What HF band

What is the best HF band for a new pass to start on? And what set up would you recommend without going mad?
Thank you
Gary
M7GJJ

Hi Gary and for me 40m was the best band to cut my teeth , always a bit of activity 24/7 , also 10m but atm very little activity due to us being at the solar minimum

20m is also a busy band but you will be up against the big boys and can be very difficult being heard using 10w

Craig

Hi Gary,

I can only give my view point as a SWL. A lot of listening can go a long way.
(Although I have been considering a foundation ticket of late)

I love listening to 80m as usually you can actually hear both sides of the conversation!
I hear a lot of new passers here and amazed how they cut through on QRP limitations. Sometimes they're clearer than the big gun operators as they're not overloading my radio's front end.

As Craig pointed out, 40m can usually be exciting as well as 20m. I often hear continental and stateside contacts especially during "grey-line" operation and if they are 'beaming' to each other the UK usually sits in line of sight making for interesting contacts.

The best thing is these bands are interesting all the time, no hanging off until sunspot peak. I usually hear intercontinental contacts most every day.


The thing that's nice are the operators that will cherry pick the QRP operators over the big-guns, (which usually means new licence holders), as it's more challenging and for them, keeps amateur radio going with the new blood.
Some of the 'big-boys' are blasting out enough power to overcome their antenna deficiencies but can't hear the QRP's!!

As for a setup, it depends on your view.
For me I like the fact that the "super new cool" HF sets soon become jaded yet retain their awesome qualities. This means eventually lower second hand prices and I've seen fantastic HF sets go for less money than SSB CB's!
Some of the old sets, (boat anchors and smaller homebase), are often passed on as 'faulty' but is usually a case of operator deficiencies....they just can't operate the damn things!

HF antennas can be all sorts of things and yet work well. As it's flipping difficult to make a Yagi beam for 80m long bits of wire go a long way
I have a Ham friend who's made loads of contacts using a steel core washing line! Really I even joked about how high up his washing line was until he pointed out it was his antenna!


You could even think about picking up a bit of Morse......at 10 watts the world's your oyster


Flip, making me think about getting my ticket again Dammit.

Best of luck with whatever you do Gary. Enjoyment makes it all go a long way.

73's
Victor

Thank you both very much for your help and advice, Victor please go for your foundation licence I have only had my call sign for a few weeks but it’s an amazing hobby and for what you already know you should fly through it.
Gary

Cheers Gary, much appreciated and you're very welcome.

After putting it off for too many decades I may finally do it.
The exam isn't the problem, just some of the stuffed shirt a-holes you have to deal with to get there
I may just grit my dentures with a grimace and get on with it!

I do often crave the idea of being part of those interesting conversations rather than being an observer.


All the best to you,
Victor

Hi Gary,

Congratulations on passing the foundation exam.

40M will probably be best to serve your apprenticeship, nearly always a bit of activity and you can achieve a lot with a little (10W).

80M is a good place to listen and learn but not always best to speak as some of the 'old guard' can be ignorant / unreceptive.

Whatever you choose good luck and enjoy

Thank you Mark
I am not on HF at the moment but hopefully when I have saved up and bought myself what I need which is another thing I am not sure what to get yet so just keep reading up on the topic. I am on 2m and 70cm I have a dual band Anytone and a Diamond X50-N attached to the side of my home so hopefully we will speak to each other soon.

Thank you Mark

My call sign is M7 GJJ.

73 Gary

ok Gary,
heard you today on 2m but could not get to the shack at the time.
another time,
73
mark.

Hello Gary.
You will have to have a listen around on all the bands.
Depending on conditions and time of day. 10m, 20m 30m are usually best during the day then they tend to drop out as the evening goes on then 40m, 80m and 160m come into play in the afternoons and throughout the evenings due to the amount of charge left in the charged particles in the ionosphere ( charged by the sun' sunspot activity and ultra violet light and other sun and atmospheric factors ). Both 40m, 80m and 160m are more reactive to a lesser charge thus these frequencies remain active later on and 30m and 20m drop out.
2m goes lively when the conditions are wright and there is a rise and the signals travel along the troposphere or tropospheric duct which is good fun and you end up a couple of hundred of miles away. I have noticed this when it has been cold and wet and then it warms up and hey presto signals are in the duct.
Good fun enjoy all frequencies. Radio is a wonderful world.