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Author Topic: Copying pileup calls  (Read 240 times)

KH6AQ

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Copying pileup calls
« on: December 01, 2022, 07:34:00 AM »

I'm interested in how you all copy calls through a pileup when you're running.

What techniques do you use to copy a call the first time?

How you do you control your pileup?
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K2WPM

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Re: Copying pileup calls
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2022, 04:32:06 AM »

That's why I paper log when doing a POTA activation.  I can usually grab all or partial calls for several stations, then quickly work them, which folks seem to appreciate.  Last week I did about 240 SSB contacts in under three hours.  Of course, then there's a couple hours of transposing it into my logging program later.  But it's nice; almost every activation I get "good ears" or "nice handling of the pile-up," compliments.

When I activated from US Virgin Islands in 2016, I had a two-day pile-up...  I went "by the numbers," and it seemed to work.  Without that, I couldn't make out callsigns.

I suspect the best method is to go split.  But for a small fry like me, probably not necessary.

How do you do it?  And CW for me is much harder, so I have to paper log.

David, K2WPM
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K3TN

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Re: Copying pileup calls
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2022, 07:10:46 AM »

Practicing with MorseRunner is a good way to build up pileup skills in CW

The more you operate in contests, the more familiar you get with the common call signs, which helps your ears alot - if I hear DL1N I can start filtering on KS as likely last two letters, etc.

Similarly, though I'm sure it is different in KH6, knowing propagation helps filter out unlikely call signs and focus on coming back with more likely ones.

On CW, I try to lock in on the fastest one sending, since that will be the one that will stop first and keep the rate as high as possible. I use a 500 hz CW filter and also seem to lock in best on the lower audio.

I'm not a great SSB op, but I always try to come back NOT using phonetics, helps speed things up - if I have a partial copy, come back to "DL1 something, again" vs. Delta Lima One something" and when I finally get the call, just say "DL1NKS" vs. repeating his phonetics.

One other thing: with EU pileups, never give in to the rude ones. If I come back to "DL1 something" and IZ0ZZZ jumps in much louder, I will always keep coming back to DL1 something - if you show "fear" in an EU pileup, you will completely lose control!

Unless I'm operating someone else's station, I don't generate JA pileups like you must. But when I would op at W3LPL or remote op K4VV, JA pileups were the direct opposite - always come back ONLY with letters you are sure of. If you come back to JL1NKS and it was really JL1NKF on SSB or JL1NKI, you will be met with dead silence -until IZ0ZZZ throws his call in!

73  John K3TN
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John K3TN
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