During my part-time long haul high-latency Internet remote operation as
KP2CW in the ARRL CW DX Contest this past weekend, compared to observations
as VP2VVA in 2009, I'll ballpark about a TEN FOLD INCREASE in the frequency
(pun) of a unique type of packet cluster related pileup problem. I predict
this will get worse year after year.
Not just your basic run-of-the-mill contest mini-pileups, but of the type
where everyone was exactly ZERO BEAT (or within a few Hz) apparently as a
result of point-and-click with no single station loud enough to rise above
the pack. I'm usually pretty good at grabbing partial calls (or fractions
thereof) to respond to, but at times with a deluge of S9+20dB signals
(possibly just the top 'layer') all starting and ending as a unison ZERO
BEAT 'pumping mass', it was impossible. The swarm would start and stop,
start and stop in unison, until someone finally someone woke up and moved
off dead center a bit or slipped in a QRQ call during the momentary lull.
What a time waster for everyone. During several of these episodic events, I
actually sent 'you guys are all zero beat' in hopes the sharper ops would
grasp what was happening on my end and take evasive action. Without some
kind of head's up, who can really tell what's going on unless they are on
the 'other end' ?
So.......
Having a simple Q-Signal to alert everyone as to this type of 'Ground Hog
Day' scenario on the other end of the pileup could be productive for all.
I'd suggest 'QSO' (for 'Spread Out'), but that one is already taken in the
list of Q-Signals. Therefore, my suggestion is to use 'QZB' (a/k/a You guys
are ALL ZERO BEAT) as a head's up to move UP or DOWN a tad from dead center
for these types of point-and-click packet spot pileup nightmares. Checking
my log, I did not find one single entry for a station with the suffix 'QZB'
which is good :^)
For those interested in Remote Contesting, I'll include some details on the
KP2CW 'tragedies and triumphs' experienced over the weekend in my upcoming
3830 post.
FWIW & 73...
Rick, K6VVA * The Locust
Remote Contesting Advocate
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