Hi Gang:
I understand the desire, but lets remember there are times when 1998
khz can be open and 1830 would be closed due to an actual minimum
usable frequency cut off by the forces of nature.
I think Dennis, N7CKD, can tell us what is going on with various
frequency allocations, but I would vote for 1801 or so, to it covers
the real minimum usable frequency and is below the lower window the
JAs listen in. If there isn't some other service occupying the
frequency in too many places, it should be OK. My next choice would
be about 1813. I think the foreign DX has to tell us where they can
listen without too much interference.
In the dead of winter OSN is sometimes a good indicator to Europe.
The fish nets tell me if the Caribbean is open, although a beacon in
Panama and Trinidad might be nice.
In this election year, I vote for some real smoke on a real antenna:
50 ft of top loaded vertical or inverted L over 60 radials x 70' long
and at least 250 - 400 watts. Personally, I can't wait for a QSB rise
to tell me the beacon is operating at 10 or 100 watts. Also the local
background noise level will tell me how loud the signal is. We do not
need step functions like 400 watts: beep, 40 watts: beep, 4 watts:
beep.
On the other end of the spectrum, haven't you ever heard signals on 10
cw when 10 phone was dead? That is only a 2 percent change from 28025
from 28595. It is a 9 percent change from 1830 to 1998. Thats why I
vote for a low down frequency, even if it means some folks are
listening "out of their band".
I also think it would have to be a national organization like NCDXF to
get this going, with an automatic operation sanction from the FCC.
Maybe we can help fund this through NCDXF. They have members on
topband.
73, CU on this weekend, just incase a new one comes up in the phone
contest.
George, K8GG.
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