My favourite Amateur Radio (ham) band is the 10 Metre Band ( frequency - 28.000 to 29.700 MHz. ) as it always has some surprises for you, with F layer openings, sporadic "E" when you don't expect it, and Trans Equatorial Propogation (sometimes called TEP).
While it is classed as a HF band, it has some low VHF band like properties as well.
CW
My favourite mode of operation is Continuous Wave (CW) using the International Morse Code. Most people use the terms interoperably, but they are actually not the same. CW is the Mode, International Morse Code is the "Language". For an example of another CW "Language", see this Wikipedia entry about Wabun Code .
I have always been interested in developing my own computer based "Language" for use with CW as well. I will link it here if I ever get around to it.
Anyway, CW on Ten. I monitor, and call CQ , on 28.058 MHz. I use this frequency as I have a JA operator friend, JR2IUB ( こにちわタケさん ) that I contact when the band is open to Japan. Also, being close to 28.060MHZ, which is the designated QRP frequency on 10 Metres, I can hear the edge of their signal.
Beacons
On 28.200 MHz there is a number of CW beacons run by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). It is part of worldwide network of HF beacons known as the International Beacon Project (IBP). These beacons transmit at a certain timing from different locations around the world. You can use these to see if there is radio propagation to the area of the world you are interested in contacting. The beacons are often referred to as the NCDXF/IARU beacons as they were built, and are maintained, by the Northern California DX Foundation.
During the winter (VK) of 2012, I ran a program called BeaconSee on 28.200 MHz to monitor propagation from the NCDXF 10 metre beacons. I used a Realistic HTX100 10m Transceiver for receiving, with a home brew 1/4 wave 10m vertical antenna mounted in the centre of my garage roof, which provided a large ground plane for the antenna. Much to my surprise, I found that the beacon located in Japan, JA2IGY, was to be heard through most of our nights on more than 70% of the days. I normally only heard JA (Japanese) stations between mid morning to mid afternoon as, of course, I was asleep at night.
I would like to set up a CW beacon on Ten but there is not much point
at my current location as Melbourne already has a very good beacon on
28.256 Beacon is currently down since Aug 2012.
May 2013 - The band has been having some great openings. Very unusual for this time of year. Sunspot reports have been high so this must be a contributing factor.
FM Mode
There is a segment of 10 Metres dedicated to Frequency Modulation (FM) use. Peter, VK6YSF, has a great page on 10 Metres FM so I won't add much detail here.
Over summer, it is worth monitoring 29.600 MHz, the International FM Calling Frequency. Also monitor 29.300 MHz as it is popular with JA stations. they are often heard here chatting locally, but welcome calls from DX stations.
10 Metre FM Repeaters
There are 10 FM Repeaters in the VK6YSF list. It is worth setting them up on your HF radio if it supports FM mode. As well as local use for nice Q5 QSO's, when the skip is running, you can get into repeaters in other call areas.
I have had a contact with Peter in VK6 through the Melbourne 10 Metre FM Repeater. Great stuff.