Topband: FT8 on 160m

[Gary Smith]

To me, the issue comes down to contained 
or not contained when it comes to signals 
on the bands. We're already contained by 
the limits of the band itself so there's 
effectively a finite space for everyone 
and if FT8 or RTTY or XYZ wanted to and 
was allowed to be everywhere, the QRM 
would be terrible.

As I see it, contained is better than 
un-contained in that the smaller dedicated 
area for digital/RTTY leaves a much 
greater area devoid of it.

FWIW, during the CW contest I had the 
filter down to 50Hz, heard DX above me and 
realized I was also hearing FT8 & I'd 
crossed into that "sub-band" I didn't 
respond to their CQ because to me, that 
would be intentionally QRMing someone not 
in the contest. O'course in the contests 
we don't want to QRM another contester 
either but we want to be heard first, so 
it can be a pig Pile, but that's part of 
the game.

73,

Gary
KA1J



> http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/downloads/func-startdown/718/  
> 
> IARU Region 1 160m Band plan:
> 1810 - 1838 200 CW,1836 kHz - QRP Centre of Activity
> 1838 - 1840 500 Narrow band modes
> 1840 - 1843 2700 All modes - digimodes, (*)
> 1843 - 2000 2700 All modes, (*)
> 
> There's no exclusive frequency for FT8 or any other K1JT mode.
> Therefore using CW on any frequency is absolutely legal.
> 
> -- 
> 73, Victor Goncharsky US5WE/K1WE (UW5W in VHF contests, ex UB5WE),
> P.E. UARL Technical and VHF Committies DXCC Honor Roll #1 (Mixed,
> Phone), 9BDXCC, 8BWAS DXCC card checker (160 meters).
> _________________ Topband Reflector Archives -
> http://www.contesting.com/_topband