Topband: The use of digital modes on 160 metres

[wa3mej at comcast.net]

George, 

 While there may be many that disagree with me I love digital modes on 160. I primarily use JT65 and it has been one of the reasons that I have worked Japan and New Zealand on TB.  I use it primarily when my hearing disabillity kicks in and my ears start ringing and I work CW the rest of the time. I can tell you that my ears do not like CW close to the noise floor.  The frequencies and modes most used (so far as I have heard) are 1.836 6 for WSPR, 1.838 for JT65 and also 1.838 for PSK31.  There may be other modes but they must be on other frequencies because I have not heard them.  Simply put digital is the big equalizer you can gain 30+ db over SSB by using digital modes that effectively lets you compete with the Killowatts on the band (we dont use amplifiers on digital modes). Let me know how you make out and maybe you will run into me on JT65 as I leave it on freq most nights. 



Jim WA3MEJ  

p.s. Even digital contacts count for DXCC etc so go for it. 


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----- Original Message -----
Message: 3 
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:59:57 +0930 
From: "George, VK5IT" <vk5it at bigpond.com> 
To: "Topband postings" <topband at contesting.com> 
Subject: Topband: The use of digital modes on 160 metres 
Message-ID: <000501cd9335$6faef860$4f0ce920$@com> 
Content-Type: text/plain;        charset="us-ascii" 

Hi Topbanders, 

  I would like to bring up a topic which I suspect must be tantamount to 
heresy among the diehard CW operators and that is the question of the use of 
some of the digital modes on the "Gentleman's Band". 

  It may be that CW can still hold its own by the speed and simplicity and use 
of narrow bandwidths?? 

These dangerous thoughts have come about because a friend put me on to a 
programme called Ham Radio Delux with its imbedded programme Digital Master 
780 which supports a whole raft of digital modes. As we all know some of 
these modes are capable of digging out intelligence from signals that are 
undetectable because they are below the noise floor. 

As one who is very much in the "little pistol" league with a small suburban 
back yard with a 10 metre height restriction and only enough space to 
install a very meagre earth matt and the additional problem of electrical 
noise - I see this as a  way to improve my chances of chasing the elusive 
DX. I was thinking of "resorting" to the use of digital modes such as Olivia 
and JT65. 

I keep a reasonably close eye on the threads posted in the Top Band Archives 
and this is a topic I do not remember seeing being discussed.  

I do, however, suspect that because going digital is such an obvious answer 
that there must already be some activity among devotees so I would be 
interested in hearing what frequencies and what modes are used on 160 meters 
and any comments. 

73 

George, VK5IT