[EIDXA] K5P operations from one of the team

[Joe Hungate - K8OM]

Fellow EIDXA members,

One of the K5P (Palmyra) operators was Hal – W8HC from my home state of West Virginia that I know a bit. He wrote up some of his thoughts on the K5P operation for the guys back in West Virginia regarding how he managed the pileups and how all of us can improve our odds of getting into the log. I believe his guidance is applicable to all DX’ers...... newbies and well seasoned.... and for all DXpeditions!

With permission from Hal – W8HC, I would like to share his thoughts. His write-up very informative and entertaining. I’m sure Glenn – W0GJ will also share his insight into this same subject at our April 22 EIDXA meeting.

Enjoy,

Joe – K8OM


The pileups were intense at times but as a whole, not as bad as I imagined they would be.  I had a couple of shifts running on 20 and 40 CW that were so intense I was glad to get the tap on the shoulder from my relief op.  Typically however, it seemed we experienced a lot of spotlight propagation that in turn whittled the pileups to manageable levels. 



Lou, N2TU and Craig, K9CT set up our operating shifts with the 9 of us working in teams of 3.  We used the same schedule format that was so successful at Wake with 4 hours on, 8 hours off; 4 hours on, 8 hours off; 3 hours on, 6 hours off.  This format was repeated for the two weeks we were there with only 2 breaks where the entire operation was shut down for a couple hours for a special dinner hosted by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff and our team photo shoot session.  Adding the "oddball" 3-hour shift allowed us to rotate through the clock so we didn't have the same times each and every day and while giving each team a shot at different propagation opportunities.  



Otherwise, one of the three K5P teams manned the stations in what is known at Palmyra as the "dry lab," a great air-conditioned room.  Here set up 5 complete Elecraft K-Line stations, one of which was dedicated to a 6m beacon which netted zero Qs in the K5P log.  With 3 on a team, it was possible to "man" the 4th unused station and I took advantage of that a couple of times... but my "off times" naturally were also used for resting and seeing some of Palmyra. I laid claim to one of the many unused bicycles there and would ride around the island in some of my spare time.  It was fun riding the bike down the middle of the island's mile-long runway knowing you were always "number 1 for takeoff."



I was assigned to Team 1 with Craig K9CT and Mike K9NW.  You are probably aware that Craig hosts a world class contest station from his QTH outside of Peoria, IL and Mike is one of the best CW ops I've ever had the privilege of working with...  Mike also participated in the last WRTC event held up in Newington a couple years ago....  At our 2012 NH8S Swains operation, my first-ever DXpedition, I started out on a CW Team seated between Mike and Mark NA5M.  It didn't take me long to figure out I was sitting between two of the best CW ops in the business and it put the pressure on me to maintain at least some respectable degree of "rate."   So with me being on the same operating team at Palmyra with Craig and Mike, I thought I would probably be spending the greatest majority of my time operating in Phone mode.  In reality, although I did spend the majority of my time on phone, I spent more time on CW than I thought I would... something like 60% Phone 40% CW.  I will also state here and now that there was a good reason for this....  anyone who doesn't know and believe that "CW will get through when no other mode works" needs to go back and retake their license exams all over again.  At times it was a battle to pick out partial calls, a single letter, screwed-up phonetics, fluttery signals ALL of which seemed to be at the same signal strength of about S3 or S4... It was work and very frustrating.  I would swear I heard someone give their call as one thing and when I went back to them, they might correct me with some other call phontetically that was altogether different from what I heard the first time.  CW made it much easier and I was at least able to make a respectable rate.  There were several times where I would start out on Phone on a band only to switch to CW at some point when I was struggling with weak signals.  When working DX.... CW is KING! This was proven to be the case at K5P where we made 43,877 CW Qs compared to 23,273 Phone QSOs, a significant disproportion albeit understandable in light of conditions.   



Since Craig prefers low band operation, at and during the evening/night time hours, he would typically be the op on 80 and 160, making a lot of folks happy with K5P Qs on these bands.    I guess we had a great signal on the low bands after we got some of the bugs worked out of our antennas... The Battle Creek Special which has been taken on numerous DXpeditions over the years, either needs some overhaul "work" if it will be used as a multi-band antenna or, it simply needs to be retired in favor of something else.  We had a problem with the 80m coil on it and so we had to scrap it on 80m, dedicating it to 160m.  In all, I am guessing we erected, took down and re-erected the BCS 6 times over the course of our operation.  We ended up putting up a 60ft Spider pole and wrapped about 67 feet of wire around it to make our new 80m vertical.  With 20+ radials under it right next to the water, we got great reports on its performance. 



Normally I would give Craig and Mike first "dibs" on a band but we had a pretty good idea which would be the "choice" bands from the 3 guys we were relieving and having a general idea of the propagation for that particular time of day.  As in past DXpeditions where we log with N1MM, the Gray-Line Map window feature is one of the best tools you can use.  I have to say my favorite band to operate while at Palmyra was 30m. I did get a great 12m phone run one morning working the spotlight propagation into the U.S.  It was so weird with signals popping up one second, only to be gone 10 to 15 seconds later. If a station kept repeating his callsign and didn't acknowledge the exchange in short order, he may not have made my log.  Conditions changed that fast! 



Working into EU presented its own set of challenges.  We knew going into the DXpedition that EU was going to be a difficult path with short openings.  Western Europe was especially going to be problematic.  If you look at the "Propagation" tab on our website www.palmyra2016.org you will find K6TU's band-by-band 24-hour VOACAP global predictions.  I looked at this before the DXpedition and with the Willis VK9WA operation still fresh in my mind where we concluded with a 32.1% EU QSO percentage, I could hardly imagine we would have such problems predicted by K6TU for us working into Europe from K5P.  But sitting there listening to weaker-than-water EU signals, fighting QSB, auroral flutter and signals arriving simultaneously LP and SP gave me fits at times trying to pull these guys out.  We tracked our daily percentages into EU while reading some of the posts regarding our efforts to log the EU folks and it was very, very frustrating.  The predictions indicated 20, 30 and 40m offered the best opportunities for Europe and so if you didn't have a decent signal on those three bands, you were probably going to struggle to make it into our log.  At the end of the operation, ClubLog shows that 11.4% of the 75,000+ K5P QSOs were with Europe.  Going into this operation, and again with VK9WA still in mind, I refused to believe our Team Goal of 10% EU was reasonable, I was thinking we should at least top a 20% EU showing.  But now in hindsight, know that the 10% goal was more in line with reality. Undoubtedly, there were a lot of disappointed EU folks at the end of our operation.... BUT KH5 (Palmyra) wasn't the #2 Most Wanted entity in Europe for no reason!!  One more thing... this applies to EU or any other part of the world... and our team talked about this with each other at great length during our off hour breaks.... if you wanted to work K5P badly enough, you could've, would've, should've found a WAY.  I have a friend in Germany who scheduled a week of vacation to work us and spent many countless daytime and night time hours at his clubstation in Augsburg.  For his efforts, he netted 3 QSOs with K5P, a phone and CW Q each on 40m and a CW Q on 30m.  



We did try to optimize our efforts toward Europe.  Although we had erected 3 of the SteppIRs (with 80m), we also erected a 20m SVDA pointed towards Europe.  Our "20m Station" also included one of the two 1.3K-FA Expert Linear amps that were part of the K5P station lineup.  I think we were plenty "loud" on 20m.... if and when we had propagation. 



I volunteered to build the low band receive system, an Array Solutions SAL30.  Actually I got to build it twice.  The first site selected turn out to be in the noise field of the Palmyra power stations inverter that generated huge amounts of noise.  The antenna was moved about a 100 yards away in a clearing and re-erected.  We had only taken 200 feet of RG6 to feed the antenna but fortunately the TNC guys on the island "loaned" us a brand new spool of RG6 that just happened to be on a shelf in the lab where we were operating.  Although I never got to use the SAL, Craig swore by it and said that when switched toward USA or EU it did a great job of rejecting the JA signals which otherwise never seemed to stop. 



I had the opportunity to watch Jerry WB9Z operate on phone several times and even talked to him about how he manages the pileups.  So if you know what the DX op is doing you are increasing your odds of making it into his log.  



So the techniques I think differ according to mode... So let me address CW first.  



And of course regardless of the mode, rule number one, if you are transmitting while the DX is transmitting, you will never, never ever make the Q!  Sometimes it's a timing issue and like most of us, you are going to "miss" it.  I know I do.  I will push the button on my memory keyer to send my call trying to work a DX station about one nanosecond after I hear him start sending. It's gonna happen.  The trick is trying to get into his rhythm to drop your call in at the appropriate time.  



Now, I first saw this "phenomena" on Willis but it really came to light at Palmyra... especially working JAs while on CW.  Maybe it was just my imagination but it seemed like every JA op was using these so now with the advent CW Skimmers and these Pandaptors that capture a large swath of the band and you can graphically "see" stations on a particular frequency.  I call it the "yellow jacket swarm".  Everyone knows about these little critters that are probably pound-for-pound the most tenacious little bastards on the planet.  Relentless little demons that swarm on you if you cross their path the wrong way.  And let me offer a disclaimer at this point... This is NOT to be construed as any kind of ethnic slur... please!  



So this is how it works on a DXpedition during CW.... I call "CQ up"  and 2 KhZ up I copy and work JA5XYZ, one or two Qs later the pileup is tremendous on my listening frequency so I move up 5KHz and hear a lone JA1AAA who I work, immediately there is a swarm of stations calling me and unless a strong signal pops through, I am moving again BUT the cycle repeats-- the calling stations swarm on the frequency of the last station worked.  I tried to keep my listening spread no more than 10-15 KHz but would occasionally go well above the callers to try to find that one low power station calling me with an S2 signal from his 100watts and a wire and know that I just put a big smile on his face before the yellow jackets swarm on this "new" frequency.  I did not use any kind of pattern or system for listening.  Naturally a loud signal would get my attention and I would readily work them.  But there were also times when I wanted to dig out a weak station and would stick with them in spite of all the other callers until I got them in the log.  It all really depended on how hard I wanted to "work" or how conscious I was of my rate meter.  



Of course we had as part of our Elecraft stations a P3 Pandaptor that we used. When condx were not so good, I did rely on the P3 to "show" me stronger signals calling me so that I could work them.  



When I am tuning trying to pull out a signal to work, it is always helpful to me if you give your call twice.  I don't know how many times I would hear a station calling as I tune, only to get half of his call and I am waiting for him to give it again so I can finish entering it into N1MM and make the exchange.  So I suggest giving your call two times especially if the DX operator is pausing between Qs.  If signal levels are up and the pileup is not too bad and the DX op is in a great rhythm working stations one after another in rapid succession, you may get by with dropping your callsign in there.  But when condx require a little extra effort due to poor condx or propagation, giving your call twice may get you in the log.  



I mentioned there were times with auroral flutter being problematic to discerning callsigns in CW.   Coupled with weak (S3-S5) signals and several stations calling simultaneously, it can really tax the DX operator!  So here was the problem I found with several EU folks during these times... Why the heck do you want to send 35+ WPM??!!??  There is no way on God's green earth that anyone could copy this mess!  So when the DX op backs down to 18WPM ( I typically started out at 30WPM) there is probably a good reason!  Yes, I can copy a callsign at 35 WPM but not under such condx.  If you hear the DX op QRS, it may be a good time for you to do so also.... Obviously he is having a problem copying.  



One other operating technique that I have observed DXers use when I am on the "other side" is what I call "channelizing."  I have observed this on both modes actually but it does seem more prevalent on Phone.   Let's say I am in CW mode listening "UP" which would indicate I am QSX up perhaps 1 to 5 KHz at least starting out.  Invariably it seems, 90% of the callers are either calling me up 1 or up 5 with only 10% occupying the real estate within those middle 3KHz. They are either on channel 1 or channel 5!  And if I spread out the pileup and am QSX UP 10... they are either on channel 1 or channel 10!  It's almost like all that room in the middle is a vast wastleland... and remember about the guy I am listening for that is up 12? I bet he colored outside the lines in Kindergarten too!  But he found a way into the log!   



If you cannot establish a pattern to the CW op, there is real good likelihood he is not operating in a set pattern but rather trying to maximize his Q rate in the best manner he can.   At the end of the day, for the DX operator, it is all about managing the pileup. I will use different techniques depending on size of pileup, conditions, propagation and region I want to work in order to manage the pileups and maximize my Q rate.  I will either attempt to spread out the pileup or will limit my preferred region to get the stations I want to work.  We had nearly round-the-clock propagation to JA and VK/ZL but when I knew we should be having prop to East Coast U.S. or to Europe,  I would ask JA to QRX... As a general rule, they would comply.... the problem is, you had to keep asking them over and over again.  For the BA stations, they either never "got it," didn't understand my instructions or they just don't care...  



So you want to know my pattern for working DX from the DX side?  When I am unable to copy a callsign on a given frequency, I employ the "roulette" method.  I randomly spin the dial and listen for the first station that gets my attention.  I may spin up or I may spin down in frequency.  When you have 10 or more stations calling you on the same frequency, you tighten the filter, you back off the RF gain and you pick out the ones you can hear best.  No secrets to this... The strong stations will get through first but the persistent ops will greatly enhance their chances if they are occupying a frequency that is minimally occupied by other callers so they "stand out."  If you have the power, you can tail end or chase the DX by working from the last known frequency of the station just worked... or, you can find the road less traveled and continue to call, giving your callsign two times at a speed no faster than the DX station.  With a little luck and perhaps a week's worth of vacation, you may find your way into my log at least.



SSB---



One of the real difficulties we struggled with at K5P was with the phone operations and being able to pick out callsigns.  Things could have perhaps gone a bit more smoothly and quickly if people would standby when we try to work a station.  I absolutely refuse to give up on a station once I begin working them!  It is not a smart move on any DX ops part as it opens the door to more of the same.  So if I hear a "Whiskey Eight" I will sit there all day if I am still copying him until he is in my log.  This goes for both modes too...   We had sooooo many times where we could only get a couple letters of a callsign and have to dig the rest of the call out letter at a time.  It was not just me either.  Jerry, Tom, John and Dick... all of us talked about these difficulties.  But there is one thing that some of the stations trying to work us could've done better... I don't think it is so much of a problem with U.S. ops.... JA's are notorious for it as are SA stations and some EU's... I am talking about the phonetics used.   I do not know why these guys do not use 'standard' phonetics!!  It is one thing trying to understand someone with a thick accent but when you couple that with phonetics that aren't the norm, you are only adding to the problem.  So always use standard phonetics!  



When I am operating phone on DXpeditions, I am a little bit more methodical in my tuning and for the most part, if the pileup is not too intense, I will tune up then back down in my listening range.  I will start "listening up 5" and will stay on that frequency until my rate plummets due to the pileup. I may jump up 10 and see if anyone is calling up there.  Perhaps this promulgates that whole channelizing phenomenon.  I do notice that on SSB, ops prefer exact frequency increments.... which is kind of peculiar.  Again, it is survival of the fittest with the strongest signals making the log....  I did have some great runs on phone with some tail enders who knew just when to drop their calls in to let me rock and roll without missing a beat.  There is nothing like running a good pileup when it flows with tail enders!  It can also turn into a pretty good pileup management trick too but I think signals have to be pretty good for it to be successful.  I would not have been able to do this at all with any of the EU openings.  



Again I use the "Roulette" approach when it becomes too unruly or am tuning within my range trying to hear a callsign jump out at me.  I don't know if this frustrates the DXers so much that I am not using a pattern but I do know that this is the same operating strategy employed by Jerry WB9Z, arguably one of the best phone ops in the World.  



As with CW it all boils down to pileup management.. the DX station holds the key to how this is to happen. But having a good signal that commands the band, is also critical.  I know there were times on phone when condx were not so good that we were not being heard so well.  DQRM was a problem especially when we had our limited openings to EU.  We tried to stick with it but there were some times we switched modes to optimize our chances. 



For those of you that wanted to work us from K5P, there is no valid reason why you shouldn't have.  As far as I know, no one was left out and with us having wi-fi internet there on Palmyra, we took advantage of the opportunity to even make a sked or two..  It was a great trip, a great DXpedition and another great time with some world-class operators. I am very blessed to have been part of the K5P team...  



I thank each and every one of you that supported us with your generous donations and for your on-air support during the two weeks we were QRV.  Palmyra Atoll is a fascinating place and I look forward to sharing my adventure with you guys.  



Sorry this long write-up but wanted to offer up something that I hope gives you insight on our operation as well as give a few pointers from the DX-perspective on how you might improve your chances for logging a rare one...



For now... I am just wondering.... Where do we go next?



73 es DX de Hal W8HC