Now, with the increment of the sun spot numbers, there are more DXpeditions going on. It is often claimed that some callers are behaving in bad manner such as calling over without following the operator's direction etc. Such a mess has been repeated since years ago. It is not a rare discussion at all. We, callers, should listen carefully for what the operator wants us to do.
But the problem is not so simple. The operator could be partly responsible for the mess in the pile ups. The operator should give proper directions such as to spread out within a certain range of bands. He should never respond to those who behave against his direction. The operator should know how the band opens to the other part of the world. He should take those callers from the area where the band opens for limited time.
I have learned these things when I operated as XU0JA in 1990. The article by Roger G3SXW, which I translated for a JA magazine in early '90s, was also very instructive as for how to operate from DX. It was on an issue of FOCUS, I believe, those days. The operators of DX should be aware that their capabilities in operation would determine how the pile ups go on.
The most important thing for the operator of DX, I believe, is the capability to copy code accurately in limited time. Nowadays, I am afraid, some operators are not able to copy calls in one time. Of course, there should be much QRM there. As told above, the operator might minimize QRM by instructing to spread out or moving the response frequency little by little away. But there could be much QRM all around. In that mess, he should copy one call in limited time. It will prevent the so called endless calling. Most experienced operators know of this fact. But, I am afraid, there are less number of operators capable of this type of operation.
I often remember, as one of the most proficient operations, HK0TU in 1990 operating 28MHz through the long path. The operator, I dont remember who it was, responded to a station in one or two call interval. No more intervals. No one went on calling and their band stayed perfectly quiet while HK0TU transmitted. It was like two choirs singing one afer another in Matthew's Passion by Bach. It was an art. I was going on listening to that admirable show over the world for some time.
Though I have had least interests in chasing DX now, I still would like to listen such an operation if somebody could do it.
Hello Shin,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your comments on DX operating and have heard similar situations myself and know that when everyone cooperates it truly can sound like two choirs alternating back and forth.
My personal observation like yours is that too many operators try to hard to
be the first in line to make contact with the DX station, especially if it happens to be a new one for them. In this excited state they seem to react instead of plan the way to make this happen. They do not listen or have difficulty hearing this rare one, and assume they know how he operates rather than observing for a few rounds. But then as you also said, often the operator at the DX location does not tell everyone each time where he is listening which confuses the person who just turned his radio on. So there is a mutual operating practice of listening first for several exchanges and always letting everyone know what you expect of them. Without this mutual exchange,
it becomes harder for everyone to make
a contact with the DX person.
73'
Bob Gates
W7AYN
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI believe the callers in the pile ups are getting more stress as he could not getu through it. If he could finally get through it, he could only return to the usual state of mentality. If not, he remains stressed so much. The expectancy is still negative. That is why I won't be so serious about the pile ups any longer hi.
Yes, the DX operator should reign over the callers. If he governs it in wrong way, there will be a terrible mess left there. I don't want to be involved in such a ancient regime. I like one vs one relationship.
See you apart from the pile ups.