I've Got the 6 Meter Bug!

[@robertrockwell7581]

being a ham operator a home owners association can not stop you from putting up a antenna per fed gov. rules. this has been won in court several times. as they are used for emergencies.

[@Angus907]

Another great video, David! I just returned from passing my Technician's license test and wanted to thank you for igniting my interest in amateur radio. Keep up the good work. 73. Angus

[@AdamosDad]

I love making antennas and working on radios, just got my general after retiring. While in the Navy in the 60's I was an ET, my specialty was HF transmitters, tuners and antennas. My first home built was a 3 element 2 meter yagi, that looks professional and has made 45 mile contacts on 5watts portable. Great job your doing 🎙73's kd9oam

[@N2RRAny]

LOL! Love WD6FF's attitude. Enjoyed the listen.

[@steveinkentucky]

Good, solid QSO. Well shot video and some beautiful country. I live in kind of a 6m dead zone (western Kentucky). We had a good 6m openings a couple of times. Once was the Maine QSO 6m where I had back to back QSOs for several minutes. Another time, I had QSOs in Florida, Texas and a fellow ham on the other end of town... I use a Par Omniangle OA-50 at home. I haven't used it as a 6m, but I have a Buddipole that I plan to try out for 6m.

[@tonyridlen]

Excellent video on what to do when you were some one on six meters!!!

[@USNERDOC]

Robert - will do! I have been getting a lot of questions on the antenna . . . wish I had made a video during the assembly ;-) It is now completely sealed and unable to be opened. I will make a video and a PDF drawing with parts list and links. 73!

[@USNERDOC]

@BigOStyle1 - Thank you! As always, I appreciate the support. HAM radio is a lot of fun . . . great way to meet some really interesting folks. It is fascinating when you look up the different call signs to see where they live . . . even more fun when there is a big separating distance!

[@rchopp]

Nice job David, I love that picture of you wearing the antenna.

[@wcgems]

You should do a video on how to build YOUR dipole with links to suppliers for things needed like the whips. WV8KFA - ROBERT

[@officerrr-stfpolicedepartm5406]

I just brought new 6 meter WalkieTalkie

[@N4TNA]

Great job as usual, Doc. I love the QSL picture. Looks like you had a lot of fun. You are well on your way to VUCC. I finally made contact with an Australian station last weekend on 40m. That was a great feeling to work him with 100w on an 80m wire dipole. 73, KJ4ZFQ

[@USNERDOC]

@KillerBeeKiller - Thank you for the support! This is a fun hobby for sure, however, I think solid communications capabilities is a vital skill set to have in the face of being prepared for a local emergency or worse. Goo comms is more than just turning on a radio in time of need . . . turns out to be a bit more complicated! I do a appreciate the kind words and your "thumbs up"!

[@azmendozafamily]

LOL! Love that pic of you w the dipole strapped to your head. Good stuff! Always appreciate your vids, great content always.

[@dkh1997]

Good videos, going for test the 11th of this month and looking forward to getting my licence and getting on the air. Hope to make contact with you sometime in future. 73's Dalton

[@icomluv160]

good job , always glad to see new hams having fun , and 6 meters is a good start

[@michaelames6317]

Awesome video! Thanks for posting...

[@BigOStyle1]

Really cool vid, Doc! Lease vids are giving me the bug to get into HAM radio. As always, thanks for sharing

[@KC2USH]

Great videos doc, Nice to meet another firefighter thats a ham as well. Im a brand new volunteer firefighter here in upstate new york and love ever minute of it. Cant wait to see more of your great videos. 73s Evan KC2USH

[@USNERDOC]

@ThePauperPrepper - Thank you very much for the kind words! I greatly appreciate the support. I am looking forward to getting on HF once I get my General . . . need to eke out some additional study time from my honey-do list! I suffer from the same horrible three letters . . . HOA . . . that is why everything I have and do is stealth & portable. Ron is correct . . . TECH test is easy to do and well worth the small effort. This is a great hobby with lots of potential to explore!

[@TheHomeDefender]

Thanks for taking us along David. 73s.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Excellent 6m vid! I run a PAR Omniangle loop antenna in a restricted condo association (on a collapsable pole), and it works great! 48 states worked so far, and hundreds of grids on CW and SSB!

[@USNERDOC]

@Vaultcracker2 - fully aware of misspeaking . . . thank you for your attention to detail.

[@USNERDOC]

@FlatwoodsBushcraft - Wow! Congrats on the Australian QSO . . . very cool ;-) Thanks for the kind words. The QSL photo was a bit of fun my daughter and I had on our Arizona trip . . . there is a good story that goes with that that I will have to share in the future. 73!

[@tomcoss-connecticutusa3941]

I used to work 100 watts on 6 meter AM but always had TVI problems! 73! From WA1LYT Meriden, CT. 06450 USA

[@USNERDOC]

@felixzero - Absolutely! I am planning on doing a detailed video on the antenna, as well as, a drawing / parts list. I have a FT-817ND as well which I will be taking on the road this summer. Hope to make a bunch of QSOs while on the road. I will have a 2011 Summer QSL Card to share for those contacts.

[@kc9tns]

Great video David! I am enjoying your Ham radio videos, keep it up! You are making me want to record a few of my HOA friendly ham endeavors. 73 friend. Scott

[@tonyridlen]

I live in north central Indiana and I worked some one on the magic band this past summer from north central Texas which was so much fun. I started at 50.125 Mhz but the calling frequency was just blanked with all kinds of activity so I just QSYed up the band some where in the ball park of 50.800 Mhz which I understand means I to tune up quite a ways to get a way from every one else but it was well worth it. 73's. Tony KC9QVE

[@dkh1997]

went and passed test today so now waiting on callsign so hope I will catch you on the air. 73s de Dalton

[@hinckleypoland]

Very nice David.. Safe travels to you and yours!

[@USNERDOC]

@Angus907 - Congratulations! Hopefully we will work each other sometime in the future . . . welcome to a great hobby. 73!

[@user-cg7uw9uh6n]

Great video, never worked the US on 6m 73 M3MQR

[@USNERDOC]

@skroonk - trust me, if I can get started then so can you! The TECH test is very easy and well worth the minimal effort. This is a great hobby with a lot of cool people and fun things to explore.

[@00BADKARMA00]

Hey David, you could try hanging ladder wire from the trees for an antenea. My uncle (retired USN, Extra class ) works the world with it and you wouldnt even know it was there.

[@Rocketman88002]

Big signals from both ends! Nice work from both rigs on the magic band. Wonder if either if you have done moon bounce or T.E. 73's de KB5ZDW

[@USNERDOC]

@K4PAD - I have logged a few 10m QSOs with my MP-1 Super Antenna . . . need that General license for sure now ;-)

[@CrashHancock]

I love your videos, David. Keep it up! Oh, and I'm testing in two weeks, so maybe we'll meet on the air someday soon!

[@USNERDOC]

@TheAZexplorer - Will do . . . thanks! I will likely be in the area frequently during the next few years ;-)

[@USNERDOC]

Dalton - Good luck on the test! I hope to catch you on the air sometime. 73 de David / KF7ETX

[@USNERDOC]

@FGsltw2009 - as far as I know they are not on the air with the exception of scheduled school contacts.

[@USNERDOC]

@00BADKARMA00 - Thank you!

[@ThePauperPrepper]

Nice Vid Doc. You are getting the folks interested and the Hobby needs that. I Thank You !!. I am usually down on 80-40-and 20 Meters but your making me think 6 Meters is open often enough to try some of that activity. I actually got a 6 Meter QUAD off of Freecycle, but cant use here because of the 3 dirty letters HOA. Maybe ithe ATTIC ! 73 DE Ron KB3VEW Please folks this hobby requires a bit of effort to get started, so dont put it off, you'll wonder why you did later! TECH TEST IS EZ!!

[@indridcold8433]

Someone gave me a 6 meter tranceiver years ago. However, it is FM only. I did not bother to get licensed because FM holds little interest for me. FM is not as long range. It is still somewhere in the attic. What good is a 6 meter FM only transceiver? But to be fair, the transceiver is modified from a different 47 megacycle service for the Red Cross. It was picked up at an auction and converted. It operates on 49 to 54 megacycle, which includes the 6 meter band. But FM will hinder the usefulness of it. It may, not even work anymore. It has been in the attic in excess of a decade.

[@giomjava]

Great video, guys, cheers!

[@USNERDOC]

+Gio Mag - Thank you 🙏

[@itsmenckgonzalez]

Are we going to get a DIY video on how you built tge dipole ? Great job doc

[@USNERDOC]

@TeakPhillips - I was hoping you would catch that photo . . . clearly thinking of you when we shot that picture! I thought my bald head would act as a good ground plane . . . I clearly need some tin foil!

[@danr97123]

inspiring. thanks for a great demo!

[@OldBadBoy99]

David: You gave me "the bug"... How dare you;-D Studying for my Tech ticket. Hoping all is going well for you;-)

[@USNERDOC]

@ristin59 - Thanks!

[@Tacticalgearhead]

I have got to get into this ham radio business :)

[@scaleop4]

how did you get your screen to change colors like that. i have the same radio and mine does not do that.

[@USNERDOC]

@kc9tns - Thank you sir!

[@lasado27]

Thanks for the post! I'm new to HAM (actually just passed my general exam today) & love the 6m due to its all around benefits. I'm 30 mins. up in Woodland and am curious as to how you built your stealth antenna. Hope to hear you on the air. KG7BOV

[@poppabear9279]

Great video! I'm an old ham, but haven't been on 6 meters much at all. I think I'm going to make an antenna and give it a try on the IC-7000 soon. How are conditions this year?

[@felixzero]

Hi David. Great videos. I have tried to contact you a few times on 50.125 USB but maybe you either you were not on or my signal was too weak. Im using a FT-817ND with the antenna it came with. Could you share a parts list for the homebrew 6M you made? I saw your video but was not sure on all the parts. 73, KE7VGF.

[@625lafayette]

Roger?

[@radioamatore71]

You are very nice. I am italiano. complimenti for videos.

[@Major_Thorn]

Great video! 73s

[@addrian27]

great vid 73!

[@darrenhoey4667]

great video

[@angelcintron2122]

Awesome...! I have always wondered just how far the signal could actually go on 6 meters, and often thought of buying a mobile rig that I could also use in the shack. But since so many people were complaining about my CB antenna and how they could hear me on their television, I put the idea on the back burner. But now that broadcast has gone digital, I'm certainly considering the purchase of a 6 meter rig that could occupy a small space among the other "Toys " as my xyl calls them , in a 3x8 slot that is currently vacant. If anyone has any suggestions or advice about a starter rig, please comment here. I hope to someday enjoy making contact with some of you, and show my children how much fun they can have on air. God bless you all, and please help keep the world's greatest Hobby alive. 73 de km4dme Southeast Georgia..

[@TeakPhillips]

David, I can't help but wonder where you got the idea of putting that dipole on your head! You're missing the tin foil. Bad SWR!

[@Deacon72]

Awesome DOC!! Have you tried any 10M in the TECH Bands??

[@darthorpheus]

and you always want to give your call when you qsy.

[@0x33f]

I Should clarify SC..Santa Cruz

[@0x33f]

Your from SC? I am here in capitola..Thanks for the video

[@billpawley2849]

Pretty neat rig and antenna setup. I couldn't live in a restrictive zone. I live out of the city limits here in Lee County Georgia but subdivisions in the Pecan Orchards are starting to spring up around me. The one closest to me has a "No Outside Antenna" restriction, and, while I do not live in that subdivision, they have already come by and demanded I take my tower down. I just laughed at them (I have owned this property for well over 30 years and if anyone thinks I am going to abide by some crack-pot ordinance dreamed up for some subdivision association, they got another think coming). Anyway, I get on 6 meters occasionally, mostly on SSB (Yaesu FT-847) barefoot. Maybe I'll get a good band opening someday and work Portland. 73 de N4PCB

[@kj4ilk]

ok why the grid square i think he heard you the first two times AND he can look it up on QRZ im pretty sure that's why i stopped doing ham radio because people only talk about....HAM RADIO so hows the weather george did it rain yesterday.. did you go see you're daughter at her school play yet? no its well.....i bought a new antenna yesterday and i talked to joe down the road 73 from a ex-ham ki4osn

[@USNERDOC]

Thank you for your input. 73

[@SeymourLindt]

awesome...73 de ZS1CPT

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

i have the mfj diapole kit abt 20 bucks and ur good 2 go kg6mn

[@maximflorida4777]

Great Video, I wish I could find anyone on 6M. I will keep trying but not much luck. Great antenna. Keep building. 73

[@steveinkentucky]

I check out propagation websites, and places 150-200 miles from me have lines going by, but to you think any of them come my way? No...

[@JohnGuillorykf5qeo]

it sucks that you have a home owners association! I couldn't live in a place where they tell you what you can put up in your own yard!

[@steveinkentucky]

Me neither...

[@volkerking5932]

Do you have a Problem with a build up Antenna to the roof? A Neighborhood Problem or a Problem with the landlord of your flat? In all my Flats i had this Problem and it was not allowed to install a Antenna. I remember back in the 80s so i would like to install there a simple 5/8 CB-Antenna - right you read right a simple CB-Antenna. They told me that CB-Radio is harmful and to forbid me that i install a CB-Radio Antenna. After this i would like to watch Satellite TV and install a Dish only 80cm in Diameter in 1986 they told me to go with me to the Court again my Satellite Dish. No Joke! Now after 20 Years i can install what i want - but i don't know why the landlords are give me now the right n all cases??? In 1987 i install a 1,80m Dish for receiving in Ku-Band Eutelsat but then the order my Parents to the Court and i must deinstall all the Dish Part from the roof. Now i have a G5RV 26m long and in 12m high NordSouth Direction. But 6m will be also interest for me too.

[@USNERDOC]

+Volker King - Great comments and thank you for watching! Our restrictions came from the home owners association. We owned the property. It was a battle I just chose not to pursue. The benefit was I got very good at setting up portable antennas.

[@kc4sbj1]

why would let HMO push you around it is just rules not law

[@MrRocque]

+kc4sbj1 its not 'law', granted...but when people buy property they AGREE to a legally binding RULE, such as the agreements in the HMO. There by making them legally liable if they knowingly disregard or blatently ignore the 'rules' they agreed to follow. You are correct, its not criminal law or statutory...but it does fall under civil law as HMO rules are considered a legal agreement....so if people don't like the HMO rules...DON'T BUY property that includes HMO rules. Sucks when a hobby one enjoys runs into to such 'hard headed' thinking...but that's what happens in a society that 'thinks' they 'own' or have a right to EVERYTHING they see, hear, smell. Even if they don't actually have a real right to 'clear' views of the sky. Or, who think they have a right to possess objects but their neighbors shouldn't (you can work out where that applies). This is all quite different when an HMO is formed AFTER property is purchased...but that's where the 'grandfather' clauses come in. At some point, I'm sure HMO's are going to start telling people what they can and can't BBQ, what kind of music they can listen to and WHAT kind of vehicles can/can't be parked in front of the house (many don't allow RVs or commercial vehicles). Apparently 'right to own property and the protection of ownership' can simply be undermined by 'HMO agreements'

[@BRENT3143945]

Screw hoa

[@Mark-wx1ho]

Can I use ham radio without a call sign?

[@Somnium158]

No.

[@Mark-wx1ho]

Just a technicality then.

[@johndeluca4116]

It's just one exam away to get a Technician's license. It's not really a technical exam - mostly rules and regulations. If fact, you will be shown every question and it's answer exactly the way it will be given to you. That Technician's 'ticket' will get you a call sign and privileges one several bands. -John, N1DEL

[@amartinjoe]

neighbors shouldn't complain about this....what, their lives are so perfect that they have to bitch about small things like this ?

[@USNERDOC]

You would be surprised! Thanks for watching!

[@PopeyeKF4LBG]

Nice video, David... Thank you for your service, shipmate. RP-3 73s de Larry, KF4LBG