Wkd

QSLd

CW

265

238

SSB

148

85

Data

61

30

Mixed

270

242

Band

160m

80m

40m

30m

20m

17m

15m

12m

10m

ALL

Worked

33

154

225

197

233

163

150

35

59

270

Confirmed

17

118

200

140

152

99

99

22

35

242

Pileup-beating advice for DXers

Pileup management advice
for DX stations

Listen listen listen!   If you hear a pileup or see something juicy spotted on DXcluster, please don’t just jump straight in.  You will not be able to work the DX if you can’t even hear the DX, so first find the DX stn’s TX frequency and set up your transceiver and antenna properly while you listen to his rhythm and hopefully find out his preferred RX frequency. 

Aim to be efficient, fair and reasonable. You know lots of DXers will be desperately calling so do your level best to work the pileups as efficiently as possible.  Try to adopt a consistent rhythm and sensible speed for the conditions, and be prepared to slow down a bit (or use “Farnsworth” extended inter-character gaps at least) for the slower callers who appear to be having trouble copying you.  Ignore the lids - don’t rise to the bait.  Pick out the polite stations with good quality signals (hint: they are seldom the loudest!).

Configure your rig correctly.  Use the appropriate filter settings, RF gain or attenuation and so forth to have the best possible chance of completing a QSO.  You might like to lock your receive VFO or pop it into a memory once it is set correctly, though you may need to make minor adjustments later.  Turn your beam if appropriate and if necessary check the long path.  DX stations often operate with relatively low power and basic temporary antennas, so be prepared to work at it.

Take maximum advantage of your QTH.   If you are on a desert island, find a suitable location right on the beach if you can, as close as you dare get to the sea (simple vertical antennas work extremely well at the water’s edge or even better on a short pole in the water - you simply can’t get a better ground plane).   Next best would be a high cliff-top site with excellent take-off over the sea in the main directions of interest.  Mountain tops, hill tops and even hotel roofs make good locations too.  Don’t forget to order good propagation before you leave home ....

Spend a moment listening to the DX in order to pick up his pattern and style of operation. Is he working all comers or calling specific call areas/continents, working by numbers, or whatever?  Is this a contest-style quick fire operation working snappy callers who only call once, or is the DX taking the time to chat to callers and work the slower ones?

If the pileups get too unruly, consider calling and working specific areas/continents and if absolutely necessary work by numbers. Don’t spend too long on any single area or number: cycle through the complete number sequence or listen elsewhere every 10-15 minutes or so.  Keeping the pileup under control is an important job for you. 

Double-check the DX stn’s callsign. DXcluster spots from over-excited DXers often list broken (incorrect or incomplete) calls.  Some are obviously broken but others look OK at first glance, until you notice an Oh instead of a zero, an L instead of a one, or a 5 instead of an S ...  Do not call until you are certain who you are calling and make sure you log the DX correctly. You would not want all this hard work to go to waste, would you?!

Send your own call frequently , ideally during every QSO but if not at least once every minute or two.  If you hear callers sending QRZ or CL?, that usually means you are not identifying often enough.  Take extra care logging when you are either tired or working flat-out.  Simple typos (such as entering an oh instead of a zero) are hard to spot by eye.  On CW and data modes if not SSB, have the computer send the logged call as part of the exchange, as a sanity check.  And if the pileup gets too monstrous, just move to a clear frequency and for a while at least enjoy working genuine DXers who are not totally dependent on their DXcluster drips ...

Give your callsign in full but only once, then listen for a bit.  On CW, use QSK if possible to hear instantly when the DX comes back.  On phone, use recognised phonetics.  Never give “last two” (unless the DX is explicitly asking for it).  If the path is open and the pileup is huge, giving your callsign more than once without listening just creates QRM and slows the DXer’s rate down.  If the DX responds with part of your callsign missing or incorrect, give your callsign again, in full, once and listen carefully in case you are doubling with another DXer with a similar callsign to yours.  If he still can’t get your callsign correctly, give it twice and listen. 

Sometimes it helps to slow down a little - savour the moment, you are working DX!

Repeat at least the corrected part, if not the entire call, of anyone whose call you did not send correctly the first time.
Failing to do this leaves the DXer uncertain whether the QSO was completed and leads to additional but unnecessary “insurance” QSOs.  Get this right and the callers will love you.  Get it wrong and they will challenge your parenthood, send “LID” or just cause QRM on the frequency and be somewhat uncomplimentary on DXcluster.

Use all available tools to focus on one caller at a time: notice their tone, rhythm, accent, strength etc. as well as their callsigns.  Use filters if it helps.  Turn the beam if that helps.

Choose the best times to call the DX.  Be aware of propagation.  Check the solar figures and propagation predictions (more advice further below).  If conditions are clearly poor to your part of the world right now, hold on until they improve and/or choose another band.  Check any pre-announced preferred frequencies, or use previous spots as a clue.  Meanwhile, look for other DX to work - tune around because rare DX stations often come up to work DXpeditions and some look around the bands while they are on.  Remember it’s always best to work and then spot DX than to see them spotted and join the pileups!

Be aware and take advantage of propagation , making the best of short greyline openings, long paths, sporadic E/tropospheric modes on the high bands and so forth.   Listen for weak DX callers.  If you hear or work some exotic DX in a run of routine QSOs, put the pileup on hold for a moment and call for more DX to take advantage of the opportunity.  Remember: you are in charge.  To avoid the pileup turning into a bun-fight, do what you say.  If you say “Standby Europe” (or “NO EU” on CW), studiously ignore any and all Europeans who call until you say “Europe go ahead” (or “EU GA”).  Don’t bother with “IZ1QRM, you are in Europe, please QRX” as lids who don’t know where they live are not worth the air time.

Operate split - always!  Find the DX stn’s listening frequency by listening to his instructions (e.g. “Up five to ten”) and tuning around the pileup to pick out people they are working (the “5NN” or “five-niner” reports from callers are often a giveaway).  Set your transmit VFO near but not on the exact same frequency, please.  Even if the DX is working simplex, shift your TX a few Hz.  Moving as little as 50 to 100Hz up or down will help the DX resolve your signal from all the other zero-beat callers.  If the pileup is massive, you stand a much better chance of getting through if you hunt for a clearer transmit frequency within the range the DX is using but be careful not to transmit on top of another QSO.  If you have a dual-RX rig such as the K3 of FT1000, use the 2nd RX to listen on your TX frequency and make sure it is clear.  Respect the rights of other users of the band who may not be in the pileup - remember:
  Listen listen listen!

Patrol systematically through the receive range when things are quiet but be prepared to move swiftly through the range when the heat is on.  Use narrow filters.  However, try to restrict the bandwidth consumed by the pileup by not listening too far up the band, in other words stick to a restricted range of receive frequencies (e.g. five to ten up on SSB or up 1-2 on CW), looking for callers who are clear enough to copy and polite.  Studiously ignore the alligators, callers who interrupt QSOs or call blindly as they are certainly rude and are probably not hearing you well enough to make a QSO efficiently anyway.  If possible listen on your own frequency with a 2nd RX and if you hear anyone calling you there, send “UP” more often [do NOT work them!!].  Be very careful in a crowded band (for example in a busy contest) not to step on someone else’s toes by dumping your pileup on them - in other words, listen to your chosen RX frequency before announcing it.

Double check your rig’s frequency display and VFO settings while you transmit to make sure you are actually operating split. Accidentally or even worse deliberately transmitting on the DX stn’s frequency is a no-no, creates QRM, interrupts his rhythm and raises everyone’s blood pressure.  Don’t be a frequency cop.  Also, please try to contain your enthusiasm: do not shout and overdrive your rig as that will make your signal difficult or impossible to copy and will create QRM.  Keep checking your ALC and compression meters and reset the mic gain where necessary!  Listen carefully for other stations the DX is working and try to figure out his pattern, for instance is he working people mostly around one specific frequency, over a small range, or “randomly” across the entire pileup?

Always operate “split” , in other words listen up to a few kHz away from where you are transmitting so everyone can still hear you no matter how many callers are calling.  Give callers at least a clue to where to tune their TX both when you first go split and periodically thereafter by saying something specific like “listening up five” or “listening two-fifty” on SSB or “UP1” on CW, otherwise it’s OK to be more vague if you need to spread the pileup (“UP” or “DN” work fine).  Restrict the range of your pileup, and by all means use your narrow filters to help single out specific callers (good DXers will often call very close to previous callers).  If possible, lock your TX VFO or save it in - and transmit from - a memory.  This helps avoid accidentally moving your TX frequency and so walking the entire pileup gradually across the band!

Wait for the right moment to transmit.  Please do not tail-end other QSOs or call continuously, but wait for your cue which is usually when the DX says UP.
[Hot DX tip: it often helps to wait just a second or three longer if the DX is tuning around the pileup. Don’t be too hasty to call at exactly the same instant as everyone else!]

Maintain a consistent rhythm to avoid encouraging other callers to call in while a QSO is still in progress.  Ignore tail-enders and, if they are really rude, blacklist blind callers, at least for a while.  If the QRM is so horrendous you can only pick out a partial call, send the partial with a question mark to encourage that station to try again and others to wait.

When you call, give your complete callsign just once or at most twice, then listen for a moment and, if the DX has not come back to someone, call again in the same way.   Everyone should be listening far more than they transmit.

Listen at least as much as you transmit.  Use your filters etc. to the best effect and make a special effort to pick out weak callers, whether DX or QRPers (ideally both!).

Listen carefully to what the DX is sending.  Always send your full call. If the DX sends X? and your call does not contain an X, then just stand by for a moment: they are almost certainly not talking to you.  If the DX sends W3X? (especially if they repeat it), they are almost certainly not calling K5Xsomething, and certainly not something totally unrelated such as UA9ABC or I5ABC.  If you keep on transmitting regardless, you will only prolong the agony for everyone and you may be blacklisted.

Be nice, people.  We all want to play.

Repeat whatever characters of a partial call you are reasonably certain about, with a question mark to invite that station to try again and signal other callers to wait.  Focus on the specific tone and rhythm of the caller, and persist doggedly until you get his complete call. If you make a genuine mistake and nobody returns to your first or second offer, say something like “No copy, QRZ” (or “NIL QRZ” on CW) and return to normal calling.  If you are reasonably certain the caller had, say, “W3X” in his call, studiously ignore any unrelated callers, as to cave in to such demands them invites utter chaos.

If you are uncertain that you completed a QSO, call again straight away.  If you can’t get through to confirm, check the online log if available.  Avoid unnecessary duplicate QSOs on the same band and mode, unless you are really not sure that you made the QSO first time around (“insurance QSOs”).
Also, do not repeat your callsign if the DX has just sent it correctly, as this sounds like you are making a correction.

If you hear someone you have just worked immediately or soon after calling you again, check the log carefully, repeat their call back to them and say something like “QSL” or “You’re in the log” to confirm and complete the QSO unambiguously for them.  If you made a mistake in the log, correct it, apologise and patiently confirm their full call on air.  Update your online log as often as you can or at least daily if you have the facility to cut down on “insurance QSOs”.

Take a short break on the hour to allow QRP and genuine DX stations to have a go.   At the very least, turn off your amplifier and turn down the wick.  By all means sign /QRP if your license allows this but only if you are running 5 watts or less!  Play the game.

On the hour every hour, please put the pileup on hold and listen out specifically for DX callers and QRPers .  Listen extra carefully for weak signals and ignore the alligators as best you can.  Turn the beam (where applicable) and really make the effort.  If they get through, you will be making someone’s day extra special.

Do not call blindly or out of turn.  Do not become a “pileup cop” , shouting on the DX station’s transmit frequency.  Most of all, whatever happens, always keep your cool .

If you lose your temper and start disrupting the pileup or chastising other callers, you will only inflame things and slow down the rate for us all.  If it all gets too much for you, take a break to cool off. Go make a cup of tea or take a walk.  The DX will most likely still be there when you come back, refreshed and ready to play.

There’s more sage advice for pileup cops further below.

Keep your cool too!  For example, if you get a partial callsign or suspect you might have made an error, persist doggedly until you are confident enough to complete and finally log the QSO.  Always be as clear as possible in what you are sending (e.g. send “<call> KN KN KN” or ”<call> ONLY!” to indicate that other callers apart from the person you are working should stand by), and stick to your guns .  Make every effort to confirm full callsigns, or at the very least repeat the corrected suffix or prefix.  If there is any doubt immediately ask the caller to confirm.

Remain polite and gentlemanly at all times as this encourages good behaviour.
Studiously ignore the rudest lids: let them stew in their own juices!

Remember, everyone, this is only a hobby!

Special advice for digital modes (e.g. RTTY & PSK)
in addition to that above

Lock your RX frequency on the DX and turn off all automatic tuning (e.g. AFC and NET in MMTTY).  Manually select your TX frequency, lock it or pop it in the memory and for sure don’t touch that VFO if the DX calls you!  Keep to a sensible range but look for a quiet spot away from the DX stn’s TX frequency (up to 1 kHz on PSK, probably more on RTTY) and stay put for a while.  If the DX seems to drift off frequency, use the RIT on your rig to keep them in tune rather than moving your VFO or adjusting the receive frequency in software.  Don’t forget to listen on your chosen TX frequency from time to time to make sure it’s still clear.

Stick to the preferred band segments for each mode, especially if this is a condition of your licence.  Avoid the beacon frequencies and, of course, listen first to find a clear spot.

Always split. Never operate simplex.  Avoid listening too close to your own TX frequency.  Turn off all automatic tuning and lock your TX frequency to avoid wandering across the band.  Use suitable filters to pick out individual callers.  Remember your responsibility to tune within a limited range to avoid spreading the pileup too far.  If stations are clearly not hearing you well, double check that your TX frequency remains clear and don’t forget to send “UP” or “QSX 14085-6” or similar.

Setup your digital mode software and macros appropriately .  When calling, give your own call two or three times.  It is not normally necessary to include the DX callsign in your macro, unless there are co-channel operations and possible confusion.  HINT: you can do this before you join the pileup!  Take a moment to get it right before you start transmitting, and make absolutely sure you can actually copy the DX properly and have his call correct (DXcluster is a reliable source of busted calls!).

The worst thing for callers is not knowing who got called.  Repeat callers’ callsigns at least twice , usually three times or more
(e.g. include it at the start and end of your ‘send report’ macro, and yet again in your ‘thank you’ macro).

Give your own callsign frequently too, ideally ending every QSO with your callsign and finally “CQ UP” or similar.

Do not overdrive your transmitter.  Apart from perhaps overheating and damaging it, your signal will probably become unreadable and create QRM for others.  This is especially important if you are using AFSK with tones generated by a PC audio card.  Use your rig’s transmit monitor function for a simple but crude quality check.   If you have a separate receiver or a monitor scope, listen to/monitor your own data transmissions to check the levels.  If not, find a local ham who is willing to help you conduct some tests.  If you have trouble contacting reasonably strong stations normally, and especially if you receive reports indicating poor quality signals, check those settings again.

Look out especially for well modulated signals, even the weak ones and make certain your own signal is clean.  Do not overdrive your transmitter and be careful not to knock the microphone or PC level controls once set.  It pays to keep a written note of the correct settings: you should really have figured those out before you left home but small adjustments may be needed in the field: ask a local to check the quality and width of your data signal when you first set up.