[RTTY] RTTY on 160 Meters

[Thomas Giella KN4LF]

I've been encouraging digital modes operation for about four years including RTTY between 1800-1810 kc, the segment that the ARRL recommends in it's voluntary band plan. There is a fair amount of PSK31 and OLIVIA MFSK in that range and also around 1837-1840 kc from Europe and Africa. 

I've also tried to get more RTTY contests to include 160 meters but it's been to no avail. So yes any kind of reasonable QSO rate on 160 meters would be near impossible. I've only managed six RTTY QSO's on 160 meters in the past four years!!!

Also intentional QRM by a few CW only on 160 LIDS is also a big problem as I've mentioned in the past and I say that as a big CW op myself. CW ops only want CW between 1800-1840 kc and have even been pushing for CW only between 1800-1900 kc!!! 

As I've also already mentioned very recently the W1AW CW bulletin broadcasts have been pressured to QSY off of 1817.500 kc by selfish CW ops and unfortunately W1AW has decided to park right on top of the digital modes calling frequency of 1807.500 kc. The selfishness and intolerance of some of my fellow CW ops is just incredible.

It never occurred to me listen for PSK or RTTY in that portion of the band.
The few RTTY or PSK signals I have heard are between 1.807 to 1.810 MHz

The OPEN UKRAINE RTTY CHAMPIONSHIP'2006 is the first RTTY contest I have
seen that has 160 category.  "..... The CONTEST consist of 2(two) parts: LOW
BAND (1,8 & 3,5 MHz) and HIGH BAND (7, 14, 21 & 28 MHz)."

Something tells me it will be hard to maintain a high (or any) QSO rate on
160

--... ...--,
Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF
Lakeland, FL, USA
Grid Square EL97AW
kn4lf at arrl.net

KN4LF Amateur & SWL Radio History: http://www.kn4lf.com
KN4LF 160 Meter Propagation Theory Notes: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm


 
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