[RTTY] NAQP RTTY Frequencies

[Art Searle W2NRA]

It seems to me that any given contest weekend, whatever the mode of the 
contest that mode fills up the bands.  CW flows into PSK and RTTY.  RTTY 
flow down in to CW as well as way up the bands.  Even in the EPC WW DX 
PSK125 contest, January this year, PSK125 went way up into the RTTY portion. 
As contesters are we suppose to ignor and not work those signals?  I think 
not.  I've heard complaints about this for 30 years.  It ain't gonna change.

73 Art W2NRA
"Keep to the Code!"
w2nra.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gordon LaPoint" <n1mgo at comcast.net>


> Hi All,
>     I tend to agree with Mike, W0MU.  The only frequencies we have to 
> avoid
> are the declared emergency and stay within band plans.  I do lots of psk31 
> and
> find that the WARC bands are just fine on contest weekends.  The beacons 
> are
> great, but again,  they don't "OWN" a freaquency and I sure hope they, or
> anyone else, "OWNS" a frequency!!!!
>
> And for those of you that don't know me, I do lots of contesting, but 
> usually
> RTTY only, and don't complain when the CW contesters wipe out the usual 
> RTTY
> frequencys on CW contest weekends.
>
>
> Please don't change the rules to limit the frequencies that we can use!!!
>
>
> Thank you,
> Gordon "Bambi" - N1MGO
>
> On 5 Mar 2009 at 9:21, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:
>
>> Sorry to disagree but we SHARE our frequencies.  None of our frequencies 
>> are
>> exclusive use and I hope we never get to the point that we have exclusive
>> frequencies as it will be the beginning of the end of our bands as the 
>> FCC
>> will sell off frequencies to the highest bidder.  Rich hams will be 
>> lining
>> up to buy 14.001 14.151 etc.
>>
>> While the beacon network is a cool system it is not used by the entire
>> amateur community.  It is not a system for emergency communications etc. 
>> It
>> is a simply a beacon network to give people an idea if a band is open. 
>> Why
>> is their use any more or less important than anyone else using the
>> frequency?
>>
>> At what point does this stop?  Do we then disallow any contest activity
>> between 14.250 and 14.350 because of long running nets?  CW frequencies 
>> used
>> by county hunters and FIST?  How about the SSTV frequencies?  We should
>> probably include all the ARRL bulletin and practice frequencies too. 
>> People
>> will be lining up at our doors to have their precious net frequency and a
>> 10kc buffers listed in the rules.  The DX window on 160 is pretty much
>> abandoned during contests now.
>>
>> Just because a group has staked a claim to an area does not give them
>> exclusive right to the frequency. These instances of interference were 
>> not
>> intentional.  I agree that all amateurs need to be more prudent about not
>> interfering with ongoing communications regardless of mode.
>>
>> The WARC bands have been contest free for just this reason.  The NAQP is
>> such a short contest the impact to 20m has to be quite low compared to 
>> any
>> of the major contests.
>>
>> Rules are great for those that read them.  Many don't and just get on to
>> make contacts and give out points.  I really don't want to have to 
>> remember
>> which areas may or may not be off limits.
>>
>> This sets a very dangerous precedent for all contests and contesters.  We
>> have as much right to use the frequencies in accordance with FCC rules 
>> (USA
>> operators) as the next guy.  We are not guaranteed clear channel 
>> operations.
>> Qrm is pat of what we signed up for.
>>
>> Maybe it is time that many upgrade their stations with better filtering 
>> etc.
>> We don't use spark gap transmitters anymore for a reason.  If I can 
>> nestle
>> in to a small hole and work people and you can't who has the problem?
>>
>> Mike W0MU