How about something new this skip cycle?

[loosecannon]

this may go over like a led balloon, but what the heck.

i would like to start a "campaign" of sorts, for more discussion during skip contacts.

logging contacts can be fun, and when we first start DXing, it is VERY exciting and can become addictive.

i have found, however, over the last few years and even as far back as cycle 23, that i enjoy ragchewing, otherwise known on the CB band as "shooting the $#!&" to be much more fun and rewarding.

talking to someone long enough to recognize their numbers next time you hear them is very conducive to making long time friends.

how many times do you think it has happened to you, that you talk to the same station two or three times, each time not recognizing that its the same person?

sure, its fun "getting your name called" on the superbowl channel, (which BTW is not half as hard as some make it seem LOL) but after a few minutes of that, i'd like to catch up with someone i havent talked to in a while, or get to know what the details of the station are that im talking to.

so how about it folks?
how about we try to have a real conversation over the DX airwaves every once in a while.

of course you cant do it every contact, nor would you want to, but if you seem to have a lock on a DX station, and if they arent in "contest mode"; why not "shoot the $%&@" a bit?

no, i am not typing this because i am a lonely person trying to force people to talk to me. LOL

LC

 

[nat19]

I agree. I understand if you are having trouble hearing the person and want to move on nicely, but if you got a good hold on them, they aren't fading in or out, or there aren't any other stations walking on them, why not talk awhile? Heck move to another frequencey so you don't pile up the one your on, for example if every one tried to rag chew on 38lsb it would get crowded fast. If I hear someone really good I usally ask what type of radio and antenna they are using and then tell them what I am running. From there we can have a conversation for as long as we like or until conditions don't allow it any more. I am glad I finally found someone who agrees with me!:tongue:

 

[Robb]

I have found that forums like this can extend the conversations and establish more to say while on the band. Larry WR178 'DXman' -a member on this forum- is someone that I talk to and talk about stuff on this forum with - as an example. Helps give DX more meaning - IMO...

 

[loosecannon]

i agree with you there robb.

i havent talked with anyone ive met on here yet, but i think thats because everyone calls themselves something different on the CB than they do here. LOL

i am loosecannon wherever you find me.

LC

 

[HomerBB]

For years I've used Country Preacher, but I realize there is another one out there who seems to run a bigger station that leads to some confusion for folks on the airwaves. So lately I've begun to call my numbers 183, and use Homer as my handle. If you recognize the call, let me know who you are and I'll try to hang with you as long as conditions and my barefoot station will let me.

183 NW Arkansas Homer calling!

 

[Highlander_821]

I agree---I like to at least have a short conversation with people. I also think that too many people don't use 38lsb like it should be used---as a calling frequency. Make contact and QSY to one of the other sideband channels to talk. Too many just sit there and talk.

 

[kd-5-bgt]

Back in the early to mid 90s I used to belong to the Whiskey Delta radio group on the freeband just above channel 40. I got my number from a guy named Taffy in Austrailia ( I have forgotten his number after all the years) .

There was a fairly large group of us in the Hot Springs Arkansas area that hung out on 27.425 LSB and chatted almost every day.

When the DX was in we had alot of folks that we would talk to from all over the country,most of them were Whiskey Jack calls....but anyway...

It was always interesting to talk to folks all over the country on a regular basis.I got to know several people and would sit and talk for hours when conditions would allow...alot of fun..

I have yet to find a group that I can settle in with on the ham bands,but I will find one soon enough.I do miss that...getting to know the person behind the call or know their voice as soon as they hit the key.

Man I miss those days

 

[HomerBB]

I used to talk some with a group who were spread from Mexico, to California, to Australia down on 26.220 USB back in 1995. I was in SE Missouri at that time. I've looked for them since then, but haven't heard them.

I ran across a group guys who stay on 27.415 LSB even now. Talked with a couple of them a couple days ago. They are in N Carolina, I think.

There was a local group at the time who worked 27.405 I ratchet jawed with. As you said, when the skip rolled we'd chat with some other regulars.

 

[loosecannon]

thanks for the replies guys.

this is exactly why i started this thread, because i figured there had to be others that wished the CB was more conversational.

yes, hams have nets and talkgroups, but the CB will never have things like that because they require too much "regulation" for most CBers palates.

we can however, choose a certain freq to just sit and sandbag on, and chances are, when conditions are in, you have a better chance of QSOing with someone you are acquainted with.

who knows what that would be, but it is an idea.
yes, i know that the WWRF has an official channel, but its in the CB band and subject to a lot of QRM.

the other problem is what i like to call "CQ-itis". thats when you call CQ over and over, and when someone actually answers you; you cant think of a thing to say.
so the training takes over, and you just exchange numbers and signal reports and tell each other how good you sound. LOL

i always tell people how amazing it is to me the number of people who get into the radio hobby and have absolutely nothing to say. LOL

LC

 

[Simbalage22]

Hey

Whats a contest? Thought that was only a ham thing. I'd be interested in finding out if you must have big amps to do this, or would a few 100w be ok. I had at cb back when, but never really got to learn it before my sweet 16 was taken and I lost interest, nbut I was also young and immature. @ 27 i've learned more manners could you say, and been shooting the $h!t with people on the band and found that making friends and just kicking back is indeed much funner then starting trouble and making noone want to talk to you. Its been fun this weeek just starting out. I've told the local-yokies about this site as its been very good to me starting back out.. Maybe well hear some of you all on the band.. I go by blue Camaro 10-4.. I am back on quiet.. Hey I am learning YEY!

 

[Shockwave]

In the 1980's it seemed like almost every town or city had a local AM channel. In my area of Connecticut it was channel 21. It wasn't considered a skip talking frequency like 6, 11, 26, or 38 so there wasn't lots of power or competition. Skip would come in almost everyday and take the locals right out. It was almost always the same people coming in from around the gulf coast. It was so regular and dependable we would talk to the same people daily for several years until the sun spot cycle died down.

If you are new at talking skip and like it, the good news is you don't need lots of power to make the trip. Just a barefoot radio will talk skip when conditions are reasonable, you have a decent antenna, and you're not on a frequency with a big pileup and lots of people running big amps. SSB is your friend here. When you're power is limited and you want to talk skip, SSB cuts through much better then AM. The first 100 watts makes the biggest difference over the 4 watt radio. You have to go from 100 watts to 2.5 kilowatts to see the same increase again!