160m CONTEST + ICOM radio

[jirka at jimaz.cz]

    Towards 160 m rules:
1 Each 160M contest to last from "local dawn to dusk" not from 'x' hours Zulu
     Consider you are not the only contesters in the USA, think about it.

2 Points based upon radial measurement from stations QTH.
     The GRIDS are very good idea, it works very fine on VHF here in 
     EU, there are dozens of programs which handle it and to copy the 
     grid would make the QSO more complicated, if not too 
     complicated for 160. It is actually always a big problem on VHF 
     in EU since there all the contests have same rules, you have to 
     copy both the #No + GRID, and get 1 pojnt for 1 km. The TOP 
     stations finish than with a database of active stations etc.... 
     And the all the time discussed problem with packet is back 
     again, if you try hard after the contest you will find the 
     proper GRID - or LOCATOR as wee say here  in EU somewhere

3 Band split into 3, .....non participants....US EAST + US West.....DX....
     The idea as published here seems to me as nonsense but working 
     split seems to me as the only practical chance to work more 
     than 5 DX contacts from middle EU to USA. The "DX" windows is 
     in EU so full that even a station with reasonable atennas 
     and power like myself has practically no chance to work there, I 
     believe the US guys do here me but I here just spletters from 
     other EU stations. The solution is to listen on some weird 
     frequency. If this idea can be some worked out it might help to 
     estabilish more "DX" contacts.

4 DX to US qsos can only be between windows ie split freq only.
     see #3  

5 Each organiser must appoint someone who's job is to tune the band logging
     infringements. Disqualification rewards bad operating behaviour.
     I can not imagine in real life. It will generate a lot of anger....

6 QSO must include serial number, lets reintroduce some skill into the qso
     see #2, but again I am afraid it would make the QSOs on 160 far 
     too complicated, if there would be only 5 stations it will work but 
     you fight mostly "JAM", noise, QRN.... 


Toward problem with keying ALPHA * ICOM on the beginnig of the QSO.
I had the same problem with IC751A and ALPHA89. Obviously it is 
caused by poor T/R switching of the otherwice very good ICOM radios. 
100% sure cure is: Put the foot switch not into the radio but into 
the AMPLIFIER and key the TRX with output of AMP and you are safe.

73 !     Jiri - OK1RI


>From k9vv at indy.net (Fred Kleber K9VV)  Thu Feb 29 04:19:20 1996
From: k9vv at indy.net (Fred Kleber K9VV) (Fred Kleber K9VV)
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 22:19:20 -0600
Subject: Free (Almost) E-Mail
Message-ID: <199602290317.WAA27040 at IndyNet.indy.net>

>To get one of these accounts call  1 (800) 799 - JUNO  and ask for 
>extension G    They will send you the software package free.

I was told there is a $4.95 shipping and handling fee.  Still not a bad deal.

Fubar, K9VV
k9vv at indy.net << Note new address