Well said Steve. I certainly try to do that on a daily basis.
Richard
G3OQT
> On 17 Mar 2020, at 23:15, VE6WZ_Steve <ve6wz@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
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