The 6 metre band  primarily covers 50.000 to 54.000 MHz, it is a really fascinating amateur band, as it
is the crossover between HF and VHF, so it has propagation peculiarities of both HF and VHF which makes
for some exciting long distance contacts, to be successful at getting the really long hauls, such as the
other side of the world, you need to have a very well equipped station and be willing to spend alot of time
monitoring and watching for the signs of good propagation, it requires effort, on the other hand, you can
have fun with very modest equipment and still make some good contacts over several thousand kilometres.


Important facts concerning the 6 metre band from a VK perspective:

WHERE TO OPERATE (HISTORICALLY):

50.000 to 50.300 - is considered as 50 Mhz, it is for weak signal DXing,
		avoid use of wide band modes such as FM to minimise QRM
		to highly sensitive receivers.

50.000 to 50.100 MHz - International beacon segment

50.050 to 50.100 - restricted to CW only in some countries

50.100 to 50.130 MHz - International DX Window, weak signal DXing via F2 layer propagation,ie. greater than 10,000km.

50.110 MHz - is the International SSB/CW Calling frequency, via F2 layer propagation, (greater than 10,000km),

50.125 MHz - the U.S. call frequency

50.130 to 50.199 - secondary International DX Window

50.150 Mhz - recommended for VK contests

50.200 to 50.300 MHz - VK local/interstate activity, caters for E-layer propagation (up to 10,000km)

50.200 MHz - a VK National Calling frequency to cater for E-layer propagation (up to 10,000km)

50.280 to 50.300 MHz - local beacons (stay clear)

50.313  FT8 mode



52-54 MHz SEGMENT:

52.000 to 52.500 MHz - historically for CW/SSB DX & some beacons, generally considered for E-layer/Tropo propagation.

52.050 MHz - historically, the CW/SSB Calling Frequency, prior to VK getting 50 Mhz back,

52.100 MHz - recently made the VK National SSB calling frequency to keep in line with 144.1 and 432.1

52.500 to 53.999 MHz - is pretty much anything goes,  where all the FM activity occurs, including repeaters.

52.525 MHz - historically is the FM Calling Frequency for E-layer/Tropo propagation (less than 10,000km)

52.886 MHz - historically the AM call/operating frequency.

VK HISTORY:
1964 - lost 50 Mhz, to accomodate the 13 channel TV system.
1984 - regained 50-50.3 for International F2 compatibility

Propagation:
6 metre DX is heavily impacted by the Solar Cycles, past and present are
Cycle 21  started June 1976, peaked September 1979
Cycle 22  started September 1986,  peaked August 1990
Cycle 23  started May 1996, peaked April 2000
Cycle 24  started August 2006, expected peak in 2012 (now revised, was 2010) Latest prediction now May 2013.
Cycle 25  expecting peak in 2024, but don't expect much of a peak.



My 6metre details: 

I have been operating on 6metres since 1980, (Cycle 21) began on MR-10 from Dave VK2YME on 52.525 FM simplex, purchased a Plessey
C-42 36-60Mhz tunable, 10 w o/p, ex-Army transceiver from Centurion tanks, used in Vietnam, worked plenty of
DX within Australia with it, then used a Icom IC-502 on the 52 MHz SSB segment, next used a Yaesu 680R All Mode to
also on the 52 MHz segment, up until 1984, then moved to 50 MHz segment, tried a little mobile work with it,
which was absolute waste of time. Best results using yagi during field day contests, such as Ross Hull VHF and John Moyle,
working the south pacific region.

Cycle 22 - Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I dont have any 6 metre all-mode equipment any more,
at present only have a FM mobile transceiver for 6m, for scanning the 6m FM repeater segment and occasionally
working a few friends on 52.525 FM simplex.

January 2003,(Cycle 23) modified an AWA RT85 25w mobile to 6m FM (52.5 to 54) for mobile FM simplex & repeater activity.

March 2005, When I am mobile, I have 6m FM on scan, pretty much 52.500 to 53.975, sorry still no 50 MHz gear.

October 2007,  still just FM,  at home and in the car, 52.525 simplex and scanning 6 metre repeaters.

January 2011,(Cycle 24) ramping up on planning for Cycle 24 peak (currently expected for May 2013)
The bad news is Cycle 24 not expected to peak as high as expected, with Cycle 25 peak looking even worse.
What that means is I'll probably be retired for Cycle 25 peak but won't find much long distance DX. (a big fizzer)

December 2011, did manage to get on 6m FM, working Fm rptrs and FM simplex contacts in VK2,3,4,5.  Nothing for VK7 this Xmas,
but did hear the Auckland rptr on 53.725 for first time that I know of (hard to tell, as it has no ident and have
to rely on a ZL answering you to know that it is the right repeater.