HF or High Frequency
HF runs from 3 to 30 MHz, but the 160 metre band is generally also
thought of as being HF.
While some people chase DX on 160M, it is usually thought of as best for
providing "local" communications, say out to about 1000 km. The 80M band is
the work-horse for most "local" communications. The 40M band can be good for
DX, but is a good band to try if 80M won't quite cut it for more distant
communications. The 20M band is often the most useful band for DXing. 15M
and up can provide good DX at certain times of the year and certain times in
the sunspot cycle.
I'm often listening on 3729 KHz or 3735 KHz. The former is the BC Public
Service Net frequency. It is held 365 days a year, usually at 630 pm, but
may move up an hour in winter if propagation deteriorates. The PEP net is
held on Wednesday evenings on 3735 KHz.
If you don't catch me on HF, the other place I'm usually listening is on
the "Salt Spring Island" repeater VE7RSI 147.320+. I also sometimes monitor
the 2M calling frequency 146.520 and 146.460 MHz which is commonly used
here. I should add 147.570 100 Hz to the list now that IRLP node 1148 is up
and running.
PS - that ornery guy Ivan VE7IVN out at the Cape Beale Light Station
wanted me to say they he usually listens on 3729 KHz as well. Also,
Wayne VE7SWR managed to get his rockbound Spilly (Spilsbury SBX-11A HF) all
tuned up and putting out 5 watts on 3729 and can probably tweak it a bit
more. Wayne is waiting for a few more crystals to populate the rig with.
PSK - I haven't got my feet wet in PSK yet, but I have
DigiPan installed
and grabbed a screenshot of the tail end of a QSO n 20M a few minutes ago.
It looks like an interesting mode that can work sometimes with some
incredibly weak signals and use very little bandwidth with only a 15 Hz
shift.
Yaesu FT-1500 and Yaesu FT-857 at back, and TNC-X with lid
removed in front.
Yaesu FT-857 with the lid removed to install the then
optional DSP filter.
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