Topband: callouts on top band

[DALE LONG]

Mike:

I would like to first commend you for making the callout of the TA3 station.   
Low band operation for the DX station can be very challenging.  I have traveled 
to some quite interesting places in Africa, South and Central America.  On 
multiple trips I have had the experience of calling CQ over and over, right 
after being worked by some loud station.  It is extremely dissapointing, because 
you know there are folks who need you..  It takes so much effort for the DX 
station to operate on the low bands, particularly in the less-developed 
countries.  How hard is it to put a callout?  Is it because you dont want to 
share the DX with your competitors?  Is it because you are too lazy?  Is there 
some "gentleman's agreement" that you should never make a callout on topband so 
the"real" Dxers will only get the DX ?

I have to admit that I can sympathize with rewarding those that actually listen 
to the band. But because of propagation and weak signals (and not enough 
listening), the African or South American station, often operating is difficult 
conditions is face with failure to meet the needs of the deserving.

And the other point that you message raises, is the immediate accusal of 
wrongdoing.  This is a mindset that is all too common. Amateur radio should be a 
community of people who help each other. Why are some people so focused 
another's supposed mistakes.  We should all be more understanding, and believe 
that there must have been some reason for what you were doing.  And we all make 
mistakes.  Recently a DX station was accused of calling on their RX frequency, 
or moving up the band.  Gentleman, you have no idea what the other operator is 
facing.  So while you are in your comfortable shack,  with well-equipped 
station, remember that some DX stations are not so fortunate.  And be 
understanding, not demanding.  Noone owes you a contact.

73 & thanks Mike

Dale - N3BNA



________________________________
From: Mike & Coreen Smith <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca>
To: topband at contesting.com
Sent: Sat, January 21, 2012 7:45:49 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: Ticked over intentional interference on top band

By the way, a weird thing happened to me the other week. (rare for 160m that 
is)

Well, not so weird, as maybe insulting.....I was working a bunch of Europe 
on 160m, spotting them as I went up and down the band.  I ended up calling 
TA3D a bunch of times @ his sunrise and never made it.  Eventually he QRT'd 
and I got called on TA3D's ex-frequency by a UA4 somebody who I later found 
out was running 100w and he was happy for his first Canada on 
160m.....anyways, a very small pileup started with LY, YL, UA4's, OH, SM's 
etc. calling me after TA3D had left.

Some guy kept QRMing me with the dit-machine....we've all had it happen to 
us....anyways, this guy eventually kept asking me if I was a LID and 
spotting my own pileup or something like that.  QSB and QRN took him out a 
bit at times.  At first I thought he was asking me to QSY, but he definately 
was asking if I was a LID, and something about spotting.  I was so PO'd 
(like red in the face upset) I stopped the mini pileup, and turned the rig 
off.  (If you are reading this, you won !)

Figured I just didn't need the aggravation.  It's not too often I get upset 
about ham radio. In fact it's very very rare.  It's a hobby I derive great 
enjoyment out of.  I could miss a rare chance at a JA on 6m and I wouldn't 
get "upset", ya know?  I could lose an all weekend contest by 1000 pts and 
still not get upset.  I could wait in a pileup for an hour and not be upset. 
But this....  This just rubbed me the wrong way.

I don't know what problem folks have about DX spotting.  By the way, I never 
spotted myself, nor any of the DX I was working once I had the old TA3D 
freq....only before, as I was gg up and down the band.  There were almost no 
spots coming out of NA at the time, even though 160 was in fine shape.  Only 
heard a few guys on from NA and propagation was very very good at the time. 
Even had a K7...think it was K7ZV thank me on the Lowband ON4KST chat site 
thank me for the spots and he had nabbed a couple new ones off my spots. 
Kinda makes me feel good, but the terrible words from the unknown guy made 
me feel like I should take up stamp collecting.  Less aggravation !


VE9AA
Mike, Coreen & Corey Smith
699 Rte 616 Keswick Ridge
NB
Canada
E6L 1T1
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Larry
  To: topband at contesting.com
  Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 11:42 PM
  Subject: Re: Topband: Ticked over intentional interference on top band


  Unfortunately 160 is not immune to that kind of behavior. I have run into
  it before (including from an A1 Op member). Some would argue they were
  agressively pursuing a DX QSO. Most of us would classify the operation
  as just plain QRM.

  73, Larry  W6NWS
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: <wa3mej at comcast.net>
  To: <topband at contesting.com>
  Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 10:01 PM
  Subject: Topband: Ticked over intentional interference on top band


  >
  >
  >
  > I have been a ham for almost 46 years now and having been on 160 off an 
on
  > for much of that time. Tonight I saw something that I had not really 
seen
  > on 160 and kinda ticked me off big time; some idiot intentiionally 
trying
  > to jam VE1ZZ while he was trying to work a DX station that I didnt even
  > hear (I'M Jealous obviously). This kind of thing happens a lot on 80 
what
  > with all the idiots directly challenging the FCC and all but I have not
  > really run into it on the gentlemens band. Everyone is for the most part
  > so pleasant on this band. I mean if why not just turn it into a contest
  > for who can work the station first? but to intentionally be a spoiler 
for
  > another station just doesnt cut it.
  >
  >
  >
  > It would be nice to find this joker and poke pins in his coax. Whats the
  > saying " I'm mad as hell and not going to put up with this" ???
  >
  >
  >
  > Jim WA3MEJ
  >
  >
  >
  > P.S. VE1ZZ hope you got the contact anyhow.
  > _______________________________________________
  > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


  _______________________________________________
  UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK