Topband: The use of digital modes on 160 metres

[k6xt]

Exactly. And it applies to digi operators too, many of whom are not 
listening for CW or anything else in my very own personal experience. 
Their software is in control - who needs to look at a radio's S meter 
or, heaven forbid, actually listen to it? seems to be a common operating 
situation. Ergo jamming, intentional or not.

Its also true that no CW contester I know of will sit on a freq for up 
to a minute (or even 10 seconds) waiting to see if someone's already 
using it. No doubt at all there's plenty of potential for conflict in 
the 1835-1840 area. Which returns me to my starting point of agreement 
with Tom about the unfortunate choice of that range for digi ops.

Since I don't use SSB and find some other band in the 160SSB tests, I 
haven't had the pleasure you describe.

IMO Tom's fruitful discussion would begin "where can we move digi ops 
out of the 35-40 segment so there's reduced impact on activity 
preexisting since the dawn of creation, and do it such that the digi ops 
- many of whom probably also use CW and SSB on 160 - don't need to add 
more antenna switching or a separate antenna".

A discussion about how regularly parts of the band are used for DX is, 
IMHO, specious. Obviously there isn't likely to be much activity til the 
band opens somewhere and a DX station shows up.

PS: Lest anyone think I'm unduly biased, while not a regular I have used 
digital modes including JT65 on 160 and other bands.

73 Art K6XT~~
Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.
ARRL, GMCC, CW OPS, NAQCC
ARRL TA

On 9/16/2012 1:19 PM, Jim wrote:
> Jam existing CW?  What about the SSB stations down around 1820 during a
> contest? NO ONE has the right to any frequency.  Whoever gets there
> first and uses it takes priority.