[CQ-Contest] 80M DX window???

[Leigh S. Jones, KR6X]

I've got to chime in my approval for cross-frequency operation on 75 SSB
during
contests.  I honestly believe that more contacts can be made in this
fashion.

When I was operating DX contests at W6HX in the 70's I had a number of
contests in
which I had contact totals in the range of 400 on 75M.  These were primarily
the JA's
that I could work cross-frequency, with them transmitting below 3600.  As
soon as the
JA's got a window around 3790, and could work on-frequency with US stations,
contact
totals for all West Coast stations on 75M were cut in half, and 40M contact
totals were
reduced by 100 or so.  Japanese stations simply refused to work
cross-frequency on
75 after that.  The JA 75M DX window was remarkably narrow, and the best
periods
of the potential JA runs are typically prevented because large pile-ups of
US stations
calling SA and Caribbean stations block most trans-Pacific activity.  These
kinds of
problems must be limiting factors for all but the most dominant East Coast
stations
working Europe as well, but perhaps not quite as severe.

Most likely there was an effect on contact numbers to Japan on the other
bands too,
with remarkably fewer casual contesters from Japan taking part in the
contests from
one year to the next (this is harder to quantify due to the effect of
sunspot variations.
It was a tragedy to California stations, as there has never since been a
major DX
contest in which a US victory came from 6-land.  Increasing numbers of
European
hams provided part of the reason for this, but I believe that it had tragic
spin-off
consequences for CW contests as well, as there was a general drop in DX
contest
activity in Japan out of proportion with the number of licensed hams in
Japan.

Well, it's too late to get that back.  Let's face it, without
cross-frequency contacts the
40/75/160M phone bands are severely limited for DX due to local interference
levels.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Naumann - N5NJ" <n5nj at gte.net>
To: "Kelly Taylor" <ve4xt at mb.sympatico.ca>; "K8KHZ-Sean Fleming"
<sean at k8khz.com>
Cc: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 00:26
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] 80M DX window???


> I think there is an element of anti-contest in this situation too.
However,
> the absurdity of it hit home for me several years back when I was doing a
> 75m single band effort in the WPX SSB.  I was calling CQ on 3795, and I
was
> told to move.  I asked why and was told because it was the DX window.  I
> replied, thanks - that's exactly why I'm here - to work DX!  This was not
> accepted as a logical course of events and was followed with all sorts of
> noises, jamming etc.
>
> I do think that calling CQ SS in this area should be avoided, but there
has
> to be tolerance of using the window area for DX contests.
>
> Actually, I'd like to see the band segments put back the way they were so
> that the advanced band started at 3800, which really was cool as many DX
> stations would call CQ in the window, and listen above 3800 for callers.
> Those were days.
>
> 73,
> N5NJ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kelly Taylor" <ve4xt at mb.sympatico.ca>
> To: "K8KHZ-Sean Fleming" <sean at k8khz.com>
> Cc: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 9:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] 80M DX window???
>
>
> > I'm curious: to what extent is the DX Window thing pro-DX vs.
> anti-contest?
> >
> > 73, kelly
> > ve4xt
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "K8KHZ-Sean Fleming" <sean at k8khz.com>
> > To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, November 17, 2002 10:22 PM
> > Subject: [CQ-Contest] 80M DX window???
> >
> >
> > >     This last Phone November SS I worked many place s on 80M. Actually
> it
> > > was so packed on the 80M band south of 3.850 that it was had to find a
> > home.
> > > One place I stumbled across was 3.793. When I started calling CQ there
> was
> > > the band police. "DX Window". This station though was not identifing
so
> I
> > > just ignored the crazy man. Though I went onto the web and found that
> this
> > > small  piece of space from 3.790-3.800 is a DX window. though I myself
> > would
> > > never hear dx there in that small space and being on 20M I could not
> > believe
> > > that that is the only place dx shold be. In my search for the Truth to
> > this
> > > matter. I look at my Operator manual and yes I see this so called "Dx
> > > Winodw" but then I peer up at the top of the page to read on about
> > > The"Considerate operator's Frequency Guide". These few paragraphs go
on
> to
> > > say, "Nothing in the rules recognizes net's groups, or any
individuals's
> > > special priviledge to any specific frequency." "No frequect will be
> > assigned
> > > for exclusive use of any station." and finally, "Check to make certain
> the
> > > frequency is not in use."
> > >     So, I look on to the next page the US Amatuer Bands Bandchat where
I
> > see
> > > US Extra hams are allowed phone from 3.750 to 4.000. This covers this
> > small
> > > space. So in conclusion I asked if it was in use  and there was no
> reply.
> > So
> > > called CQ. I was using it and there was no DX there before me. So,
Just
> > > because that maybe it is the "DX Window" we shold all know frst to be
> > there
> > > has the frequency untill it is relenquished.
> > >
> > > -Sean  K8KHZ
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> >
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