Re: [DX-CHAT] Culture Change on DX Cluster?
I think it's fine if you're rare DX and not getting any responses... However, I've come to think no one should ever spot someone that already has a pileup. Obviously self spotters are too busy at that point to spot... Pipe dream, of course. Never gonna happen because people like to brag to the cluster too much (I've done it too, I wish I hadn't). I think it should work thusly: Station calls CQ three times with no response on an open band: spot him That's it. Otherwise, let people find him themselves. There are just too many cluster clickers out there. The cluster is a useful tool, but there are just too many who show up and obviously can't hear the DX. I'm sure this is a common complaint of small, weak stations... and for the time being, I'm medium-weak, but personal failure in pileups is not really what this complaint stems from... I usually get through anyway. It's just that you come across some good DX calling CQ, chances are so did three other guys. If you beat them out in the pileup, you know they're there, let them enjoy their QSO and don't call in the rest of the world to compete with them. It's the courteous thing to do. This is especially true of DX stations who are not so hot at handling a pileup. With three or four callers, slowly building, a bunch of guys will get to make a contact before the pileup gets too big for them to handle. If I spot him right after I work him, the pileup instantaneously gets too big and after 1 or 2 more QSO's, he's going to QRT. People watch the cluster and build up giant stations so that they can ensure they can get through in 1 or 2 calls ... that's fine if you're feeling life's too short and you want to work 'em all, but if we all stop spotting the good stuff, then DXing starts to come back to skill and tuning more than brute force. Again, pipe dream, but keep it in mind when you and that brand new KC2xxx station find the good DX on 20m at the same time. You make it through first on your 70' high tribander... do you go spot it or let the KC2 have the thrill of a lifetime with their freshly strung 20m dipole and shaky CW? 73, Dan 73, Dan Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Culture Change on DX Cluster?
Maybe it's just me, but I always liked to put my headset on and tune, tune, tune. I'll look at the cluster to get an idea how the bands are, but I always loved to just... tune around. Especially on 17! N2ERN Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
RE: [DX-CHAT] Culture Change on DX Cluster?
During non-contests, I don't see anything wrong with someone saying -- ONCE -- here I am! Every 10 minutes, that's excessive. If the band is crowded, and the station isn't that rare (me, for example), it's probably not a wise idea anyway. But if the band isn't crowded, how else can people know where you are if they THINK the band isn't open? The problem is, when one guy does it once, the next guy does it multiple times. Pushing the envelope can get very aggravating sometimes! But where do you draw the lines? 73 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of John Warren Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:46 AM To: dx-chat@njdxa.org Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [DX-CHAT] Culture Change on DX Cluster? I think I detect the start of a culture change on the DX cluster. You may not care about it, or - more likely - you'll deplore it, but I think it's happening anyway, and probably can't be reversed. It's self-spotting. In most contests it's illegal, but not at other times, and for many less experienced, and often less powerful DX stations, especially outside North America, putting one's own callsign on the cluster is becoming a definite aid to CQing on the bands. Under certain circumstances, I don't look at it quite as negatively as some purists. It's useful for priming the pump for unusual openings, when you alert people to turn their beams to unconventional directions. For example, 10M long path when (if?) the sunspots come back, or 10M side-scatter in the summer. What say you? John, NT5C. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
