Topband: Patience in ARRL 160 Contest

[Jim Brown]

On 12/1/2012 1:11 PM, David Raymond wrote:
> You smaller stations, particularly QRP, most of the bigger stations will really work hard to pull you through for a successful QSO.

Some harder than others.  W0SD gave my QRP signal a real good try early 
in the evening, but couldn't get the exchange. I'll certainly try again 
tonight.  N0TT and N0NI heard me almost right away, but it took some 
repeats to get in their logs. They were my best DX last night. I worked 
several NM stations, but WD5COV, even when on his 20 over S9 west-facing 
TX antenna, never gave me so much as a QRZ for the several dozen times I 
called, and had his auto CQ set for a very short recycle time.

If you're going to work weak signals, both sides of the QSO need 
patience, operating skill, and good ears. There are FAR too many 
alligators on the band. Doing the math, 20dB down from 1.5 kW is 15 
watts, and a 5W signal would be S8. If your noise level is S8, IMO, you 
have no business running 1.5kW!

As to the so-called DX window -- ARRL 160 rules seem to be the only 
place this is still recognized. There has been repeated traffic on this 
reflector saying that the DX window no longer exists, and hasn't for 
years.  You can't have it both ways -- either it is or it isn't.  Based 
on the advice here I no longer observe it.

73, Jim K9YC