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Re: Topband: The use of digital modes on 160 metres

To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: The use of digital modes on 160 metres
From: k6xt <k6xt@arrl.net>
Reply-to: k6xt@arrl.net
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:52:20 -0600
List-post: <topband@contesting.com">mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Tom, "easily" is a very parochial east coast point of view. Maybe from GA. Probably not in one lifetime from west of the Mississippi.

Having noted that, let me go on to say the discussion has morphed from its origin of "where to put digi modes" to "whether digi modes should be on [pick a band]". I'll continue to insist that 1835-40 is a really crummy choice for digimodes on 160. I'll also insist digimodes have every right to be on [pick a band] where its legal. One day in the not so distant future as I get even more cantankerous than at present I may be faced with that bent wire antenna in an old folks home, where I already qualify age wise. I want the capability to work DX on 160 after the hearing apparatus fails completely. A read it off the screen digimode may be just the answer.

A word about transmitter adjustment. Separate from tx adjustment is the issue of receiver quality. I usually use a K3 which doesn't have many receiver issues. When K3 is out of service the spare is an IC706 which, by comparison, has lots of receiver problems. IMO receiver issues cause just as many problems on some digimodes as does tx adjustment - and many folks with the bent wire ant have its rig equivalent on the operating table. Is that bad? Of course not. Whether by choice or necessity we run what we brung. I'll guess that few have the interest, skill or equipment to make audio tx adjustments independent of the software IMD meter. We're stuck with it. Better to be imperfectly in the ballpark than to have no idea.

73 Art K6XT~~
Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.
ARRL, GMCC, CW OPS, NAQCC
ARRL TA

On 9/19/2012 7:43 AM, Tom wrote:
A bit of bent wire can easily work 200+ countries on 160 on CW. Probably
more so than on "digital" modes at the present time.

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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

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