[CQ-Contest] 160 M Band Plan

[David Robbins K1TTT]

Actually the arrl bandplan calls for ssb above 1843khz.  But that is the
arrl plan, not a worldwide plan.  Personally I would recommend that
outside the US stations tx below 1843 and listen up.


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike Wetzel
> Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 16:56
> To: Cq Contest Reflector
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] 160 M Band Plan
> 
> I've been more active on topband this season with a new receiving
array (8
> verticals designed by W8JI) and have been thinking about the CQWW SSB
> contest and the US band plan.
> 
> A few years ago Jeff 'ZM suggested that the US stations refrain from
> transmitting SSB below 1842 including or especially during the contest
> weekend and I think for the most part this worked very well.  There
were
> some split operations from DX stations (transmitting below 42 and
> listening
> above 42).   I think this was a good idea and also worked well.
> 
> But in the last couple of years the plan has kind of fallen apart
during
> the
> contests because it seems like only the US 160 operators remember and
try
> to
> abide by it.  During the times other then the 3 major contest that
have
> SSB
> on 160 (CQWW SSB, ARRL DX SSB and CQWW 160 SSB) I've heard stations
> informing others of the plan and to vacate the area below 42 if using
SSB.
> One W8 persists in calling CQ on about 36 often even though he has
been
> informed by others (but he is really the exception in the Midwest).  I
> mentioned the band plan to one of the ops at HC8L a few days ago since
he
> was on 26 on SSB and he immediately moved above.  So that confirms
that
> the
> plan is not universally known (especially by DX stations).
> 
> What I am afraid of is the fact that with the super conditions on 160
the
> past couple of months, I know DX stations and VE's will be calling CQ
on
> SSB
> below 42 and some of us will not be sure of what to do.  I believe
this
> situation is similar to the situation on 40 meters of the band plan to
> limit
> SSB to above 7040 but this has been falling apart during contests
> weekends.
> 
> So what I am saying is that on the 3 weekends a year the die hard, non
> SSB
> contest, 160 meter operators are most likely out of luck in keeping
SSB
> from
> below 42.
> 
> I know this should have been posted much earlier rather then the day
of
> the
> contest but.
> 
> Mike W9RE
> 
> 
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