Looking for some AM operating fun today

[AF9J]

I'm trying this as a means of seeing if I can scare up a few AM QSOs:

I'm bored. It's too early for 75m.  20 is spotty at best. Sooooo, I'm on 7.290 calling CQ AM if anybody's insterested in trying a QSO.  If you want to try another band, let me know.

73,
Ellen - AF9J

[Mike/W8BAC]

Ellen.
I saw your post a bit late. It's 6:55PM eastern, 5:55PM your time and I'm tuned up. I called you several times, you must have resorted to the twisted pair? Listening on 7.290 for you now.

Mike near Detroit

[AF9J]

Hi Mike,

Give me a few.  Unless you'd like to go to 75m instead (we're close nough that it'll work).  I'll shootr off a few calls on 7290.

Ellen - AF9J 

[Mike/W8BAC]

Listening now on 7.290. I'll call you on 3.880 at 8:pm sharp.

[Mike/W8BAC]

OOPS, 8:00PM eastern DST on 3.880. 7PM your time, OK?

Mike

[AF9J]

No Problem Mike,

I figured that's what you meant. I'm just going to 3880 with the big iron (Viking II). I thought I heard something down in the noise on 7290, but that's it.  I think we're out of the skip zone.  Having the K-index at 4 and the A-index at 12 doesn;t help things either.  See you on 3880 in 20 minutes.

73,
Ellen - AF9J

[Mike/W8BAC]

3.880 is busy. 3.885 calling now 8:05EDST

[AF9J]

Mike,

I got delayed by a phone call from my mom.  Could we do it in a half hour or so?

Ellen - AF9J

[AF9J]

Mike,

I'm not hearing anything.

Ellen - AF9J

[k4kyv]

During the summer months, I usually do stuff outside and don't come into the house until about sundown.  When I turn on the radio and listen, most people are already talking about "hitting the sack".

What's with everybody going to roost with the chickens?

I don't think it is oldbuzzardism on my part, because when I first got on the air back in the late 50's and early 60's, I always heard plenty of activity on the bands after dark, even in the middle of summer.

[AF9J]

I don't know Don.  I know that I heard some good AM for a change on 1860 kc on Saturday night at 11 PM.  But I was falling asleep at the radio.  So as much as I hated to, I called it a night.  Maybe that's the case - not as many people are night owls anymore.  I know during the weekday, I have to get up at 4:30 AM for work, so staying up past 10 or 10:30 PM starts cutting into my time.  So, I've been concentrating more on the high band stuff (since they're usually usable earlier in the evening at this time of  the year).

Ellen - AF9J

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Don, I can't recall hearing you on before maybe 10:30 or later at night. The sun must set late where you live!

Summer static (or the thought of same) keeps a lot of AMers off the air. But even last winter, more and more folks seemed to be spending more time online than on air. Email, ebay, skype, 'fone, there's no shortage of internet activities to burn time.

The big rig is down for service here, only the 32V peanut whistle is online, and memories of trying to compete with it on 75m back in the early 90s are still vivid. Did enjoy a nice chat with Buddly, Russ 'FAU, and Peter, KA3STN(?) on 40m Saturday. Then a fuse popped in the transmitter, no doubt because of the house projects awaiting attention. You gotta make hay while the sun shines, as they say.

[W1RKW]

I was in the sack by 8pm last night and had the beside radio on.  The AM window was clogged with slopbuckets and the noise was high. I heard a few trying to make a go of it but eventually I nodded off.  Don't know if anything happened afterwards.  Those signals I could here were local to me for the most part.

[k4kyv]

I listened sometime about 11PM and heard Grant W4BVT back on the air after an extended absence, talking to someone on 3885.  By the time I turned on the rig there was no activity, but I tuned up and tested and Grant came back.  We talked for a while, and just as I was signing out, Jan in MI called in and continued the QSO after I left, about midnight.  QRN was low.

Clear wx and lower temps predicted for the next few days, so maybe the QRN will stay low.  I plan to listen to-night.

[k4kyv]

Band condx sucked to-night.  QRN was back.

[wb1ead]

Good Morning all..now on 29.000 calling CQ AM phone..have been off and on since 1400utc..any takers?? looks open towards the south from here..a few USB below..4 and 3 calls..kinda lite..will also be "around" Wed. too between 1400 to 1700utc..lotta times i'm just monitoring as i putter around the workshop..so give it a go..              cu there  73 de DAVE

[k4kyv]

Wonder if this could be useful for rounding up some new AM-specific operation?

[AF9J]

Ahh!   I'd forgotten about that forum on the zed.  It might be useful for setting up AM skeds.  I'm willing to give it a try.  Tat forum seems to be underutilized as it is anyway.

73,
Ellen - AF9J

[W1RKW]

Why not create an AM sked forum here instead.  The heck with QueerZebra.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

We already have a 6 & 10 Meter Watch Thread here. We could always start ones for other bands.

[ka3zlr]

How about 17 Meter band...I'd have to build another amp...LOL...Antennas are Vely builder flendly...

[KB2WIG]

10m is open to Ok and AL into central NY  940P local


... no one on 29.0

klc

[AF9J]

I just called on 29.0 Kevin.  I had no takers.  I'm eating a late supper. I'll try again after I'm done eating.

Ellen - AF9J

[wb1ead]

Good Morning all..just getting settled in the shack for a try at 10mtr AM..think it was RKW that said how about a forum here on posting or chatting on 10mtr openings..a few others chimed in positive too..please allow me to raise my hand to 2nd that vote!!!
you betcha THAT among other fine ramblings here would be a welcome sight for these ol' tired eyes..bring it on!! hoorah!!
          Now..if i could..that OTHER forum?? personally i'm sick to death alredy of stepping on eggshells or having to strap on a flame retardent suit..ok maybe it was just a handful of posts and a thread or two started..but honestly what's up with that?
           this isn't the time or forum for this but i wanted somehow to let all of you regulars here know..even though i haven't been a regular contributor here..i have been a VERY MUCH interested observer of AM activitys and all..well over 10 years it seems..however due to work (retired finally..YEA!!) and the fact we were not hooked to internet..all i had was the short 30 mins. at work to look in..started with AM way back..and like some of you have " found my way back home "..for the past several years been AMing almost exclusive on 10 mtrs..i am maybe rightfully "" the unknown AMer "most contacts were to Europe too..lot of stateside as well..got some Boat Anchor equipment..working on it..only ant. now and then is yagi for 10..got the wire..been reading the books..somethings going up this fall..
            I apologize for most likely sticking something into a thread that really may not belong..but you have no BIO spot so..oh well..ok enough out of me..all i can hope for is someday maybe i'll have the pleasure to work some of you folks..going back to my usual stance..in the shadows..out of sight..and listen listen listen..tnx to all..your'e all a GREAT bunch..73 de DAVE

[k4kyv]

Why not create an AM sked forum here instead.  The heck with QueerZebra.

It might work like calling CQ on AM outside the Ghetto.  Some of the ricebox operators could be curious enough to try their rigs on AM for the first time.  Many times I have done that and responded to their calls, and once they get all the adjustments right they usually don't sound bad, and a few actually sound quite good.  Often I get remarks that they like the mode and and may try operating it more often.  Once in a great while someone will be impressed enough that they will decide to start looking for a plate modulated transmitter.

The flakes usually try once, and then go away, never to be heard from again.  Very rarely do I hear negative reactions any more, and when I do, it is usually from old farts, veterans of the AM vs Slopbucket wars of the 60's, or else  refugees from 11m, where some of the "sidebanders" and freebanders somehow have the idea that 11m ssb isn't "CB", but all AM is.

I wouldn't post AM-specific skeds for inside the Ghetto (already enough activity there), but find some spot on 3800-3870, or "down below" that appears relatively free of dead-air groups and give it a try.

Also, lately I have noticed quite a few holes on 3900-4000.  Many of the old-buzzard SSB groups that occupied certain frequencies for years are gone because most of their members are now in nursing homes or went SK. 

Maybe it is time to start looking up there as well as below 3870 for fresh territory for AM presence.