Topband: DX window

[Keith Jillings]

Jon Zaimes AA1K wrote:

> I personally feel a "window" is a waste of space and should be eliminated. The "state of the art" -- improved receivers, transmitters, and antennas -- makes transceive operation the most practical and spectrum-efficient use of the band. 

At the risk of flogging a very dead horse, I disagree strongly.

As a former active Topbander, now relegated by my suburban garden to "tiny 
pistol", there's no way I can work top Band DX with the present setup.   There's 
too much adjacent-channel QRM, and the DX can't hear me.

In the early 60s, I worked many Ws, particularly W1BB most weeks, transmitting 
in the "European" band, listening in the "W" band.   All I had to check was that 
there were no strong local stations transmitting on the same frequency as me.

Likewise, in the 60s I worked many weak W stations (I have several QSLs thanking 
me for "my first transatlantic QSO on 160") which I'd never have copied through 
the clicks and sprogs I hear on the band now.   Maybe when the Japanese 
manufacturers cure key clicks and the linear-builders cure spurii, I'll be able 
to hear DX properly again.

Meanwhile, I listen to the few strong Ws that I can hear, and wish for a rural 
QTH with room for Beverages and the rest.

200kHz of Top Band is a lot of kHz - we're talking a few 10s of kHz of that for 
"windows".   Personally, I'd like to see several "regional" windows so I'd know 
where to look for the DX as well as having a chance to hear it.   The band is 
very quiet here even at busy times, apart from the bedlam in the bottom few tens 
of kHz.

Maybe I should just move to a rural location, buy an FT1000MP and a big linear, 
put up a dozen or so Beverages, and stop complaining?   Anyone care to sponsor me?


Keith
-- 
Keith Jillings
G3OIT   GW3OIT   G-UTSY at EGMC