Topband: 160 Bandplan sooner or later

[by way of Bill Tippett <btippett@alum.mit.edu>]

A number of people seem to be saying they dont want to pay the price for 
being in the first group to support the 160 band plan.   The concern seems to 
be that they dont believe it will work well at first or, that for a while 
there will be only partial compliance, and those who comply will pay a price, 
lower contest scores, missed new dx countries, whatever.

I dont believe any band plan for 160 will work without these situations 
happening for at least a short while.  Compliance will not be over night.  
This is one of those "every journey starts with the first step" kinda things. 
 If compliance is a healthy thing for the band, then putting off 
participation will only start that journey and its associated improvement to 
the band at a later date.  The stations that do not participate will only 
encourage others not to.  As with the band plans for other bands, there will 
be a day when everyone accepts the band plan as normal practice, and will 
only refer to the old style of operating on 160 as "the way it was" ...... 
maybe in the context of the good old days, maybe not.   Putting off what will 
happen sooner or later accomplishes nothing except friction between those who 
complied early and those who have not yet adjusted to the future.  160 meters 
does not need this friction, the lack of friction (as in gentlemen's band) is 
one of the things what makes 160 so great. I think maybe we need to come to 
terms with the fact that progress usually costs us something at first. The 
question is, are we paying that price to buy a better future, if so then we 
should bite the bullet and make the first step on that journey ....NOW.


With Aloha
Ron  KH6DV
Kaneohe Hawaii