[Elecraft] Split DX

[Robie Elms]

Brett,

Stations work split so that their signal will not be obscured by those
stations calling them.  The station calling cq is transmitting on one
frequency and listeing on another.  With some transcievers it is
possible to listen on both frequencies simultaneously.  However, many
will only listen on their transmit frequency periodically.

There is on standard split that I am aware of.  Hovever, you hear +1,
+2, +5 and +7 frequently.  Sometimes the split will be down -1, -5
etc.  The + and - mean kHz above or below the stations transmit
frequency.   The station calling cq should transmit the split
information frequently, otherwise it is difficult for the calling
stations to determine where to transmit.  For example VP6DX (Ducie
Island) operators are doing a great job if you listen you will hear
something like this   CQ CQ VP6DX UP 7,  or VP6DX QRZ  QSX u 25.

Sometimes the station provides a range of the split - up 5 to 10,  dwn
2 to 3 etc.   You will also hear simply up or down - which means
direction from the transmit frequency and it is up to the stations
calling to choose where they will transmit.

Splits for SSB are usually greater than those for CW, RTTY etc.


I hope this simple explanation helps.  I am sure many others will
provied additional information.

73,

Robie AJ4F


On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Brett Howard <brett at livecomputers.com> wrote:
> I've not ever really worked a split DX station and ever since getting the K1
> I've been working on building up my CW skills.  I've gotten to where I can
> get the jist of the info at 14WPM w/ 20WPM char speeds.
>
>
>
> I've heard frequencies where it seems like nothing is going on and then all
> of the sudden 10 stations light up.  I'm assuming that this is a split DX
> and I'm only hearing half of it.
>
>
>
> But anyway it doesn't make much sense to me.  So granted a station can
> listen to both frequencies at once and I'm sure transmitting station is
> probably only listening when he's not transmitting (unless he has two
> separate radios and two separate antennas).  This just seems like a waste of
> bandwidth especially if he's not doing full duplex.
>
>
>
> Is there a common split distance so that one may easily find the other half
> or do people usually just go digging till they find it?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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