Working 6 meters with the VX-8R

[Bubba281]

I have the VX-8R for one year now along with my ticket. I've used all the bands and the APRS except for the 6 meter band.

I have decided to look more into the 6 meter only to discover; it seems that 6 meters is most active on SSB. The VX-8 gives capabilities on FM and AM for 6 meters but no SSB capabilities. More specifically the 8R has max transmitting power of 5watts on FM and 1watt on AM.

With all that being said, have any of you used the 6 meters?

If so, What is your setup? Antennas, FM, AM?

What is the furthest contact made simplex on 6 meters?

I have seen a limited number of 6M repeaters in guides but never worked any. Again, what kind of results have any of you have with repeaters?

Thanks for any of your thoughts, tips, and stories of your experiences.

Brian (KJ6EUW)

 

[Moleculo]

I have one 6m repeater that is close enough to hit. It's probably only a few miles away. Most of the rest in SoCal are not workable from my home on the HT antenna, even though there are other 2 meter repeaters at some of the same locations that I can hit. I've never really tried any 6m simplex contacts on the VX-8.

 

[n0zna]

i have a icom 80 and also a icom 81 ht...i have worked many dx stateside contacts when the sfi was way up...and i have a old 100 wt rca mbl radio...i worked all of UE and most of South Amer. with it in my mbl...And i ran a rci5054 25 wt allmode...but the sfi is so low now it willo be a few more months for it to pick up...i never ran a 6fm rpt because there isnt any around,up in St Louis there is,but in 60 miles south of there...73s de JW

 

[kc0zps]

I've given up making contacts on the 6m band with my VX-8R. I have a 6 meter repeater thats about 30 miles away, but I have not been able to wake it up anywhere in my area. I have made a quick 6m simplex contact, but it was one of those situations where I told a friend I wanted to test the 6m band out and called out to him. He was about 2 miles away. That's the extent of my use.