LSB 38 Relief

[Rick330man]

This theme has popped up in various forms at various times on WWDX, but this past Memorial Day Week-end experience made it clear that it is worth addressing again.

When the skip is rolling, the 38 LSB logjam is a mess. We need to relieve the congestion. Three suggestions.

(1) Someone suggested that LSB 30 is getting some momentum as an alternative to 38 LSB. Should we make the effort to encourage WWDX operators to use it for DX?

(2) Others have advocated "reclaiming" LSB16, the old hailing frequency from the pre-40 channel days. We've tried this a few times on WWDX with minimal success. Do we try again?

(3) My big push has been to encourage folks to QSY to another channel once contact has been made on LSB 38. When chatting on LSB 38, folks have walked on others hundred of miles away and probably didn't even realize they were doing it. We can each do our part to stop that from happening.

Even though we are looking down at solar minimum, summer weather patterns always present a fair amount of skip opportunities. On top of that, you just never know when when solar activity will surprise us with a window of opportunity.

How do folks here on WWDX feel about embracing some of these?

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

 

[midnight special]

also dont forget channel 27 lsb,,,, it is englands ssb calling channel,,,,

 

[Bandit1]

How bout we start on the odd channels
Switch it till we find each other

 

[Rick330man]

I had no idea about 27 LSB being England's SSB hailing frequency. There have been threads where folks identified the different popular CB frequencies around the world. I took some good notes. They will make for another useful thread.

 

[kopcicle]

I just holler wherever and if someone answers, k, kool.
I don't answer these days unless I have a clue I'm able to get through.

I don't melt wire like I used to on 11m so there's that.

 

[Bow]

the only issue I see with 30 LSB is all the AM bleed over from the splatter boxes on 28 AM

 

[walterjn]

the only issue I see with 30 LSB is all the AM bleed over from the splatter boxes on 28 AM

That would be more of a problem on 27 lsb...

 

[loosecannon]

well i for one am glad someone brought this up, but i think the problem isn't as easy to solve as suggesting other freqs to use.

the real problem lies with the operators themselves.

People don't QSY pretty much ever anymore, and the extent of the conversation exists in the call and the response.


It seems as though everyone has caught a case of mic fright, and as soon as someone says "i copy you ####" it is followed by, "you're soundin' real choice up here in the buckeye! Have a fine one!"

and that is the end of the conversation!!!

It's as if there are a bunch of people in this hobby who like to use their equipment, but don't have anything to say!

I find this very frustrating as is probably evident in my use of exclamation marks LOL.

When i make a skip contact, i like to treat it just like i do talking to locals, and will try to start a conversation about something. usually that something is radio related.

many times the person on the other end is audibly nervous and is acting like they just want to back out of the conversation (no, i am not boring LOL) and get back to just calling out peoples' numbers all day long.

well if that's all you do on the radio when skip is in is call out numbers, get a response, and then move on, then what is the point?

there are no CB log books that will get you a certificate on the wall.
no one sends QSL cards anymore on CB.
no one cares how many peoples' numbers you contacted in one day.

but still, 95% of the conversations on 38LSB go something like this:

"how bout it skipland, you got 666 here in hades town and we're tryin!"

"hey 666, you're coming in loud with good audio here in space town. triple 7 said that"

"thanks for the flowers triple 7, you're sounding choice down here. Well mother nature is puttin' a hurt on us and we're startin' to lose ya. we're gonna back it down now and say good numbers to you"

and that's it! then about 2 minutes later, 666 will be back on the channel saying the same thing again, and triple 7 can still hear him just fine. triple 7 starts wondering wny 666 backed off the conversation so quickly seeing as how conditions are holding up just fine for an actual conversation.

this past weekend we had skip from the southwest to the northwest pretty much all day and night, and i was able to have some great conversations with some local groups even though i was in the DX.

I think the answer is to start making fun of people who 'quick key' and run away.
why in the heck did you get into the radio hobby if you don't like to talk to people?

ok im just kidding there. kind of...

i understand how it is when it's your first year and you get nervous when someone actually answers you, but most of us have been out here for 20+ years.
WTF!

thanks for giving me a platform to rant on this subject.

In all reality, those of us who are on internet forums need to get to those that don't use them, and try to get these points across to those people.

oh and just forget about the facebook crowd. they are better left just on facebook.
LC

 

[Bandit1]

The am bleedover is bad people blowing 1000 and 1000 s of watts on 6 -11 then over into 16.
Why can't people just run a small amp.
Not 15,000 watts blowing up the ssb too

 

[Tallman]

It use to be make your connection and then go to USB or got to 37 USB or LSB. It was rare that you could not make that switch and continue your QSO.

 

[fourstringburn]

how bout it skipland, you got 666 here in hades town and we're tryin!"

"hey 666, you're coming in loud with good audio here in space town. triple 7 said that"

"thanks for the flowers triple 7, you're sounding choice down here. Well mother nature is puttin' a hurt on us and we're startin' to lose ya. we're gonna back it down now and say good numbers to you"

The only thing you left out is some people who talk like that are using echo on SSB.

 

[Rick330man]

Some interesting points made. A few comments.

(1) Is LSB 30 gaining traction as an alternative? Does anyone here monitor it or use it regularly? The first I had heard of this was on a thread here I came across about a week ago.

If AM 28 bleed-over is a problem there, is there a better alternative: like something between 33-35 or reviving LSB 16?

(2) In the 23 channel days, most operators would make contact on LSB 16 and then switch to USB or LSB 17 or 18. Fast forward to today: we should encourage the practice of taking our LSB 38 initial contacts to USB/LSB 37, 36 or 35. It isn't the solution to LSB 38 congestion, but it can be part of helping one along.

(3) I haven't heard of anyone sending QSL cards in decades. That practice seems to have been replaced by confirming your contact on a radio-themed website.

(4) Lots of us like to find out a little about the station we are talking to. What kind of radio is being run? What kind of antenna? Is it vertically or horizontally polarized? I don't keep notes on any of this stuff, but it is interesting. My walkie-talkie marine mobile set up (Cherokee AH100 through a Shakespeare 176-1 "Big Stick") usually sparks some conversation and seems to motivate a few other stations to reach out to me.

(5) I do keep a log of DX contacts, and I've heard other stations mentioning that they do too.

Comments and suggestions are encouraged.

 

[Tallman]

The only thing you left out is some people who talk like that are using echo on SSB.

AND roger beep!

 

[Tallman]

Some interesting points made. A few comments.

(1) Is LSB 30 gaining traction as an alternative? Does anyone here monitor it or use it regularly? The first I had heard of this was on a thread here I came across about a week ago.

If AM 28 bleed-over is a problem there, is there a better alternative: like something between 33-35 or reviving LSB 16?

(2) In the 23 channel days, most operators would make contact on LSB 16 and then switch to USB or LSB 17 or 18. Fast forward to today: we should encourage the practice of taking our LSB 38 initial contacts to USB/LSB 37, 36 or 35. It isn't the solution to LSB 38 congestion, but it can be part of helping one along.

(3) I haven't heard of anyone sending QSL cards in decades. That practice seems to have been replaced by confirming your contact on a radio-themed website.

(4) Lots of us like to find out a little about the station we are talking to. What kind of radio is being run? What kind of antenna? Is it vertically or horizontally polarized? I don't keep notes on any of this stuff, but it is interesting. My walkie-talkie marine mobile set up (Cherokee AH100 through a Shakespeare 176-1 "Big Stick") usually sparks some conversation and seems to motivate a few other stations to reach out to me.

(5) I do keep a log of DX contacts, and I've heard other stations mentioning that they do too.

Comments and suggestions are encouraged.

All you need is your ham ticket since you are logging contacts and operating like a ham.

 

[Bow]

Or go Freebanding.

QSY is the Norm there. You call on 27.555 USB, make a contact, and jump to another freq if the other operator is so inclined.

Another thing about SSB on the FCC 40....

Why does it seem that 99% of the operators do not know that they can use the other side of the carrier? I.E. USB

Most radio ops think their radios only have 2 modes... AM and LSB... USB is a deserted wasteland...

Flip the switch and it is quiet... quite amazing...