[CQ-Contest] 160m Bandplan: "The Window"

[JAMES NEIGER]

I've had good luck, both in and out of the window, from Ascension Island,=
 both contests and non-contests.  Does the window really add anything for=
 me?  Not much, I think.

The difference has been (1) knowing when to run split, and (2) savvy oper=
ators on the other end who know when to call off frequency.  The biggest =
problems have been (1) 160 meter operators who don't know when to stop ca=
lling, and (2) those who think that QRS (read 5 wpm) is a must.  For me, =
160 meter contests have been pretty much a joke because most don't really=
 listen for the weak ZD8's.  Noteworthy exceptions are K5UR, W9RE, and WB=
9Z.  To this day, I'm sure the  S-9+ W3LPL Top Band operator doesn't know=
 I (repeatedly) called him in the ARRL DX CW test 18 months ago, yet I "e=
asily" worked a dozen savvy W6 operators during the same period. Sorry Fr=
ank.

 Window or no, I've found that one of the biggest bore's is the big M/M s=
tation operators who are so enamored with CQing, they forget to listen. T=
his isn't rocket science, the key to working DX is, and always has been, =
RECEIVING (and LISTENING), not transmitting.
 =20
And contrary to what was previously posted, we ZD8's do not avoid trying =
to work weak stations in contests for fear that we'll be penalized for bu=
sted calls.  What we do is to (1)avoid guessing, and (2) keep asking for =
repeats, until we get it right.  Wanna know why it's so hard to win CQ WW=
 from the Southern Hemisphere?  You should see our Top Band rate sheets..=
...........

Jim Neiger
N6TJ/ZD8Z

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