View Full Version : DX Operating Gripes
W0BKR
08-06-2002, 01:02 PM
What is your number one gripe with DX ops? Be interesting to see how similar the responses will be! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
WB2WIK
08-06-2002, 06:52 PM
I can't have just one.
How about:
-Working "Seymour" for the nineteenth time while 400 others are waiting patiently for a chance? (P.S. I swear I never call a DX station with a pileup if I don't need the contact as a new one.)
-Giving his callsign only once an hour or so?
-Giving lectures on what to do, and what not to do, to work him, without giving his callsign?
-Allowing the pileup to spread 20-30 kHz, and encouraging that by answering those at the edges and out of bounds of the announced split?
-Making one contact every two minutes, when I can clearly and distinctly hear hundreds of individual callsigns from all over the world calling him, and could easily go through the whole pile in less than an hour?
-Taking no standbys for QRP and mobile operators?
-Acknowledging (clearly) the call worked, but evidently logging it as something else? (The old "not in log" problem, even though you have the crystal-clear contact on tape.)
-Ah, don't get me started!
Still, it's all good, and all fun, or why bother?
WB2WIK/6
W0BKR
08-06-2002, 08:34 PM
Steve, WIK,
Loved it!!
How about these ?
I am going by numbers, any number 1....and so on, up to number 9.
Everyone, I must go QRT now. 73.
Hey...what about 0's ?
Or, "I will be on daily, 2200-2300 on 15 meters on SSB."
Yet, no show after 6 weeks. What's up with that BS ?
Or how about this one that I really love....
"Any number 5?"
This is W0BKR in 5 land.
"I am calling only number 5..any number 5?"
But I am in 5-land, Texas, that is in 5 land. Look on your map Nit Wit!
"Now number 6...any number 6?"
I think the one that tops it is the latest P5 operation with all the bogus info from KK5DO. Don't get me started on that one!
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
N7CPC
08-06-2002, 09:54 PM
1.) All the spectrum taken up by any pile-up is wasted.
2.) Split opperation wastes twice as much!
73 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
ka1kjz
08-06-2002, 11:48 PM
Liddish operators who demand the rare DX is there to work them and only them.
Swearing at the DX for getting things wrong, no wonder they no longer hear him.
kc8plw
08-07-2002, 03:11 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (WB2WIK @ Aug. 06 2002,11:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">-Giving his callsign only once an hour or so?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
That bugs me more than anything. #
Or even worse, trying to make out a call when the DX op won't use phonetics.
My worst gripe is QSB.
I know I have no control over these things, but I guess that just adds to the fun of working DX.
73's Rob KC8PLW
My #1 Gripe is, and always has been, DX stations that encourage the calling stations to be lids. For example, if a DX station answers a tail-ender (someone who calls while the previous contact is still transmitting), EVERYONE will tail-end! And why not? Eventually, the Pack gets the idea that if they DON'T tail-end, they won't be answered!
Another similar bad practice is answering stations that call out of turn:
DX station: "Who was the Whisky Three Sugar something?"
Lid: "WHISKEY ALPHA ONE QUEBEC ROMEO MEXICO! WHISKEY ALPHA ONE QUEBEC ROMEO MEXICO!"
DX Station: "WA1QRM 5-9."
In a mob mentality, individuals will do whatever they think they can get away with. If the DX station lets people be lids, they will be lids.
I also can't stand it when some hotshot breaks a pileup to say "Thanks for the QSL," or "We worked yesterday. Just wanted to tell you that you have a great signal here in Maine." And I fully agree about DX stations who identify once an hour. Wussup wid dat??
I can also do without the Pileup Police who make more noise and commotion than the people they are trying to "correct." I once heard a WA1D** in Maine (if you read this, you know who you are, you scumbag) who got ON the DX station's frequency in a "split" pileup to berate certain participants who were calling 10 kc up!! He even accused me of calling out of turn. (I didn't. Or if I did, it was unintentional.) He then deliberately QRM'ed me when I finally made contact with the DX. Who appointed HIM Chief of the Pileup Gestapo?? Childish...
W0BKR, your heart is in the right place, and you tried to help matters by specifying that you were IN 5-land, but I say you should call with the zeros. I heard a DX station last night going by the numbers and he made it clear: "Anyone with a zero in your call." NOT "Anyone in Zero-Land." The DX station is not necessarily trying to split things geographically -- he's just trying to split things statistically by the number in your callsign. #I know it's a drag, but if this becomes a big problem, you might wanna consider getting a 5-call. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Out.
WB2WIK
08-07-2002, 04:49 PM
DXing is fun, and we all need to chill and have the right attitude.
One of my best DXing experiences:
3Y5X Bouvet. Worked 'em on six band-modes, but was looking to work 'em on a few more. The pileup on 15m phone was deep and wide, and I just wasn't cutting it. Finally, out of the blue, the operator says, "Okay, mobile stations only now, please. Mobile stations only."
Aha! I ran, not walked, out to the car in the garage and almost had it out of the garage before the door was open. Pulled into the driveway, then into the street in front of the house. I'm mobile! The Spider antenna already had a 15m resonator in it. Turned on the old TS430S, dialed in the split.
I got through on the second call, when from the home station I had waited in line for 15 mins and wasn't getting anywhere.
Ingenuity.
WB2WIK/6
W0BKR
08-07-2002, 08:38 PM
I already have. #Should have it soon. #Hate having it, but I think in the long run, stupid DX ops won't have to worry about vanity calls and outplaced calls. #It will require less brain cells for the DX ops! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
#Hi.
Nice capture WIK on the mobile. #Don't see many DX ops that will do that! #Must be nice though, to have an arrangement specifically set for one end of the country or the other. Us in the middle work for it. Hi.
Just remember to keep the RF out of the garage door opener so that door doesn't come back down on you!!
My biggest gripe about DX ops is the ones' who can't handle it and put up a posting here to complain.
K2WH
ka1kjz
08-08-2002, 06:01 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K2WH @ Aug. 07 2002,13:51)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My biggest gripe about DX ops is the ones' who can't handle it and put up a posting here to complain.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
AMEN!
Re: DX ops who can't hack a pileup --
It's a drag when they suddenly pull the plug and disappear. On one hand, if I were a DX station, and the mob was acting like animals, I just might say FOOGEDDABOUDIT and walk away. But on the other hand, as I always say, it is TOTALLY up to the DX to maintain order from the git-go. He should announce that he will not acknowledge tail-enders or those who call out of turn. He can even state that he will be keeping a list of those "problem children" who won't behave, and they will not get to work him.
If a DX op lets the DX'ers act like hungry seagulls at the beach being fed french fries by a 5 year old (and you coastal doods know what I mean by this), then he has himself to blame for things getting so bad that he has to leave in a huff.
W0BKR, what new call are you getting? Once you get that DUBYA FAHVE call, you'll have to work on your Texas Twang too! And be sure to yell "Texas on frequency!" during pileups. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif # Haw....
I'm out....
W0BKR
08-08-2002, 05:08 PM
No offense, but I hate getting a 5 call. I didn't move here out of "want" to be sure. Hi.
No, I won't, and I hope I don't develop a twang. Nor will I buy a dualie pick up or wear boots and a hat. I wasn't born here, just a transplant...due to something like "have to work to eat!".
No offense guys, just not my thing!
Have to agree with SY's comments. Very true indeed. Nothing to do with "hacking it", just common sense with a sprinkle of logic, something that is missing many times.
Hey Chris/W0BKR,
Sorry about the forced relocation, but I guess it could be worse than Texas. They have great Tex/Mex food there!
Ok, you can skip the pick-em-up truck, boots, and ten gallon hat, but I DO fully expect you to call everybody "podnuh."
So --- still waiting to hear what 5 call you requested. How about W5YH - Dubya Fahve Yeeeeeee Haaawww!!
Here's another DX gripe, but not a real huge one: What's with the DX ops running a huge pileup who repeat the same "brag tape" on EVERY QSO?
Example: "My name is Akhmud, I spell America Kentucky Hotel Mexico United Denmark, I am located in Rilla-Rillabad, along the northern border of Lackanookystan, running the Icom 756 to an amplifier about 500 watts to a TH7 up about 30 meters. The weather is hot, about 30 degrees Centigrade. Thank you for this QSO, and QSL is via UR1LID. 73 and QRZ..."
All good info, and the first time you hear it, it's a LOT more interesting than "W3SY 5-9." But after you have heard the same blurb repeated verbatim about 20 QSO's in a row, it becomes a bit much. If you are working a pileup, I say you should knock 'em off quickly, identify often, and every once in a while blurt out the brag tape if you absolutely must.
And if the DX says "To Hell with the pileup, I want to ragchew," that is perfectly fine too! There's no law that says any time you generate a pileup you have to work 'em "contest style." But if you ARE working thru the pileup, please have mercy on us and don't repeat the personal info on every QSO. We've been listening. We heard it. We wrote it down. We're cool with it already.
Out.
Phineas
08-09-2002, 05:40 PM
DX Pile up = Amateur CB Channel 6 mode.....
What is the difference? It all depends on the person managing the pile up.
The best way to shoot ragchew DX is to hang out on bands that are not suppose to be open. During the Dayton Hamvention weekend, I talked to a guy from Queensland for at least a half hour. On 10 meters. The MUF didnt even show good conditions on that band.
Any wimpy lid can go buy an 1000kw amp and shoot DX on an easy bands like 20, 40 or 80 meters. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Phineas
KC0LSC