With many hams around the world staying home and "practicing social distancing”
to “flatten the CV-19 curve”, what a great time to be on the radio!
Lets get out there and call CQ to stir up the band. (or ANY band for that
matter)
There may be some out there that somehow think calling CQ is just for the rare
DX, and not for the average ham. I know there are many that have no interest
in woking just “plain old DX” that aren't new DXCC counters. I also realize
there are many that live in high noise city locations that have a legitimate
“alligator risk” by calling CQ.
However, to state the obvious, if no one calls CQ, no one is going to work
anyone! The conclusion will be “the band is dead”.
Speaking of another benefit of RBN…..one comment…..”if I look at my waterfall
and don't see any traces, then the band is dead”. Well….often NOT true. It is
not unusual to see a blank pan-adapter, but then when checking the RBN there is
NO-ONE calling CQ….anywhere in the world! Is the band really dead?? How do we
know it's dead if no one is calling? (And yes, there are enough RBN skimmers
worldwide that almost any CQ will be decoded within a few seconds) Many nights
I have CQ'd into a “dead band” (blank pan-adapter, but also no RBN activity)
and been rewarded with lots of EU DX callers.
There are a number of NA stalwarts calling CQ regularly on TB and a handful
from EU, VK and JA, but it would be great to see more activity. (last night I
heard Jon AA1K filling his log with EU). This winter I have worked quite a few
EU that have been running 100w from backyard antennas so it's not limited to
the big guns.
For those that lament that everyone is on FT-8, perhaps it would be a good idea
to get on the band and make some CW noise instead of waiting for some else to
call CQ??? Thats what the FT-8 guys are doing…they hit the send key on the
FT-8 program and wait to see what happens. There is a lot of FT-8 CQing going
on…every 15 seconds, for hours. Maybe thats why it seems there is more DX
being worked on that mode? This season I have logged 1,587 EU QSOs on CW with
498 unique callsigns, so CQing can be rewarding. 113 DXCC since August. This
has been one of the best TB seasons here at VE6WZ. The season is not over yet.
While stuck at home, turn on the radio and call CQ….on ANY band. See what
happens. Kinda like “old school” radio…using the “legacy" mode.
CQ..CQ…CQ…..
Why not?
73, de steve ve6wz
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
|