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From: "Rick Bates, NK7I via Chat" <[email protected]>
Date: February 3, 2023 at 12:52:26 PM EST
Subject: [NCDXC Chat] Bouvet Band notes, simplified DXing
Reply-To: "Rick Bates, NK7I" <[email protected]>

Here are some notes to improve your chances of working DX, not just Bouvet. The key words are LISTEN, PATIENCE, LISTEN.

For Bouvet, there WILL be pileups that have not been seen in a generation (#2 worldwide, 23 year span since the last team was there, the last hope for many). It WILL require patience and your endurance.

The Bouvet team has stated that there will be FT8 (F/H ONLY) 24/7 on 60-10M. However, they will only use 100 watts so IF (when) they fully use the F/H mode with multiple streams, they will quickly fall into the QRP range. This WILL affect ALL stations (big guns and pop guns alike). Patience, patience and more patience.

Again, F/H mode ONLY; if you don't know how to use this mode of FT8, ASK NOW for some help!

THEY will hear well, the only local noise they'll have was brought with them. So if you are limited to 100 watts and a wire or antenna with little to no gain, do what you can (with a LOT of patience; the pileups will be EPIC and not in a good way). Wait until YOU hear (decode) THEM consistently before calling (or simply put, you're a lid or worse, a DQRMer).

[A day of ATNO only MIGHT happen, the team has discussed it. They have the tools to manage this. Patience!]

PLEASE follow the DX Code Of Conduct. It's clear to everyone, worldwide, when you don't.

Here are some usual DXing requests (or the Dave Letterman top 10 annoyances list?):

LISTEN to the instructions of the operator.   They WILL be listening split (phone/CW).
DO not call if you are not in the region the DX has their attention on (NA, AF, EU, AS, OC).

If you CANNOT HEAR the DX, then you DO NOT TRANSMIT. No blind calling, it's worse than pointless if you can't hear, you're causing others to miss their chance. Show some courtesy!

Be mindful that YOU are in split mode (non-F/H modes). Quickly correct if you are not.

If you MUST tune up (amp or antenna) DO NOT USE THE DX transmit FREQUENCY. EVER. (Split up/down THEN tune)

If you do not hear the DX call a portion OF YOUR CALL, then SHUT UP until it's time to make a call again. LISTEN.
WHEN in doubt, LISTEN again (are you seeing a theme here?). If they were calling you, they'll repeat the call.

UP cops (spleet!) are unwanted/unnecessary, there is already a crowd of lids standing by to take care of that.
WHEN calling, give YOUR call ONLY, using STANDARD PHONETICS then (answering ONLY when you heard your call correctly) the REPORT; that is ALL the DX wants to hear. (They don't care about your name, location or shoe size.)

ID machine stations (constantly calling) increases the chance of being ignored (because they are obviously not listening!)

For those that seek their band plan in their email for reference; NOTE that it is not always an exact frequency but is a range (in part for pileup management). The following is courtesy of 425 DX News (if needed, you can cut and reformat, email programs hash up the format):

According to the information published on the DXpedition's website, the band plan for 3Y0J is as follows:

   CW FT8 RTTY SSB
160m     1820-1826.5-1835 - - -
80m     3510-3540 - - >3600
60m     5351.5-5356     5356 - -
40m     7025-7040        7064 - >7120
30m 10105-10125     10144 - -
20m 14010-14040     14105 14125 >14225
17m     18074-18089 18090 & 18107 - >18120
15m 21010-21040 21105 21125 >21225
12m 24895-24910 24921 - >24925
10m 28010-28040 28086 - >28400

On CW and SSB the operators will choose a frequency within the spectrum and
limit the split to max 15 kHz and 30 kHz, respectively. The team will work
closely together with their pilots, and if they see that something is not
working, they will do adjustments.

73 es gl,
Rick nk7i

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