----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 6:14
PM
Subject: LF: Intercontinental LF
waterholes
Dear LF group,
recently we find the "transatlantic waterhole"
around 137.777 kHz quite busy. Several Europeans have started beaconing within
this segment. And there has been some fast (QRSS3 or 10) activity, with wide
traces covering up possible transatlantic DX signalling
frequencies.
During the last years, we have attempted
to split the frequency bands for both directions of transatlantic
work. Traditional segments were around 137.777 kHz west-to-east (for
Americans transmitting towards Eu), and around 136.320 kHz east-west (for Eu
to stateside). Slow modes (QRSS or DFCW,
60 second and longer) were used almost exclusively there, and several
stations were able to successfully cross the pond in either
direction.
The situation has become a little more intricate
as more stations from other parts of the world (eg. Asia, China, Japan)
are joining the game with sensitive receivers and good signals. But I still
think it would be helpful to separate RX and TX bands within each area as much
as possible.
My suggestion would be to stick with the
east-west versus west-east allocation of the two slots. Taking into
account the path of mutual darkness, this would mean that all stations should
transmit in the lower band during their evenings until local midnight, and
then QSY to the lower band for the rest of the night. Receiver
settings would of course be vice versa.
I'm aware that this scheme cannot be perfect
and universal. It won't cover North-South hauls, and would not
protect signals during early or late openings. But it's simple enough, and I believe it would still be very
useful. Please don't get me wrong - I do not
want to discourage anyone from putting out a signal, and
certainly reject the notion of anything reminiscent
of a "band police". I just think a little coordination may help all
of us to be successful on this challenging and fascinating
band.
Let me have your thoughts...
73 de Markus, DF6NM
