But at what point do you "lose" the frequency when you jump to the other rig?
I will agree that if you're making a quick (stress: "quick") jump back &
forth, especially on CW at a decent speed, you probably will not be gone from
the primary frequency more than a few (less than 30, probably less than 20)
seconds. So a considerate contester who happens on the temporarily vacant
frequency should call "QRL?" or whatever, by which time you're back. Fair
enough.
However... if it's more than 30 seconds or so, what's a reasonable time to
wait? Remember, the person who's listening on the original run frequency may
have no idea that you're SO2R and are jumping back and forth (after all, how
could they know?). For all they know, you've permanently QSY'd from the
original frequency, or taken a break, or suffered a rig failure, or who knows
what.
This same thing can (and often does) happen when you're happily calling "CQ" on
Band 'A,' someone asks you to QSY quickly to Band 'B' to get your QSO on that
band, and you agree. In many cases, by the time you punch up the other VFO,
punch in the frequency, QSY and make the contact, significant time (again, over
30 seconds) has gone past.
Either way, consider the poor slob who THINKS he's found a clear frequency,
QRL'd with no response, has begun CQ'ing and even worked a few stations. Is it
now reasonable or fair to him that you suddenly pop back on frequency after the
short absence, and demand that HE leave so that you can have your run frequency
back? Worse, after he reasonably states something to the effect that you were
gone, and no one replied to his QRL? -- should you now try to push him off
frequency by overpowering or QRM'ing him, just because you can? (Unlike some
on this reflector, I do NOT believe that might makes right and anything not
prohibited is acceptable, but that's another story for another time.)
Yes, I know, sometimes things happen in the heat of the moment that you later
regret, mistakes happen, propagation shifts, and so forth: Stuff happens.
Still: I maintain that a considerate contester who is either running SO2R or
'temporarily' QSY'ing to another frequency, for whatever reason, runs the risk
of losing the 'temporarily' vacated frequency, and must not only ACCEPT that
risk but be willing to ACCEPT losing the frequency when gone for any
significant length of time.
...and one thing to consider, something that I see every year in many of the
smaller/regiional contests (such as the PA QSO Party) is this situation --
which solves the problem pretty neatly, IMHO (YMMV):
-- AA1ABC from NA2DEF, you're 59
-- QSL the 59, you're also 59. Hey, can we work you on 28.495?
-- Sure, be there in a moment. AA4GHI from NA2DEF, still there?
-- Yes! You're 59 here.
-- You're also 59. Hey, I need to go to 28.495 for a few minutes, want to run
the frequency until I'm back?
In this scenario, everyone knows that NA2DEF will be right back, the frequency
is not left temporarily vacated, AA4GHI gets a few minutes to switch from S&P
to Run & make some more Q's... no hassles, no problems, everyone wins.
73, ron w3wn
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 11:53:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: sawyered@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] SO2R Technique
To: guy_molinari@hotmail.com
Cc: cq-contest@contesting.com
A great question and one that has no "fixed" answer. I can only offer comment
for myself.
First of all, I NEVER use auto CQ. It keeps me awake in the middle of the
night for one. Secondly, the timing of SO2R is always changing and an AUTO CQ,
just doesn't fit in my opinion. I hit F1, when the timing is right...all the
time. Sometimes the timing is right after someone is showing up on your
frequency. Sometimes the timing is waiting quite a while during the radio 2
pick-off of a Q. All the time, I am monitoring the CQ frequency. There are
times where holding your run frequency is SO Important that you simply cannot
risk losing it to a second radio Q (unless maybe it is a double mult in CQ WW).
The answer to losing your run frequency during SO2R (again in my opinion) is a
combination of the following:
- be aware of this fluid timing by NOT using Auto CQ.
- if someone makes even a "dit" on your run frequency, abandon the second radio
Q and immediately fit F1 (at least twice). This means the second radio guy is
going "?" and wonders where you went.
- You need to know whether to fight or change on the run frequency "grab".
Know if you are LOUD. I am pretty loud in EU and I am not going to lose a run
freq battle too much of the time (especially if the grabber knows that he just
jumped on me). But a few years ago if I didn't get someone to move with a few
tries, I would move. It is important to know where you stand on this. Most,
not all, will move if they know that they jumped in and your signal is loud
enough to prevent them from doing a good run. Keep in mind that the tighter
your filters are the easier this method is.
Have fun.
Ed N1UR
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