Topband: The State of 160m

[Bob Kile]

My comments on the state of 160m. First let me say I am old enough to 
have experienced, Loran C with power limitations, LA police KMA367 on 
1730, fish boats, buoy markers, Spy Trawlers sending code groups, Long 
delayed echoes, OHR, local DX chats on 1845-50 SSB, QSO’s with W1BB, 
K6SE, VS6DO, ZL2BT , JA7AO and many others that are were legends in 
their day and now are in higher places.


I also had the opportunity to make thousands of contacts on 160m during 
solar cycle 23 minimum 2005-2009 which for me was the ultimate hay day 
of 160m. Experiencing new countries and new stations every evening on Cw 
with 100W was truly an amazing event.


Whilst attending some Dayton contest forums this year some information 
was brought to light. A prominent DX-pedition group member commented 
that FT8 comprised 37% of the QSOs. For somebody like myself looking for 
a more traditional achievement award of merit like WAZ on 160m CW it has 
become virtually impossible in a life time.


Most recently I have witnessed the devastating effects of the high costs 
of DX-peditons and limited operating times to juggle various modes. A 
very skilled and talented group went to 8Q7 in Maldives. Late in their 
operations they did go to CW mode on 160. They called CQ for about 5-10 
minutes at my sunrise. I’m sure they were looking at RBN responses of 
which there are few in Asia worth a damn and went quiet only to show up 
on FT8 after my sunrise morning peak. It didn’t matter I had Q5 copy and 
had to switch antennas, turn amplifier on and try to make it through the 
Asian chatter. This I might point out happened not once but twice. Did I 
mention from out west this is a 10 minute window 11,000 miles away. Only 
one western station VE6WZ worked them as a result of a spot I posted.


I don’t hate FT8 but It’s not my focus. It is very useful due to the 
shear numbers of operators and PSK Reporter for determining propagation. 
Alone it has had a profound impact on the HF bands some of which has 
been good and many cases not so. A good CW operator can easily copy -18 
dB SN station. Perhaps C6AGU’s "Rig In a Box" will help by cutting 
DX-pedition costs and allow operators to be in comfort spending more 
time on air operating rather than fiddling around with all needed 
accessories and beat many of the environmental regulations.


Bob W7RH

-- 
W7RH DM35OJ


If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. George Carlin