[RTTY] 160 RTTY Contesting

[Floyd Sense]

Tom - I didn't say anything about allocations differing amongst countries, I 
referred to REGIONS.  Here is the latest IARU band plan that I could find, 
and it shows the recommended band usage in the three Regions.  As pointed 
out on the bottom of that page, these are only recommendations and are not 
binding upon any government.

http://www.iaru-r2.org/hf_e.htm

I assume that any contest you would propose would be international in nature 
and not just for USA or Region 2 stations.  Region 1 stations who are 
interested in being good radio citizens would be restricted to 1838-1842 KHz 
and wouldn't use the 1805-1815 segment.

I understand your enthusiasm in thinking that contesters are "one cut 
above", but behavior observed in contests at this location simply don't bear 
that out.  Take a listen on 40 meter DX SSB frequencies during any of the DX 
contests and listen to all the USA stations who are calling the CQing DX on 
their frequency, far below the bottom of the US band.  Note the callsigns 
and see how many of them are regular contesters.

Perhaps propagation in Florida on 160 hasn't been very good the past few 
years, but the band here in NC is certainly not empty of QSOs (OK, don't 
hear any RTTY QSOs!).  Activity over the past 30 years has increased 
substantially, both from a US and a DX standpoint.  The one big difference I 
notice is that even the highly skilled contesters don't have a clue what the 
DX window is for, and apparently think that is where the DX stations listen 
for them to call CQ.

K8AC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas Giella KN4LF" <kn4lf at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "a TARA RTTY eGroup" <RTTY-TARA at yahoogroups.com>; "a RTTY Reflector" 
<rtty at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 1:06 PM
Subject: [RTTY] 160 RTTY Contesting


> Floyd et all,
>
> Yes I also see wide AFSK RTTY and PSK31 signals on the HF bands. When I 
> politely mention same to the offending parties the response is usually 
> hostile or indifferent at best. But I don't think it would be an issue 
> amongst contesters as we are one cut above the rest in technical knowledge 
> and operating skill.
>
> The defacto digital operating band on 160 meters is 1805-1815 kc. But just 
> as 160 meter CW and SSB contesters spread out during a contest and 
> ragchewers find something else to do, the same would happen with an RTTY 
> contest. Also as far as 160 meter band segment allocations differing 
> amongst countries, that happens on all the HF bands. You just make do.
>
> Compared to just 5-10 years ago the 160 meter band is virtually empty of 
> QSO's, so an RTTY contest would be beneficial to the band as far as use 
> thereof.
>
> Just my .02!
>
> 73,
> Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF