[Fists] QSY'ing away from a calling freq.

Sun Aug 17 14:17:36 EDT 2008

Well, if it were 4 to 10 years ago, I would agree on the calling freq idea. 
A "CQ FISTS" on .058 or 1Khz up or down more or less would rarely go 
unanswered, especially on 40 or 20 meters, and at night 80 also. Now an op 
can often call til his finners are sore and rarely get an answer, and often 
times the reply is from a non FIST member. I have found that ops new to CW, 
or those who have trouble copying Morse, rarely have any idea what you are 
trying to tell them. They are having enuff problems trying to get the RST, 
name and QTH correct. Time and again the last few years I have made efforts 
to ask ops questions about their equipment, antennas, bands of operation, 
etc etc, only to have these questions ignored, while the op tells me the 
usual WX etc. This tells me that he is NOT getting it. Trying to QSY with 
the diminished skills of todays new ops are just an excercise in futility. 
Besides, trying to do this at 5 to 8 WPM just takes too long. Nobody HAS to 
learn Morse anymore, and I applaud the ops who do, however there is no 
longer any stress put on P-R-O-C-E-E-D-U-R-E. I just have a QSO wherever I 
happen to get it and move on. Like I said, it's not like .058 is packed like 
in days gone by, or the band is full of prioficient ops, so lets just help 
the new guys along and keep things simple. Plus, we sure don't need anymore 
frequency cops as I believe those jobs are filled, and still have long 
waiting lists. Keep QSO's simple unless you know the other guy is 
understanding WHAT you are sending. New ops have a tendency to send faster 
than they can copy, which ends up meaning they don't  copy much at all, and 
are usually nervous to boot, so don't make it worse with a bunch of useless 
jibberish that was not needed in the first place...........Tap 
on.....Al/W8FAX/2192
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Ring" <n1ea at arrl.net>
To: "Paul Carreiro, N6EV" <N6EV at montecarloss.com>
Cc: <fists at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 2:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Fists] QSY'ing away from a calling freq.


> Sending CC's may delay your post. If you feel that your post needs to go 
> to more than one destination please send them separately.
>
>
>
> Hello Paul,
>
> FISTS has long had a calling frequency - NOT a suggested working
> frequency.  Although FISTS cannot enforce the clubs wishes, there are
> a long list of editorials and letters written by Geroge, G3ZQS on the
> subject.
>
> The calling frequencies are to be used to call and establish a contact
> and move off.
>
> Just like the national simplex calling channels on VHF and VHF SSB.
> Can and shift off frequency for the conversation.  it is a very good
> system when it works.  Hams historically have a great resentment with
> calling frequencies even though they work very well.  The FCC gets
> complaints about people sitting on the SSB calling frequencies or
> 146.52 MHz for hours chatting and can do nothing about it though.
>
> However all the good instruction from Geo G3ZQS (now a silent key) and
> others has little good effect when there are others saying "just go
> ahead and have a QSO on the frequency".
>
> If that is what FISTS wants, then they should change "Calling
> Frequencies" to "Suggested Operating Frequencies".  It is clear
> historically that FISTS wanted calling frequencies.
>
> You may disagree with that wish, and you may even disregard it without
> any penalty, but haiving a QSO on the calling frequencies destroys
> their effectiveness.
>
> What people should be getting is familiarity with a sound proceedure
> of shifting off frequency.
>
> 73
>
> DR
>
> David Ring, N1EA
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 16, 2008 at 2:41 PM, Paul Carreiro, N6EV
> <N6EV at montecarloss.com> wrote:
>> Sending CC's may delay your post. If you feel that your post needs to go 
>> to
>> more than one destination please send them separately.
>>
>>
>> At 02:56 AM 8/15/2008, David, N1EA wrote:
>>>
>>> Even if 14,058.0 isn't active where you are, having a QSO there will
>>> annoy those who are monitoring 14,058.0 kHz and cause them to turn off
>>> their radios.  (snip)
>>
>> I'm sure this is a topic on which we'll never obtain consensus.  I do 
>> think
>> the above line of thinking is a little over the top though.
>>
>> We're not talking about 500Kc where some important traffic may pop up any
>> second.  .058 isn't an active net frequency 24/7.   We have no more right 
>> to
>> it than anyone else.  QSYing simply moves you to "someone else's 
>> frequency"
>> because I'm sure no matter where you go, someone has claimed it.  David
>> mentions .050, .056 (not .055) and .060 as good examples.  There are many
>> more I'm sure.  Every year it seems more frequencies are considered 
>> sacred
>> ground by individual groups.   It's compounded by encroachments by data 
>> and
>> voice transmissions as well as the loss of band segments to voice.  It's
>> ridiculous that you have to tip-toe your way around the band.  Be 
>> respectful
>> of established frequencies (especially in the case of QRP) of course... 
>> but
>> if it's open, use it.
>>
>> In my book.. if .058 is clear.. have a QSO there.  If you don't want to
>> listen in, QSY or turn the radio off.  If you want to make a call and 
>> .058
>> is busy, QSY up for down slightly, or (gasp) switch bands.  That's how 
>> other
>> groups work.  I don't know why some in this group continue to fanatically
>> hold .058 sacred.  It's a focal point, but it's not the only frequency 
>> you
>> can contact a fellow FISTS member.  Spread out for gosh sakes if the
>> frequency is in use.  There is no protocol that says you must QSY from 
>> .058.
>>  Perhaps we should just stop calling it a calling frequency.  That term
>> seems to be the root of the confusion and fanaticism.
>>
>> Just my 2 cents.  I certainly don't expect everyone to agree, and I won't 
>> be
>> so presumptuous to expect anyone let alone everyone to comply.
>>
>> Paul  N6EV  #1407
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