I spent the last 6 nights making QSOs on 630 meters. While it has
been interesting and at times fun, it has also been very frustrating.

Many QSO opportunities were lost due to people calling split. WHY?
Perhaps it can be a useful technique for some, but most callers far
removed from my frequency end up buried in RFI and in some cases
mingled with another QSO attempt. Most of the band is badly trashed
by RFI here, but I almost always have one or two nice clean slots of
40 to 80 Hz width. When calling CQ I try to get as close as I can to
the center of a clean area, hoping people will take the hint and
call on or near my frequency. Many don't. According to third party
reports I had many callers whom I never had a chance to decode
because of this.

I did work 5 new states bringing my total to 22. I only made one DX
QSO with G3KEV. Thanks Mal for using good sense and calling me simplex!

Last night I returned to the shack after a break to see several CQ
sequences from LA2XPA with SNR to -23 dB. It appeared he had
stopped, so I called CQ and almost immediately received a call from
LA2XPA. Unfortunately QSB set in and though I could see him on the
waterfall for two periods after that, nothing decoded. He was
calling split and ended up uncomfortably close to a strong U.S.
station who was attempting to complete a QSO. I continued for nearly
3 hours hoping he would try to call me again, but despite his
station giving me reports (via hamspots and PSK Reporter) up to -8 I
never saw him call again. I am very sorry to have lost this QSO.

I am returning to 2200 meters now. I can change bands somewhat
easier than last year but it still requires nasty fiddling with
wires and coax outside in the cold and snow. I will make a 630m
appearance from time to time.

73,
Paul N1BUG
FN55mf