are nearly trashed and after 30 years you can bet the filter caps are in need of replacement. It's a lot of money but the IC-706 is ONE HECK OF A RADIO .....Being a Yaseu fan i bought the FT-100d DC to DAYLIGHT in one box! But that box should have said ICOM. |
Assaulter
Junior Member
Username: Assaulter
Post Number: 18
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 1:19 pm: |
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What about the Alinco 70 hf+6m rig? |
Moderator558
Moderator
Username: Moderator558
Post Number: 227
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 1:50 pm: |
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According to Kenwood they still make the TS-60 but I havent seen one new for sale. I would not "waste" your money on a 6 meter only radio as the activity is not what you will be used to on 11 meter, in other words, its not very busy. Get the Alinco or Icom 706MKIIG or Yaesu FT857/897 this way you get 6 meter when the band is open and when it is dead you have HF capability ,my opinions only, your actual mileage may vary |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1899
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 2:02 pm: |
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558 EXACTLY
I sold my dx-70 both of them but it was because i bought the FT-100d not that there was anything wrong with them .... in fact they are GREAT RADIOS.
DO NOT buy a 6 meter only radio ( nothing wrong with them ) EXCEPT when for a few hunderd more bucks you can have it all in a ic-706.
DO NOT BUY USED RADIOS sadly unless you know the person there is a REASON why people get rid of 700+ dollar radios!
Im a long time 6 meter user and i would never tell you to put all your money in one band EVEN 6 go for the gold and get that icom YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT! |
Assaulter
Junior Member
Username: Assaulter
Post Number: 19
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 10:28 pm: |
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Hmm....Only thing is, Bruce, I was wanting to check out the icom 718...Been looking at that puppy forever..Doesnt have 6 or 2 though!
How is the 706mkiiG in comparison to the 718 as far as xmit and recieve? Any idea? I know I've heard the 718 is an amazing rig, built to commercial grade specs, and with DSP. But does the 706 outdo it?
Chris |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1902
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:14 pm: |
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The 706 is as good as any radio out there.....
I HAVE NEVER MEET A DISGRUNTLED 706 OWNER .....
The 718 is a fine radio but the 706 has including dsp .... evenything it has and more.
the 706 will go moble no problem it is all mode and covers 6 PLUS 2 important bands 2 and 440 with them you can work most all repeaters .... moble as well as base...... even when you get a extra class you will STILL be able to work repeaters.
I bought my FT-100D for just these reasons puting my ft-840 in a corola would be a joke but the ft-100 is a fine base as a moble is equaly as good.
HOWEVER it has a very troubled past so bad yaseu discontinued it with out warning...... and does little to support it even after less that a year. |
Moderator558
Moderator
Username: Moderator558
Post Number: 228
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:41 pm: |
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I had both the 706MKIIG and the 718 The recieve is much better with the 706. Someone said the 706 and the 718 have the same basic HF board but you couldnt fool me the 706 out performs it all around. The 718 is a fair starter radio but has no FM available for 10 meter repeater work.
It appears that you are looking for a larger unit for base operation?
This is where I sway from Icom,,,,sadly I have used the 746 and 746 pro and was not happy with them SSB is off frequency but, CONVENIETLY Icom will sell you a high stabilty crystal and that fixes that right up.
I had the FT-847 and TS-2000 together and opted for the Kenwood TS-2000
The 847 has dual display but not dual RECIEVE like the TS-2000 does.
TS-2000 needs no other filters or stability crystal as it is all digital and included with the radio
100 watts 160-2 meter and 50 on 70 CM
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Assaulter
Junior Member
Username: Assaulter
Post Number: 20
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:54 pm: |
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It's just too bad theres no 6 months same as cash for radio equipment, or something like the circuit city credit card you can use on big screen TV's, lol! HF equipment is kinda pricey!!! I bet if an amateur retailer did that they'd sell a LOT more HF stuff, lol! It'd be a lot easier on my wallet to get a 706mkiig and the power supply to push it that way, heh.
Chris |
Stickshift
Intermediate Member
Username: Stickshift
Post Number: 175
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 4:59 pm: |
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Moderator558,
"...CONVENIETLY Icom will sell you a high stabilty crystal and that fixes that right up."
Do you mean "CONVENIENTLY" at a cost of $150, or did I miss something? The rig performs very well and is an exceptional buy, but drifts slightly on 2m and 70cm. It seems to be stable on HF and 6m. I attemtepted to purchase the CR-282 awhile back but the store didn't have them on hand.
As for the TS-2000, I agree 100% with you. And the thing is as solid as a rock! |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1925
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 5:41 pm: |
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PERSONAL OPINION
The amount of people on 440 ssb or even 144 ssb dosn't warrant spending more that a IC-706. I bought my FT-100D because i wanted coverage on 6 and 2 meters but spending $1000 or more to me just is too much. |
Bob_p
Advanced Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 596
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 24, 2004 - 1:09 am: |
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Before I decided on my new radio I was very serious about the Yaesu FT 840 and the Icom 718, and maybe the 706 MKIIG. The first two are great radios and are under $600.00. But they lack 2-meters 440, and 6 meters. If that’s what you want the 706 is selling for about $750.00 these days.
There is another radio that no one has mentioned and it has 6 meters and is under $1000.00. At $934.95 the Kenwood TS 480SAT is loaded with features, and is highly rated by those who own it.
QST magazine did a review in June of 2004 and said the TS 480 has features that could be found only on high end radios. Below is a link to the PDF file if anyone is interested.
http://www.mods.dk/downloadmanual.php?File=TS-480_ARRL_Test_pr0406.pdf
Some people have rejected the radio on its looks alone. Because It’s a lot like a computer with the main box with all of the hardware sitting out of sight, and the head unit acting as a monitor.
It’s just another radio to look at.
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Assaulter
Junior Member
Username: Assaulter
Post Number: 36
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 2:10 am: |
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Wow, it's been a long time since THIS. I'm a general now and i have an icom 746 now. hehehe. |
