[160m] New to 160m

[Tom Rauch]

> There is a LOT of SSB during the ARRL DX SSB contest on 160.
>
> Sadly not enough of the 160 meter buffs show up that weekend.
> 73 Robert

I assume most regular 160-meter DXers avoid SSB contests because the band is
really not suited for DX SSB contests. I know I avoid 160 during SSB
contests of any type. I can think of four main reasons "160 buffs" probably
avoid the band.

First, there is the space problem. Most of the DX crowds into the lower
50kHz, and the US bandplan says no SSB below 1843. Most regular 160 ops
would never violate the bandplan that holds the band together so well on
non-contest weekends.

Second, perpetual CQ'ers who haven't a hope of hearing any DX tie up
valuable frequencies. In any given SSB contest with DX activity I generally
hear one or more DX stations under every perpetual USA CQ, making whatever
DX is audible impossible to work. Its frustrating to hear what would be
workable DX being totally trashed by constant CQ's.

Third, local signals are very strong and overpowering compared to DX. This
makes the poor IM performance of modern SSB transmitters stick out like a
sore thumb. The entire band fills with IM products that mask weak signals
for people who live in low-noise locations.

Finally, SSB requires ~2kHz or wider filters. The simple change of going
from a 200Hz CW to a 2000Hz SSB filter reduces S/N ratio by ten dB. That,
plus the fact an off-and-on tone is much more readable than voice, means
that we would have to be able to be able to work a large number of DX CW
stations to manage even a modest number of DX phone contacts.

While there are a lot of stations active, both the pleasure and ability to
work DX greatly decreases. I think this is why most DX work is CW.

73 Tom