Topband: DX Window-Redux

[Herb Schoenbohm]

I would say with all that is already wrong with the ARRL 160 meter 
contest which is a beehive of CQ machines, Dx or no DX, window or no 
window, that for them to make such a statement (this segment should be 
used for intercontinental QSOs only, as a mere suggestion, not a rule, 
is disingenuous.  First the contest planners have already turned their 
back on DX.  DX was included as an after thought. Why, because 160 meter 
legend DX-er W0NWX-W0DX-VP2VI was ARRL President and lived during the 
winters in BVI a scant 7 miles from U.S.VI.  So there was an attempt, a 
poorly designed one for inclusion of one person based on politics rather 
than fairness.  DX in the U.S. Territories seems to be of little  or no 
value except for a multiplier. There weren't any PR stations on in the 
last event and if I would have carried out my plans for a NA boycott, no 
VI multiplier either.  All the DXCC U.S. entities in the Caribbean are 
all counted as VI or Puerto Rico even though KP1 is about as rare as a 
place on earth for anyone to work on any band, but it counts for the VI.

Now Tom suggests that I should be sanctioned for calling CQ inside the 
window...even though I am really looking for EU and Asia.  I must not 
answer NA stations calling because that is Intercontinental but a PJ of 
a P4 a few hundred miles south of me can do so without impunity.  Makes 
no sense as some continents like Asia extend half way around the world. 
Intercontinental or intercontinental is a broad brush that falls apart 
when DX shows up and they direct you where to go.  If you don't listen 
to instructions then you don't work them, period.  This is the way that 
self regulation works.

I would say that the ARRL suggestion is just that, a suggestion. If they 
were just not following an old worn out tradition of Viking Rangers and 
HQ-129 Receivers, and if they want to be certain they mean what they 
say, all the need to is change the world from "should" to "must".  But 
you know the CAC can not even suggest this as they must be "tasked" by a 
secretive internal council at HQ to rubber stamp their suggestions.  So 
nothing is going to change.

We all go where the DX is and if ZL9HR on 1826 says up 10 ...lets not 
kid ourselves, we are gong to call up ten, and start calling. Today with 
very directional RX antennas for serious DX-ers the kindness and ethics 
of the "gentleman's" band should be enough. This seems to noticeably 
fall apart during the ARRL 160 Contest disaster......which few really 
like anyway and so many complain about.

In direct contrast, we are all redeemed at the end of this month by the 
Stew Perry Distance Challenge that everybody likes and the rules are 
straight forward and simple.  DX is! You don't even have to score your 
results and everyone gets a category they can choose from.

The ARRL160 Meter event always causes more ruffled feathers and the TBDC 
is just the opposite.  What Lew and Tree came up with is substance.  
What a board room of insiders at HQ foisted on 160 is all about 
symbolism and about working some ARRL sections, not about developing the 
skills to work weak signals on a crowded band.  I have been trying for 
years to get them to change this but all I get is some sort of arrogant 
slap down.  I though that the league itself is supposed to remember 
their own motto and that motto should extend to TB'ers as well.

CU in the Stew during the Christmas season and watch how the DX crawls 
out of the woodwork to get in someones logs.  It is a contest that those 
that try the most with the least have a chance in being recognized.  The 
Stew is really the anti-alligator anti big gun event which is never 
drudgery like the plethora of CQ machines across the band.

73

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ




On 12/6/2012 12:40 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
> I stand by my suggestion and I don't see my suggestion as nonsense in
> the least. Go here and read section 6.1
> http://www.arrl.org/160-meter - The ARRL who host this contest state
> plainly that this segment should be used for intercontinental QSOs
> only, ergo: the DX window.
>
> Since US & VE are disregarding this directive and using it selfishly
> to the detriment of the others in the contest who are playing by the
> rules, I say the offending stations should be penalized for ignoring
> the rules. What is nonsense about that?>>>>
>
> That is a good suggestion, because it is what the contest rules 
> suggest. It is a place for intercontinental QSO's, and W/VE should not 
> CQ there.
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