[Mldxcc] FT4TA (Tromelin) - West Coast Pilot Update #2

[John Miller]

The information below was sent to the FT4TA team earlier today.

To put things in perspective, FT4TA has made 28,000 QSOs as of their latest upload.  They are averaging 33% Unique callsigns -- among the best of all recent DXpeditions.  They are NOT using the ClubLog Leaderboards -- that helps.

Continent QSO Breakdown:  57% EU, 27% NA, 12% Asia.    At 57%, Europe should not be complaining.  Asia needs some focus.  Don't be surprised if you start hearing "JA only" soon.

SSB Tip: This morning on 15M SSB, I listened as N7__J called over and over with a quiet voice.   FT4TA called him several times, but because of the cadence in the exchange they doubled several times.  FT4TA copied his callsign correctly except couldn't get the  "J" as the last letter.  I listened in frustration as N7__J calmly and quietly repeated his callsign without emphasizing his last letter:  Japan Japan Japan.  FT4TA moved on and N7__J didn't get in the log.  In a phone pileup, you should try to speak with a somewhat Stronger Voice than usual and a bit Faster than normal.  If you didn't have to worry about QRM, LIDS, the Police, music from the 80s, and strange noises trying to interrupt everything, you could talk normally.  But not in today's DX environment.  The FT4TA operator needs all the help he can get to dig you out of the pileup.

ClubLog was updated at 1442 UTC today.  Hope you're listed already.  : >)

https://secure.clublog.org/charts/?c=ft4ta

73,
John Miller, K6MM
FT4TA West Coast Pilot


==========
Report To FT4TA:  West Coast Pilot Update

• At their sundown, the FT4TA team should take advantage of the Long Path window to the West Coast, on 160m, 80m, 40m and 30m.  This is an excellent path but not a long window -- about 45 minutes:   FT4TA:   Sunset 1430 Z    West Coast:  Sunrise 1515 Z.   Focus a bit more on the low bands during Grey Line hours.

* Please look for West Coast stations at these times:
10m 1530z to 1930z
12m 1730z to 2000z
15m 1600z to 2000z

• The ops tend to just stop operating without sending any follow up information -- even when the pileup is still going strong.  It would be helpful to let everyone know by sending QRX --- or QSY TO --- or just QRT.

• Have the ops check their SSB settings on the K3s.  One radio has the Compression setting much too high, which distorts communication badly with clipping.

• Only 11% of their QSOs are on 20M.  Please keep one station on 20M longer because it's open every day for most of the day.  The best overall band to give DXers an ATNO worldwide is the 20M band.  However, on the West Coast, 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, and 20m have all been very productive in all modes:  CW, SSB, RTTY

• 7.082 is not a good calling frequency (Radar interference).  Better to use 7.122 and RX at 7.160-7.165.

• The ClubLog Stats look great -- except for Asia (only 11% of all contacts).  33% Uniques is excellent.

• Overall I think the team is doing a great job of balancing demand with their time and resources.  

==========