Topband: DX WINDOW

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi Milt,

It sure helps me. I don't make any bones about new to 160. My antenna
and my transmitter have been giving me a lot of grief so I have had only
a few QSOs...maybe a couple dozen. I am not a "seasoned professional" on
top band. I'm just an amateur. My license even says so (evil grin). So
far when I have tried to get on the air, "reasonable amateur practice"
has kept me out of serious trouble. Lots of listening and a query before
using a "vacant" frequency. I know what a pileup sounds like so even if
I can't hear the DX I know (s)he is around.

It's helpful when in Rome to know what the Romans do.

73,

Bill  KU8H


On Wed, 2012-12-05 at 15:55 -0700, Milt -- N5IA wrote:
> Bill,
> 
> As Peter has responded, there are two JA windows; 1810-1825 and 
> 1907.7-1912.5 .
> 
> Until a few years ago the JA hams only had the upper 1907.7-1912.5 
> allocation.  Because the band was segmented in much of the world most 
> international contacts on 160 Meters were done split frequency.
> 
> >From here in the USA the common method was for US stations to transmit in 
> the 1.820-1.830 area where their narrow band TX antennas were resonant and 
> listen for the JA stations in the above 1.9 MHZ JA allocation.  The JA 
> stations would do the opposite, TXing above 1.9 and listening down low.
> 
> The method of contacting each other was not random.  When you CQed, you 
> added at the end the couple of digits that indicated where you were 
> listening in the other fellows band.  For example, I would CQ CQ de N5IA 
> N5IA r83.  What this meant to the JA stations that I was listening on 
> 1.908.3.  We did this both for casual DXing and in the contests.
> 
> Since the new, wider allocation to JA at the 1.810 to 1.825, to my knowledge 
> all contest contacts are done simplex in that portion of the spectrum.  If 
> you want to work JA on 160 Meters you have to be within that window also.
> 
> I don't know for a fact, but I suppose the above 1.9 MHZ allocation is 
> probably used by JA for local, in country contacts.  Anyone out there know 
> how that portion of the spectrum is now used in JA?
> 
> I hope this helps you and perhaps others, Bill.
> 
> 73 and good evening de Milt, N5IA