I have a question for the ham radio folks here. Does anyone have any comments or opinions about the Alinco DR-06TA? It's a 50 watt monoband 6 meter FM transceiver. I have no experience with this radio at all but I'm kind of interested in it.

Thanks
-Dennis AD8DV

Somehow managed Lithuania and Guadaloupe on #6M #FT8 from somewhere southwest of the Azores. I'm sure they'll be happy for the new grid. #amateurradio

Now this I'm not too fond of. This is 8R1TM being spectrum greedy on #6m #FT8.

Cool! Just worked the Galapagos Islands, HD8FG, on #6m #FT8. Looks like 6m is opening up to South America for us.

We're this thing again with Europe on #6m #FT8.

We're doing this #6m #FT8 thing again with Europe this morning.

Looks like #6m #FT8 is opening up to the west coast. I just worked NT6K, AH0U and K6VVP in cali.

Just worked 7Q6M, Malawi, on #6m #ft8

6m (FT8) is open to Europe.

#JT65? Digital signal on #6m. Distorted by the aurora. Appropriate sounds for Halloween.

This C-band LNB is a bit crusty. But might even work!
Should be usable for seeing 3.4GHz stuff on the spectrum analyzer, even if the DRO in this thing is not super stable.

Has anyone converted these to 5.7GHz?
The LO is 5150MHz
Shouldn't that just be ripping out or replacing some filters?

I wonder if it would upconvert with sane effort.
Gain is much cheaper and less fiddly on 3.4GHz and 5.7GHz than 10.3GHz.

WFH advantage #22: You can play radio from your home station during lunch.

Interesting 6m opening right now. I *wish* my 6m beam was that narrow.

Copied from a post on the the Facebook VHF/UHF Weak Signal #AmateurRadio page:

TODAY, 0000 UTC 6-15-24 starts the #6meter #SMIRKcontest. Ends: 2359 UTC on 6-16-24 (48 hr contest). Make as many contacts on #6m as possible, exchange #SMIRK # ‘s if you have them and collect them if you don't.

Log Submission info below. Website needs some updating but info is correct.

#6Meters #HamRadio #SpecialEvent

(More info in the comments below.)

http://smirk.info/contest.html

I still need a rigger but at least I have a replacement piece for the broken centre part of my director. I am going to fashion up some clamps to hold down all the elements instead of relying upon that one single screw idea.
I am not going to put it back up but it would make a good backup antenna for FD etc.

Now I still need to find a tower rigger 'cause I am too old to climb that tower ;)

Keep an ear/eye out on 6m (FT8). Double hop Es may be possible tonight. I saw a nearby station even hearing Japan.

Auroral SSB even got the attention of my friends in the field

But they have an ulterior motive: wanting a nibble on the solar panel and its cables

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KsQAaxSFdjyu4gz79