[RTTY] How to handle a pileup on RTTY

[Phil Cooper]

Hi Gary,

Oh boy! This is a really hard question to answer, as it depends on so many
factors.
I am presuming from the way you write that this is OUTSIDE a contest.

Being considered "DX" by many myself, I often just go on to have a chat with
a few friends, but reckon I can get about 4 or 5 "proper" QSO's before I
have to descend into pile-up style of 599 TU QRZ?

I have seen a few suggestions, and one using a partial call checker is OK,
but only if you can then work out the whole call, AND get it right. If you
get it wrong, then you get the same pile once more, and even if you get it
right, there is no guarantee that ONLY that one will respond.
The other drawback is that many of us who are likely to be in the partial
call file will have worked you on one or more bands already anyway, so are
less likely to call you this time.
Most of your pile up will be from newcomers to RTTY,and no partial call file
will help you with that.

I use MMTTY for genereal working, and also log them in MMTTY too. That way,
over a period of time, you build up a list of calls that spend more time
working RTTY outside a contest.
If you try the call you think you saw in the pile, and you have worked him
before, then MMTTY will bring up a name too, if he is in the log on a
previous occasion.
Last Sunday morning, I called CQ on 12m, and had quite a good run going, but
each time I sent (for example) EA3?? AGN PSE, I got almost everyone calling.
No easy answer to that!

The one thing you have to remember is that as a KH6, you will command the
pile, and folk will wait for a chance to work you. They (generally) won't
get cheesed off if they don't get you first time, so just work away, and the
pile will thin.
Also, as Jay suggested, keep a pen and paper handy, as you may get a call in
the clear just as you start to work someone else. Log the first, then go
straight to the one you noted down, and send him a report. He is quite
likely to be there!

Also, split is good at times, and can help you work a higher rate. However,
there are times when this isn't always good.
On 20m, I would suggest going high up the band, where you are less likely to
cause annoyance.
For example, operating on 14.081 and listening up 1 - 2 may just mean folk
trample on QSO's already in progress that you can't hear. Starting at 14.090
and working up 1 - 2 is reasonable.
Other bands, such as 40m can be a real problem, especially if you are around
7080, and get heard in Europe, where this is part of the SSB section of the
band.

I have often been asked to work split on 30m, but if I am working a pile-up,
then many of those that have worked me will go and call CQ too, often quite
close to me, in the hope of getting anything juicy as it homes in on me.
Also, there isn't a lot of space on 30m, and it isn't fair to QRM the DK0WCY
station. Also, we get a lot of stations using slow CW up around 10.130
audible here.

Eddie, W6/G0AZT gave me some good advice when he was here many years ago for
WAEDC, and we operated a little outside the contest. He suggested that you
set the rules, BUT STICK to them! No good going JA only, but then working
DL1ABC. If you ask for EA3 AGN, persist until you get him. Eddie even used
to send things like W1ABC WHAT PART OF EA3 ARE YOU FROM?? but he was in
control of the pile all the time.

If you get spotted, you could always move a little! If you watch the
cluster, you will be spotted on a range of frequencies anyway, depending on
high tones, low tones, AFSk, FSK USB, LSB etc etc.
If the pile gets too big, just QSY a few kc's, and start again. Believe me,
they will find you!

Those are just a few thoughts from me. I hope some it helps you.

73 and good DX'ing!
Phil GU0SUP





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