Topband: 2004 ARRL 160M Contest

[on4ww]

Thanks for the private and collective input. Let me close this topic with 
some final comments.

Years ago when I first started contesting, I entered the ARRL10m contest 
with several goals : have fun, obtain my highest score possible, and 
complete my WAS. Yes, I worked all the States that weekend, what a thrill !
Later I shifted from 10m to 160m band. Whatever freqs. in between those HF 
limit bands, was not too much of interest somehow.
I think a lot of topbanders have moved along this path, or in the reverse 
way (Bill ?).

It was then 'obvious' for me, that if there was a fun arrl10m contest, the 
arrl160m contest would be the same. It wasn't. Oh yes, I remember the 
ultimate excitement of hearing my first W6 during that contest, waw ! No 
qso, that took place later, years later. 160 is truly challenging. Anyhow, I 
was convinced arrl160m was the contest to be, to tick off those States 
needed to complete WAS. Year after year I listened, I called, and I called 
too many times without even getting the attention of those stations. Hmm, 
what was wrong ?
My assumption was that the incentive to work DX, was not big enough. I am 
still convinced this is the case. The 5 points should perhaps be 20 points, 
or 50.
I understand the geographical differences and difficulties, but if there is 
an opening, you can work 'em. Sometimes midwest and left coast come through, 
and east coast has vanished.

In Europe too, it is a wall to wall occupance during contests, but those 
with RX antennas can and do pull the overseas callers through (if they 
switch their rx antennas to the right direction !). I entered the CQ160 one 
year with the modest K9AY array, did I have a ball ! With keyclicks getting 
less and less with every passing contest, things get easier too.

Somebody was mentioning different band sections for DX and NA. In a perfect 
world, perhaps. But we have to be realistic. Also split was mentionned, 
please not in a contest and only for dx-peditions.

It was mentionned in this thread and months ago in another one, that topband 
is in se not a DX band. Personally, I consider160m as a DX band, and think 
all those subscribing to this reflector, have done this 'cause they are 
interested in the mechanics on how to succesfully work DX on topband.

One zone 4 station wrote me, last year he achieved to work 18 DX stations in 
the ARRL160, using his 100Watt station, and manoeuvring himself through the 
East Coast HP layer, succesfully. Well there you go, I rest my case.

Enjoy the contest, and let's make it fun for the whole world...NA, pse 
switch your directional rx-arrays to other parts of the world, if you have 
'em, and of course if you didn't use to do this in the past.

Cu this weekend ! 73 - Mark - on4ww