Hi Topbanders,
I would like to bring up a topic which I suspect must be tantamount to heresy among the diehard CW operators and that is the question of the use of some of the digital modes on the "Gentleman's Band". It may be that CW can still hold its own by the speed and simplicity and use of narrow bandwidths?? These dangerous thoughts have come about because a friend put me on to a programme called Ham Radio Delux with its imbedded programme Digital Master 780 which supports a whole raft of digital modes. As we all know some of these modes are capable of digging out intelligence from signals that are undetectable because they are below the noise floor. As one who is very much in the "little pistol" league with a small suburban back yard with a 10 metre height restriction and only enough space to install a very meagre earth matt and the additional problem of electrical noise - I see this as a way to improve my chances of chasing the elusive DX. I was thinking of "resorting" to the use of digital modes such as Olivia and JT65. I keep a reasonably close eye on the threads posted in the Top Band Archives and this is a topic I do not remember seeing being discussed. I do, however, suspect that because going digital is such an obvious answer that there must already be some activity among devotees so I would be interested in hearing what frequencies and what modes are used on 160 meters and any comments. 73 George, VK5IT Email: <mailto:[email protected]> _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
