I enjoy contests but...
This weekend has seen the CQ 160m SSB Contest. It has also seen CW activity or
attempted activity from a number of extremely rare DX entities.
Why is it reasonable or even acceptable for the band to be full of SSB
contesters from 1800kHz to about 1960kHz? The vast majority of contacts made in
the contest are same continent, and in the case of NA could and should all
comply with the band plan. Why is the CW part of the band full of SSB whereas
the top (phone) end of the band is almost empty?
I have previously suggested to the contest administrators at both CQ and ARRL
that they set in the contest rules a lower operational limit of 1820kHz dial
frequency. That would give contesters 23kHz of the 'prime' international
frequencies between 1810kHz and 1840kHz, and a total 183kHz for many countries.
The CW DX operators would have 7kHz internationally. Neither CQ nor ARRL have
treated this suggestion seriously, nor come up with any alternative.
Why not?
73 Roger
VE3ZI
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