[SFDXA] VK9MA DXpedition to Mellish Reef

[Bill]

 From The ARRL Contest Update:

Tools for the Right Job

I had an opportunity to "be the DX" as part of the VK9MA DXpedition to 
Mellish Reef earlier this month. As a team we were satisfied with the 
number of contacts that we made, and even exceeded our pre-trip goal. 
However I believe we could have made even more contacts, especially to 
some parts of the world that seemed to be clamoring for a QSO. On nearly 
every mode and every band, we experienced (near) immediate pileups from 
the first CQ, but because of the number of repeats required to complete 
QSOs, the rates were in many instances diminished. The cause? 
Interference from what could charitably called 'tail ending attempts.'

The technology and tools available to anyone - Waterfall displays, 
panadapters, spectrum displays means little skill is needed to find out 
which frequency the DX is working when operating split. Any operator can 
look on the screen, see which station is responding with their report, 
click there, and blast away with their call, with no regard for the 
interference they're causing to the contact already in progress. The net 
result? Information must be repeated, everyone in the pileup waits, and 
the rate suffers. It's frustrating for the DX and those seeking the DX. 
It's poor operating. There's a DX Code of Conduct 
<http://www.dx-code.org/> that provides guidelines, but it's not 
reaching those that could use it the most, or maybe some believe that 
this is the proper way to operate.

I hold out hope that those 'blasting' stations will improve their 
reputation and effectiveness by operating more ethically, and learning 
how to use their tools skillfully instead of as a bludgeon. I'm glad 
that the DX & Contest Conventions, Seminars, and "Universities" exist to 
provide venues for learning the about the latest tools, and the 
responsible ways to use them.

That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories, 
book reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club 
information, pictures, stories, blog links, and predictions to 
contest-update at arrl.org <mailto:contest-update at arrl.org>

73, Brian N9ADG