[CQ-Contest] RE : UP Official Notification

[Matt Murphy]

I think this is a good point.  It's ultimately about pileup management.
There are circumstances where the running station can't control a pileup
without running split, and over the course of a few hours having the pileup
controlled and the rate fast enough to let everyone get a QSO results in
less overall QRM and more multipliers for all.


On Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 8:27 AM, Mike N1TA <n1tangoalpha at gmail.com> wrote:

> Anyone who is totally against listening UP has never been on the right side
> of the pileup.
>
> Now, I think it should be used only sparingly, and when the situation calls
> for it. I also think you should KNOW the frequency one up is clear first (I
> suspect here lies the concern). Then, when things get more manageable,
> bring it back in. I did not know this had become an offense! I recall this
> being a pretty normal practice in a time when the cluster dominates.
>
> And, IMHO, if you tune right past these huge pileups, chances are you are
> tuning right past the multipliers you should be working.
>
> --
> Mike DeChristopher, N1TA
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 1:18 AM, Prasad VU2PTT <vu2ptt at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Although I certainly did not have the pile-ups Jeff had at PJ4A, each
> year
> > I fall victim (sometimes enjoyable) to the packet pileups.
> >
> > This year I decided not to stop using UP which I had used very sparingly
> in
> > the past and listening to those slightly off frequency did help. Many
> times
> > it was painful to only hear the solid zero beat tone of rock crushing
> > signals without anyone being off frequency :)
> >
> > --
> >
> > 73 de Prasad VU2PTT
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 9:55 AM, Jeff Clarke <ku8e at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >
> > > 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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> > >
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> >
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