[CQ-Contest] Split on 160 SSB?

[David L. Thompson]

The idea of Dx sitting in the window during the contest (either mode too)
and QSX say up or down 5 has become unworkable
and even ON4UN and others in Europe say so.  In non contest times Dx such as
3Y0 or FK8CP transmit on 1840 and listen 1845 to 1850 works because of the
focus of the word on working them.  Same for CW Dx QSX up 2.  Its been a
number of years since I heard an entrant
in the ARRL DX or CQ WW working split on 160.

My major input to the ARRL 160 committee was to get countries of the world
to allocate the band as world wide amateur radio (at least 1800 to 1900).
Mario S56A reports Slovenia has done this and G3RBP tells me so has the UK
except that he can only run 15 watts above 1850.  Slovenia's allocations
even looks like the ARRL plan.  They are allowed 300 watts on 160 but most
run whatever power they can muster.   The problem lies with many of the
other countries that limit allocations to 1810 or 1820 to 1850 or some range
inside that.  ZP and PY are thus limited.   IARU can take the lead in
providing a remedy.  I really think the ARRL is more interested in getting
an allocation at 5 to 6 mhz than expanding 160.   Their band plan will not
work until the lower 100khz of 160 are world wide!

Outside of the three or four weekends a year the bandplan does work as SSB
DXers stay above 1840 (1840, 1843, 1845 and 1850 are popular spots).  The Dx
contest weekends would not be a mess except for the multi ops calling CQ
between 1810 and 1840.  Still I hear CW qsos be carried on between the CQing
and few Dx stations working the contests.  I limit my work to answering the
DX!  I call CQ above 1850.

Regarding any move to split operation I see several pitfalls.  First, the 40
meter example has soured as the FCC is sending "Official Notices of
violation" to the unwary stations that answer the DX working split.  Non
contestants on 40 have complained for years and the FCC is taking action.
Do the Stateside contestants have time to listen on a freq ...I say no..the
Dx station controls this.   Most of us quickly spin the split VFO to that
freq and get the Q and go on.   This could be a problem on 160 SSB too.
Also the local ragchewers on 160 might
decide to QRM the Dx as they have done on 75.

For a contest sponsor to try and enforce the bandplan with all the varying
allocations would not be possible.

73 Dave K4JRB

Mike W4EF said:
>
> The interesting thing to see will be what happens when a loud European
plops
> down on 1835 KHz in the CQ 160 SSB and starts calling CQ listening
transceive
> only. Without the heavy hand of FCC enforcement, I suspect that the self
imposed
> exile to the land above 1843 KHz will quickly end - e.g. enter the
prisoners dilemma -
> "If Joe works him, and I don't, I will be at a disadvantage". As N8VW
points out,
> the only hope short of an FCC rule change will be Contest Sponsors bold
enough
> to DQ the bandplan violators en masse.
>
>


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