EX-WB6ZHT, EX-WK6V I am retired and enjoy DXing and contesting. The station console / desk is almost done! It has taken only 5 years (see picture). Current Countries 337/337 worked/confirmed. Deleted Countries 350/350 worked / confirmed. Need P5. Missed Ed. Any DXpeditions?

I am the Editor of the Southern California DX Club BULLetin ( www.scdxc.org ), Vice President of the United Radio Amateur Club of Los Angeles (URAC in San Pedro www.k6aa.org ), and Secretary for Chapter 7 of the QCWA (Los Angeles & Orange Chapter http://www.qcwa.org/chapter007.htm ). If you are ever in the area come to a meeting!

Six Meters

It looks like this cycle is going to be a low one! Maybe there will be no peak this time! It has happened before. There is still Sporadic E on 6.

Attacked 6 meters over cycle 23 sunspot peak. 65/64 worked/confirmed. Enjoyed working all the DX on the magic band particularly: XV3AA, VR2BG, GW4VEQ, G4CBW, EH2LU, EI6IZ, EH8BPX, F6FHP GI0OTC, 3G0Z, CE0Y/W7XU, CE0Y/N0QJM, TI9M, CP6/N6XQ, 8R1RPN VP8CSA, ZP6CW, DU1/GM4COK, ZK1AKX, T32EQ, N5OLS/KH8 JH1XYR/6 (long path), HC8N (mobile cw) and the 65 JA stations I ran in 1 hour with 1 Watt. That cycle made some great memories!

Sorry I missed 3D2/C, 9A, 8P, 9M6, CN, CT, FO/A, GD, FK8, FY, GM, FR!!!, H44, HL, I, J6, J8, ON, OX, P29, PY0, S5, VK9M, VK9W, YJ, YS, ZD7, ZK1/S, V4. All 91 countries were heard or worked locally this cycle!! It is only a few years before the next cycle. Today almost all HF radios include 6 Meters. We have seen a significant increase in activity last cycle. The next one should have even more!

Remember a 5 element  6 meter yagi is small! Put one up as high as you can, like 80 feet. You will be hearing what everyone else has been working. Verticals and low yagis may be OK for sporadic E but do not do well for F2 propagation!

160 / 80 Meters

Great openings on the low bands! I worked my first European the week before the 2008 CQWW CW contest, then I worked a dozen more during the contest as well as several African stations. When it rains it pours!