[CQ-Contest] Split Frequency in Contests?

[David Robbins]

Well, unfortunately some operators are not quite as skilled as those at
xt2dx and hc8n.  And not everyone has as good a signal as those guys do.
Both of those problems make working split easier.  Not only does it let
them sort the pileup a bit easier, but if they are not quick at coming
back after each qrz it keeps the pileup from running away with itself
because they can't hear the dx station come back when they finally pick
out a call.  

The reason pileups for stations like hc8n don't get out of hand is that
the operators come back quickly and consistently.  When the dx does this
there is no reason for calling stations to get into the "send your call
10 times and then wait to see if the pileup lets up enough to hear the
dx come back, then send it 10 more times before listening again" mode.

Stations that can't handle the pileups simplex should probably try to
move up and out of the busier parts of the band so that their tx
frequency doesn't get overrun prompting the frequency police to
congregate, and also so their pileup doesn't disrupt lots of other
stations.  Someone trying to do this at 14005 listing up 5-10 during a
contest is probably not playing nice, or doesn't realize what they have
done... but if they went to 14120 (for example) and listened up 5-10
they would probably be more successful and not raise as many complaints.
(except maybe from digital ops)


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-admin at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-
> admin at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim Martin
> Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 08:53
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Split Frequency in Contests?
> 
> I think for the first time last weekend I heard contest stations
working
> split. They were not exactly exotic or rare prefixes so why the split
> operation?  Others like XT2DX and HC8N had huge pile-ups but always
> managed
> to skilfully work their way through.
> Is this to do with the calibre of the operator or a ploy to spread out
the
> callers and have an operator work the stations and another 'tee' up
the
> next
> QSO? Muscle substituting for skill?
> Whatever the reason, many times over the weekend I heard chunks of the
> band
> rendered useless by this practice and felt sorry for the stations who
had
> been running on the previously clear frequency and then being drowned
> under
> a sea of callsigns. I would rather  take my 'little
> pistols' chances in the pile-up and if it's too busy try again later.
> That's what makes it fun!
> Jim   MM0BQI
> (Originally posted on UK-Contest)
> 
> 
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