[GreenKeys] RTTY activity - need more

[Gary Chatters]

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004, Stan Wilson wrote:

> When ever there is a RTTY contest the bands are filled with stations.
> At other times it is difficult to find anyone.
>
>
>
> I have never been into nets, but wonder if anyone has some suggestions
> on how to get a few stations on 80 or 40 every night?
>

My interests in amateur radio tend to be non-main stream, so I often think
about ways to encourage more activity or find what exists.  Although, I'll
have to admit that I don't always do a lot myself.  Here are a few random
comments based on my experiences.

Selecting a specific frequency, as others have mentioned, is a good idea.
AM and slow scan operate near fairly specific frequencies.  RTTY has long
had nominal frequencies with activity spread out around them (e.g.,
3620kHz on 80m) but considering the low activity level it may help to
decide on a specific frequency to use.  Early 2M FM activity benefitted
from having a national simplex channel.

Keep to common usage.  I agree with others who say use 60wpm, 170Hz shift,
space frequency below the mark frequency.

I am not sure of the best way to specify channel frequency.  Either
channel center or mark frequency would work.  Specifying mark frequency
seems to have been common in the past (is that right, anyone?) but channel
center seems like a good way to do it, too.  In either case, be clear
about your choice when announcing frequencies used.

Persistence and consistency help.  I was net control for a club 2M FM net
for a couple of years.  Activity was low, but I always (well, almost) got
on every week and called the net to order.  Some weeks no one was there.
But other weeks there were a half dozen or more.  A couple of years later
the net keeps going, still small but still there.

Avoid creeping featurism.  This kills a lot of projects.  Figure out the
simplest way you can get started and add on features (e.g. QRP, SELCAL)
as needed.

An auto-start channel needs good frequency accuracy, probably about 10Hz.
It is fairly easy these days to get equipment to measure that accurately
and it doesn't take a computer and a GPS receiver.  I got 0.1Hz error on
80m in the last W1AW frequency measuring test (about 0.6Hz the year
before) using 10MHz WWV as a reference and some HP test equipment picked
up at hamfests or eBay.

After all this rambling, here is a suggested plan of action:
- Select a schedule.  Daily, weekly?  Pick a time, specify in UTC.
- Select a frequency.  Near, maybe somewhat above 3620kHz, but not to
close to 3625 (W1AW bulletin).
- Decide how to specify channel frequency.
- Operate. Get on and call CQ.  Be persistent.  Call for an hour.  Get on
every week.
- Publicize.  Announce your frequency and schedule on the list here.
- Adjust if necessary.  Change time or frequency if necessary.  One choice
will be about as good as any other, so only if necessary.


OK, so I don't have the facilities or time to do this right now, myself.
I am just trying to convince someone else to do all the work.  But maybe
at some point I will do it, too.


73,
Gary