Those of you new to ham radio, or new to six meters these thoughts may help with the band, when it is open and of course when it is not. If you have your rig on six and not quite sure of when it will open. This is a simple thing to do,place your rig on 50.125 use the squelch control and set it just above the threshold, do not turn this control beyond that point. Turn up your receiver audio, when the band is open, you will break the squelch and hear signals.
Second method: If you have a dual vfo rig and a second receiver in your rig, place one VFO in the area of the beacons and that will be from 50.060 to around 50.080Mhz. If you hear signals of beacons determine what grid, that is sent by the beacons. The band is open in that direction. If you hear many beacons, good opening. I have been monitoring W9RCA 50.068mhx EM69 Indie most of the morning. I also heard W5SIX in DM 64 7900 feet up on Horse Mountain. Big signal for a few minutes.
