6 Meter setup

[Grogan]

Was looking at getting on six meters and saw the Ranger RCI 5054-DX100 radio on the website for 319.00 +shipping. coax a small rotor and beam for about 225.00 localy also new. The reviews of the radio are good. any body have a ranger on six. Is this a good Idea

 

[kd-5-bgt]

6 meters can be a very interesting band to say the least....That band is getting more popular for repeaters and local ragchewing..

..and when the band is open long range contacts are very possable,with the sunspot cycle on the upswing long range contacts will be getting better

I have never had the Ranger 6 meter rig,but if it is as good as the 2950 I would say jump on it.

I do have a base radio with 6 meters in it and I do play around on that " magic band" sometimes,made some nice contacts of 1000 miles plus ....and Europe and the Pacific rim is not out of the question when conditions are right

Overall that isnt a bad price for that gear

 

[wavrider]

I do not know about the Ranger rig, I do know for a few $$ more you can get a used shack in a box like the ICOM 706MKII for around $450 to $500.

Gives you all mode HF 6 meters and 2 meters. Just depends on what you are wanting to do as all mode monoband 6 meter rigs have a tendecy to get expensive, so by shopping around you can get more bang for your $$.

6 is fun, when it is open it is open, when it is not it is not.

 

[wa4gch]

Was looking at getting on six meters and saw the Ranger RCI 5054-DX100 radio on the website for 319.00 +shipping. coax a small rotor and beam for about 225.00 localy also new. The reviews of the radio are good. any body have a ranger on six. Is this a good Idea

I had one years ago sold it to a very happy buyer.

 

[wa4gch]

I agree you should be looking at a multiband radio like a 706 .....

 

[davegrantsr]

while the rci5054 is EXACTLY the same as the 29xx radios, i found it totally DIFFERENT-in a good way. i had mine for 2 years, and like wavrider said, when 6 is NOT open, 6 is NOT fun. but when it is, the 5054 was absolutely a BLAST! i found it TO ME to be quieter then the 29xx's, very good ears-very sensitive, very selective, easy to operate, good sound on the receive, quality audio reports, an honest 100+ watts......should i go on? i replaced it with an older ic551d, and fortunately didn't dump the rci......i think it may have been 'better'. i finally moved it on after getting a 706mk2g,and even that was a tough call and i STILL think the 5054 may have been better on 6! i think my 746pro is finally better on 6 then the rci.
as for 6m, sometime in the next 4 or 5 weeks, you'd probably get some use out of it during the occasional winter e skip season, then cover it up til late may. at least with a 'real' hf+vhf rig you can have some fun on 10m.....while the sun continues to cooperate.

 

[Mudfoot]

You could always buy it and try it out.

If you don't like it, put it on Ebay and you'll damn near get every penny back.

I have had 2 of the 25 watt versions over the years. I liked them both.

They sell well on Fleabay....

 

[6meter]

What wavrider said. Save your dollars a little longer and get an HF rig that includes 6m. You will get a lot more fun for your investment. With a basic Technician license you are good to go for 6 meter DX and also 10 meter voice from 28.300 to 28.500.

The best part of the year for 6 meter DX is from roughly May to July. So there is no hurry to buy a new rig right now.

You are on track with the idea of a small beam. A 3 element is not very large and can be turned with a TV rotor.

I work a lot of 6 meters and rarely have heard anyone mention using the Ranger. Doesn't mean its a bad radio, just that most folks put down the extra cash for a HF + 6 radio. Look around for a used FT-450 of IC-706.