[Elecraft] QSP? relaying ECN check-ins.

[Tom Hammond]

Hi ray:

K2HYD wrote:

I'm wondering whether some experienced net ops could chime in with 
suggestions for getting more QSP going on the weekly Elecraft CW Net?

I don't really know what the right protocol is, but I still have a 
happy glow thinking about the one time I actually QSP'd for a station 
that NCS couldn't hear. (can't recall whether it was Kevin or Tom 
acting as NCS at that moment). It was a thrill to be able to relay 
the check-in, with my little KX-1 signal!

Anyway, on last night's 40m net (was busy with family at 20m net 
time) I could barely hear Kevin but there were a couple of stations 
that were very loud to me, and I suspect might have been able to hear 
me. I tried sending "pse QSP" once or twice (is that the right way to 
ask for help??) but didn't want to do that too much for fear of 
stepping on someone.

I wonder, would it work for NCS to ask "any QSP?" or some such, just 
before "last call?"

Now that I've said 130% of what I know, maybe someone who really 
knows how to get QSPs going could chime in??

I agree that it would be a GREAT thing for others to assist 
unacknowledged stations to get checked into the ECN when NCS has not 
acknowledged them after several unsuccessful attempts on their part to QNI.

I think that part of the problem is that many (if not most) stations 
who do QNI the net probably check out within minutes of being checked 
in... as a result, they've no longer present and in a position to 
assist other stations who might not be acknowledged by the current NCS.

Many(!) times, when I'm calling ECN in an attempt to help Kevin find 
stations who can't hear him or who he hasn't been able to ferret out 
of the noise, I hear very weak signals which i think are attempting 
to QNI, but which I just cannot pull out of the noise. I'll often ask 
for 'relays', but seldom get a response. Again, I suspect that this 
may be due to many of the previously checked-in stations having 
already closed their stations for the evening.

What I'd like to see is for ALL stations to at least stay on 
frequency for 5-10 minutes (if possible) following their being 
acknowledged. Then, if they hear another stations, after several 
unacknowledged attempts to QNI, AND the NCS not getting any new 
check-ins, then it would be GREAT to have further check-ins relayed to the NCS.

The problem is having relaying stations become too anxious to help... 
sometimes, I'll hear a number of stations trying to QNI... I (and 
Kevin) try to pick them off one at a time, until I hear no further 
callers. Then I'll make a couple more calls which, if they go 
unanswered, will cue me in to turn the beam to another direction, to 
make a few more calls. relays of missed stations would best be made 
when the NCS is in that position of getting no further responses to 
his calls... so he's not having to pick through a current batch of 
calling stations to stations in order to her the relaying station.

Additionally, I know I've experienced a number of instances where I 
KNOW there's been a station trying to QNI, but he gives up before I 
can get to him to acknowledge him.  Frustration is a problem... if we 
call several times and don't get acknowledged, after 4-5 attempts, we 
assume that the NCS can't hear us, and we decide to QRT for another 
beer.. or whatever... muttering to ourselves that the NCS needs a new 
set of ears... This COULD be the case... but it could also be the 
case that all the NCS has to do is to turn his antenna!!! And 
sometimes either a relay (QSP) or just being patient enough to allow 
the NCS to get TO you (either by weeding out the pile of callers OR 
by turning his antenna will also solve the problem.

But, in the final analysis... if you hear someone who has repeatedly 
called to check in and is not being acknowledged by the NCS (who is 
not in the process of picking up potentially stronger stations), then 
PLEASE take the time to relay the calling station to the NCS... even 
if you don't have the entire call, get the NCS's attention and at 
least tell him you hear someone (which you COULD copy if the NCS 
would only shut up long enough).  We'll certainly do our best to pull 
in all callers.

73, and thanks.

Tom   N0SS