Is there much interest in 11m DX operation?

[lars]

Hi folks

Is there much interest in DX communication using any (or all) of the amateur 28.0-29.7 MHz band, the UK-legal AM/SSB band 27.0-27.4 MHz, or the dubious region between these two? This general region is of interest to me, because the sizes of even simple antennas are manageable, and long-distance contacts ought to be possible, if the conditions are favourable. However, I don't hear a great deal in this area on my scanner; what I do hear is mostly German and Italian.

Best wishes
Lars

[m0lsx]

There are plenty of amateurs active on the 10 Meter Band.
CB is in general referred to as 11 meters, even though legal CB is actually like the amateur radio band on 10 meters.
Southgate ARC has a regular contributor who lists DX activity & during the summer FM can be a bountiful hunting ground.
The United States has a 10-10 group who keep the band alive with regular nets & DX activity.
Because antennas are small 10 meters is a great band for efficient HF activity, I personally enjoy both 10 & 17 meters.

[lars]

Thanks.

[merlin100]

Many people monitor 27.555Mhz USB as a sort of beacon, which often 'opens up' before 10m and 12m does.

Unfortunately, there are locals around here that sit on that frequency and use it for nattering on all day. That's considered as a big no-no by most 'freebanders", but the locals don't care.

[SporadicE]

I'm intrigued by something - all the information I can find shows:

UK legal CB band 27.60125 to 27.99125 MHz

EU legal CB band 26.965 to 27.405 MHz

(source: OFCOM).

[m0lsx]

I believe that means the UK system is the original early 80's allocation. But the newer EU wide allocation is also legal. They have different channels & I believe the EU frequencies can be used on AM, FM & SSB. While the old UK channels are still FM only.
But not being a CB'er I am not 100% sure of the above.
However the original poster clouded the water some what by mixing CB with amateur radio. 28 to 29.700 is the amateur radio allocation & this is not, nor has it ever been 10 meters. HOWEVER..The old legal UK 40 channel allocation are when the maths is done a 10 meter electrical wavelength.

Edited to add. The reality is that despite what laws say CB frequencies are in effect a legal free for all, do what you want with no rules & no prosecutions.
When I started listening semi seriously back in the mid 70's, there was still some Military activity in what we now call the CB spectrum & at around that time a SWL listening for an Australian friend who was using CB, heard some bank robbers & reported them. With the result that he was threatened with prosecution for listening to a non broadcast band. Although embarrassment stopped the persecution going ahead. But he was threatened with it.
The bank robbery was made into a film recently & stories still abound about what exactly they were after.