[CQ-Contest] The Calling Disease... (split operation)

[Doug Renwick]

I am all for split operation to reduce the 'calling disease' outbreak.  As I
mentioned in my earlier post, quite often my exchange was covered up by
stronger US stations constantly calling.  Using split the QRM is noticeably
reduced and if the dx is operating far enough up the band it should not be a
problem.  And for those stations that don't understand split ... too bad.
This is a sporting event, not a lazy day at the beach.  Viva split
operation.

Doug

>-----Original Message-----

>This was the first time I encountered split operation in a contest. In fact
I stumbled
>across at least three different split operations. I didn't manage to get my
pip squeak
>signal heard in any of the ensuing mass of signals.
>
>To be fair, the three operations I heard where high up from the bottom edge
of the
>band well away from the usual masses.
>
>However, many callers did not hear the ops tell the callers "up 1" (or
whatever) and
>persisted in calling on the stations frequency at times covering up who was
working
>split and where to call. It also seemed that the stations working split
didn't specify
>"up 1" often enough, certainly not every time they id'ed. I got caught with
one of the
>split operations; it took over 5 minutes of listening before I heard the
station send "up
>1" and another couple of minutes finally hear their call through the many
calling
>stations.
>
>All in all these split ops seemed to cause an interesting mess and I am
sure a lot of
>frustrated callers.
>
>Just imagine the mess if there where half a dozen BIG and loud contest
stations
>working split "up 2" - it would cover 20+ Khz of band making it almost
useless for
>anyone else.
>
>If there was call for votes or a poll I think I would tend to discourage
split operations
>in a contest.
>
>Cheers, Graham ve3gtc