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Topband: Musings on multiple 160m QSOs

To: Topband <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Musings on multiple 160m QSOs
From: VE6WZ_Steve <ve6wz@shaw.ca>
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2020 09:49:05 -0700
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Speaking of multiple QSOs with the same stations on 160m….
please do not hesitate to call me if you hear me on Topband no matter how many 
QSOs we have had!  I am a 160m QSO collector. The more the better.  I don't  
get bored working the same guys over-and-over-and-over on TB. Each opening is a 
new adventure for me.  It ‘aint rocket science to know that if we wait to work 
only new stations on the band then things will get pretty slow!

Everyone is motivated in different ways, and at different times for what 
excites them about Ham radio.  For myself, the thrill of working DX on 
160m….ANY DX, even multiple QSOs in the same season works for me.  I am much 
less excited about doing that on 80m, or 40m, or the higher bands, but I know 
there are those that love to work DX on ANY band all the time, any time.
The thrill for me started when I was 13 years old, under the covers in bed at 
night with a small transistor radio (1971) listening to distant AM broadcast 
stations with the sound of summer QRN.
Because 160m is so un-predictable and usually completely dead and devoid of ANY 
signals (here in VE6 at least) it really is magical when the DX finally makes 
it to my ears.  I mean sincerely magical, because I reflect back on listening 
to those AM signals on that transistor radio…the 160m band is just above the AM 
band. How cool is that!  We are just Ham guys with backyard antennas!

I understand completely those that find it boring working the same guys 
over-and-over, and how the chase for the next DXCC band counter is what really 
matters.  For many years after I built my 80m Yagi I was somewhat “marooned" on 
80m working as much DX as possible.  I still love 80m, but the intrigue has 
faded and I don't find myself calling CQ there much anymore.  Perhaps the same 
will happen on 160m, but because the trans-polar propagation from VE6 to EU 
(under the AU oval) can be absent for YEARS (!) on end, I expect that when the 
condition are good I will remain engaged.  I must confess that working JA’s are 
not as exciting from here (perhaps like working EU from the EC?).
The chase for the DXCC band totals is not my main motivator anymore as much as 
just hearing what DX might make it through each night or morning.

To work a lot of DX on 160, you NEED to call CQ.  If we all just listen, 
waiting for others to call, the only guys we will work are the few that are 
calling CQ (wow, crazy eh?).   I understand that with poor RX and high local 
noise the alligator risk is high, but you never know.  I have received a number 
of JA and EU QSLs indicating 100w TX and modest antenna setups.

Lets keep the band alive.  Get on the band, ionize the ionosphere and call CQ 
and see what happens.

73, de steve ve6wz

So…here is the VE6WZ 2018-19 season “top repeat QSO list”

From my log export for this winter season (4 months) beginning September till 
now, I have worked 422 unique EU callsigns. (1,228 total QSOs)

Here is the top 25 list for Europe:
(rank, call, number of QSOs)

1       SM5EDX    40
2       DF2PY     38
3       LA1MFA    38
4       SM4DHF    33
5       OM2XW     26
6       RA4LW     23
7       LY7M      23
8       ON7PQ     23
9       YL2SM     22
10      PA3FQA    21
11      RC3FL     19
12      G3PQA     16
13      G3XHZ     15
14      IK7JTF    15
15      F5IN      13
16      OH1XX     13
17      DL8LAS    13
18      G3OQT     12
19      F5NZ      11
20      G4UFK     11
21      GW3YDX  11
22      SM3EVR    11
23      G3XGC     10
24      SM6MCW  10
25      SM7BIC    10

And here is the OC/AS list:

1       VK6LW   44
2       VK2WF   21
3       HL5IVL  20
4       VK3HJ   19
5       JA5BIN  11
6       VK3IO   9
7       3D2AG   7
8       DS2JJV  6
9       JA4CQS  5
10      JH2FXK  5

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