11/21/2011 | IK1UWL

 

Comments of IK1UWL - Band 144 MHz 1 – First weekend 121 qso of which 23 USA, 2nd weekend 61 qso of which 9 USA. Second weekend is very frustrating since the majority of active stations has already been worked. Given the present use of three weekends, I would prefer just one weekend for 50 to 432 MHz, making happy all microwavers with two weekends for them. 2 – I use MAP65IQ for finding stations. This means that who is not calling CQ (the majority of medium to small stations) will never be found with this means. And since interfacing an SDR with Linrad and MAP65 does not seam easy for a great number of stations, the number of stations having MAP65 is very limited, so calling CQ gives very small results. On CW I just tune the band, no problem here. On Digital I strongly feel the need for some way of having my QRG known. I agree that allowing use of the N0UK logger could involve misuse, and would also involve a very difficult policing to detect unlawful behaviour. But there is a good solution, built by a Dutch ham, PE1L, called LiveCQ. On this site one can find only the decodes of CQ messages and relevant QRG. These are sent automatically by the few MAP65 equipped stations that have adhered to this program (including W5UN and KB8RQ). Of course, with the present rules, during an ARRL contest they cannot connect to the site and send their decodes. It would really be useful admitting the use of this fine program, it would benefit both big and small stations (who usually do not call CQ but search more powerful stations), and would surely increase participation. ARI and DUBUS allow free self-spotting confiding in the honesty of contesters, ARRL could do a step in this direction, authorizing specifically the use of a site with these characteristics. This would be MAP65 for all !   -- IK1UWL