[CQ-Contest] 160m DX window dead?

[Bill Tippett]

K5NA:

>Bill has already forgotten what it is like to work the ARRL 160M Contest 
>and other 160M contests from west of the Mississippi.

        Not true Richard...I felt EXACTLY the same way in Colorado and won
CQ 160 CW for USA Zones 3/4 every year from 1986-1993.  Sure I worked a few 
EU big guns in the window but how many ON4UN's do you think fit in 5 kHz 
especially with stronger Caribbean and Latin American stations in the same
area.  I recall finding far more EU above 1835 and below 1830 had no problem
working most that I could hear underneath local USA stations CQ-ing who could 
not hear well.

>I have done both, having been somewhat successful operating the ARRL 160M 
>Contest for many years both from Texas, then on to New York for 15 years, 
>and then back to Texas again. So I think my experience from both parts of 
>the USA counts for something.

        The ARRL 160 is effectively a Sweepstakes with much lower DX 
participation.  The few DX that do participate may tend to stay in the 
window but that is definitely not the case for the CQ 160.

        Incidentally, if we need a DX window for EU, maybe we also need a
DX window for JA's from 1820-1825...only fair, no?  Naah...I don't think
either is needed.  My feelings about windows are similar to lists...they
concentrate a lot of folks listening in a small area which leaves other
frequencies less congested...in that sense they may be a good idea!  
I can take or leave the concept but I believe we are fooling ourselves if
we think a window is the only place we can hear and work EU from Colorado 
(...don't know about Texas since I've never operated from there.)

        I'm sure windows are not going away...I was just offering my own 
opinion about them in contests...I only wish contest sponsors would enforce 
what the rules actually say:

"Intercontinental DX Window: 1830 to 1835 kHz should be left clear for DX
stations for intercontinental QSOs in both contests. This is still voluntary 
but essential if the contest is to continue to attract rare DX as entries. 
USA, Canadian, and European stations should refrain from using the window
for local contacts."  (CQ 160 Rules)

        What that means to me is that North American DX stations should not 
be there working USA, European stations should not be working other Europeans,
etc.  That is not the case today so the window becomes a unique advantage 
to some who bend the rules.  I am very happy to say that contest windows have
been VERY well respected by USA/VE stations recently.

        As stated before, the bandplan committee made no recommendations 
about contests (and windows for them) except to say that it was up to the
contest sponsors.  My opinions are purely my own and do not represent others 
on the committee.

                                                73,  Bill  W4ZV


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