In a DX pileup, calling on the same frequency that someone else is calling
generally results in neither of you getting through, particularly if you are
using a digital mode. The idea is to
1. understand the range of frequencies in which the DX station is listening
2. crop your callsign into a "hole" in this range so that it will more
likely be heard clearly
In lighter pileups, the DX station may exhibit a pattern -- .e.g. moving up
500 hz after each RTTY QSO. Astute DXers learn this pattern, anticipate the
next frequency, and call there. However, this only works when there aren't
too many astute DXers. Spectrum scopes have made it much easier to rapidly
detect such patterns, turning the anticipated next frequency into a zoo. As
a result, many DX stations have abandoned the pattern method; instead, they
randomly look for stations in the clear across the range in which they are
operating.
No DXer should participate in a pileup if doing so would QRM an ongoing QSO.
In my experience, politely asking the participants in the ongoing QSO to
move almost always yields a polite and positive response.
73,
Dave, AA6YQ
-----Original Message-----
From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:digitalra...@yahoogroups.com]on
Behalf Of obrienaj
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 9:17 PM
To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [digitalradio] Dx pile ups..
Bonnie said
"the same goes for "DX pileups". Basically, a pileup
is simply a contest where the number of possible contacts
is 1 and the number of possible multipliers is 1.
Everyone who enters the pileup contest is trying to
out-QRM the other entrants, or in FCC parlance...
"to harmfully interfere with", the other contestants
in the pileup contest. They are trying to keep the other
stations from working the target station, in favor of
themselves. Louder, stronger, QRMer."
Surely Bonnie is correct in this? Not ALL DXers , but the vast majority are
doing what Bonnie describes when responding to a QRZ. If I hear " P5DX
QRZ?", then I hear "November Seven Delta..." starting a call and throw in
"Kilo Three Uniform Kilo" on top of the 7 station (Danny) , Bonnie is
correct that I have QRM'd him. I guess the difference is that this is
accepted and actually encouraged.
I still remember my utter shock when a new ham reading the ARRL handbook
about DXing, and how a DX station would listen on incrementally different
QRG and NOT tell you exactly where. The book explained that the "art" of
DXing was to determine the DX station's methods and skillfully figure out
where he would be listening. In Bonnie's context, this would be encouraging
lots of QRM .
Skip's earlier point would be that this still differs from "unattendned"
transmissions but I think Bonnie's point is that the result is not that much
difference. Cue Bonnie with comments about goose and gander...
Andy K3UK
