There's no doubt the combination of poor conditions combined with FT-8
decimating CW activity makes for a lot of boring mornings and evenings
on TB. I go for days and not work a single EU or Asian station (cw) and
I'm active. That said, I was on last evening (NA time) just prior to EU
sunrise with some success. My log includes KP4AA, OZ4MM, OK1DOT, LY7M,
G4EIM, OK1DT, 9A3JH, and HB9BLQ (all time new callsign). When I got on
about 0430z conditions didn't seem to be at all good. Nevertheless, I
forged ahead CQing and as SR began to sweep across Europe people started
calling in.
I think too often we get on, tune around a bit, maybe check out RBN, and
conclude conditions are poor (as they often are) and return to TV. It's
still important to get on and make some noise, not just SWL.
My $0.02 worth. . .73 and Happy New Year to all. . .Dave, W0FLS
On 1/5/2024 11:01 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote:
Well I've said it before . . . and no doubt I will say it again . . .
But it's a real shame that there is so little CW activity on Top Band at the
moment.
Sure, conditions aren't always that good at the moment on 160m . . . but
often the band IS open (as shown by RBN reports) . . . but there is nobody
on the band to work !
I know some of you only come on Top Band when there is a Contest, or when
there is some DX-pedition to work . . . but given the resources many have
put into a decent 160m Antenna System, it amazes me that's the only time
many people come on the band.
Some of us complain about FT8 reducing the amount of CW activity these days
. . . but if you don't make the effort to come on the band, then all CW
activity will completely disappear . . .
Inactivity breeds Inactivity !
There are several of us Europeans on Top Band most nights, calling CQ DX and
getting no replies. . . I really hope more people will make the effort to
come on Top Band, or else this side of the hobby (that I remain passionate
about) will gradually die.
73 Roger G3YRO
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