Topband: The use of digital modes on 160 metres

[Mike Armstrong]

Mike, that is QUITE true indeed.  Actually, you must watch the waterfall due to the fact that most ears would be unable, by hearing alone, to detect a frequency shift that would cause the signal to become utterly unreadable.  The waterfall is probably the most watched thing in the digi world..... Especially with the narrow band modes.  In the case of JT65, it's a might bit different, but I would find it pretty hard to believe that if anyone heard a CW signal that they wouldn't be able to tell it is CW.  I know quite a few CW ops that wouldn't be able to tell the digi signal, tho.  Not picking on CW ops...... Psk31 sounds almost like a steady tone, unless you listen very carefully and notice those very slight variations in the signal..... The phase shifting.  FSK is pretty easy by comparison.  The "musical" ones, like JT65 are pretty easy, too..... But I have heard CW OPS ask "what's with the random MUSICAL NOTES" there..... He he he.

Other than the choice of the 35-40 subband on 160, I think the rest is pretty much needless worry or concern.  Mole hill...... Meet mountain.  :)

Mike A (AB7ZU)

Kuhi no ka lima, hele no ka maka

On Sep 16, 2012, at 18:48, MIKE DURKIN <patriot121 at msn.com> wrote:

> Ok ... I call foul k6xt....
> 
> Most all digital mode ops are watching the waterfall .... its hard not to miss CW.....
> 
> Most fair digital ops can recognize a fair number if digital mode by site ....
> 
> Cw being the most easy.... SSB stands out like a big, fat, thumb.
> 
> Mike KC7NOA 
> 
>> Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:37:04 -0600
>> From: k6xt at arrl.net
>> To: topband at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: Topband: The use of digital modes on 160 metres
>> 
>> 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.
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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