Topband: DX window
Keith Jillings
keith at jillings.org.uk
Thu Jan 1 10:57:29 EST 2004
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
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