How and Why I use 60 Meters

One of my viewers asked if I would shoot a video explaining how I use and monitor the 60-meter band, and how is it that we share it with the government. I cover those questions in this video. Thanks for the questions, Don!
I shot a 3-part series all about the 60-meter band a few months ago, in case you are interested in learning more details about 60 meters.
I hope you enjoy this video and find it helpful. If you find my channel informative and entertaining, I hope you will consider joining my support group by clicking on: www.patreon.com/N4HNH There are 3 levels of support, including exclusive content. Patreon team members gain insight from our technical discussions and internal polls. They also have the opportunity to view certain videos before they are released for public viewing.
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73, de N4HNH

[@W6IWN_Radio]

Thanks for the video full of great info! I haven't tried 60 on a SOTA summit yet, but now I want to try!

[@n4hnhradio]

You should! It bridges the gap between 2m and 40 without having such a long antenna.

[@wingrider1004]

Appreciate the video. Passed my technician's license last week and am now studying for my general license. The prep books are great for test-taking, but, do not provide a lot of depth or understanding on the subject matter. I am loading up on videos like yours to gain understanding of the terms and technical aspects discussed. I am also near Atlanta, a bit south. My main problem is that even with study and videos, I do not yet have a radio (another - What do I buy? scenario),and even if I did, I have no one to really get me started on the hands-on application of what I have learned - a problem common to many newbies, no doubt. So, I imagine it will be a long process to find out what is needed to really get rolling and gain an in-depth understanding of the craft. They say an "Elmer" is good to have, but, I find that if you don't know one already, you're pretty much out of luck. In any case, every vid posted is another step in the process. I retired recently, so I guess I have the time😎

[@n4hnhradio]

This is pretty much an Elmering channel. There are playlists for various radios, antennas, etc. Executive level Patreon supporters also have access to a PDF that covers terminology as well as an explanation of what each knob and button is for on a modern transceiver. If you are looking for one radio that does 2 meters, 70cm, and HF, I recommend the FT-991A. If strictly for HF, consider the FTdx10. 73, de N4HNH

[@mrmrlee]

It seems your memory channels are the cw/rtty frequencies. The voice frequencies are slightly different on my chart. 5330.5/5346.5/5357.0/5371.5/5403.5 are what I have as the USB voice frequencies.

[@n4hnhradio]

That is correct. Yaesu names the channels according to the center frequency, which coincides with the CW frequency. For the USB channels, the radio automatically transmits 1.5 kHz below the channel center. If you MARS mod a radio, or you must program the channels yourself, into a non-Yaesu radio, you are responsible for ensuring that your suppressed carrier is 1.5 kHz below the channel center and that you do not exceed 2.8 kHz of TX bandwidth. Yaesu programs the 60m channels into memory bank 5 of their transceivers. 73, de N4HNH

[@mrmrlee]

Thanks for the explanation, it all makes sense. I also watched your multi-part series on 60 m as well and I newly subscribed thanks for the info.

[@n4hnhradio]

Welcome to the channel. I'm glad you found the videos helpful. 60m caused confusion for most of us at first. 73, Doug

[@bwmcofc]

Afternoon Doug, I hope I'm not repeating this question. I understand the rule or restriction for 60 meters, what I don't understand is the separation that is required. Like every HF frequency I have talked on for my 15 year amateur "career" it is simplex. If the government wants us on a "certain" frequency, why the separation? Thanks and great videos N4GHP

[@n4hnhradio]

Have you watched my 3-part series about 60 meters? I go into depth there. Go to N4HNHradio.com and click on the Training option in the menu. The three video links about 60 meters are near the bottom of the page. The bottom line is that we have to stay on our lane and relinquish the channel if a government agency asks us to. I’ve never heard that happen myself though.

[@geoffvk3sq113]

Hello Doug, regarding the FT-891, is there a facility to record audio to call cq when operating? 73 de Geoff vk3sq

[@n4hnhradio]

Geoff, it can store up to five 20-second voice messages and up to five 50-character CW messages. There are buttons in the Function menu to initiate a TX message or you can use the optional FH-2 remote. I find the remote to be the easiest method. 73, de N4HNH

[@geoffvk3sq113]

@@n4hnhradio Thanks again Doug. I have discovered these details are in the Advanced Menu (p 42). I had to download it from the Yaesu FT-891 site first. With your guidance I found it. Explains way I could not find it in the Operating Manual. 73 de Geoff vk3sq

[@imaflatpicker3066]

Thank you. I really like my FT-891. I need to find a place on my desk for it. My understanding is my IC-7300 would have to be modified for 60? Also can’t wait to see the review on that QRP radio. Back when code was required I got to 13 wpm. I’m trying to get up to speed so that QRP is a better option for me too. I also want to get into SOTA. Thanks for the informative video!

[@n4hnhradio]

Thanks for your comment! SOTA is a great way to regain and improve your speed. I came up during the CW requirement days as well. But I was out of the hobby for a while. I got very rusty. Chasing SOTA activators helped me get back up to speed. As an activator myself, the CW QRP radios, being so light, and operating from a 9VDC battery, motivated me to get back to CW. I look forward to sharing the video of the LNR Precision MTR4B Version 2. 73, de N4HNH

[@n4hnhradio]

I thought the 7300 would have 60m channels preprogrammed in it. I thought that’s what someone told me. That would be a terrible oversight, requiring someone to open their radio and desolder to activate 60 meters. 73

[@imaflatpicker3066]

@@n4hnhradio I’ll go back and check it out. Doing a google search comes up with conflicting info.

[@imaflatpicker3066]

@@n4hnhradio Just read I have to store them to memory. Also to see the scope, i have to adjust the band scope edges.

[@n4hnhradio]

I found conflicting information as well. 73

[@dougtaylor7724]

Can’t wait to hear a 80 meter style ragchew on 60. When the government breaks in’ they turn on the cloud warmers and keep yapping. 😂

[@bill-2018]

I like 60m because it's a band free of broadband QRM which I suffer from 160m to 20m. I run QRP cw on xtals on 5.262 MHz, 3 Watts maximum to an inverted Vee. QSO's at 60, 120, 180 and 280 miles. I use a one valve tx, 78 year old 19 Set on low P.A. h.t., and a Pixie which when in QSO at 180 miles also got a SWL report from 220 miles away in the Netherlands. It's a great band. Give it a go. G4GHB

[@n4hnhradio]

I think of 60m as the great equalizer band. It doesn't matter if you have a legal limit amplifier - you can't use it. This gives rise who can't afford an amplifier yet an equal opportunity. I also like the no contesting rule. 60m is definitely a favorite band. 73, Doug

[@bill-2018]

@@n4hnhradio Give me a band free of contests anytime. I did like 30m but it was the first band affected by broadband QRM many years ago. Now it's most of h.f. though I can use 60m which seems fairly free of it. G4GHB

[@n4hnhradio]

Do you have any idea what the source of the QRM might be? I assume you have already performed the circuit breaker test and ruled out the usual suspects, such as plasma TV, LED bulbs, Wall-wart power supplies, laptop power supplies, wireless phone chargers, kitchen appliances, etc. One of my friends cycled each breaker and he found his main source of noise to be coming from the kitchen. He then unplugged everything in the kitchen until he found the noise source. It was the heat-sealing device in his kitchen. He uses it to seal leftovers in plastic. It created nasty RFI just sitting on the counter while plugged in. Of course now he unplugs it when he isn’t using it. I hope someday you are free of the RFI. 73, de N4HNH

[@bill-2018]

@@n4hnhradio As I suspected it's broadband confirmed by Ofcom who spent 3 hours investigating the source of this QRM. The RSGB suggested running gear off the mains if possible to eliminate mains QRM and tests on various bands looking for up and down frequencies and guard bands produced by broadband. I have an FT817. Then I called in Ofcom who confirmed it after 3 hours going round the area. Only a few hundred amateurs did the test and sent results in to the RSGB and because there were so few, around 100 amateurs suffer it badly enough to give up radio, Ofcom said it's not a problem. Ofcom said it was my phone line which I don't use which had possibly become corroded and unbalanced and radiating. I lost 30m to QRM years ago. BT were not interested in solving it and I suggested they take down the line, they said they would charge me for taking down their phone line. I have to pay to get rid of THEIR faulty line. 18 mHz and above seem o.k. most of the time but sometimes even 2m has S6 noise. I left the RSGB because I don't want to just read about radio. I hardly go on air now.

[@n4hnhradio]

Oh my. I am so sorry that you are experiencing that. One of the broadband providers in my neighborhood caused an issue a couple of years ago. The power company confirmed it but the broadband provider, AT&T, denied it. Eventually the problem went away. The power company engineer and I assume that AT&T accidentally fixed it while solving another problem. 73, Doug

[@Denzlercs]

Good morning everyone. I have my General License and have been a Ham since 1992. My HF rig is in my truck with a mobile vertical antenna. I live in Southern Illinois and have noticed that I have never heard any activity on 60 meters. My 75 meter resonator has SWR of around about 2:1 so the antenna sensitivity shouldn’t be that bad. I mainly am on there earlier in the mornings so I’m not certain how the atmospheric conditions would affect that band at that time. Other than a liaison between Amateur Radio and the Government it doesn’t appear to me to be used that much. That’s just my personal take on the band.

[@n4hnhradio]

There is considerable activity at certain times of day in the Southeast. In the afternoon and early evening there are rag chews. Sometimes, all 5 channels are active, including FT8 on channel 3, SSB and CW on the other channels. With only 5 channels, shared between SSB, CW, and FT8, it’s a good thing that the band isn’t crowded. SOTA activators use it frequently in order to make close-in contacts - usually via CW. The band has a range of 500-600 miles during the day and around 1500-2000 at night, when propagation is good.

[@markwarren7116]

I need to get my 60 meter antenna up

[@n4hnhradio]

60 meters is a great regional band. It bridges the gap between 40 and 80.