[UK-CONTEST] 160M band plan

[Ian White, G3SEK]

Dave Sergeant wrote:
>
>Don't get me started on what happens to the top band bandplan (and
>40m for that matter) during SSB contests....
>
>Suffice it to say that as a CW op I did not even bother to listen to
>the band this weekend.

To put the contrary view, perhaps that is exactly how it *should* be.

This is from the viewpoint of someone who has been on the sticky end of 
band-planning, helping to actually choose the mode boundaries.

The band-planners have to take an all-modes, year-round view... as best 
they can, knowing there simply isn't enough room in most of our bands 
(especially at the low ends) to meet the *maximum* needs of any mode.

The mode boundaries are intended to balance the normal needs of each 
mode, and they work pretty well for at least 5 days out of 7.  But on 
the big contest weekends there has to be some give-and-take.

On some weekends your favourite mode takes more, because it needs it. On 
other weekends, it's your turn to do the giving.

>But I had quite a lot of fun on the HF bands
>in the UBA contest.

  Again, that's exactly how it should be. There are almost always other 
good choices.


-- 
73 from Ian G3SEK