This was the first time I encountered split operation in a contest. In fact I
stumbled across at least three different split operations. I didn't manage to
get my pip squeak signal heard in any of the ensuing mass of signals.
To be fair, the three operations I heard where high up from the bottom edge of
the band well away from the usual masses.
However, many callers did not hear the ops tell the callers "up 1" (or
whatever) and persisted in calling on the stations frequency at times covering
up who was working split and where to call. It also seemed that the stations
working split didn't specify "up 1" often enough, certainly not every time they
id'ed. I got caught with one of the split operations; it took over 5 minutes of
listening before I heard the station send "up 1" and another couple of minutes
finally hear their call through the many calling stations.
All in all these split ops seemed to cause an interesting mess and I am sure a
lot of frustrated callers.
Just imagine the mess if there where half a dozen BIG and loud contest stations
working split "up 2" - it would cover 20+ Khz of band making it almost useless
for anyone else.
If there was call for votes or a poll I think I would tend to discourage split
operations in a contest.
Cheers, Graham ve3gtc
-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of w9xt@unifiedmicro.com
Sent: November 28, 2011 12:54
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] The Calling Disease... (split operation)
I probably worked 8-10 stations working split this weekend. Usually it is
maybe a single station in a contest weekend.
Working split is fine for DXpeditions as long as the listening range is
reasonable. I am concerned if it becomes commonplace in contests.
A pile up on CW might be 500 Hz wide or so. Going split can use a couple
of hundred Hz for the DX station plus maybe 1 KHz or more for the callers
and some space between them. Frequencies are tight on some bands and I
don't want to encourage stations taking more than one slot.
Should we discourage split operation in contests except when frequency
allocations don't line up? I think we should.
73
Gary, W9XT
www.w9xt.com
>
> For the first time that I can remember (and I've been playing this game
> for
> a very long time), DX stations were going split in WW so they could be
> heard. It didn't stop the calling but at least you had a chance to hear
> who
> the DX was coming back to.
>
> Pete, W1RM
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