DX Window

[N4RSS]

Hearing K4B on 3.792 calling CQ SS.  Getting heckled endlessly apparently.  Operator "Jim"...3 call of some kind, obviously clueless and indifferent.  Good job contesters educating your brethren

[VE3CX]

Hearing K4B on 3.792 calling CQ SS.  Getting heckled endlessly apparently.  Operator "Jim"...3 call of some kind, obviously clueless and indifferent.  Good job contesters educating your brethren

So, if "we" contesters are doing a poor job of educating a new contester, are you guilty of doing a poor job of educating your DX brethren of how to educate a newbie?

On a more serious note: there is nothing in the rules that he cannot do this.  No one "ownes" the frequency.  Granted, not a good idea, but instead of "endlessly heckling" the guy, why not try to educate him?  EVERY newbie (contester or not) has made mistakes.  I am sure you have made a few along the way as well.  So have I.  We learned from our mistakes, and moved on.  Why not do the same for another newbie instead of complaining here...

Just a thought!

Tom - VE3CX

[N4RSS]

I heard people trying to educate him he just didn't care

[VE3CX]

I heard people trying to educate him he just didn't care

Or, he learned his lesson well - just not the lesson you thought we was supposed to learn.

It took me a while to figure out the where and why of the window on 75, so lets give him the benefit of the doubt.  YOU had the option to work him, and at the end of the exchange say "You do realize 3790-3800 is the DX Window - you might want to move up or down a bit".  If a few folks had done that, he probably would have moved.  I know I would.

Instead, when the hecklers come, start calling me a lid, stupid, and engage in all manner of childish behaviour on the air (never IDing of course - why is that anyway)?  This does not impart knowledge of what is being done wrong - it simply encourages me to hunker down, and carry on in spite of the hecklers.  Most of the time, they give up before I do.  They generally provide few clues of the when and why they show up.  That too was a hard-learned "lesson" from the hecklers.  Generally not the best way to promote positive behaviour.

What *I* find is - if folks ask me to politely QSY, most of the time I will.  When being heckled - probably not.  Being ordered to move by a drill Sargent - not gonna happen.

Something to keep in mind.  Be polite - tell him what he is doing wrong, and he will learn.  Chances are good to very good you will get what you want.  Be rude - hit him over the head with a hammer, and - you get the idea.

Even though you were just listening, you could have jumped in and helped the situation and made things better for everyone.  Hopefully, next time you will :-)

Tom - VE3CX


So what was the lesson you wanted

[NN3W]

From the ARRL's website:

Band plans are just that - plans. They are designed for normal circumstances when band loading is much lighter than during a contest. During major contests, the bands will be very crowded, resulting in conditions that the band plan is not intended to address. Avoid willful interference and be as courteous as possible to non-contest QSOs within the limits of the contest rules and licensing regulations.

 

Calling frequencies are also intended to allow stations to find their peers under customary circumstances. During a contest, be aware of where the calling frequencies are, but if no contacts are going on there, you have every right to try and make contest QSOs.