[AMRadio] Open vs Closed QSOs

Wed Oct 28 00:02:34 EDT 2009

Don, you make a good point about breaking stations needing to listen to 
the conversation a bit and deciding if they have something to add to 
the topic under discussion.  More is not always merrier.

And it is wise to to at least *pretend* to not be an 'old buzzard' in 
these situations - make short transmissions when in a roundtable.

Maybe it would be wise for two guys that want to have a talk just meet 
on 3885 and then go down to some other frequency for the QSO.  Use it 
like a "calling frequency".

Steve WD8DAS

sbjohnston at aol.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: D. Chester <k4kyv at charter.net>
To: amradio at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Tue, Oct 27, 2009 12:48 pm
Subject: [AMRadio] Open vs  Closed QSOs

Should "breakers" *always* be welcome to join in a QSO regardless, or 
are
there times when it is best not to interrupt an on-going QSO, and when 
is it
OK for the participants in a QSO to ignore would-be breakers?

One of things I often find annoying when attempting to carry on a 
contact
near any of the popular AM operating frequencies is the near 
impossibility
of avoiding a large, cumbersome roundtable.  The band may be completely
devoid of any AM activity for a half-hour or more, but as soon as one
station starts up a QSO with one other, within minutes you can expect 
the
inevitable breaker wishing to join the conversation. Then another.  And
another.  The more participants in the QSO, the more frequent the 
breakers,
until a group has developed with 5, 8 or more stations. If the old 
buzzard
roundtable procedure is observed with a large group, you can count on 
at
least one participant getting the sequence wrong, per go-round, and 
someone
often gets left out for one or more rounds. It goes without saying that 
one
or more the breakers will be piss-weak, and the general rule is the 
weaker
they are the longer they talk. Before long, each member of the 
roundtable is
waiting 45 minutes between transmissions, which tends to encourage long
old-buzzard transmissions when one finally does get a turn to transmit. 
It
is virtually impossible to carry on a simple conversation with one 
other
station on a topic of interest during prime-time operating hours.

Not that I mind joining in a nice chat with a group of AM stations or 
having
others join in on a relaxed informal conversation, and maybe attracting 
a
newcomer or two to the mode. But sometimes I find myself engaged in
conversation with another station on a specific topic of particular 
interest
to both of us, but then the inevitable breakers enter the QSO without
displaying any interest in the topic of discussion, and before long the
whole conversation is redirected off topic and the original discussion
fizzles before it is allowed to reach a conclusion.  I find this highly
annoying to say the least.

What's the best way to handle this situation?  With CW there is a 
convenient
pro-sign that specifically tells the other station and only that 
station to
transmit, and that all others should stand  by until the ongoing
communication is finished.  That pro-sign is KN in lieu of a simple K 
at the
end of a transmission.  But I know of no corresponding pro-sign for use 
with
phone.  Is it rude to ignore breakers, or must they always be made to 
feel
welcome to join any conversation regardless?  One technique when 
everyone in
the QSO has a strong signal, is to overlap the carriers as one station 
turns
it over to the other so that there is no pause between transmissions. 
Some
people say they find that rude, but wouldn't it be equally rude to 
approach
two or more strangers on the street, and to butt into their 
conversation
without being invited?

I would suggest listening to the content of the conversation in a QSO 
before
attempting to break in.  If the participants are discussing a specific
topic, do not attempt to interrupt unless you have something to 
contribute
to the topic at hand.   Listen carefully, and you will likely hear 
clues to
whether or not they would welcome others to join.  If there is any 
doubt,
QSY to a nearby frequency and call CQ, or scan the band for another 
on-going
QSO that would appear to be more welcoming to breakers.

We will generate more AM presence in the bands with several 
simultaneous
QSO's with 2 or 3 participants each, than with everyone falling into 
one
large, boring roundtable with 8 or more stations, each taking their 
turn to
make a 10-20 minute transmission. On 75m, if 3870-90 is fully occupied,
consider moving "down below" to 3600-3750 or thereabouts, or give 160 
or 40
a try.

Don k4kyv
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