[CQ-Contest] Questions on Pile-up Management

[Kelly Taylor]

Chris wrote:>I have a couple questions for those experienced running CW 
pile-ups:
>
> 1) I know its best to pick out a full callsign after just one call.  My 
> question is for those times when you can't pick out a full callsign, is it 
> better to send a partial call (e.g. 1AW 5NN4) to keep the rhythm going or 
> should you pause and allow the pile-up to call second a time?

Pausing to let the pileup gain steam again is asking for it to grow out of 
control, especially if you're rare. Sending a partial call and at least 
getting SOME of the pileup to shut up should help you catch more of the 
callsign.

Guaranteed, however, that someone, hearing you send "1AW? 5nn4" will come 
back and send "N N N de K7BW 5nn 3" and will persist even when you send 
"W1A?" (No offence inteded to K7BW, it's just an example.)

> 2) Occasionally when I get the chance to run a CW pile-up I'll get callers 
> who seem to mis-read my exhange to someone else as their own.  For 
> example, I send  W1AW 5NN4  and besides the intended  W1AW  I also get 
> some other station sending me a report.  If I just send  R TU  to continue 
> the pileup then both  W1AW plus the mystery caller are logging me but I'm 
> only logging W1AW.  The mystery caller isn't going to call me again in the 
> test because he thinks we've worked and I've lost a potential QSO.  Is 
> there a good way to recover these QSO's without breaking rhythm?

I would send "CL?" Since you already know W1AW's call, you can concentrate 
on the other station. Once you have his call, send "W1AW TU K9XYZ TU" log 
'em both and send "QRZ?" Two QSOs for the price of one! If you hadn't copied 
K9XYZ's exchange, send "W1AW TU K9XYZ 5nn4."

If you just send "W1AW TU" the other station might clue in that you didn't 
work him, but the pileup is likely to pounce on the TU as an invitation to 
get back at it.

73, kelly
ve4xt



> Thanks,
> Chris VA3NR.
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