I got my General last spring but am just getting started on the HF bands, so I'm speaking from limited experience. I can say that local 'noise' can make copying traffic challenging. I am using an end-fed wire antenna (Chameleon Emcomm II) and have found that reception can be anywhere from very good to awful, usually falling somewhere in between. The digital modes seem to be much more robust if that's your thing.
Here's what I do to see how conditions are at any given time over and above just sweeping through the bands:
- Run through the WWV time signals at 5, 10, 15, 20 and I think 25 MHZ in AM mode. If the 15 Mhz broadcast is coming through pretty well, for instance, then 20 meters should be doable.
- Tune in to some of the nets that seem to be running every day. The ECARS net on 7.255 Mhz LSB and the Maritime net on 14.300 Mhz USB are good ones to monitor.
- Check out QRZ.COM for current conditions, like this:
- And if you're looking for 10 meters, leave the radio on 27.385 LSB. This is an 11 meter 'freeband' frequency that's outside of the amateur bands but when it comes alive with rednecks yelling at each other it generally indicates favorable conditions on 10 meters, and maybe 6 meters as well.
