[NLRS] (LONG)10GHz Operating procedures ?

[Donn Baker]

[I'm cc:'ing the entire NLRS list on this.  There is sure to be experience
there that is useful, but won't get captured with just the 10GHz list.  Donn]


Several of us have discussed this while we've been in the field, but
nobody's written anything down yet.  I'll try to remember what we talked
about, run it up the flag-pole, and see if anyone salutes.   

At LEAST two of these will be (ARE!) controversial in terms of procedure.
That's what this is for... get discussion going, and resolve it before August.

In no particular order:

1) If you're running schedules, STAY ON THE SCHEDULE.  If you make a
mistake, get back to the schedule as soon as you can.

2) 5 minute sequences seem to be better than 2 minute ones.  

3) When using phonetics, use STANDARDIZED, RECOGNIZED ones.  "Cute"
phonetics for your call ARE cute, but not necessarily useful.  When you
hear only small parts of a call, standardized phonetics are easier to
recognize than the "cute" ones.

4) DON'T CHANGE the phonetics when you're using them.  The SAME phonetics
heard several times are much easier to pick out than different ones each
time through. For example: 'Whiskey Zero Alpha Mike,' 'Wisconsin Zero
Atlanta Mexico,' 'William Zero Adam Mary,' etc.

5) If you're "tail-ending" on another Q, STAY ON THE FREQUENCY WHERE YOU'VE
HEARD THE OTHER STATIONS.  DON'T change frequency. The other stations are
already there, and you've heard them there.  If you change, you may never
find them again!

6) A valid Q requires that BOTH stations:
     a) Send and receive BOTH calls
     b) Exchange a piece of information (usually grid square, but it
doesn't         		have to be.  10 GHz contest exchange IS 6-character grid
location)
     c) Acknowledge the exchange
Even if you're the umpteenth contact in a group with W0XX, you must still
use their call, your call, etc.

7) When conditions are poor, send your call (and grid, etc.) more than
once; usually, 3 times is what's used.  It gives the other end a better
chance to copy.  This is true for both voice and CW.

8) Get the required information passed, THEN talk about how good (bad)
signals are, how windy it is, etc.  Conditions can change in seconds (i.e.,
the plane moves out of the beam) and you could lose the Q.

9) Don't follow the other guy by changing your TX frequency.  Use RIT or
split VFOs (i.e., TX on VFO A, which you never change; RX on VFO B which
you may change to your heart's content).  Personally, I prefer RIT; but
every once in a while, you run out of range.  Then you're in trouble.!
With split VFOs, find'em with VFO A, VFO A => VFO B, and then transmit with
VFO B; RX with VFO A.  Either way, during a QSO TX frequencies change ONLY
with drift... never by someone turning the dial.  Makes it easier for the
other end.

10) ????

Let the games begin !

73 Donn
WA2VOI/0