Firstly I need to point out there are two types of DX on 6m "routine" and "weak signal" DX. (this is not scientific - just the experience of an "old guy" on 6m).
Routine DX would be the classic TEP openings into Asia. These are usually accompanied by lots of propagation indicators and signals are strong. They can complete quite well with any VK traffic. You could even include strong openings from Europe like those of the last cycle - 1KW Italians are certainly able to make themeselves heard
Weak signal DX is different. This is the multi-hop Es from North America, auroral back scatter, or signals that use multi-modes on their path to VK. There are probably modes out there that we have not discovered yet.
A typical example would be long path between VK and South America. Tbe signal has crashed through the auroral curtain which as attenuated it and given it a "polar flutter." As it travels south it is constantly changing from horizontal to vertical polarisation which atenuates it further. It might lob into JA on the way down and continue its journey by TEP (and get another sort of flutter). If its the right time of the year it might even hitch a ride on some Es.
So it arrives in VK as a weak, watery, distorted, highly QSB prone signal maybe R3 S1. (Not always the case of course - some LP sigs are quite strong). Sometimes voices sound quite odd, and CW can be so chopped up that dahs can sound like dits. And it can be very fleeting. The only West Africans I have heard had come and gone in under a minute (and they we remarking about how poor the conditions were: if only they had listened!).
These signals can be accompanied by weird band noise - roaring, rushing, even groaning sounds. At other times that band appears absolutely dead, no signal, no noise. The first LP LU I worked came up on such a band.
Now a concrete example from a only week ago:
I noticed that there was an increase in surging band-noise to the north-east and I heard what appeared to be very very weak SSB and CW coming from that direction on 50.110. I am sitting there with headphones on, 2 stages of receiver of pre-amp and one external pre-amp on, narrow-band filters in, and the gains up, trying to make out the weak signals when an S9+ VK2 called CQ, and was answered by a heap of other VK's. I had just sorted out my receiver overload and ear overload, and got back to looking for the weak signals when the whole CQ cycle started again.
I have no idea where those weak signals were coming from, no idea what method of propagation. A missed opportunity - absolutely, and at both ends. That might have been a new country for me, and it might have been the DX station's only ever chance of working VK. Would the majority of the 6m ops care, probably not.
And for those who say "I should have been able to hear the DX under the VK's" - sorry, absolutely impossible, no matter how good an operator you are. Its not just the QRM, its the very nature of the DX signals is the problem, and very importantly and often overlooked, the degrading of the receiver by strong signals in the same bandpass. (I usually run 8dB of attenuation when working VK's to prevent overload).
So to play the same violin again. I am absolutely for more activity on 6m - come on! fill the band up, its wonderful. The more RF we get in the air, and the more ears are listening, the bigger the chance of alerting a DX station that the VK's are alive and well.
But, and it IS an important but. We do need somewhere to hear and work that weak DX that is clear of domestic clutter, as I have attempted to illustrate above.
The problem is the we have a classic "catch 22" situation. Most of the current 6m ops have never had the excitement of working 6m DX - if they did, they would be hooked and would be supporting the arguments for keeping 50.110 clear of domestic traffic, but the current situation is that by clogging the DX calling frequency, they won't hear it anyway, so they can't work it and get hooked!
OK this cycle is crook, but the fact is that some weak signal DX is being worked despite the conditions, and very importantly' is also being missed. Isn't that more of a reason to improve the chances by adhering to the band plan?
Sorry Steve, you "poll" seems to have been hijacked, but it has led to some very interesting input and viewpoints from people who don't usually take part in 6m discussions.
73
Wayne VK4WDM
(Back to building my 600m rig - you don't have to be crazy to be a ham, but it sure helps
)
, and proud of it!) QF-56ne Sydney NSW