N2NL wrote :
I did not hear anyone operating split over the weekend, but made the
decision to go split myself for a short period of time on two occasions. In
both cases, I had apparently just been spotted on packet for the first time
on a new band, and had a very large pileup calling zero beat. Even with a
K3 and filters narrowed to 100hz and with the gain backed off, the pileup
was a single solid tone and no one was calling a few hz off frequency. My
rate dropped from 200+/hr to less than 100/hr. Perhaps suprisingly, both
times I had to do it with NA pileups - the Europeans seemed to spread out a
bit more when they called.
In both cases I ensured the frequency up one was clear before going split,
and I was operating relatively high in the band. Propagation to Oceania is
generally during times when band saturation is not the greatest (which
happens on the NA-EU path). As soon as the pileup diminished, I returned to
simplex operation.
I regret that I possibly missed the chance to work some who did not agree
with my decision to listen up, however my rate quickly recovered and I have
to assume those calling made it into the log more quickly as a result,
allowing them to move on to the next station faster. With tact, I feel that
operating split has merit at certain times in a CW contest, where there is
much more room to spread out.
The trick of QSYing does not always work for me - I tried it once and my
rate plummeted for several minutes until I was re-spotted, causing the big
pileup to return (and not solving my original reason for QSYing at all).
There are just too many contesters out there today who don't tune themselves
and spend their time only chasing packet spots. This seems to be more
prevalent in NA than EU where there is more activity.
On the discussion of call signing; I signed my call after every QSO.
Granted, I have a short call but don't feel that my rate suffered as a
result (6,300 QSOs). On the contrary, I have heard the opposite with those
who don't sign - their pileup quickly decends into chaos when no one hears
the "up" and stations start calling non-stop. Signing your call gives your
pileup more time to hear you and synch their calls. In the past, it never
failed me - every time I tried "up" only, I'd have someone loud send "CL?"
after the first time, covering a weaker station I otherwise could have heard
and worked. I highly respect those who do everything to maximize rate and
do it right - gentleman like CT1BOH - but there are many out there who don't
do it right which makes them look like fools in the eyes of their peers.
73, Dave KH2/N2NL (NH2T)
On Nov 28, 2011, at 1:31 PM, W6SX Hank Garretson wrote:
>
> This email constitutes Official Notification that if I hear you
> sending UP in a contest, I will tune right by you.
>
> I consider UP in a contest to be bad form. I think it is unfair and
> inconsiderate for someone to take up extra kilohertz of precious
> contest spectrum. There are lots of pileup mitigation techniques that
> everyone else uses. The good guys were running at much higher rates
> than the guys I heard sending UP.
>
> One mitigation technique that works every time is to QSY. A Northwest
> Territory station used QSY to good effect in CW Sweepstakes.
>
> The first rule of contesting is to have fun (but not at the expense
> of other competitors).
>
>
> 73,
>
> Hank, W6SX
Hank - W6SX - you probably would think differently if you experienced what I
did. I had the same exact thing happen to me that N2NL described - just a
solid tone zero beat on my frequency from the stations calling me. It became
impossible to work anyone at all because of the size of the pileup. Because
this was seriously effecting my rate I made the decision to listen split.
This worked great and when the pileup died down to something reasonable I
went back to listening simplex.
We had unruly pileups all weekend long at PJ4A and in most cases were able
to avoid operating split. The really smart guys all know if you call
slightly off frequency in these massive pileups you have a very good chance
of getting thru.
Jeff KU8E / PJ4A
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