[CQ-Contest] ARRL DX SSB: 40m operation - and other musings

[Richard DiDonna]

Here we go again.  

When you have a major contest as this during the low part of the cycle, it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to contain several hundred stations into 60 kHz of space.  Especially since 40 has been so wonderful this winter - propagationwise.  If you were to channelize the 7040 - 7100 kHz range into 1.5 kHz channels, that leaves room for 40 stations to call CQ (listening up) and for those U.S. stations listening down for Europe/Asia/Africa/rest of the world.  Compare that to 20 meters which was JAM PACKED from 14.140 (the Canadian exclusivity section) to 14.350 - over 200 kHz of room.

I think that folks did a decent job of keeping above 7030 at least.

While were at it, I'm pretty annoyed at the tendency for staions in the lower part of the band to steal listening frequencies.  I know that I got spotted on packet several times on 40.  And guess what, less than 5 minutes later, large European stations fired up on my EXACT listening frequency and began calling CQ.  

But until the ITU moves the B/C stations, we're going to have to live with it I guess.

73 Rich NN3W




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "LA5HE Ragnar Otterstad" <la5he at otterstad.dk>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 6:05 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] ARRL DX SSB: 40m operation


> 
> 
> Fellow contesters
> 
> during the ARRL DX SSB Contest this weekend I turned across the 40m band
> several times in S&P and couldn't but notice that many north american
> stations (I'd guess about 80%) were listening below 7040 and I can only
> wonder how succesfull they were generating pileups: that's definitely in
> the CW-part of the band !
> While it is very common to expand the phone part of the band slightly
> below 7040 and into the part assigned to digital modes in the large
> contest in my opinion listening as low as 7019 is definitely overdoing
> it. Basically these operators ask us to violate the rules :-(
> 
> vy 73, Stephan "Steve" HB9DDO / WS9O
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------
> 
> It is an unfortunate fact that we have some rotten apples who does not care
> if they create a nuisance
> for others in the CW band.
> The most common excuse is "  we cannot find any clear sports in the phone
> band " !
> So what ?  We dont start driving in the opposit lane on a congested road
> either.
> Even some people who should know better  ( good CW operators ) were
> listening as low as 7013 !!!!
> 
> Why that does not disqualify these participant is beyond me !
> It certainly does a lot to make people hate phone contesters over here.
> 
> 
> I dont work phone contests any more but call the odd station, people I know
> etc -
>  if they listen on a bona fide phone frequency, in case they need a LA-
> multiplier.
> 73
> 
> " RAG "  Ragnar Otterstad   LA5HE JW5HE OZ8RO
> 
> Located in Telemark - Home of skiing.
> For more information about Telemark take a look at :
> www.visittelemark.com     for more details.
> 
> 
> 
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