[RTTY] RTTY on 6 M (50.300 MHz)

[Dick Kriss]

Several have commented on where to find RTTY in the six meter band.  I
suggested 50.300 MHz based on this web page.

http://www.ykc.com/wa5ufh/DOS/index.html  ((scroll down the page))

The following is a copy of a response from Randy WA5UFH from the DOS group
with some good comments.  Randy has no objection to my reposting his
comments; however, he is not a rtty-contesting subscriber. If you reply,
please copy <wa5ufh at ykc.com>.

73 Dick AA5VU

------ Forwarded Message
From: Randy Tipton <wa5ufh at ykc.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:20:10 -0500
To: 'Dick Kriss' <aa5vu at sbcglobal.net>, 'Steve AI9T' <steve at ai9t.com>
Subject: RE: [RTTY] RTTY on 6 M

Snip from AA5VU: The reason I posted 50.300 MHz is that is where the Digital
on Six (DOS) group recommended in the webŠ
 
The recommendation for 50.300 I believe is good however when the band is
known to be open often times it is hard to even find a PSK contact on
50.290.  At the present activity levels there is not a problem with many
stations using 50.290 for RTTY, Hell, MFSK or PSK.
 
Concerning 50.180 MHz as mentioned, I personally believe you will cause
interference to ssb stations. During strong e-skip openings, you expect to
see ssb stations using the call frequency up to 50.200MHz and some even
higher in frequency.
 
The PSK guys have established 50.290MHz as the calling freqeuncy, activity
is lite however we all know where to look during openings for dx and for
locals if you happen to be in an active area. It appears to me that 50.300
MHz is a good location to avoid ssb contacts.
 
I recommend calling first on 50.300 for RTTY and if no response, jump down
to 50.290 where obviously more stations listen and put out a call using a
digital mode or find PSK stations and move them to RTTY. Many stations
like to start on PSK mode and them rapidly swap using Hell, MFSK and RTTY.
Etc.
 
Snip AA5VU: The ARRL seems to out of touch on six meters and suggested
something outside of normal antenna SWR bandwidth for RTTY.
 
I agree however this opens the door for this group to establish a calling
frequency for RTTY. Initially this group has adopted 50.300MHz for RTTY with
50.290MHz for PSK. The 50.290 frequency seems to be accepted so I suggest we
strive to nail down the 50.300 so we all at least know where to look.
 
My two centsŠ
 
Randy (WA5UFH)
 
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