[Elecraft] Off topic: help me with CY0MM?

[Bob Nielsen]

On Tue, Nov 19, 2002 at 12:56:47PM -0700, tlogan7@cox.net wrote:
> Hi folks - 
> 1) This is off topic....but you folks are like on-line friends.

> 2) I acknowledge I'm not a DX'er. All my experience with cw is
> ragchews (been a ham a bit over 2 years) and I have to really
> concentrate to copy 20wpm. I seldom do SSB.

> 3) I have never entered a contest or "busted a pileup".
> 3) I would like to make a contact with CY0MM.
>  
> Now that I have confessed, can some one help me? I'm really confused.
> I go to a site like DX Summit which tells me that CY0MM is on 21.030.
> I then go to 21.030. I hear a lot of cw but it's pretty jumbled and
> almost impossible to sort out. I never do here the call sign CY0MM. I
> see someone on DX summit says QSX 21.031.6.  Now I'm totally lost.
> Does this mean I listen and transmit at 21.030 or 21.0316? I REALLY
> want to make this contact:

It means he is transmitting on 21.030 and listening on 21.031.6.

> 
> 1) - What will CY0MM be sending? What should I listen for?

One side of a typical QSO would probably sound something like:

W1AAA 5NN
(other stations sends report)
TU

or possibly (once every several QSOs):

TU de CY0MM up

> 2) - How should I respond? Do I just send my call sign when it sounds
> like a lot of others are doing the same?

> 3) - Can some one walk me through exactly how this works.......the
> exchange, what freq I listen on and send on etc? This split stuff has
> me baffled as well. Sorry to sound like a moron, but I'm humbled and
> need help. Thanks folks!

For most DXpeditions, the CW is at 35-40 WPM.  Usually there is a lot
of repetition, so the main thing you need to be able to do is pick out
your call, which hopefully you will be able to do at a much higher
speed than you can copy 100 percent.  Don't worry, it will get easier
with experience.

There should be a lot of good DX during the CQWW contest this weekend.

Good luck and 73,

Bob, N7XY
 
-- 
Bob Nielsen, N7XY                          n7xy@n7xy.net
Bainbridge Island, WA  
IOTA NA-065, USI WA-028S