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1-5 of 5 messages
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is the frequency in use?
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by KB3HJK on May 17, 2008
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Need some advice. I am the littlest pistol there is, maybe. I go on 20M and EVERY freq is in use. If there is a barely audible station is it permissable to call CQ? I try not to be a lid, but comprimise antennas equal deafness, thus undeserved lid status.
As an aside - I have learned more on EHam than all my ARRL books put together. For that I say thanks in advance.
Kevin
KB3HJK
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RE: is the frequency in use?
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by N3OX on May 17, 2008
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"If there is a barely audible station is it permissable to call CQ?"
I'd be very careful to ask many times before you try to call.
"I try not to be a lid, but comprimise antennas equal deafness, thus undeserved lid status. "
All frequencies are probably always in use, and each frequency can be used by several QSO pairs worldwide when propagation is not open among pairs. So in principle, if you can hear a faint station but can't make them out, and you ask if the frequency is in use and no one objects, you are probably OK.
But if you have *small antennas* and you call CQ on a frequency occupied by a barely audible station you might be calling CQ on the transmitting frequency of some rare DX that other guys can hear very easily! I can't usually recommend calling CQ unless you can determine that the frequency is *truly* empty. And yes, there are very few empty frequencies on 20. The almost-empty (barely audible) ones are MUCH less empty than you think, trust me. Someone with a beam at 45 feet can probably hear DX there clear as a bell!
But if no one objects... well, they probably can't hear you.
That said, if you're interested in DX and are a little pistol, don't bother calling CQ. I know it might be tempting because you think you're putting yourself on a clear frequency where the DX can hear you rather than competing in a pileup, but as a long time 100W station, sometimes with compromise antennas, I can tell you that calling "CQ DX" doesn't net you nearly as many stations as learning to compete in the pileups.
This is especially true if you're trying to work stations on "kinda-in-use" frequencies. The station on there might be much louder than you elsewhere and therefore blocking your signal to interesting DX! A good example of this would be when you hear a weak (to you) backscatter W2 with a kilowatt and a beam on the same frequency. You can call CQ to your heart's content on his frequency and he won't object but no one is going to hear you over him.
Even if it's not DX, calling CQ is not always the best approach for the tiny pistol... people who answer CQs are going to tend to gravitate toward commanding signals. People who call CQ and listen for calls will dig in the noise for people responding.
So can you call CQ on a frequency with a faint station on it? Sure, if you're careful.
Will it do you any good? I doubt it.
73,
Dan
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RE: is the frequency in use?
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by N8UZE on May 18, 2008
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When were you wanting to call CQ? The only time I've seen even 20m that crowded was during a major contest.
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RE: is the frequency in use?
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by N5JFJ on May 19, 2008
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I've been listening to different stations working or DX answering up to many stations calling him, and yet there is most always another operator that at least honestly and kindly asks, "is this frequency in use?"
I suppose it's very hard to believe that every operator can not hear, or must be hearing, the same things we may be hearing, but then "Propagation can be such an interesting and strange event that is NOT always equally rewarding to all of us!"
I suppose that most all any of us can do is remember to continue to politely "ASK" is this frequency in use several times, before heading into our CQ routine.
Sometimes there have been days when I have witnessed several stations using the same Frequency, with neither QSO truly bothering the other. This I find to be extremely incredible, but that just goes to remind me that Propagation is what it is, and that we never know on a given day if "The Force is with us, or against us!"
I would say we never go wrong if we remember to always politely ask first, "is this frequency in use?"
And if it is..."Okay" I'll ease on over a bit, and try using another.
God Bless and 73, hope to hear ya, on the bands.
Jerry
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RE: is the frequency in use?
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by N2RJ on May 31, 2008
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Your barely audible station is probably booming in here at 59+++.
During the 3Y0E activation, a bunch of lids began arguing with the frequency cops about Petrus' frequency being in use, because they couldn't hear him...
When in doubt, just QSY.
FWIW, I don't think I've ever had a problem finding a clear frequency outside of a major contest. You just have to look carefully.
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