Guy Molinari wrote:
> A newbie question:
>
> My station is of the 3rd tier variety (euphemism for little pistol). I run
> 100 watts into a good
> wire antenna and being in the Pacific NW, I can ususally put a decent signal
> into JA on 40M.
>
> In past SSB contests I've typically viewed 40M as an opportunity to grab a
> few mults. With
> 10M all but gone this year I'm looking to maximize my use of that band.
>
> A question for the veterans,,, How can I make better use of 40M on SSB?
Guy, as someone who has been doing CQWW Phone from the western USA for
the past 20 years, I admire your enthusiasm, despite being a little
pistol ! 40M SSB is a tough grind from the western USA, even with 1500
watts and a yagi. Your best opportunity on 40 is to try to run some
JA's. The rate will never be good, but if you do have a good signal,
you could do 30-50/hour from 08Z-14Z. It's very tough work - you're
going to get squeezed by USA big guns trying to find a good transmit
frequency above 7150, and your listening frequency below 7100 is going
to come under constant assault by DX stations who will use it as their
transmit frequency, without knowing (or caring) that it's "your"
listening frequency. And just when you think things are going well, a
SW broadcast station will open up on your transmit frequency ! You also
need to be careful that when you are working stations, they really are
working you - you may not be the only one using that listening
frequency. If the timing seems off, it's a sure tip-off that they're in
QSO with someone else.
By the way, I wouldn't totally write off 10 meters. It will certainly
be open to the Carribbean and South America, and probably the South
Pacific. In the 1997 CQWW Phone (similar sunspot numbers), I worked
several JA's, South Pacific, EA8, CT, EA, 9U, TZ, and many, many South
Americans.
>
> A question for DX stations,,, Do you bother S&Ping for US stations above
> 7150? Do you
> find many US stations QSX below 7100?
Except for a few European countries that now allow transmitting above
7150, any USA station that wants to work much more than a few W's and
VE's, must listen below 7100.
73,
Steve, N2IC/5
>
> Thanks in advance for the insight.
>
> 73's
> Guy, N7ZG
>
>
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