[CQ-Contest] A Message From ARRL Headquarters

[Kutzko, Sean, KX9X]

A Message From ARRL Headquarters
********************************
 
As we all know, the combination of poor conditions on the higher HF
bands and increasing participation in contests, ARRL-sponsored and
others, is creating some very crowded bands on the weekends - especially
in the 20, 40, and 75 meter phone allocations.  Busy bands can lead to
conflicts between different groups of amateurs, but those conflicts can
often be avoided. The following message is intended to help amateurs
operate more effectively by planning ahead to mitigate the expected
congestion.
 
Because contesters know to expect this situation in advance, it's a good
reason to make an extra effort to avoid non-contest users of the bands,
particularly emergency communications and service-type activities.  For
example, look up the times and frequencies of state- and regional-level
traffic and emergency nets you are likely to encounter. Make a list and
post it near the radio to remind you to listen first when near those
frequencies. The same goes for wide-coverage nets or special event
stations operating on the higher bands. If there is activity, give these
non-competitive stations a little extra breathing room - 2.5 kHz above
(for your signal) and below (for theirs) is a reasonable margin.
(proportionately less margin on CW)  If a net is on 3965 kHz, for
example, keep your carrier frequency above 3967.5 or below 3962.5 kHz.
And it should go without saying that everyone's signal should be clean
and free of splatter.  If you unintentionally open up on an ongoing QSO
or net, apologize and move.  Just as we ask others to recognize the
legitimacy of contesting, we should return the favor.  Take a deep
breath, have fun, and play nice!
 
Because net managers and EmComm leaders know to expect this situation in
advance, it is a cue for nets and other on-the-air activities to
activate and exercise their Plan B.  Everyone must have a Plan B - an
alternate frequency or band or time or even mode.  It's unwise at best
to expect that our chosen frequencies will always be noise- and
interference-free in an emergency, so why not take advantage of the
flexibility unique to the Amateur Service? 75 meter nets could try out
60 meters - to which amateur access was granted on the basis of the need
for emergency communications. Changing net or scheduled contact times to
avoid contest activity also works well. For example, when solar activity
is low, 75, 60, 40, and 30 meters are often quite useful for regional
communications during daylight hours. If you choose to stay put, remind
the participants that under strong signal conditions, it's best to turn
off noise blankers and preamps, turn down the RF Gain, and even switch
in a little attenuation.  They may be pleasantly surprised at how clean
and quiet the band sounds!  Why not take the opportunity to make this a
training exercise?  It will improve your group's operational abilities
at any time!
 
Upcoming November contests that will create very heavy band loading
include CW Sweepstakes (Nov 7-8), Phone Sweepstakes (Nov 21-22), and CQ
World Wide CW (Nov 28-29).  These events have been running on the same
weekends for decades, so no one should be surprised that they will be
loading up the bands again this year.  Take this opportunity to inform
yourself and your group and to adjust your operating technique and
plans.  Reasonable and informed expectations coupled with flexibility
and a spirit of accommodation will help us all make use of our spectrum
more effectively at any time of the year or solar cycle.
******************************


73, 

Sean Kutzko, KX9X
Contest Branch Manager

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio(tm)
225 Main St.
Newington, CT  06111
860-594-0232
skutzko at arrl.org