Topband: Topband Digest, Vol 117, Issue 20

[Tom W8JI]

> An additional issue for weak sig CW folks is the nature of digi 
> operations. Digi operators don't always check for pre-existing activity. 
> The result is the digi setup begins its 1 minute of howling, irrespective 
> of some CW activity already in progress. No problem to the digi operator 
> whose setup will mindlessly repeat until acknowledged. A deal breaker to 
> the CW activity.

I think some of the problem you notice, if not most of it, is the digi op 
(like most operators) tends to think in terms of his system's processed 
bandwidth and not the receiver bandwidth other surrounding operators use.

Another part is they just may not recognize CW, or what the CW station is 
doing.

This is why the FCC, wisely, did not mix modes.

> Like Tom I neither endorse nor object to digi activity, except as it jams 
> existing CW. I share his opinion that the frequency choice for digi 
> activity could not have been more poorly chosen.

It would be great to have a real discussion about this (and other things), 
because it might help the overall band long term. I'm starting to think 
rational non-personal on-point discussions of fact are not possible in 
America any longer. It's actually called the Brooklyn syndrome, but it seems 
to be spreading.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852006,00.html

73 Tom