Keen Dx Adventurist and Big Gun DX Hunter 19DA109 Marcel posted a link to the following article by G4VXE Tim on the DA-RC Mailing List recently – one which not only recognizes some of the great systems in place in the 11m band community (i.e. a calling frequency), but also the high level DX activity which takes place on these frequencies; things the author suggests users of 28 MHz could perhaps take on board. It’s a great article which deserves a read!
I can hear a sharp intake of breath from some of you, but bear with me…!
You have to admire the way the CBers make the most of the spectrum. For the last month or so, as I’ve been getting back to the car in the evening, I’ve been turning the 10m rig on. By and large the amateur band has been quiet, with the occasional Brazilian station coming through.
Tune down a MHz or so and listen to the CB band and there’s distinctly more activity. The 27.555MHz calling frequency (not legal in the UK, of course) generally has something going on, even if conditions are poor.
I suppose amateurs, if they find 28MHz closed, they head off to another band – whereas the CBers, in theory, only have the one band that they can use, so make the best of it. It must be the VHF operator in me, but I find a half-open band far more interesting than a wide-open band – it’s far more fun to try pulling the weak signals through than having them boom in! So, I admire the guys that are trying out propagation day in and day out and making, from what I hear, some interesting contacts.
When the band is poor or half open – the concept of a centre of activity or calling channel makes some sense. A weak signal somewhere between 28.400 and 28.600 is unlikely to be heard – but perhaps if there was a centre of activity – someone somewhere might hear something.
I wondered whether the 10-10 International Group group might ‘nominate’ a centre of activity, but could not see that they did – nets at specific times, certainly – but nothing more generalized.
I seem to remember somewhere reading that 28.400 was nominated as an unofficial calling frequency. Perhaps over the winter, when the band is not in great shape, we should make a few calls there anyway and see what happens! I’ll bet some interesting contacts would result.
Maybe some possibilities for 29 MHz AM too – some more activity around 29.000 and 29.010 MHz AM would be very welcome.
On many bands, it’s all about activity. 28 MHz deserves more of our attention, even when it’s not wide open! See you on 28.400 SSB or 29.000 AM, maybe?
Great idea ….. I’m new to the ham ranks but a central calling frequency on ham bands would be great. Call and qsy or listen for a particular country or area then contact and move. Seems to me this is a much more efficient way to Dx. Also using 6-10 kc wide frequency steps would also help prevent or lower qrm.
Here in the US it seems CB’ers are a lower lot than Hams….listening to the bands this might be an area of debate! Many 80 meter nicely nets are nothin more than CB nets from the 1970’s, just round table discussions and comments. Plenty of idiots, QRM’ers, and hot heads on the HF bands, these type operators are not wholly confined to the CB that’s for sure. Just my 2cents worth? 73
Good food for thoughts.
Hope those “taleban”-ham, many from USA, will see the ideas exposed by Tim, in the same way.