Gave it a shot

[Mtn Lynx]

Climbed the hill, set up radio listened for awhile 0 skip. Could be the weather. Try again tomorrow.

[443 Arizona]

saterdays and sundays seem to be a good time for skipland. so when you say you climbed the hill, describe. are you hiking,climbing,driving while packing a walkie talkie with a big antenna ? I have spoke to AK when skip is good so its just a matter of hitting it. have you talked to the guys in Oregon mountaintop?
I usually make most contacts on 38LSB.

[MDYoungblood]

Propagation is tricky late in this sun spot cycle, right now its in the lull or downward spiral so catching some will be rare. The best channel to listen to for an indication would be channel 6, the operators there run gobs of power so trying to make a contact there is like being a guppy in a shark tank, channel 38 on SSB is a good one too.

3's

Greg

[Scholar]

Had some skip coming in the last two afternoons when I got home from work. Jamaica, Brazil and the West Indies seemed to come in pretty good, but short lived.

Someone down that way stated they got a bit of Europe.

[Mtn Lynx]

Climbed up the hill with my atv. Hooked up my radio to a car battery. Had my antenna at the end of a pvc pipe made sure the antenna contacts were ok. Only hear my dad talking to me. We did a radio check. We'll keep trying. I'm sure we'll hear something soon.

[MDYoungblood]

What antenna were you using? Were you in the clear? You could build a simple dipole easy, use the PVC at the center and let the two ends come down at a 45° angle, a couple short strings and one extra to support the pipe, doesn't have to be high off the ground if you high on a hill.

3's

Greg

[Mtn Lynx]

Using a Skipshooter II at the end of the pipe. Yup I was at the very top of the hill. I ll try later with a different antenna setup. Wont give up just yet.

[drdx]

So with the antenna on the pipe, did you have any radials fanning out from the base of it, for a ground? Even a single 9 foot wire connected to the ground side would help. Man, if you have a mountain, make a wire dipole or wire vertical in a tree and it will be 10 times better than a mobile antenna in a pipe, no kidding.

-drdx

[rrtdave]

Let me say...just keep trying!! I listen everyday...and sometimes get too talk!! 301 Nebraska/Wyoming (usually AM 28 or 6)

[Mtn Lynx]

Yep, not giving up still. Been out hunting tho lately. Got a base antenna coming 17'. Will set it up when it's here. Weather not cooperating either. And nope no luck hunting (moose).

[Rabbit Ears]

I went up the mountain to have a listen too............ I was on US14 between Dayton and Greybull, WY....on the East side lookout. All I heard was truckers on CH#19 nothing on the usual AM & SSB channels. I switched back to my old K-40 and had a word with a couple of long-haul truckers.

Skip sure is dead as a doornail. Just QRM.

-- Mon Sep 26, 2016 6:47 am --

Yep, not giving up still. Been out hunting tho lately. Got a base antenna coming 17'. Will set it up when it's here. Weather not cooperating either. And nope no luck hunting (moose).

Good luck...and keep your head dude 97% waiting & sufferance, 2% action, and 1% is the kill. You'll get em! Just keep your rifle(s) & gear correct.

God bless!

[Mtn Lynx]

After 3 weeks I finally heard some skip today! Man for awhile I thought my antenna was not set up right. Raised my antenna to about 30 feet at the base. Hearing that was a good sign that my setup is right. Hope I hear more I'm going to scan other channels.

[Rabbit Ears]

I'll turn the dusty thing on...thanks.

[Mtn Lynx]

I was too excited to try to make contact. I haven't heard skip in over 30 years. It was exactly as I remembered. But back then I never scanned channels and switched ssb on. So cool to hear different accents and some chatter on different channels. Hope to hear again soon, this time I'll try to make contact.

[Bobcat]

Don't Stop!!!!! You are providing hope to MANY!!!!!!!

[Mtn Lynx]

Heard a bunch of skip today. Mod Squad from Honolulu was loud. Tried to make contact with him but he's too busy talking fast. Some dude with a deep voice acknowledged my location. So I don't know if I would consider that a confirmed contact. Heard Australia really loud too. Man o man this is fun.

[MDYoungblood]

Today was a good day of skip, was coming in from all over, the morning I had France (14 div.), Cali in the afternoon, and it bounced around north/south a lot. You should try the SSB frequencies, 38 and 39LSB. To be able to catch someone on AM you'll need some wattage, they are all big dawgs on 6 and 28 now a days.

3's

Greg

[Mtn Lynx]

Scored a Palomar 225. Should be here by next week. Can't make any confirmed contacts with my little rm Italy when skip comes on.

[443 Arizona]

my friend, you've been bitten by the bug ,,, it is fun isn't it. keep on Tx'n

[Mtn Lynx]

Skip was ssssmokin' for 1/2 hour today. 146 Cali sounded right next door on 39 LSB, don't know what's up with my transmitting, seems like he could've heard me. Also on 39 there was a strong signal just passed 27.397 my clarifier couldn't reach him, if my clarifier wasn't locked I could've heard him.

[MDYoungblood]

Don't think it's you, the people your calling has several (hundred) others yelling for them at the same time. It's all conditions.

3's

Greg

[jessejamesdallas]

That's just the way conditions work...I've had people sound like they were sitting in my driveway before, but couldn't get my name called for anything...Granted, since I put up a beam 50' (MaCo 4 element Shooting Star) in the air stuff like that doesn't happen that often anymore. But it still can.

Another problem with SSB, is your equipment. "IF" when using a AMP you can get over modulated and sound all garbled up, at which point allot of stations won't answer you back...Or if your off frequency when transmitting on SSB guys may not try and tune you in if your off very much. You can be right on frequency while receiving, but off transmitting.

Once you finally make some contacts on SSB, be sure to ask some questions on how you sound, and if your on frequency... Also check out channel 28 on AM. Lower East Coast was booming this morning.

[Mtn Lynx]

My linear is probably the problem. I had my rf power way way down my mic gain was up a 1/4 turn. My little rm Italy started to click. It's probably broken. I don't have the expertise you guys have to repair it. The preamp works tho. Hope my Palomar is in tomorrow.