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Re: Topband: FW5RE -- Accidental QSO-s

To: ha0du@dx.hu,topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: FW5RE -- Accidental QSO-s
From: GEORGE WALLNER <gwallner@the-beach.net>
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:51:13 -0500
List-post: <topband@contesting.com">mailto:topband@contesting.com>
On Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:46:25 -0500
  "ha0du@dx.hu" <ha0du@dx.hu> wrote:
> 
> I share the opinion of SV3RF to some extent. There are 
>some contacts in the 160 m log, which are generating >questions.

Topbanders, Kedves Pista,

I have been on both sides of the pile-up and here is how I 
see this.

Firstly, many DXpedition operator can tell you that there 
are a lot of stations calling who can not hear the DX. 
Often it is QSB, but sometimes the station is calling 
based on DX cluster info. Perhaps, sometimes this is a 
deliberate strategy to get into the log...

There are some steps the DX operator can take to minimize 
the chance of a "QSO-by-luck". Unfortunately, most of 
these steps result in a lower QSO rate! This is especially 
a problem on TB, where openings can be short.

First, the DX operator should be careful about entering 
QSO-s he is not sure of. Also, he should listen for the 
report from the caller. (Yes, some operators do not listen 
for it: after all, it is going to be 599... right? Myself, 
I welcome a real report; it allows me to adjust my speed 
to match the conditions.) In any case, no report, no QSO. 
Second watch for the caller's timing. When somebody does 
not hear the DX, his timing is likely to be off. Of 
course, QRM, QSB and many other factors can cause that, 
but there is something about the timing of those who can't 
hear you... If in doubt, resend the call and report, and 
request a report. It is very unlikely that the "aligator" 
would get the timing anywhere to close a second time.

A word of caution, however. We should not jump to 
conclusions based on what we can hear. There is no 
guarantee that one can hear both sides of a QSO, even when 
the caller is close by; even on TB. Pilots of our 
DXpeditions have often commented on us responding to 
callers whom they were barely able, and sometimes were 
unable, to hear. At the same time we were told that we 
often "ignored" very loud signals. (It appears that the 
strength of a local signal is not necessarily a good 
indicator of its DX potential!)

It is highly regrettable that some "one-way" stations 
would resort to constant calling and making life miserable 
for the rest of us, for whatever reason. If some of them 
get into DX logs, well, that is unfortunate, but it does 
not change the fact that these guys are just fooling 
themselves. Too bad for them!

By the way, great job by the FW5RE operators!
  
73 and CU in the next Pile-Up,

George
AA7JV
(VK9WWI, C6AGU, 5K0T, VK9GMW)
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