Topband: (the bandplan is working) Conditions on 160m last night

[Bill Tippett]

KR1G wrote:
>I worked 2 new ones on 160CW this weekend so far. 
>This NEVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED the last few years 

        Here's a little data to support Ted's point:  

S53R       1810.0 YA5T        qsx up for eu/ja...pse no ssb 2058 23 Feb 2002
OM5RW      1810.0 YA5T        op 1.5 finnaly sri for qrm  YA2124 23 Feb 2002
JA4DEN     1810.1 YA5T        CQ JA CQ JA                   2136 23 Feb 2002
S59A       1810.0 YA5T        back on nw 579  up 1.5        2148 23 Feb 2002
HA5JI      1810.0 YA5T        cw/here 449                   2242 23 Feb 2002

WA4TT      1834.0 5R8FU       QRM by K3NM & W2LU ssb      5R0250 23 Feb 2002
W8JI       1834.0 5R8FU       on CW                         0230 24 Feb 2002
AA1K       1834.0 5R8FU       CW under SSB CRUD           5R0244 24 Feb 2002

PY5AD      1814.0 PW0T        Trindade on CW            PY0T0215 23 Feb 2002
LA3XI      1814.0 PW0T        qrm from ssb oz5esb       PY0T2356 23 Feb 2002
K1VW       1813.9 PW0T        get stronger              PY0T0003 24 Feb 2002
UU2JQ      1814.0 PW0T        impossible under oz5esb etc.. 0020 24 Feb 2002
W8JI       1814.0 PW0T        CW under s57m QRM             0256 24 Feb 2002
K3SX       1814.0 PW0T        wkd 1818.47 #214 YES!!        0327 24 Feb 2002

K4KYV wrote:
>Why can't the folks who sponsor these contests simply agree that certain 
>frequencies will be off limits to contest activity, and declare that anyone 
>monitored in violation during the contest period will be disqualified.

        The CQ 160 Director has been asked many times but their only
official policy is:

"A log may be disqualified for violation of amateur radio regulations"

Since a voluntary bandplan is NOT a regulation, CQ will do nothing.
However, they continue to reccomend 1830-35 as a DX window for 
intercontinental QSO's even though that is not a regulation either.  
How's that for consistency?

K4KYV wrote:
>I worked some CW on about 1805 with no QRM. At least they 
>left a little space at the bottom of the band for CW this year.  
>I remember in years past SSB would be solid all the way down to 1800.

        I also heard a few CW ragchews going on around 1810.  This would
have been impossible in years past.  Yes, things weren't perfect but
they were a vast improvement over previous years IMHO.

                                                73,  Bill  W4ZV