80m CW CHN Survey Results

County hunters are always looking for something new. Couple of years ago it was activating 30m and results have been excellent. Recently we have (re)started using 80m CW. We have completed six "Activity Nights" and have had several other nights with mobiles running across the country.

Last week we conducted a survey to find out what county hunters are thinking of the 80m activity and where should we go with it. 49 of you responsed -- thank you!

Please find the results below. Personally, I would summarize the survey results as follows:
73!

Risto, W6RK
2/13/2006

What weekday would work the best for you for the "80m CW CHN Activity Night". So far we've had these on Tuesdays.
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 0 0.00%
Monday (1) 1 2.04%
Tuesday (2) 28 57.14%
Wednesday (3) 8 16.33%
Thursday (4) 0 0.00%
Friday (5) 5 10.20%
Saturday (6) 6 12.24%
Sunday (7) 1 2.04%
Has the frequency 3556.5 kHz been a good choice?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 0 0.00%
Yes (1) 44 89.80%
No (2) 0 0.00%
Yes, but I had to make some changes (new antenna etc) (3) 2 4.08%
Yes, but I'd rather use other frequency (4) 0 0.00%
No, but I'm working on it (5) 0 0.00%
No, and I will not work things out (6) 0 0.00%
Other (-oth-) 3 6.12%
Have you been mobile during the 80m CW Activity Nights or are you planning to do so?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 0 0.00%
Yes, I have been QRV already (1) 16 32.65%
Yes, but probably not again (2) 0 0.00%
No, but I have plans to do so (3) 17 34.69%
No, and I currently have no plans to be QRV (4) 12 24.49%
Other (-oth-) 4 8.16%
Have you worked mobiles on the 80m Activity Night?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 0 0.00%
Yes (1) 42 85.71%
No, but I tried... mobile didn't hear me (2) 1 2.04%
No, but I'm planning to (3) 5 10.20%
No, and I have no plans to do so (4) 0 0.00%
Other (-oth-) 1 2.04%

Comments

Anything that could identify the person giving the feedback has been edited out.

Good idea
I will only be mobile on 80M. Will never have room for 80M antenna at present location... Very noisy band due to city power lines, etc...
Tuesday or Wednesday nights best for me (most of the time). We need to encourage home stations to share NCS duties to lighten the load on the regulars and to provide a great training opportunity!
Limited activity, but have picked up new CW Counties!
Great to see activity on 80. I hope it will expand to a nightly activity.
GREAT idea!! Being it is late starting in the midwest, Friday nite better cuz of work in AM. Tnx for ur help in getting this up and running.
I know that earlier is tough for the west coast stations, but 0200Z for a start is later than I would prefer. Pretty soon I begin to lose some of the closer by midwest stations sometimes when it gets much later, and they are the ones hardest for me to get.
well good idea to qsy down I go along with that I belong to fists so like to keep the peace I think its going quite well back in the old days we run every night and alot on the weekends do't forget 80m is open alot by 3PM est so mobiles and county hunters should be aware of that good way to make some contacts
Need to choose more than one night. Tuesday's are getting crowded.
We need a cw and ssb freq. Also consider advancing the working of fixed stations. We also need to query or send emails to the truckers like N6HH, K6TEX and others. THese guys run a lot of road at nite Also come with some kind of award to those who put a specific number of counties.
I chose Tuesday night, as this is what we have been using, but I can go with just about any night.
Have enjoyed my limited participation so far - it's fun working on improving the mobile antenna. Will have more time after retiring again in late March.
Any weeknight is fine ( M thru Thu): weekends could be bad with contests. Announcements like we've been getting could alert everyone interested in 80m that there would be activity on a particular night. However, having one particular night to shoot for ( eg; Tues.) is a great idea. The old 75m net used to fill that short-skip void, but doing this on SSB is not feasible IMHO. A CW net however would be a very valuable resource for CH.
I appreciate everyone's efforts!
see note sent earlier this evening.
When wx improves I hope to run many WY counties.
Tuesday is as good as any other night, if I'm traveling or not. Worst would be a weekend (contests) or Wednesday.
No preference on when to have activity nights.
3556.5 should be activated every night, not just Tuesdays. It could become a very popular "after hours" freq for the very challenging sport of County Hunting.
My thanks to mobiles that has run counties. I have pick up some new counties that I have been unable to hear on other bands. (IN, MI & OH)
ACTUALLY I'M OK WITH ALL NIGHTS BUT THURSDAY. WE ARE TV SURVIVOR FREAKS.
I watch TV with the wife just about every night at 9 p.m. (0200z) but she's occasionally out on Tuesdays.
no home antenna yet. Only out once so far. High noise at home on 80m
Slowly in the process of installing my mobile rig!
Tuesday Night is rough for me... best TV night of the week... hi
Putting up a 80 meter antenna in the winter is a problem here in Eastern Canada. But I hope to soon. May also be mobile to FL and back in April. Was active on 75 SSB back in the mid 80's with a number of all night sessions. It was relaxed and friendly with no formal rules like 20 SSB had at that time.
Fun!
This is a good reason to change the MARAC CW contest 80-meter frequency to 3550 KHz.
80 m is a great band for cw chn. I have enjoyed working mobiles at night. I am trying to get my mobile station set up on 80 m. Hope to be qrv soon.
Any night is fine with me.
It's great to see the activity on 80m. I've worked 5 new counties in two evenings which is a lot considering I have about 500 to go. Let's keep it going!
My 80 cw habits vary re:days and times, as far as running is concerned, will post on web when i go out to run.
Great, let's keep it going.
Several years ago we had ch net at 3865 for ssb only each evening. Great for getting those close counties.Risto you are to be commended for your leadership in this endeavor.
Thanks to W4GNS for the "New One" on 80 Meters.
No real preference on the night. However I have been active only a couple of times due to working too much. Several months ago I decided to take another contract so I will be working for at least 6 more months. Retirement is on the horizon.
It's great to have fun group activities. I have no 80 meter antenna but I am building one now. I have been active with 5 watts and a 40 meter antenna. I have been very surprised with the 559 reports. I have also ordered and 80 meter ham stick for mobile use. To whomever is responsible for the new 80 meter activities, thanks.
I'm all for 80m. I do not have as much noise on 80 as other bands using my shunted tower. This could entice me to get an 80m resinator. Thank you for the 80m idea.