Topband: 160m SSB DX

[Bill Tippett]

VE3CUI:

QRS CW is perhaps best done up above 1840-KHz, in the absence of any SSB
DXCC chasers, that is...conversely, there is always the bottom end of
80-meters.

         I disagree for several reasons:

1.  There *are* SSB stations on 1843 and above, even though you might 
not hear them with a marginal RX antenna.  Even 1840 CW will be very 
audible in a 3 kHz LSB passband.

2.  IARU Regions 1 & 3 (i.e. EU, AF, AS, OC) do not have access below 
1810, so there is very little DX activity there.  Even though NA and 
SA do have access, most DX activity is well above 1810.

3.  The QRP calling frequency is 1810 and there are usually some low 
speed QSOs in that area.  Try to avoid 1808 +/- however since it's 
the center of digital activity in NA.

         I suggest 1800-1815 is a much better area to find slow speed 
CW, focusing on 1800-1810 (excluding 1808) when the band is open to DX areas.

                                         73,  Bill  W4ZV