From: James Cowburn <[email protected]>
Subject: LF: RE: DATA
To: [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, 23 February, 2010, 15:25
See annotations below for my comments and observations.
Thanks for CW QSO on Sunday too
Jim
Dr. James Cowburn
E [email protected]
Generally band condx vy good at present from LF to HF as far as 24 Mcs. Yes indeed. I worked some good Dx last week during half term on 17m/15m and 24m, perhaps the old soleil is firing up again
Modes mostly CW and SSB world wide, some strong USA stns. Lots of strong US stations on 40m thru 15m, though CW portions plagued with contests. G3XIZ is running CW tests on his H/B 40m Tx on 7.030 and we can QSO but its busy
What is noticeable is the lack of Amtor, Pactor and packet transmissions but RTTY seems to have survived over the years. I think AMTOR, Packet and PACTOR have been superseded by e-mail as they were not really routine QSO modes in general but more service modes. RTTY remains popular as it is easy to set up, tx friendly and works fine. (Only my opinion)
Observations indicate that data mode acty does not last long, the novelty wares (sp wears) off, whereas the traditional modes CW, SSB and RTTY are still going strong. I see that there are still many users of all modes including AM on topband, We have a thriving top band AM net in Bedfordshire even though it is plagued by some QRM from HtG.
Some will argue that cw and rtty are data. They are or at least RTTY is
but I am referring to the fly by night data modes Amtor, pactor, packet and all the JT, wspr etc, Hardly fly by night Mal, if you visit the WSPR website and see the activity on all bands from LF thru to 6m and the number of spots and users increasing all the time, its hardly fly by night. JT etc are used by EME lot too as you know, and its been used by me for the mighty total of two QSOs on 500.
tuning across the bands today I did not hear any of these modes. Probably because most of the users are out at work today, it is a Tuesday after all! I would be out at work were it not for a slight issue of difference between my old CEO and his investors resulting in our liquidation!! Hey ho. Back to the CV writing in between forarys on the radio!
Also as you know with JT and WSPR, you can Rx signals you can’t hear
Obviously the majority of ham operators are not interested. Obviously? To you maybe and that is your opinion but I would beg to differ. There’s more and more WSPR users coming on to 500 and up. Several users have tried and succeeded with JT4A QSOs over good distances (me included and I’m a QRP newbie!). If one was to look at the adoption vs time curve for modes such as WSJT and WSPR, it is my guess that it would far outperform those similar curves for SSB/CW etc.
It would appear MF attracts the Appliance Operator, Most of the MF ops I know barring me have all built their own gear, so I think you must be referring to me in which case n=1, sorry Mal but the stats are collapsing!! J
and the 8.7739872 Kcs Dreamers!! They said that about T/A on 73KHz, walking on the moon, travelling faster than 30mph on trains and the spinning jenny! Mal, put that clog down or you’ll get transported to the colonies
If you fancy your chances on VLF below 9 Kcs I will listen out. I have a suitable RX and antenna. I for one am looking into it, and I indeed have the appliances for Rx.
Your observations ? there you have them. None of which are intended to change your mind, as Voltaire himself said, “ I disagree vehemently with your opinion but I will defend to the death your right to say it” (or at least words to that effect!)
73s de G7NKS (Jim)
