Modern Pile-Ups by G3SXW

by Roger Western, G3SXW

e-mail: g3sxw@btinternet.com

The problem of chaotic DX pile-ups is getting so bad that folks are finally paying attention. Ten years ago it was a minor issue but the problem has veritably exploded in just recent years. It’s growing like wild- fire especially in Europe, but now also in other areas. The disease used to afflict only occasional DXpeditions, now it is normal  and  damages  every DXpedition to some degree. All we tend to hear in pile-ups is a mix of unnecessary QRM but the sources are varied. So here’s an attempt  to summarize these different causative factors as we now understand them.

There are several dynamics which seem to deter- mine the extent of unruly behavior:

– rarity:  the more rare the DX station  the more excitement  is generated  and  the more  QRM  is attracted.

– DX pile-up operator tactics: the tried & tested operating  methods  to best manage  pile-ups are frequently not followed by DXpedition operators. These tactics ought to be self-evident but are often ignored – then chaos can ensue. Infrequently  identifying is one: the call-sign needs to be sent often, let’s say at least once  per  minute.  In  the  heat  of battle  whilst  he struggles to make QSOs the less experienced pile-up operator may be forgiven for simply forgetting to do this. He gets into the habit  of only sending it every few QSOs or so, but then let’s it slip. The easiest solution is to send it after every QSO, to avoid this trap. The very first time that he hears “call?” should be like a big warning  flag. For  the experienced pile-up operator who intentionally does not give his call-sign for long periods there is absolutely no excuse. Band pollution is another:  the band  may become filled with callers directly as a result of DXpedition operator tac- tics, when he takes callers from a wide range of frequencies – astute callers pick up on this and the pile- up spread quickly widens. To keep the pile-up within a small frequency range requires DX operator skill to be able to pick out call-signs from QRM  – but some operators seem to need a clear frequency  to do so.

Maybe  they need more practice  at home with computer simulator programs before diving in at the deep end. This is not  a skill which can just be taken  for granted,  without  which it may lead to working only the loudest signal. It also requires a good receiver so that  signals are separated,  perhaps  with the help of attenuation if signals are too loud for the front end. This could be a long list: not adhering to his own instructions (“JA only”, then working a UA3) is guaranteed  to create immediate chaos. Instructions need to be repeated frequently. Not following these simple rules guarantees  big QRM  problems,  but these days even ideal DXpedition operating  tactics are accompanied by much interference.

– weak signals: when the DX signal is loud at the Callers’ end the situation  is much more controllable because the DX  signal rides over QRM  on his frequency and callers can hear instructions. This has been proven time after time, both  with loud signals from nearby DXpeditions (e.g. 1AØ) and weak signals from far away (e.g. T32).

– propagation: the  source  of  the  problem  is mostly, but not exclusively, Europe, so the difficulties mount whenever propagation allows European signals to be heard at the same time as the DX signal. When calling DX on the higher bands European signals are often within our skip dead-zone  so cannot  be heard or  are  weaker.  This  is yet  another   reason  for DXpeditions to operate as much as possible on which- ever band is just below the MUF. On the LF bands, however, those European signals can be heard and are usually loud. The peak band for Pile-Up Problems is definitely forty metres: this band  provides good DX propagation to hear the far off DXpeditions but also provides loud European signals. We call it ‘the zoo’.

There are various  categories  of QRMers.  Some blur at the edges of course, but most can be distinctly identified. There are not yet clear names for some of them, hence there is some confusion when discussing them.

– Pirates: this one is perhaps clear-cut and is not new. Pirates  have been around  for a long time, stations who transmit  illegally with false or with some- one else’s call-sign. They do so purely for their own perverted pleasure, to enjoy the thrill of being called by many stations, while sitting in the comfort of their own home. Above all other  categories  these are the pariahs of the DX world and deserve only strong condemnation. DF tools are beginning to be used to identify them and DXers the world over should lend these initiatives their support. Then again, DXers could mitigate the problem by using common-sense: “WFWL” (work first worry later) is a natural response but some situations  are so blatant,  like when a signal purporting to originate  in the Indian  Ocean was being transmitted from Canada. Or when a supposed 100-watt Afghanistan station was S9+30db in UK on 80 metres. Most DXers rely on the Cluster so this may be the place to warn fellow enthusiasts  that a station is a Pirate.

– Frequency  Kops:  now we enter the less well- defined areas. Many years ago a ‘Policeman’ was try- ing to be helpful, to keep the DX frequency clear when he was operating split. He would say “UP” only when the DX was not transmitting, trying to help the caller who had hit the wrong VFO button. But nowadays these Policemen cause more problems than they solve, so they are either mis-guided or . . . . . perhaps  they are actually Deliberate  QRMers  (see below) damaging the DXpedition but pretending to be helpful. When a dozen stations  all keep sending ‘up’ or similar for long periods surely their intentions are not honorable. Whatever we do we must resist the temptation to join in the chaos.

– Deliberate  QRMers:  these folk are out to destroy the DXpedition, along with the fun enjoyed by thousands of DX chasers. They do so by transmitting deliberate QRM on the DX frequency. They are anonymous and of course never explain why they do this, so we must merely write them off as social out- casts, hooligans.  This group  has become known  as ‘DQRM’  but they need to be categorized  separately from those who cause QRM unintentionally.

– Continuous Callers:  now we reach  a major source of the QRM problem, DX Chasers who dam- age the pile-up by transmitting their call-sign nearly continuously,  no matter  the instructions  of the DX station. This group is further split into a) Heavy Boots, b) Unskilled and possibly c) a few DQRMers just trying to wreak havoc.  The ‘Heavy Boots’ just call no matter what is happening on the frequency, demanding to get into the DX log at any cost, like pushing through a crowd unconcerned about the folk that they knock over on the way. The ‘Unskilled’ simply do not know how to operate  in a pile-up situation  but hope that  continuously sending their  call-sign will some-how secure the QSO – this group  includes a whole raft  of under-skilled  operators, perhaps  including those who cannot copy CW. They need help to learn.

The tipping-point is a recognised statistical  phe- nomenon. A trend becomes established, it then grows slowly but steadily. At some point  in time the inci- dence suddenly  takes off and  the graph-line  shoots up. This happened with DX pile-up Problems over just a very few recent years and the phenomenon is still growing. Once past the tipping-point, no action hav- ing been taken  to curtail the activity, then some be- lieve it is too late to correct, as it has by then become endemic. At first the DQRMers, for example, were just a couple of individuals, but they were not identi- fied and taken (nor seen to be taken) to task, so they were left to get away with it. Others  noted  this and joined in, at first just a few, then many more. The same growth has been witnessed with Heavy Boots and the Unskilled. So now we accept it as ‘situation normal’ and mostly just shrug our shoulders.

Can the situation  be retrieved? Probably  not en- tirely. There is certainly no silver bullet. But we can at least try to slow or stop the growth, then possibly rein it in somewhat. If not then in the near future DX chas- ing may wither as more and more DXers throw in the towel, realising that  they no longer  enjoy the sub- hobby.

We may not be able to fight against the modern social trend of deteriorating morals but we can try to set good examples by our own behviour. Any actions should have a clear goal to tackle one, and only one, of  the above  sources  of  the  problem.  IARU  and ON4WW believe that education  is the solution.  Yes, this is an important partial  solution  to help reduce the number of ‘Unskilleds’. Just one or two publicised DF  successes could act as deterrence  thereby reduc- ing the number of DQRMers and Pirates. The ‘Heavy Boots’ (if they can be determined  as different  from

‘Unskilleds’) can be brought  to book  personally  by, for example, withdrawing their club memberships and sacking from DXCC.

For some years N4AA and friends have enclosed a slip with direct cards, totalling over 40,000, to help spread  the good word about  how to operate  in DX pile-up  situations.  This initiative  has undoubtedly helped and we record our thanks to these fine chaps.

But we need new initiatives to take this forward: we must all act now with several different solutions. In terms of Education we can help newcomers and transgressors to learn how best to break  the pile-up without  destroying  their own reputation and self-re- spect in the process.  We can also try  to  help new DXpeditioners learn how best to minimise the chaos by choosing appropriate operating  techniques.

One such new initiative, to help DX Chasers un- derstand how best to operate, is being promulgated by the First Class CW Operators’  Club. A “DX Code of Conduct” is now appearing in magazines and on web- sites across the world, translated into many languages. The Code appears elsewhere in this publication, but is only a beginning. All DXers are asked to help spread the word in local clubs to reach as many DX Chasers as possible.  They  could  also  adopt  the  system of ‘Elmering’ – helping a local guy to learn the ropes.

As so often in life it might be that just a small step taken by lots of people could help mitigate the prob- lem, rather than some authority on high trying to lay down the law. After all, amateur  radio is self-policing these days!

I am  writing  to  raise  a matter  of  increasing concern about  the standard of on-the-air  operating. A number of your readers have, I’m sure, commented to  you  that  there  is now  a serious  problem  with operating  behaviour,  especially when calling DX stations in pile-ups on the HF bands.

As President  of The First Class CW  Operators’ Club (FOC), I and Randy, W6SJ, in partnership with leading DX operators, have decided that we will take the initiative to encourage all DXers to work together in order  to improve  standards. To this end we have created  the following simple DX Code of Conduct which I would ask you to bring to the attention of your  readers.    If we all pull  together  to  improve standards then we will all be able to work more DX and have more fun on-the-air.

More information is available as follows:

FOC website http://www.g4foc.org/; March 2010 QST;

<http://www.g4ifb.com/html/dxing.html#PileupTips>

<http://www.on4ww.be/operatingPracticeEnglish.html>

Please translate  the DX  Code   into  your  local language if that makes the message more effective.

Thanks for your help and 73, Bob Whelan, G3PJT, President, FOC