[nrv-hams] Working split frequencies

[roger bell]

3/07/14 
Kay, many thanks for the reminder, and for the particulars applicable to working split frequencies.
73, Roger Bell N4FPA------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


> From: nrv-hams-request at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: nrv-hams Digest, Vol 46, Issue 3
> To: nrv-hams at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 12:00:11 -0500
>
> 
>    1. Let's split this scene, man (Kay Craigie)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 15:07:56 -0500
> From: "Kay Craigie" <n3kn at verizon.net>
> To: "Nrv-Hams" <nrv-hams at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [nrv-hams] Let's split this scene, man
>
> 
> If you are chasing the W1AW portable stations, it's a good opportunity to
> learn an operating skill. As I listen to the bands while chasing the
> stations myself, I observe that it's a skill many hams don't have. It's
> called working split frequency, or just "split." It is common in DXpedition
> type operations, rare to nonexistent in contesting, rag chewing, and nets.
> 
> Let's say a boat load of stations are calling W1AW/7. If the operator at
> W1AW/7 transmits and listens on the same frequency the way you would in
> normal operating, it may be impossible to tell when he has answered one of
> the many callers, let alone hear *which* caller he has answered. This bedlam
> wastes time and irritates everybody. 
> 
> However, if W1AW/7 transmits on one frequency but listens on a different
> one, usually higher than his transmit frequency, it's easy to hear when and
> to whom he replies because (theoretically) nobody is transmitting on top of
> him. This is working split. 
> 
> How do we know if a station is working split? Good operators will tell us.
> On phone if they are transmitting on, say, 14190 kHz, they will say
> something like "W1AW/7 listening 195," "listening up," "listening up 5," or
> even "listening up 5 to 10." Hold it! What's that "up 5 to 10" bit?
> Sometimes to spread out the stations calling, the operator will tune over a
> range of frequencies, the better to pick out one from the mob to answer. We
> who are calling him choose a frequency within that range and call there. 
> 
> On CW the operator will usually say "up" or "up 1" or something like that.
> 
> It's annoying when the station I want to work is working split but does not
> say so. In that case, how do I avoid getting barked at by the frequency
> police who expect me to be a mind reader? If I don't hear any of the
> stations being answered by W1AW/7, that's a clue that he may be working
> split. Another approach is to tune up the band, about 5 kHz on phone, about
> 1 or 2 kHz on CW, to see if I can hear a bunch of stations calling. Or I can
> just wait until the band cops fuss at somebody else! If you hear someone
> snarl "He's listening UP!!!" on W1AW/7's frequency, he's working split and
> someone just made a boo-boo. I hope it wasn't me.
> 
> How you set up your rig for split frequency depends on your rig's
> capabilities. If you have two VFOs, set the transmit and receive frequencies
> on them, making sure you have them the right way around. If you also have a
> sub-receiver, you can use it to track the stations being answered by the one
> you want to work, so as to pick a frequency for your transmissions where he
> might listen next.
> 
> If you don't have two VFOs but do have a setting called RIT (receive
> incremental tuning), you put your VFO on the frequency you will transmit on
> and use the RIT to find and listen to the station you want to work. It's
> clunky, but it usually gets the job done. Some rigs also have a control
> called XIT (transmit incremental tuning) that does the same thing, the other
> way around. For reasons best known to themselves, Yaesu calls the RIT/XIT
> controls "clarifier." You may have to read the manual to see how to work
> these controls, whatever they are called on your rig.
> 
> Rigs with visual displays of the spectrum may make it easier to tell when a
> station is operating split and what frequencies the successful calling
> stations are using.
> 
> Digital operators also use split frequency when there will be many stations
> calling. Check the help file of your software to see how to set it up for
> split frequency operation.
> 
> Have I ever transmitted on the wrong VFO? Sure I have and felt silly for it.
> Only people who are really, really new to working pile-ups have never made
> this mistake. Not the end of the world, but it's why I take a last good look
> at my rig before I transmit, just to make sure.
> 
> Listen to the W1AW portable operations and see how the operators are using,
> or not using, split frequency to manage the stations calling them.
> 
> 73, Kay N3KN
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nrv-hams mailing list
> nrv-hams at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/nrv-hams
> 
> 
> End of nrv-hams Digest, Vol 46, Issue 3
> ***************************************