[Fists] Contest SSB on 7.011MHz

[Hank Kohl K8DD]

Hmmmm ...... I realize that this is a CW group, but here goes my humble 
opinion!

I believe that it used to be that stations outside of the US that were 
authorized voice communication below 7100 KHz were not to use voice below 
7030 KHz.

However when a major SSB contest rolls around about three times a year (I 
believe CQ WW SSB, ARRL DX SSB and possibly CQ WPX SSB) it gets pretty 
crowded.  I have operated from several countries and when you listen here 
in the US, it doesn't sound too bad, but when you are outside of the US and 
looking for a spot down there to call CQ and listen there and up above 
7150, there aren't many spots to squeeze in ..... sort of like finding a 
place on 40 CW to call CQ in ARRL Sweepstakes!

The problem may get alleviated by the fact that the United Kingdom just 
opened up 7100 to 7150 for SSB.  Think I've only heard a few stations above 
7100 so far this weekend on SSB.

Contesting takes a fairly rough beating just about every time there is a 
major contest and it takes over a band, mode, subband, "my" frequency, 
etc.  Doesn't matter if it is an  ARRL, CQ, QSO Party, FISTS contest or 
even the code practice station that was on 7040 and now is on 7030 that 
operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with text from the Bible!

However I think that one of the ways to "sell" Ham Radio and CW to new hams 
is with competition!  My kids, their kids and most of their friends  are 
deeply into on line video games and scores.  Contesters are into operating 
and scores ...... sorta similar, isn't it?  And when you participate in a 
contest - ARRL, CQ, FISTS, QRP-ARCI, etc - your score gets listed in 
magazines and on web sites that are read all over the world!

So before we start flaming KA2AEV about parking his butt in the CW band (he 
is perfectly legal there)  why not ask him to join FISTS!
And wouldn't it be good to get more people into Ham Radio (and FISTS) by 
"selling" them on contesting rather than 2M FM?  I bet we would get more 
from contesting than from the local repeater!

73    Hank    K8DD


At 10/31/2004 01:37 AM, W1EOF wrote:

>V26B is licensed in the US as KA2AEV. His email is ka2aev at aol.com. Would it
>be bad if we all sent him an email and asked why he feels it necessary to
>park his butt in the CW band? Just because it is *legal* to operate there
>doesn't make it correct behaviour. I know I'll be writing him.
>
>The bio for KA2AEV (qrz.com) reads as follows:
>
>"Im located in the Beautiful Southern New York town of Tottenville, on
>Staten Island. Im active on all HF Bands as well as V/UHF Bands and just
>starting to get into Satellite Operations. Im also licensed as V26R from the
>Beautiful West Indian nation of Antigua. I am a founding member and still a
>current member of Team Antigua and recently asssumed duties as QSL Manager
>for V26B (A new experience!) I am also a member of the Worlds Greatest
>Contest Club, The Frankford Radio Club as well as a new member of the Kings
>County Repeater Association. I try to be as active as possible, but Family
>and Job obligations come first and as anyone with a new family knows, this
>can be as bad as working two full time jobs so my on the air time is
>limited! Hope to work you soon either from Staten Island or Antigua!"
>
>
>73,
>
>Mark W1EOF
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: John_K7FD [mailto:john_k7fd at charter.net]
> > Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2004 1:37 AM
> > To: fists at mailman.qth.net
> > Subject: [Fists] Contest SSB on 7.011MHz
> >
> >
> > Sheesh. V26B. Hope he loses.
> >
> > 73 John K7FD
> >
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> >
> >
>
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