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Tower 1

Tower 1
Tower 1: Main tower supporting 50MHz 6M2WLC yagi, 14MHz 5 element yagi and 75m full wave loop.
Please note that all times are in UTC. As such comments relate to the next morning/day AEST unless otherwise stated.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Do we have a 6m 'International' or 'DX' window?

I've been at home most of the week and listening to the fracas that has become the norm within the 6m International window of the 6m band plan as VKs scramble to work each other.

The highlight of this for me unfolded on Thursday when a VK5 calling "CQ DX" on CW refused to answer a VK4, and subsequently was played out on line via a chat site where each operator traded blows... to their mutual, but not realised, embarrassment!

The rationale provided by the VK5 was simply (and aligned to the band plan), that VK4 wasn't considered DX by the VK5. This generated a very negative response from the VK4 (who's relatively recently returned to 6m having been off air for some time) to this astounded me... he argued that the VK5 should have answered his reply, as his definition of DX included anyone, even a station in "Rocky" (still located in the VK4 call area)!

And whilst simply referring the VK4 to the recommended band plan would highlight the feeble and whimsical nature of his argument, this highlighted to me that the issue can't be resolved as the inference that the window is for 'DX' now permeates the psyche of most 6m operators deeply.

Every year the debate rages about the continued dominance of domestic traffic within the International aligned window, and its impact on those who are there looking for the non-domestic long haul contacts. And whilst I am still in total disagreement with the argument described above by the VK4, I believe that the argument may have cemented the reason why this issue remains... while ever we keep referring to the International window as the 'DX window', the issue wont go away as it is open to individual interpretation based on ones own belief as to the definition of DX!

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