I'll assume that you're using Split to operate in a pileup (as opposed to RIT or XIT). If you're still using the TS-590S mentioned on your QRZ page, pressing its TF-Set button will temporarily swap your RX and TX frequencies, allowing you to listen to your TX frequency and change it if desired. In a CW pileup, you might start with your TX frequency 1 KHz above your RX frequency (the DX station's TX frequency). When the DX station makes a call, press and hold TF-Set and tune around the pileup in search of the called station. If you find it, then move your TX frequency to where you think the DX will next listen, and release TF-Set so that you are again listening to the DX station. When appropriate, send your callsign. This will be awkward at first. Practice, practice, practice...
“The Old Man” himself, Hiram Percy Maxim wrote of Rotten Air way back in the day. In our hobby, ever since the beginning, it comes with the territory. He kept sending “UP1” after each “TU,” so after several attempts up a few KHz, I got on exactly +1 (on 7004), and got in on the second try. He kept responding to “W9WEF” --had to repeat my call 3 times--slowly--before it finally got copied correctly, through all that QRM. But when they hear you through such a pileup, that's good evidence that you have an effective station. Their signal was still Q-5 well into daylight hours, so it's doubtful if any of them weren't hearing the station. A strong DX station is bound to create a huge pileup. At least one time this morning, “NA” was repeated several times in succession, presumably to fend off the other continents that were trying to get in. I use a B&W ME165-G dummy load / power meter/ SWR bridge (available from Fair Radio, in Lima, OH). Operating into the 50 ohm load, the amp can be tuned. Then after setting full scale, just a minuscule amount of power is fed into the bridge, so the antenna tuner can be adjusted for best match, without QRMing anyone (of course it's done away from the DX frequency, just in case). Me too, and getting through that massive pileup makes it seem all the more rewarding. Amazing what a little IC-706 (with 250 Hz CW filter) driving a 500 w amp into an inverted L can do under the right condx. 73, Jim
Glad you awoke from your long sleep...yes...things have changed, not just in amateur radio DX...civility is a thing of the past it seems in many areas...just have to do the best you can...
I use a B/W 334a wattmeter and dummy load...allows me to tune the amp to very close proximity...great station accessory...
My belief is that many of the people we hear sending their calls constantly on top of a pileup cannot actually hear the DX; they have seen on some spotting site or on social media that the DX is working the pileup on that frequency; so they just jump on there and start calling. If everyone would follow the old rule of "Don't call the DX unless you can hear it!," I think most pileups would become one-third to one-half the size they are now.
Sad but true. But I've read here that all CW Ops are FB and Fone Ops are dummies. So, this poor behavior must be a myth.
I believe that some people that just call and call have no idea how to work the pileup. They may hear the DX just fine, but cannot figure out where the DX is listening for one of two reasons: 1. No one ever showed them how and they didn't figure it out on their own. So, the plant themselves on a frequency and resign themselves to a very long outing. 2. They are in the "skip zone" and can only hear the DX. See #1. Yes, there are also some that can't hear anything and are applying, fallaciously, the "blind squirrel" theory of DXing. Never works, but try and talk them out of it.
I'm there right now. People just keep sending their calls. DX op sends DL4??, and 50 ops from the U.S. starting dropping their calls. I suppose they figure all the excess QRM has some magic catalytic effect and will help the DX op to work through the pileup efficiently.
I KNOW! I was shocked - he clearly would send part of a call but then donzens would just keep calling. Sadly, it worked for some of them. He gave up on the partial call and worked one of the others. Several people just kept sending their call over and over without a pause. Not sure how that's supposed to work... but it did. The guy I heard doing it got his contact. Guess I need to learn new tactics
