[Dxpeditions] How to work a European pile-up

Tue, 15 Apr 2003 20:49:27 -0700

Rob:

I agree with the points you have made---these techniques are effective. But
your advice, of course, applies to all regions. It is only that Europe
requires what one might call "determined persistence" in applying these
principles. Another way to say it is that, if you as the DX op stumble, and
fail to follow these rules even once, the Euro pile-up is on you like a pack
of hungry hyenas.

Garry, NI6T

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Rob Snieder
> Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 12:33
> To: DXpedition Reflector
> Subject: [Dxpeditions] How to work a European pile-up
>
>
> How to work a European pile-up
>
>
>
> Introduction
>
>
>
> My name is Rob Snieder PA5ET formally PA3ERC. I have been on quit some
> DX-peditions from the Caribbean and been a team member of the latest
> TI9M Dx-pedition which had one of the goals to work Europeans on all HF
> bands.
>
>
>
> As many DX-peditioners know is can be quit difficult to keep order and
> work Europeans with a reasonable rate. They keep on calling, don't
> listen, make QRM on your calling frequency etc.
>
>
>
> I have tried to write down the method we use in the Low Land DX-pedition
> Team (LLDXT) which did the job for us.
>
>
>
> We hope by publishing method this might help future DX-peditions members
> to work Europeans in a more efficient way with the best rate possible
> and keeping control of the situation.
>
>
>
> LLDXT working Europe method
>
>
>
> *	If you expect a pile-up to come, one of the most important
> things is to work split even if you get a couple of stations returned
> just use a fixed listening frequency e.g. in CW always call up 1 or 2,
> SSB up 5.
> *	Don't use the entire band to work you pile-up it will invite
> commenters of telling you to keep your split range smaller.
> *	If you change from simplex to split repeat your call at least
> after the next 5 QSO's and mention you now working split. Don't work any
> stations anymore on your transmission frequency and never work stations
> less than 1 up in CW or 5 up in SSB.
> *	If you hear stations giving you reports with a note of QRM
> consider to change your transmission frequency, tell the pile-up you are
> moving and they will move with you and your rate should go up again.
> Don't try to move that other station to move because as DX station you
> will loose this battle and if local police man start telling that guy to
> move you make it worser and it will attract the Up Up callers.
> *	If you are lucky stations will give their full callsign although
> it is quit normal that South European have the habit to only say their
> suffix, telling them to use full callsigns will help 2 times and than it
> is back to suffixes. Don't try to change the world because you can't.
> *	Work any letter combination you here and give the report as soon
> as possible, don't wait until you have the full callsign if you have a
> European pile-up. Once you are sure of at least 2 letters give him a
> report, yes I know it means an extra transmission but you will see that
> your rate goes up working in this way. Stations which normally would
> keep on calling now only have the time to call once because by the time
> they try a second time you are already exchanging a report with another
> station. Hams will adjust their calling method in time to your way of
> operating and start to learn how the DX station is working. Once you
> gave a report hang on to that station until you worked that station,
> don't give up! If you come to the conclusion that station is not their
> transmit NIL QRZ or say Nothing heard QRZ don't just say QRZ because
> that means everyone can call. In CW when a station doesn't return than
> transmit his call or part of it again with RST again and again until you
> have his full call, if you transmit his partial call with a questionmark
> everyone will call again, if they hear you giving a report they will
> stand-by. I don't understand that but it is working.
> *	If the situation is getting out of control because nobody
> listens transmit QRX QRX QRX and listen if the frequency is quiet, if
> not transmit QRX QRX QRX again until everyone is quiet, than call the
> station you wanted to work.
> *	If they keep on calling again over the station you want to work
> transmit QRX QRX QRX until they are quiet again and transmit LIST OR QRT
> LIST OR QRT, the work QRT is magic, you will see they will start
> listening now.
> *	If they than still don't behave do what you said you would do
> and go QRT, transmit DE YOURCALL YOURCALL NOW QRT NOW QRT TNX FER QRM
> *	Now go to another band or different frequency on the same band,
> or have fun and listen on you calling frequency and listen how they
> attack each other of making QRM and than QSY. They will learn of this
> process and if will get better and better.
> *	Never comment QRM'ers or Policeman, you are the boss and needs
> to keep the lead, if you can't you probably need to over think why it
> went wrong and start again on a different frequency.
> *	In CW you can transmit fast but only if you can receive with the
> same speed as you transmit.
> *	Always confirm a changed call so the pile-up station knows that
> he is in the log.
>
>
>
>
>
> I'm sure lots of DX'ers will disagree with this method or partly, I'm
> happy to start a discussion. I can work 4 stations a minute in a
> European Pile-up which is not bad I think giving the fact of the extra
> exchange using this method. It speaks for it selves that if you don't
> have a large pile-up you can work simplex and take full call all the
> time.
>
>
>
> I hope that future DX-peditions can make use of this method and that it
> will change their way of bad thinking of European radio amateurs.
>
>
>
> 73 de Rob PA5ET
>
>
>
> HB0/PA3ERC, VP5/PA3ERC, VP5C, FG/PA3ERC, TO5C, J77C, J79RC, FM/PA3ERC,
> J6/PA3ERC, 9Y4/PA3ERC, 6Y5/PA3ERC, ZF2RC/ZF9, PJ7/PA5ET, FS/PA5ET,
> V47ET, VP2EET, 8Q7ET,V26ET, 8P9JS,VP2MPA, J3/PA5ET, J8/PA5ET, J38PA,
> J8PA, TI9M, J75ET, J75PA, VP2MET, VP2MPA, OY7ET, OY8PA
> Extensive contest experience at PI4COM, PA6WPX, PA6HQ
>
> Rob Snieder [email protected]
>
>
>
> LLDXT  <http://www.qsl.net/lldxt> http://www.qsl.net/lldxt
>
>
>
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