Topband: Propagation last evening

[K4OWR]

*:::: Gee, a lot of anger out there about this contest. In my 
opinion.....running a KW or more on 160 is just required. It's the 
nature of the band, has been since Marconi.
I'm a long time "SSB" op (56 years) and I listen so far down into the 
weeds my ears hurt. I also use separate rcv antennas, in several 
directions to help me overcome the noise and hear better overall. I 
really try to answer even the weakest stations. The 500 people I worked 
last night can attest to that.
The attitude implied by several here is simply sour grapes from those 
who don't put forth the effort this band requires.
I will continue to try to operate my station as best I can.

As to the scoring rules.....yes, they're unfair to US hams. This does 
not stop me from getting on and enjoying myself.*
*BILL K4OWR....just changed from my original 1957 issued original call 
K2OWR, to try to "fit" in to my wonderful new home in TN.....Y'all
*
On 2/25/2012 3:35 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 2/25/2012 12:03 PM, Sam Morgan wrote:
>> I will not be wasting my time in any 160m SSB contests
>> either you can't be heard unless you run a kw
>> or ssb ops aren't listening for anything down in the weeds
>> that isn't received on a beverage pointed away from the US
>> or doesn't have an exotic call sign
> It's not much better on CW, which is why I no longer bother with 160M
> contests.
>
> It's long past time for scoring rules changes that cause east coast
> stations to want to work something besides DX.  The excessive credit for
> DX QSOs and countries as multipliers simply does not make sense.  EU
> from most of the east coast is only about 25% greater distance than W6,
> yet the W1--W6 or W1-W7 QSO counts one point and the EU QSO counts three
> or five, depending on the contest.
>
> The only 160M contest with reasonable scoring rules is the Stew Perry,
> but there's not nearly enough activity to make it much fun. Is it
> because the east coast guys don't like anything without their 5:1
> scoring advantage?
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> _______________________________________________
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