Hi Roger,
I don't post here very much. I'm a casual op on 160 (no antenna at
present). The problem I experience isn't a lack of "band plans" - aka
gentlemen's agreements. The problem for me is there are too many of
them. I can find several and they are in conflict each with every other.
Since I do not care a whit about wallpaper or DXCC (sacrilege, I know)
and only have a casual interest in *some* contests. My solution is to
QSY when I encounter pileups on the band. That may mean QSY with the
bandswitch. If the gentlemen can actually reach a uniform agreement I
will be happy enough to observe it. Meanwhile I just stay out of the
way. Whenever I have an antenna I do enjoy some casual operating and
even some events like Stew Perry. Most of the time when I want to
operate I can find a place to do so and still avoid frequencies in use.
For me it's a hobby and I can use some other band or walk the dog or
play my musical instruments or even visit with the XYL when there are
rabid contests going on.
I may have a patch job on my 'big' antenna by this evening. Waiting for
the frost to leave for new antenna work.
73,
Bill KU8H
On 02/28/2016 10:22 AM, Roger Parsons via Topband wrote:
I enjoy contests but...
This weekend has seen the CQ 160m SSB Contest. It has also seen CW activity or
attempted activity from a number of extremely rare DX entities.
Why is it reasonable or even acceptable for the band to be full of SSB
contesters from 1800kHz to about 1960kHz? The vast majority of contacts made in
the contest are same continent, and in the case of NA could and should all
comply with the band plan. Why is the CW part of the band full of SSB whereas
the top (phone) end of the band is almost empty?
I have previously suggested to the contest administrators at both CQ and ARRL
that they set in the contest rules a lower operational limit of 1820kHz dial
frequency. That would give contesters 23kHz of the 'prime' international
frequencies between 1810kHz and 1840kHz, and a total 183kHz for many countries.
The CW DX operators would have 7kHz internationally. Neither CQ nor ARRL have
treated this suggestion seriously, nor come up with any alternative.
Why not?
73 Roger
VE3ZI
_________________
_________________
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
|