[SADXA] Interesting VP6D Operating Practices

[Wes Stewart]

I have now worked them at least once on 10 through 160 on CW, 12 through 40 on 
SSB, 15 through 20 on RTTY and 12 through 80 on (yuck) FT8 for a total (I think) 
of 29 slots.

Not once have I worked them on their QRG.

But Bill's observation about operator experience might be correct, although all 
of these guys have been on other expeditions where Elecraft K3s have been used.  
Nevertheless, I have been using them since 2008 and I on occasion receive the 
"He's working up dummy" message.

The reason for this has to do with the ergonomics, or lack thereof, of the K3.  
Most buttons on the radio are dual (or more) function, where a "tap" does one 
thing and a "hold" does another. Regrettably, the button that puts the radio 
into "split" needs a "hold."  The "tap" copies A to B.  So an operator can dial 
in a TX frequency on VFO B, while listening on a different frequency on VFO A.  
If he decides to go split, and bobbles while punching the button, he can 
inadvertently copy (overwrite) A into B and then go on to hold the button 
putting the radio into split.  The "split" indicator light will be on, but 
unfortunately both VFOs are on the same frequency.

Of course, if he is tuning for callers he will know this instantly.  But when he 
announces that he isn't tuning and listening on a particular frequency he will 
never know.

Wes  N7WS

On 10/30/2018 11:45 AM, W7EXG (Bill) wrote:
> Hi SADXA Group,
>
> While chasing the VP6D DX-pedition, I discovered some interesting operating
> practices that are unexplained.
>
> For example, I heard VP6D on 20m 14190 kHz (S9+) last night calling CQ for
> up 5, with no acknowledgment of any answering station. He kept calling and
> calling CQ. Finally, I decided to give him a call up 5, and he also did NOT
> answer me, even though I called and called. I decided he was listening
> somewhere else - but where?
>
> Finally I called him on HIS transmit frequency 14190 kHz (AND I KNOW THIS IS
> A LID practice!!).   Yup, he was listening to his transmit frequency, and
> gave me a 59 + report. LID operation works!!  He asked me to spot him in 20m
> which I did, because he was not getting any response.  I told him I WAS
> calling him up 5 and he did not hear me and I was ON this transmit freq.
>
> I dismissed this odd practice until today.
>
> I was on 18071 kHz, calling VP6D up 2 as requested. AGAIN -- NO ANSWER -
> from anyone, even though I could hear the pileup. He was calling and calling
> CQ. So, based on my seasoned DX experience with past VP6D stations, I became
> a LID AGAIN, and called him on HIS frequency, and YES, that IS where he was
> listening.
>
> Other stations calling realized his practice, and soon stared a pileup on
> his transmit frequency. WE ALL BECAME LIDS!! What fun was that!!
>
> I did hear one VP6D op say "I am listening UP 5 -- NO TUNING" which may be
> common practice?
>
> I am now thinking that these ops are using radios they are not familiar with
> and this may be the reason for this unexplained op practice. I think all of
> us have, at one time in our ham career, "misused" the offset function,
> especially with a new rig.
>
> Now we know why LIDS call on the DX station's transmit fre1quency.
>
> Don't get me wrong, I am NOT encouraging LID operation!!  Hi Hi
>
> This is one of my interesting observations of the VP6D operation.
>
> Best 73's
>
> Bill W7EXG
>