[UK-CONTEST] 160M band plan

[G3SVL]

Andy,

Welcome to Topband - and thanks for the points last night.

If you want to get into 160m then it is worth subscribing to the topband 
reflector (List-Subscribe: 
<http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband>) or (List-Archive: 
<http://dayton.akorn.net/pipermail/topband>). The topic of bandplans is 
hotly debated there and I've appended the list moderator's comments just 
ahead of this weekend's contest.

Regarding the *alligators* (all mouth and no ears) a few live with very 
high QRN levels and genuinely can't hear - and then there is the 
discrepancy in stations' ERP on this band - the big sigs are using 90ft 
verticals with large radial mats and linears. The guy with his 
feeder-strapped G5RV will hear the big signal but will respond with a much 
lower ERP. Hence the discrepancy. But of course there are some poor 
operators, as on any band/contest.

Regarding the constant callers who don't work anything - you can get into 
the world top 10 on the SSB event from Eu with much less than 1000 QSO's 
over the weekend - so you call a lot and average probably less than 20 per 
hour - and the contest is really over for the big boys by day-break Sunday. 
Sun eve has only been available for the last two events so its a bonus for 
those who like yourself come on with a *rare* mlt and 5 pts for just about 
everyone.

See you on the band

73  Chris G3SVL
_________________________________________________________
 From the Topband Reflector 28 Feb 2004:

Before we get our annual rash of comments on this,
please go back and review the February archives for past
years.  There is really nothing new to be said, and I don't
think it's very productive to discuss this on the reflector.

         ARRL does have a voluntary Bandplan which restricts
wideband 1840:

<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bandplan.html>http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bandplan.html

All IARU voluntary Bandplans also restrict wideband above 1840:

<http://www.iaru-r2.org/hf_e.htm>http://www.iaru-r2.org/hf_e.htm

         The FCC has yet to act on RM-10352 which would
restrict wideband modes above 1840 (equivalent to carrier
frequency of 1843 for 3 kHz BW LSB signals) just as we
have on every other HF band.  Until the FCC acts, there is
not much point in creating a lot more heat on this subject.
My guess is that the FCC will roll ARRL's Novice Refarming
and RM-10352 into one giant NPRM, but who knows when it
will happen since they seem to be consumed with BPL at
the moment.

         Whether you like or dislike SSB operations below the
IARU's recommendation, I suggest you directly contact Dave
K4JRB at <http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband>thompson at 
mindspring.com (CQ 160 administrator).
It seems one alternative might be for CQ to suggest that all
amateurs follow their IARU Bandplans.  Of course you are
free to tell Dave you like things just they way they are too!
Another factor I'll consider is CQ Magazine's opposition to
RM-10352 when it comes time to renew my subscription.

         Bottom line, please take one of the actions above,
whether you are pro or con, and let's keep the annual gripe
sessions off the reflector.  We've been there and done that
too many times already.

                                 Thanks & 73!

                                 Bill  W4ZV