Established November 2007
UTC
Q & A
30MDG Answers ****** Use Browser back arrow to return to Questions
A. Any Amateur Radio operator licensed to operate on the HF bands and 30 Meters
are welcome to join in with us. There are no pre-qualifications to join, no
minimum number of 30 Meter contacts, and no hoops to jump so if you are
interested in the 30 Meter Band and digital modes then we are interested in
having you as a member. We have members from countries throughout the World.
We are a small group that welcomes International participation on a band that
offers International DX propagation. We have members that are brand new to
digital modes to those that are seasoned digital operators. ALL HF licensed
Amateurs are welcome
A. Yes. We welcome Short Wave Listeners (SWL) from around the World to join
30MDG
A. No. Your 30MDG Membership is FREE and you are a lifetime member with a
lifetime 30MDG number only issued to your call (we will not re-issue your
number). Although our group is FREE to join with no costs for any membership
or Award Certificates we may from time to time every year or so ask for
donations (those donations could be requests for a few dollars to donate for
help on costs to the 30MDG website or donations for help with 30MDG projects
i.e. Spot Page, Awards Managers, Auto Spots, etc.)
A. Very easy just go to our `Join' page and fill out the form:
Once filled out and submitted a `Membership Pending' confirmation page will
appear and this indicates that your request to join 30MDG was sent. Please
allow us a few days to issue your 30MDG number and 30MDG Member
Certificate.
A. Yes. Each call sign will be issued an individual 30MDG number. We issue
30MDG numbers and Awards by call sign only.
A. Yes. Click here and fill out form
A. Yes, please go here:
Q. Are Amateur Operators primary or secondary users of the 30 Meter Band?
A. ** PLEASE NOTE: We are SECONDARY users of the 30 Meter Band. Please use the
proper etiquette and operating procedures while operating on the 30 Meter Band.
We MUST GIVE WAY to PRIMARY users of the band.
Q. Why is 30MDG promoting the 30 Meter Band?
A. Why not promote the best keep secret in HF Amateur Radio? The digital
portion of 30 Meter Band today has changed and there is more activity but a few
years ago this wasn't the case and many jumped from 20 meters to 40 meters and
over looked the 30 Meter Band . The 30 Meter Band is perfect for digital modes
with great propagation, less noise, low power so all are on the same playing field…
a Band that is or was the best kept secret in HF Amateur Radio and we hope the
word is out to give it a go on 30 Meters!
Q. Does 30MDG promote contesting on the 30 Meter Band?
A. No. The 30 Meter Band is a WARC Band and contesting is not allowed on the
WARC Bands. No we do NOT promote contesting on 30 Meters. There has not been and
will never be a 30MDG contest on this Band. We promote 30 Meters and the use of
low power digital modes along with other digital operators with like
interests…interests of low power, experimenting both with different
modes/antennas/propagation, ragchew, DX, and just plain casual use of a great
band away from contesting …just having fun on the band.
Q. Why does 30MDG have `Event Weekends' and are these contests?
A. Every 6 months or so, we will try to have a 30MDG `Event Weekend' (i.e 30MDG
QRP Weekend, etc) and these weekends are to promote digital mode use on the 30
Meter Band. There are NO set start or end times, there are NO set exchanges
there are NO contest rules implied or stated because there is no contest, there are
no winners other than those that want to have fun with casual operating on a
weekend to promote the 30 Meter Band and digital use on the band….simple really.
A. No. Award Certificates are FREE.
A. Yes. There is no difference if you are a SWL or Amateur Radio operator just
send us your Award application for the Award you are interested in.
A. At present we have around 80 Awards available for personal achievement.
Please go click this link "Awards":
A. At present we have 8 Award Managers that dedicate their free time to make
this all happen. Please be patient and kind to those that so willingly
volunteer their free time. To view the Award Managers and their Award responsibilities
please check on the Meet the Team page
http://www.30mdg.net/team.html
submitted?
A. Usually within 72 hours you will receive your Award via email in PDF format
(note: this is the normal time frame but there are times though out the year this
may vary due to various individual reasons or commitments other than 30MDG
business)
A. Yes. For Award news please go here:
http://www.30mdg.net/news.html
A. If you are a 30MDG Member usually within 72 hours you should see your
Award achievement listed on the Award listing page - http://30mdg.net/awards.html
A. NO. You can take as little or as much time as you like because the Awards are
for personal achievement on the 30 Meter Band. For example if it takes you 3
days to work WAC-30 then good for you if it is 6 months to achieve WAC-30 then
that is fine too. Work the band when you can and relax, this is for casual
operation so just have fun on the band.
for help?
A. You may contact the appropriate Award manager on our Meet the Team page. Also please
note that your email given must be a valid email address and your email system will
accept 30MDG sourced emails - if you don't receive your award within 3 days to a week,
please check your SPAM folder for your Award.
contacts?
A. No. We do not require QSL confirmation. We do reserve the right to review Award requests
Awards?
A. Yes.
help in the Award process?
A. We have a great program called Ultimate30 (U30) to help in the Award
process and the 30MDG Award managers prefer you do use this program if you want
to get involved in some of our Awards. This software is FREE and 30MDG specific
Click link below to download your copy of U30:
Ultimate30 by John OE3JPK
Manual adi log files are not accepted for award claims
these updates?
A. Yes the U30 program for our Awards is continually updated to include our
new members and other added items The program will tell you when updates are to be downloaded!
towards my 30MDG number and contacts towards awards?
A. No. 30MDG member numbers and Awards are issued by call sign only. Please
have a 30MDG issued for your special call or event station.
go for help?
A. Yes. Please join our Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/30meterPSKGroup/join
or you can email John OE3JPK direct: via the email address on the U30 webpage
Q. Are there other groups or Clubs that offer 30 Meter Awards?
A. Yes. The EPC, FH, DMC, ARRL etc offer Awards that include 30 Meters.
Q. What digital mode software do you suggest or what are the most popular ones
used by other 30 Meter digital operators?
A. If you are new to digital modes the easiest to use and has the most
popular mode of PSK is Digipan. Go here: http://www.digipan.net/ . We highly
recommend using a multi-mode digital software so if other signals are seen/heard
on the band or if the band conditions justify a better weak signal mode you are
at the ready. The top multi-mode digital software are:
Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD-DM780-FREE) http://hrd.ham-radio.ch/
MixW (cost $50) http://www.mixw.net/
MultiPSK (FREE or full version $60) http://f6cte.free.fr/index_anglais.htm
Fldigi (FREE unix/windows) http://www.w1hkj.com/
Moco (FREE mac) http://homepage.mac.com/chen/w7ay/cocoaModem/index.html
Q. Is there a 30 Meter digital Spot Page for the 30MDG group?
A. Yes. We encourage you to use it when in the shack working the 30 Meter Band. Go here:
http://www.hamspots.net
Q. On the 30 Meter Digital Spot Page what are the `auto spots' to the right of
the screen?
A. We have a few 30m auto spotters located in NA, EU, and OC and they report
real-time 30 meter band activity. Give it a try and give out a CQ call on the
30 Meter PSK portion of the band (10.140) and see if one of the auto spotters
reports your signal. For more detailed information on our 30m auto spotters go
here:
http://www.hamspots.net/auto_history.php?
Q. Does the 30 Meter Digital Group promote different digital modes and other
groups?
A. Our primary goal is promoting a single Band which is 30 Meters and the use of
digital modes on the 30 Meter Band. We promote the use of almost ALL digital
modes…... Please note that PSK modes seem to be the most popular/used on the
30 Meter Band but please experiment with other better weak signal digital modes.
(When using wider bandwidth digital modes in the small band space we have
on 30 Meters please respect other users and select a clear space before Txing!!..
Again, we encourage good operating procedures). We also support other digital mode
groups such as EPC, FH, DMC, FISTS, etc…. but our emphasis is promoting the use of
digital modes on the 30 Meter Band.
A. Click here and fill out form
Q. I don't seem to hear any digital mode activity on the 30 Meter Band, why?
A. What antenna are you using and what times are you listening for activity?
Your antenna is everything so if you have a poor antenna you will have poor
results. A simple dipole cut for the 30 Meter Band high as you can install it
does quite well. The best times depends on where you are and what area of the
world you want to contact. Best times for DX seem to be around just before and
after sunset/sunrise for a few hours before/after. The 30 Meter Band in the
digital areas of 10.135 to 10.145 (PSK31 10.140) seems to be more active from
1600z to 2300z and more activity on the weekends than on weekdays. 30 Meters is
both a day and night band so if you don't hear activity give out some CQ's and
see if you get any replies because the band is usually open somewhere 24 x 7 …it
usually is just under used so keep trying or again ANTENNA ANTENNA ANTENNA.
Q. It seems the 30 Meter Band is dead when the sun goes down so is there no
activity at night?
A. This is a topic of discussion of course and your area of the World may vary
but we believe that the 30 Meter Band is open somewhere 24 x 7 it all comes
down to if that area of the World where 30 Meters is open is there an operator
there working the Band or listening for signals. The best DX times seem to be
an hour or two just before or after the sun rises or sets. You may also find
some if you are looking for DX or even a domestic (<1000km) contacts some of the
best are found at night.
Q. What are most the operators using on the 30 Meter Band for antennas?
A. Most any type antenna are being used on the 30 Meter Band….dipoles,
verticals, yagi's, quad's, loops, mag loops, ocf, mobile ants, random wires,
etc.. A few of us have discussed that of the DX ops heard many of the stronger
DX stations are on Verticals so a good bet is if you can't put up a tower/Yagi
then having a Vertical and a high dipole cut to 30m Band would be two good
choices to work this band!
Q. Is there a way to know that I'm working another 30MDG member without looking
them up?
A. Yes, please add Laurie's (VK3AMA) digital software mode icons to your digital
program! Go here:
http://www.hamclubs.info/memberlists.php
Q. Are there any 30MDG digital Nets on the 30 Meter Band?
A. At this time there are not any 30MDG Nets but we do encourage you to check
into the FeldHELL (FH) Net with W8LEW:
30 Meter Net 0000Z Monday 10,138 MHz NCS is W8LEW Lew
Q. When was the 30 Meter Digital Group created?
A. 30MDG was officially formed in November of 2007. We are a relatively new group enjoying
continuing growth in membership due to what we offer and the unique 30 Meter Band!
Q. If I want to add 30MDG to my QSL card is there a JPG format of the 30MDG
Logo?
A. Yes. To get a copy of the 30MDG logo in jpg format please email
kb9umtAT30mdg.net
Q. I have never used 30 Meters but I'm active on 20 Meter and 40 Meter digital,
what can I expect on 30 Meters?
A. You can expect the unexpected! As 30 Meters is between 20 and 40 you
will get the best of both with some very interesting propagation. You also can
expect no contests, room to experiment, longer QSO's/ragchews, some very good
DX, and good digital operators willing to help.
Q. What are some sites that might help for current 30 Meter propagation and how
the band conditions are at the moment?
A. The best way to test propagation is to actually get on the band and put out
some CQ's !!!. Below are some sites we suggest using to help:
http://www.hamspots.net/spotit.php?b=30&
http://www.hamspots.net/auto_history.php?
http://psk.gladstonefamily.net/pskmap.html
http://propnet.org/catch3.php?band=HG&last=24&call=¢er=WW
Q. I'm new to 30 Meters and digital modes, is there a place to go for some help?
A. Yes. Please join our Yahoo 30 Meter PSK Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/30meterPSKGroup/join
You can ask questions direct to other users of the 30 Meter Band and digital
modes using the Yahoo reflector/forum. We also offer a digital help and tips
page so go here:
http://www.30mdg.net/Operation_Tips.html
If you are new to 30 Meters you are in for some interesting propagation fun but
for some help on some information about 30 Meters and digital modes go here:
http://www.30mdg.net/files/30_Meter_Band_INFORMATION2.pdf
Q. How can I help promote the 30 Meter Digital Group?
A. Simple…get on the 30 Meter band and have some fun! A few other ways are
when operating on the 30 Meter Band or other Bands please list your 30MDG number
in your brag file (with link if you wish to http://www.30mdg/net. Or you can just pass around word of month to a digital
operator friend/club. If you have a website of your own you can always post
our join link:
Promote us on your website! Just copy and paste HTML
<center>
<a href="http://www.30mdg.net/Join.html">
<img src="http://www.30mdg.net/images/newLogo_02.gif"
border="0"
alt="Click here to join 30 Meter Digital Group"><br>Click to join 30
Meter Digital Group</a>
</center>
Or HTML to join our Yahoo 30 Meter PSK Group Site:
HTML code:
<form method="get"
action="http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/30meterPSKGroup"
style="background-color: #ffc; width: 254px; padding: 2px 4px">
<h6 style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; text-align: center">
Subscribe to 30meterPSKGroup</h6>
<input style="vertical-align: top"
type="text"
name="user"
value="enter email address"
size="20" />
<input type="image" alt="Click to join 30meterPSKGroup"
name="Click to join 30meterPSKGroup"
src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/yg/img/i/us/ui/join.gif" />
<p style="text-align: center;">
Powered by <a href="http://us.groups.yahoo.com/">us.groups.yahoo.com</a></p>
</form>