Pages: 1 [2]   Go Down

Author Topic: Frequency booking and bathroom break  (Read 387 times)

K7JQ

  • Member
  • Posts: 2602
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #15 on: November 01, 2021, 08:26:10 AM »

Contesting is the radio equivalent of a blood sport.
Some OPs are downright vicious...and for what?
I don't get it.
I leave the band when the contesting melee breaks out.

And there's always 12, 17, and 30 meters for you.... ;).
Logged

K7JQ

  • Member
  • Posts: 2602
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #16 on: November 01, 2021, 08:30:31 AM »

A lot use voice keyer loops calling CQ anyway. You can tell because when they do answer someone, the voice is quite different.

So when you hear the voice keyer calling repeatedly and not answering anyone, it means they've left the radio to go to the bathroom and left the voice keyer running to try to hold the frequency.

Or they've suddenly developed a S9+30dB noise level, and can't hear anyone ;).
Logged

N2SR

  • Member
  • Posts: 1794
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #17 on: November 01, 2021, 08:45:22 AM »

Any frequency is not your exclusive domain. But common courtesy dictates that you should avoid operating on a frequency occupied by a runner (CQer) that is already there. However, if you abandon a frequency for a bathroom break or start a run on another band while operating SO2R, and someone else asked "is the frequency occupied" (or QRL on CW), and received no response, then it is not "ethical" to try to re-claim that frequency now occupied by someone else. Unfortunately, not all operators practice common courtesy. Time to move on and find another open frequency.

Bob K7JQ

Do you even know what SO2R is, and how it is operated?   Unless they are running on two bands in 2BSIQ.   
Logged
Elect a clown.  Expect a circus.

N2SR

  • Member
  • Posts: 1794
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #18 on: November 01, 2021, 08:45:57 AM »

A lot use voice keyer loops calling CQ anyway. You can tell because when they do answer someone, the voice is quite different.

So when you hear the voice keyer calling repeatedly and not answering anyone, it means they've left the radio to go to the bathroom and left the voice keyer running to try to hold the frequency.

Or they've suddenly developed a S9+30dB noise level, and can't hear anyone ;).

DQRM is also illegal.    ;)
Logged
Elect a clown.  Expect a circus.

K7JQ

  • Member
  • Posts: 2602
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #19 on: November 01, 2021, 10:17:12 AM »

Any frequency is not your exclusive domain. But common courtesy dictates that you should avoid operating on a frequency occupied by a runner (CQer) that is already there. However, if you abandon a frequency for a bathroom break or start a run on another band while operating SO2R, and someone else asked "is the frequency occupied" (or QRL on CW), and received no response, then it is not "ethical" to try to re-claim that frequency now occupied by someone else. Unfortunately, not all operators practice common courtesy. Time to move on and find another open frequency.

Bob K7JQ

Do you even know what SO2R is, and how it is operated?   Unless they are running on two bands in 2BSIQ.

Yes I do...I operate SO2R when I so desire. Run on one band, S&P on another. Or S&P on two bands. Or alternate running on two bands (difficult for me with my limited antennas/power). Call it what you want...2BSIQ is a form of SO2R, so you answered your own question ;). It is possible to develop a better run on another band, and abandon the other band/frequency temporarily. If it's occupied when you go back, move on.

But yes, *true* 2BSIQ is an ability that few can master...I can't ;). Our contest club member, Dan N6MJ, is one that performs it to the letter.
Logged

N2SR

  • Member
  • Posts: 1794
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #20 on: November 01, 2021, 11:37:05 AM »

Yes I do...I operate SO2R when I so desire. Run on one band, S&P on another. Or S&P on two bands. Or alternate running on two bands (difficult for me with my limited antennas/power). Call it what you want...2BSIQ is a form of SO2R, so you answered your own question ;). It is possible to develop a better run on another band, and abandon the other band/frequency temporarily. If it's occupied when you go back, move on.

But yes, *true* 2BSIQ is an ability that few can master...I can't ;). Our contest club member, Dan N6MJ, is one that performs it to the letter.

Agreed.  Most SO2R stations will do that, or will be running on one band and S&P for mults on others.  I'm not SO2R at all, because I'm not even sure I could do it.  And to do it right, you need a fair amount of hardware, which costs $.  So I'm not going to spend that kind of $ to use it only a few times a year. 

Yes, I've met Dan a few times.  Nice guy.  Similar operators are K3WW and AA3B, whom I know and are fellow club members.

Logged
Elect a clown.  Expect a circus.

KX2T

  • Member
  • Posts: 1545
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #21 on: November 01, 2021, 02:17:18 PM »

well a seasoned contester will always had a empty gator aid bottle close by, lol is you really wanna be that competitive or like Mel Brooks in the history of the world move call out Oh piss boy!
In the real world you take your break and you find another spot cause its just like that Paul Simon song called Cecilia, you go wash your face and someone's taking your place!
Logged

K7JQ

  • Member
  • Posts: 2602
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #22 on: November 01, 2021, 04:25:20 PM »

well a seasoned contester will always had a empty gator aid bottle close by, lol is you really wanna be that competitive or like Mel Brooks in the history of the world move call out Oh piss boy!
In the real world you take your break and you find another spot cause its just like that Paul Simon song called Cecilia, you go wash your face and someone's taking your place!

How do you "season" a contester? Maybe a little parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme? If he's ornery, maybe add some paprika ;D?
Logged

K3XR

  • Posts: 245
    • HomeURL
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #23 on: November 02, 2021, 04:53:12 AM »


How do you "season" a contester? Maybe a little parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme? If he's ornery, maybe add some paprika ;D?

POTA at Scarborough Fair?
Logged

AC2EU

  • Member
  • Posts: 2793
    • McVey Electronics
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #24 on: November 02, 2021, 07:21:29 AM »

well a seasoned contester will always had a empty gator aid bottle close by, lol is you really wanna be that competitive or like Mel Brooks in the history of the world move call out Oh piss boy!
In the real world you take your break and you find another spot cause its just like that Paul Simon song called Cecilia, you go wash your face and someone's taking your place!

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the contesters have those gator aid bottles stacked up on a wall-maybe even labeled by the contest  and date when they were produced!   ::) ::) ::)

N1UR

  • Posts: 733
    • HomeURL
Re: Frequency booking and bathroom break
« Reply #25 on: November 04, 2021, 12:53:23 PM »

Do you know what the proper response is if you are tuning and hear someone ask "is this frequency in use?" in a contest?  The answer is CQ Contest CQ Contest - now its in use.  Thanks for asking.

Many contesters listen briefly to a quiet hole and if they hear no exchange or CQ going on over a 15 second period, they will just drop in a CQ to see who speaks up if anyone.  Many times an SO2R activity or a Multi that is off chasing a mult will then suddenly start CQing again.  Which brings up the question, how long is dead air to satisfy the definition of "in use"?

On 80M SSB, I ALWAYS ask is this frequency in use like 5 times before CQing.  And even still, I get some yahoo telling me that they are on this frequency and you f'n contesters need to move or go away.  In their minds, hanging out on the same frequency every night sometimes not having anyone speak or even be near enough to the radio to say - yes this frequency is in use - is "using the frequency".  What is the definition of "in use" anyway?  6 guys all drinking beer listening to the same static and occasionally saying something is not "in use" in my world.  Even if they say it is.  A few times, I have asked and some said fairly quickly, yes its in use.  I know I listened for at least 15 secs and heard nothing.  So I stick around and listen to static for 60 secs.  Then say - sure doesn't sound in use.  If you are using it, use it, or I will.  That gets them talking and swearing for who knows how long.

Last weekend, I was CQing on 14346.5 late in the afternoon.  I had been there about an hour running EU and SA.  Someone came on and asked if I would mind them announcing the net was about to start and they would start it down 5khz.  I said sure, and paused for 20 - 30 secs for them.  Went back to my business.  The next thing I know they are calling the net on my frequency and a few of the "boys" start screaming at me to move, leave, I am interfering with a net, they are going to report me to the FCC, blah blah, blah.  I just worked guys over them.  That always pisses them off.  Kept a good run going for another half hour as I periodically listened to them ridicule me and try desperately to hold their net.  Which was tough to do over my 4/4 with 1.5kw going.  But I had a 100+ rate going and I wasn't leaving.  These guys just do NOT get the fact that the frequency is not theirs just because for the last 1000 days they have met on that frequency at that time.

Last contest joke - how do you know you have a terrible run frequency?  Answer, when you come back after a bathroom break and no one is CQing on it.

Ed  N1UR
Logged
Pages: 1 [2]   Go Up