As a practical matter there are several 2 kHZ segments of each band that are
now devoted to 24x7 JT65, FT8, and other digital modes. Weak signal CW work -
eg working rare mults or even just weak guys from common mults - in those
segments just isn’t gonna happen.
Substantial parts of 80M and 40M have been pretty bad for several years now
with SAILNET and other automatic modes.
Tim N3QE
> On Nov 27, 2017, at 3:43 PM, Roger Parsons via Topband
> <topband@contesting.com> wrote:
>
> As we all know, CQWW produces huge activity on all HF bands. This year I was
> hearing stations up to well above 1850kHz. I have found that trying to run
> Europe is often more productive in the 1840-1850 segment, presumably because
> it is less crowded than lower in frequency.
>
>
> Late in the contest I started to CQ on about 1842kHz, and after a while, and
> several QSOs, was told (on CW): "Please QSY. 1840 is reserved for FT8. Good
> luck in the contest." Ignoring the fact that nobody has a reserved frequency
> on any band, I thought OK, don't want to upset anybody, and moved to
> 1842.9kHz. Shortly, the same message arrived.
>
> My (probably incorrect) understanding is that FT8 stations are using USB with
> a carrier frequency of 1840kHz. So a CW station on 1842.9 should be out of
> their passband. I did listen carefully and could not hear any FT8
> transmissions above 1842.2. (I have multiple receive antennas in a very quiet
> location.)
>
> I believe that FT8 transmissions in principle use a microscopic bandwidth,
> but it appears they actually need a wide clear channel.
>
> Yes? No?
>
> 73 Roger
> VE3ZI
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