[CQ-Contest] UP Official Notification

[Mueller, David ENG2]

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