I'm sure there are some who would go work a guy out of the band "on
purpose". We all know the type. But I can easily imagine that most
out-of-band operating is either ignorance or contest-induced enthusiasm.
How often do some contesters actually get on between contests and operate
near the bottom? Even when they do, tuning PAST the bottom of the band is
*usually* marked by the sudden lack of signals. This is not so during phone
contests as DX is waiting there more often. Also, the bottom edges of phone
bands are not so easily remembered and they have moved over the years
whether in general or somewhat sporadically by license upgrading. I cannot
recall the last time the defined "bottom" of a CW band moved so arbitrarily.
But enough excuses...
Certainly, the frequency data in Cabrillo could be used to nail 'em but
that's another (probably country-by-country) database that would need to be
kept up-to-date... but we do have the technology. Cabrillo could never
squelch "Listen up" however.
Mike N2MG
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