On 3/29/2018 7:49 AM, Rich - K1HTV wrote:
*Being a 160M CW DXer, I too agree that 1826.5 is NOT a good spot for
the FT8 DXpedition frequency, as many other Topband DXers would also
agree. The highest end of the band has plenty of room, but many
antennas, cut for the low end of the band, won't load well up there.
*
*Right, but that's because of the "moldy fig" attitude of OT 160M ops,
who have long gone apoplectic at any mention of digital modes on their
sacred band. RTTY contests exclude 160M for this reason.
In NA, there's an informal bandplan that delegates digital to 1800 to
1810, CW up to 1840, and SSB above that. During CW contests, CW activity
extends above 1900 kHz, and SSB goes down to at least 1820 during SSB
contests. And while both modes generally avoid FT8 frequencies outside
of contests, both modes make any attempt to do so during contests.
*
*Although the 1836.6 KHz WSPR frequency has a number of users, with
the advent of FT8, very few, if any, JT65 stations can be heard around
1838. Maybe that would be a better place for the DXpedition mode on
160 Meters.*
*A few nights ago, I let WSJT-X run overnight on 1838 and decoded only
one transmission. Last season, on the same antenna (a full size
vertical), I decoded at least 50 stations every night. **While I greatly
regret the decline of JT65 activity on 160M, I'd suggest 1838 as a
default for DXpedition mode. This is VERY occasional use, and would be
consistent with how DXpeditions select operating frequencies for other
modes on the HF bands.
*
*If not there, then 1830 to 1835 KHz, considered the Topband 'DX
window', would probably work, as CW ops could slide down a few KHz
without to many problems. Of course, during contests, don't expect any
frequency on the band to be free from QRM.*
Last I heard, that DX window has long been retired. It is, for example,
no longer observed during contests. More realistic windows are those
defined by national regulations. JA, for example, is allocated 1810-1825
for CW; they have another allocation above 1900, which is why they
operate FT8 up there.
73, Jim K9YC
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