[OKDXA] Need Some 160 m Advice

Tue Dec 15 22:48:00 EST 2020

Hi Kim,

Back long ago (pre ice storm) I had my best luck doing a few things:
1. For whatever direction you are chasing, be sure to listen at THEIR right
time and YOUR right time.  For EU, consider listening starting about 0400Z
or soon thereafter.  That will catch some of the early guys starting with
eastern EU.  For JA and area, listen starting at about 1030Z or soon
thereafter.  You are trying to hit just before sunrise of the DX if
possible to get the sunrise peak (that may occur just before (up to
30 minutes) or just after (maybe 10-15 minutes)their sunrise.  Same comment
for sunset on one or both .  The best for me is my sunset and their sunrise
(note both in darkness) acting together.
2. Sign onto ON4KST Low Band Chat. The low band, VHF, UHF and microwave
chats (by ON4KST) <http://www.on4kst.com/chat/start.php>  You will get a
note that there is a charge for one year's use.  I don't recall what it is,
but it is comparable to what EVERYONE is doing. You can see who is on, both
DX and domestic.  They have a decent Help list.
3. Be a bit careful!  If you know there is a rare DX station known to be on
160, do NOT give his call when sending a note on the DX Chat.  It will be
picked up by those wanting to disrupt the band.  If you slip up and give
the call, you will be instantly famous among 160 meter DXers on at that
time.  Also, despite an urge to properly assign the interferer a few choice
names, just stay cool.  They will eventually disappear.
4. Pay good attention to the comments from those already on and chatting.
They will say something like: Heard him weakly on 19.5 up 2.  That is code
for: I heard the rare DX (note - no call given) on 1819.5 and he is
listening on 1821.5.  Note no reference to the 18 (for 160meters).  These
little notes are quite helpful because now you know where to look, you also
know it is going to be a weak station, and you know where he is listening!
So a bit of ESP will be helpful, especially if you know the station's
call.  For example, maybe you know XY5ZAB is to be on and somebody says he
is very weak on 19.5.  Now, you listen using all your weak signal tricks
for your radio.  You hear this on 1819.5:  *Y5*A* where * was not readable
(it may be on the next try!)  Go ahead and give him a call! on 1821.5 using
your call a couple of times.  Do it again.  If you hear the pileup on
1821.5 and then it goes silent, somebody likely has snagged him.  Wait
until you hear him again.  Then go again.  Is going when you hear *Y5*A* a
poor practice?  You be the judge, but you will soon realize it is a widely
done practice.  I generally prefer to wait a bit, be sure I can FINALLY
hear the whole call even though not all of it at the same time, and then go
once sure you are calling the right station.  Also, remember there is often
QSB and the signals are going up and down.  Pretty soon you will finally
hear full calls or nothing.  I also often wait until this point.
5.  If directed to call up 2 (for example) and there is a pile, I'll
usually listen to see how high the pile goes.  Suppose it goes to 1823.7.
I'll try to follow the pile up or down starting at 1823.7.  It is also good
practice to listen to see where the previous contact was made.
6. If it is a new one, I often try to see the online log in either real
time or the next day.  I have also been known to instantaneously email the
station (not a good idea when they are on a DXPEDITION), give them the
contact info including RST, time in Z, etc., and ask if I made the log.  My
reasoning is simple.  I do NOT want to be calling the next day and
interfering with the pile if I am already in the log!
7. On the LHS of the LOW BAND CHAT you can see where skeds are arranged in
real time.

Kim, I know much of what I have said is already in your knowledge bank, so
hope you are not offended (well EVERYBODY is offended about EVERYTHING
today), so try to be less offended!

Well, I am a bit out of it now.  I'm sure Coy and others (Dan W5XZ in Sand
Springs near Tulsa), now probably the best 160 meter DXer in OK, can be of
help).

73 Ken K5KC

1525 S Boulder Creek Drive
Stillwater, OK  74074-2498  USA
405-747-4313 (Office and Cell)
405-377-7586 (Home and Fax)
kencase66 at gmail.com

On Tue, Dec 15, 2020 at 8:07 PM Kim Elmore <cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I'm finding that trying to hear spots on 160 m is deeply frustrating. Do
> I need to stay up later? I usually pack it in around 10:00-10:30, but
> maybe that's too early. Or, maybe I need to be up sooner? I'm just not
> hearin' 'em! I have K9AY loops for rx and they sometimes help, sometimes
> don't, but they never make things worse. My radio environment is quiet,
> so it's not that. If I can't hear 'em I certainly can't work 'em.
>
> Any hints?
>
> 73,
>
> Kim N5OP
>
> --
>
> Kim Elmore, Ph.D. (Adj. Assoc. Prof., OU School of Meteorology, CCM, PP
> SEL/MEL/Glider, N5OP, 2nd Class Radiotelegraph, GROL)
>
> /"A great second violinist plays second fiddle to no one." //– Robert C.
> Marsh, Chicago Sun-Times./
>
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