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Speak Out: SSB operations out of the 40m bandplan

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Anonymous on 2004-03-27
Totally agree with the last comment. CQWW SSB on 40m from Europe is a complete farce, with 60/9+dB sigs covering 7.040>7.10. I work all who go below the 7.040 limit and have no hesitation CQing below there too, as it's IMPOSSIBLE to cram in all participants in that small a frequency range. Ironically, with it's smaller bandwidth/more efficient filtering, CW can cope with a more restrictive frequency range, SO WHY THE HECK DOES IT GET SUCH A LARGE CHUNK TO USE ON EACH BAND ?
From a CW & SSB Op, who is probably a better SSB op, but prefers CW.

Anonymous on 2004-03-27
I heard a contestor tell someone else they had to move because he had the right to use the frequency they were using since he was in a contest. This individual obviously didn't read the rules or he doesn't understand that if a freq is legally in use he, under no circumstances, has the right to force someone off except in an emergency. In another incident I heard an extra tell a general class that because he was an extra the general had to move because the extra had more rights. Again this extra missed much in the rules and regulations. This type of behavior is an embarassment to Ham radio and it is distructive and amatueristic. I am trying to get individuals interested in this hobby and this type of behavior almost turned off two new potential hams.

Anonymous on 2004-03-26
We administer a test in which we provide all the answers and hope CW will keep the rift raft out. We get insulted when someone calls us a CBer. We call ourselves civilized yet we still pick up our leg and mark our territory. It has been a long time since I have heard a young person on the bands. I look at some of these responses and I can see why.
Why is a specific mode of transmission like CW a holy grail? If I use CW I can use all of the 40M band and we designate a small portion to SSB. Some countries cannot transmit in the upper frequencies of our 40 meter band and the operators cannot afford radios that will work split. Because of our territorial obsessions and our selfishness we deny SSB transmissions and contacts on the lower 40M frequencies.
Contesters plan for months for a two day event. They have the right to use the bands. Why are we in the belief that when we bought a radio it came with our own special frequency. Why can�t we like educated test taking non CBers operators and let them use the band for a couple of days? Some rag chewers and nets use it all day everyday for the whole year. Then in all our self centeredness we complain because someone uses 40M for two days out of the year!!
If we expect to be respected and separated from other non-test taking operators we need to quit fighting amongst ourselves.

A CW, SSB, Contesting Amateur Radio Operator
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." --Albert Einstein

Anonymous on 2004-03-25
Like I said,
SSB SUCKS!
CW Forever

Anonymous on 2004-03-24
from WI7F
in a contest you do the best you can if the frequency is legal to use the use it if not then don't.. part of the band should always be left for other modes..

Anonymous on 2004-03-24
Of course split SSB contest operations should be continued on 40 meters.
We did not make the regional band limitations. Why should the DX be stuck in the foreign commercial broadcast band like U.S. hams?

Anonymous on 2004-03-23
Can't fish where there's no water

Anonymous on 2004-03-21
As a CW op I am a little dissapointed in the disparaging remarks about SSB.

If SSB operation is real problem below 7040 it only means that the contest must be pretty popular. I would find it hard to deny the use simply because it's of no interest to me.

As for the "meaningless contacts and scores" comment. Contests are considered a form of Radio Sport which many find much more interesting than checking into a net only to say "I'm here"

I have always been able to find a clear spot somewhere for a CW QSO even if I need to change bands. I don't own any particular spot or band. If the DX is operating legally we really have no bitch.

We just have to share, we can't leave bandspace empty during a very popular event just because someone else meets there - first come first serve I guess.

I've had more than one CW QSO interrupted by NTS CW traffic nets who after one QRL begin calling QNI 3 milliseconds later. CW ops have some issues too!

Tim KA8DDZ
QRP CW, SSB, Homebrewer, Contester

Anonymous on 2004-03-20
SSB SUCKS
CW Forever!

Anonymous on 2004-03-20
Listen up, Listen up!

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