WQ6X Muses Wonderfully over the Wonderful Differences between 160 & 10 Meters

One Hundred Sixty (160) meters is in a way the most historic of all HF bands, followed closely
by10-meters.  In the early 1920's, when amateur activity was BANISHED from operating on any wavelength "above" 200 meters and below, 160-meters was our 1st stop.  (As it turns out 1.8-mhz
is harmonically related to 3.6-mhz, 7.2-mhz, 14.4-mhz and 28.8-mhz.)  Following the 1920's, a series
of wars and other military/naval factions managed to BULLY their way into our already small 1.8-mhz to 2.0-mhz playpen.  Fortunately, low-band marine activity has been supplanted with VHF/UHF leaving us with the entire 200-khz spectrum for widely divergent amateur use.

For the most part, 28-mhz (10-meters) has always been with us, altho in 1920 it was labeled
a "waste-land".  In the 20's tube technology was often unstable above the "enormously high" frequencies above ~20-mhz.  As I have written previously, 160 and 10 meters are more-or-less diametrically opposed.  In general, sunspot cycle peaks favor 10-meters while sunspot troughs
tend to favor 160-meters.

We have been emerging from a protracted period in the sunspot cycle "cellar" (SFI: 59 - 72). 
In the last year, the SFI has swung through a wide range (~116 TO 166) and is destined for 200+.

Some of the drawbacks to successful operating on 160-meters include:

• Daytime reception is almost non-existent (except during sunspot cycle troughs).
• Spectrum allocation is only 200-khz - the smallest (non-WARC) HF band.
• Low wintertime noise-levels, offset by weather-induced static crashes.
• Antenna length is 260' for 1/2-wave (130' for 1/4 wave)
• Band is largely immune to most solar disturbances.
• Summertime noise levels are generally quite high
• NVIS ground-wave communication is common.

Then again, by contrast, 10-meters (at the other end of the spectrum) bring us:

• Nighttime reception is almost non-existent (except during sunspot cycle peaks)
• Band noise-level and signal-levels are easily affected by solar disturbances.
• Spectrum allocation is HUGE 1700-khz - the LARGEst HF band.
• Antenna length is 16.7' for 1/2-wave (8.3' for 1/4 wave)
• Auroral and Sporadic-E occurrences are quite common.

As you can see, 160 & 10 meters truly are diametrically opposed.  While this brings diametrically opposed challenges, having an understanding of BOTH ends of the spectrum guarantees that one-way or another, we always have workable access to the electromagnetic radio spectrum.  No matter what time of year, or what point we are in 11/22 years sunspot cycle, there will always be a radio band open to somewhere at EVERY hour of the day - IF you know when/where to look.

Operators who are always bemoaning ".....but the bands are DEAD", are obviously lost in the 80 to 15 meters middle.  When the middle fails us, looking at the bands on the outer edge may often find open propagation paths.

Then again, if EVERYBODY is listening and NOBODY is transmitting, any band will SOUND dead, when in fact it isn't.  I've written about this phenomenon before ([CLICK HERE] to read about it.)  When in DOUBT, find a clear frequency and put out a CQ call for 5 - 10 minutes.  Don't be surprised
if several stations call in at once.

Bottom-Line: Knowledge Truly IS power - in this case band power.  To maximize on-the-air satisfaction in Amateur Radio, pay attention to 160 and 10 meters.  The efficacy of 10-meters
may be no secret (during major sunspot peaks), however the quietly hidden magical wonders
of 160-meters often are. 

For me, musing wonderfully is part of the Magic of Amateur Radio operating - DAY or NiTe.