[CQ-Contest] Disruption of Emergency Communication during CQWW SSBcontest

[K1TTT]

Every net, be it just regular traffic or especially emergency ones, should
have a backup frequency/mode to switch to if the normal one is busy, noisy,
or doesn't have propagation.  WARC bands are good for that, also switching
to cw or digital is an option, or just having another frequency away from
known activity.  The net at 3815 should now have learned an important
lesson, when there is a big ssb contest their frequency may be overrun...
and since they are likely stuck on low power generators with broken antennas
they may not be heard no matter how many times they tell stations to qsy...
besides if one contester qsy's, another is likely to hear the nice quiet
hole and move in shortly, not having heard the admonition to move... and
stations working split listening up there from Europe will never be able to
be told to move.  So a good dose of reality is necessary for both sides,
when a well known emergency frequency is in use and announced before the
contest, hopefully enough word gets around and loud guard stations can be
posted to keep the frequency relatively clear... but the net must always
have a backup plan for emerging situations or in case 'their' frequency is
busy.


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