Dave Sergeant wrote:
>From Dave G3YMC
I wish Larry and the VE team all the best for their forthcoming
transatlantic tests - the choice of a period in November is excellent, and
if there is a chance then (and December) is the optimum time.
There has been discussion here on the use of sophisticated coherent
reception techniques to achieve this aim. These may well be necessary, and
it is going to be no mean task. However who knows what will happen next
November. With the strength of CFH (and DCF39 in VE) some nights in the past
season my feeling is that it may not be as hard as we think. In the event
that a 2-way QSO is made using conventional CW and with antennas more in
keeping with a normal amateur station I think it would be fair to give
credit to that QSO, with a certificate or whatever, even though the first
QSO qualifiying for the Challenge may indeed be with specialist techniques.
I think it would have given Peter Bobek a very special thrill if his aims
were met by a normal amateur using normal CW and an average station. It may
prove difficult (and it is certainly not possible with my existing set up!)
but it should not be considered impossible. Remember that at one time
transatlantic QSOs on Top Band were the rarity, whereas today they are
commonplace.
A very sensible observation. The whole LF senario is becomming rediculous. A
couple of good cw operators at each end and a good antenna that the radio
amateur has engineered and installed himself. How can anyone claim any
credit/achievement using a commercial antenna system and data systems that need
chip rate detectors controlled by computers. This is getting away from what is
considered the norm in amateur radio. It is more like Robotic amateur radio and
appliance operating.
Top prize on 136 khz should go to those that have built their own TX/Antenna/and
have the ability to send/receive morse code at a suitable speed to make the qso
across the Atlantic or elswhere.
Secondary any other mode that one cares to use with their own antenna and
commercial antenna farms are totally non amateur radio.
G3KEV
73s Dave
[email protected]
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/sergeantd
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