Article by Mark Demeuleneere ON4WW “Operating Practice”
translated by Tomek SP5XO

​Did any of us get a driving licence by passing only the theory test? No one! In Belgium, people were never taught how to conduct radio communications. After the theory exam, the newly licensed amateur was left to fend for themselves. It was not always pleasant to listen to how they managed on the bands. Continuing the analogy with driving licences—imagine passing the theory test, receiving your licence, and then speeding off behind the wheel of a vehicle you were driving for the first time.
That is exactly the situation faced by new hams.

Like every young operator, the author also made many mistakes during his first years. He still makes them, but far fewer. In this article, he would like to offer young newcomers and experienced operators a few tips on how to improve quickly and sound like a “pro” on the bands. Many common mistakes resulted from imitating the less-than-ideal practices of older colleagues. They should not be condemned, however—the amateur bands never had a clearly defined code of conduct.

We should not underestimate the importance of good operating practice. After all, everything we transmit can be heard by everyone—other amateurs, listeners and various services. The technical side is only one part of our hobby. When we use these technical means to establish radio contacts, we enter the second aspect of the hobby—we represent ourselves and our country on the air and become visible.

To make successful contacts, we must learn to follow a few simple rules. I invite you to explore the principles of good operating practice together.
  • Amateur-radio slang
    Learn amateur-radio slang. Become familiar with correct terminology. Do not say “radio four”; say “readability four”. Practise spelling, and master the abbreviations used in telegraphy and the Q code so that they become your second language BEFORE you go on the air. Always use the phonetic alphabet correctly. Say Alfa, not Alabama. We will return to this subject in Chapter 8.
  • Listen!
    As a newly licensed amateur, you will want to start transmitting immediately. That is understandable, but for now put down the microphone and move away from the key. Familiarise yourself with all the functions of your equipment. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises during operation. Also start by listening. Those who begin by listening make more successful contacts.  We will return to this subject in Chapter 8.
  • Correct use of your callsign
    Use your callsign correctly. Remember that you had to pass a difficult exam before you could operate on the bands. Be proud of your callsign—it is unique! Your transmissions are legal only if you use it properly. Have you ever heard a callsign on the bands such as  for example, 4ZZZZ? If I am not mistaken, that is an Israeli station. From Belgium?? ON4ZZZZ—that is the correct callsign. Remember that a callsign consists of a prefix and a suffix. If someone stole your car, would you give the police only part of its registration number?
  • Be courteous
    This is the shortest, but perhaps the most important, piece of advice I can give you. Always be courteous. What you transmit is heard by many people. You will go far by following this simple advice. We will discuss this in more detail in the section on conflict situations.
  • A few comments on VHF/UHF repeater contacts
    Most of the comments in the following chapters concern DX contacts on the HF bands. However, many of them also apply to VHF contacts, especially operation through repeaters. Repeaters are designed to extend coverage—primarily for mobile and portable stations. All users of base stations should bear this in mind, particularly when they can make the contact without a repeater.
    Anyone operating through a repeater must remember that they do not have exclusive use of it. In fact, this applies to contacts on all frequencies. Outside repeaters, the rule is: whoever occupies a frequency first uses it. On a repeater, however, everyone should have free access to its frequency.
    When using a repeater, it is customary (though not necessarily obligatory) to leave pauses between successive transmissions. This gives another station an opportunity to access the repeater. If we do not pause and listen, that opportunity does not exist. Keep this in mind when operating through a repeater!
  • How do I conduct a QSO? What can I talk about?
    Beginners are often surprised by their first encounter with amateur radio. Many contacts end with nothing more than an exchange of callsigns and reports. But it does not have to be that way! At first, I did not like these short contacts and preferred longer chats. In fact, I was “chewing the rag”. There is nothing wrong with that. Over time, however, my contacts became very short. Everyone has their own habits, and they should not be imposed on others.
    Our hobby is primarily technical, but the content of a contact need not be limited to that. On the other hand, amateur radio is not gossip. Use common sense when choosing conversation topics. Avoid religion, politics and advertising commercial activities. One-way transmissions and announcements are also prohibited.
    The Belgian handbook—now supplemented for the first time with a chapter on Operating Procedures—explains how to make contacts. Below I quote several of its tips, supplemented with a few of my own comments:
    Before transmitting on a frequency, always check whether other stations are using it. If the frequency is clear, you can call CQ—  a general call (probably derived from the words “Seek You”—as Pat W5THT suggests). See Section 7—How to call CQ?
    The order in which callsigns are given during a contact is simple and unchanging: first give the other station’s callsign, then your own. For example: (you are ON4ZZZZ) Thank you, OM, microphone to you—ON4XXXX de ON4ZZZZ. This phrase marks the end of your transmission and passes the frequency to the other station. And remember—be courteous. Always end a contact by giving your callsign. If you are operating intensively on a band, transmitting frequently and briefly, give it at least every five minutes. In such a situation, take regular breaks so that someone who needs to can call you. Remember that one day you may hear a distress call on the bands—be ready for it!
    Do not cover a million topics in a single transmission. Speak concisely and clearly so that the other station can answer. Remember that you may not always be speaking a language you both know well enough for a free-flowing discussion. At the end of your transmission, you may use the word “over”—experience will help you judge when to use it and when not to. Similarly, in telegraphy, you can end by sending “K” or “KN” if you want to address a specific station (whose callsign you have just given). A CW QSO ends with the callsign followed by SK. On voice, you can use “Out” or “Clear”.
    Someone pointed out the following fact to me: some operators seem to forget that they too were once beginners. Sometimes you can hear a station calling “CQ DX” and then berating, in very offensive language, a local station that answers its call. That “local” beginner should understand that answering such a call is unwelcome. The DX hunter, in turn, could remember their own beginnings, when they called everyone without exception in the hope of working a new country. Remember that, and show understanding rather than aggression.  In such a situation, I give a short report, log the contact and explain that I am looking for DX. Beginners usually understand and listen more carefully next time. They still get the thrill of working a new country—and that is what it is all about! So give everyone a chance and do not forget your own beginnings.
  • How to call CQ?
    Make sure the frequency is clear. It is not enough simply to listen—you must ask whether anyone is using it. For example, on SSB, after listening for a while, ask, “Is this frequency in use?” Do not forget to give your callsign. Wait a moment for a reply and ask again. If no one answers this time either, you can call CQ with a clear conscience. If you are operating CW or RTTY, ask using “QRL?”. Some operators wrongly believe that a question mark alone is sufficient. This is a mistake—if a QSO is in progress on the frequency and you cannot hear one of the stations, transmitting “?” may be misinterpreted by the other stations on the frequency. This may trigger chaotic reactions from various “policemen” (see Chapter 12). “QRL?” will certainly be understood unambiguously by everyone. In telegraphy, also use unambiguous replies: R (received/roger), Y (yes), Yes, QSY.
    If you accidentally start transmitting on an occupied frequency—especially if it is the frequency of an expedition or a rare DX—you have a good chance of being “baptised”. Stay calm and never react. Change frequency or, if you want to find out whose frequency it is, listen quietly. Do not ask what the DX is.
    Many problems can be avoided by following the simplest rule of good operating: LISTEN! This ironclad rule, combined with the question “QRL?”, will help you stay out of trouble while looking for a clear frequency.
    Once you call CQ, avoid the following pattern: 10 × CQ + 1 × callsign. It is more sensible to send CQ twice and repeat your callsign ten times. (Of course, I am exaggerating—four times is quite sufficient!) The most important information in a call is WHO is making it, namely your callsign. If conditions are poor or a distant station is trying to hear you, it is important that your callsign—not the words CQ—is received. Calling CQ 15 times and giving your callsign once defeats the purpose. Practice makes perfect. If you lack experience, listen to how others do it. You will quickly develop your own effective operating style.
  • Pileup
    Once you catch the bug and start hunting DX, you will often have to deal with a pileup. When the sought-after station appears on the band, a group of radio amateurs quickly forms, all wanting to work it. When one contact ends, the crowd immediately starts calling the DX station. This crowd of callers is a pileup.
    It is not only rare countries that “generate” pileups. The bands often feature expeditions to uninhabited, remote islands or countries where amateur activity does not exist. The purpose of such expeditions is to enable as many people as possible to make a contact. Clearly, contacts with expeditions should be AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE to give as many people as possible a chance to work them. Remember that the operator of such a station is not interested in your QTH, the equipment you use or your dog’s name.
    What is the best way to work a rare station or expedition quickly?
    “LISTEN  LISTEN, and LISTEN again!
    You may ask: why should I listen? It is simple—the operator who listens knows what is happening on the frequency and can navigate the pileup more easily.
    By listening carefully, you will learn how the station you are interested in operates and whether it is working split, etc. While listening, check the following settings on your equipment: have you selected the correct antenna, enabled SPLIT and tuned your equipment to a CLEAR frequency? Unfortunately, it is often possible to hear the last operation being performed ON the DX station’s frequency. Wrong! This brings out the so-called “policemen” (see Chapter 12) and prevents many people from making a contact because the sought-after station can no longer be heard amid the chaos. Before transmitting, make sure you have copied the DX callsign correctly. We often arrive on the DX station’s frequency because of information on the DX Cluster. Cluster spots may contain errors. Make sure you have copied the DX callsign correctly. You will avoid the unpleasant experience of having a QSL card returned marked “NOT IN LOG” or “NOT ACTIVE THAT DAY”.
    An experienced DX-station operator, seeing that they cannot control the stations calling on their frequency, will switch to SPLIT operation. This keeps the transmitting frequency clear and makes the station much easier to receive. A less experienced operator will continue operating simplex  and lose control of the pileup until, frustrated, they go QRT. In such a situation, you may suggest during the QSO that the DX station use SPLIT operation. Of course, do this only when there are many callers and the DX station is having trouble managing the situation. The other operators will thank you if you can persuade the DX station to work SPLIT.
    Let us look at several typical situations in a pileup.
    • a) SSB simplex pileup
      What is the best way to break through a crowd of SSB stations calling on one frequency? Wait until the previous QSO has ended! The key is judging the right moment. If you jump into the crowd immediately after the previous contact ends, you will probably fail. Wait about seven seconds and give your full callsign ONCE. And listen…
      The method you use depends entirely on your experience. Listen carefully to what is happening in the SSB pileup. Notice how much depends on the rhythm at which the DX station operates and how efficiently (or not…) it picks individual stations out of the crowd. If you call immediately after the previous contact, your callsign will be lost among dozens of other callers. Callers in a pileup give their callsign two, three and sometimes four times. By then, the DX station has already answered one of those stations, but nobody hears it because someone is still calling without listening to what is happening. If you wait the aforementioned seven seconds, there is a chance that most of the crowd has already shouted itself hoarse and is taking a deep breath. Use that moment and give your callsign ONCE. And listen… Give your callsign fairly quickly. Stretching it out serves no purpose. “Oscar November Four Zulu Zulu Zulu Zulu”—that is how your callsign should sound. Avoid wasting time by stretching it into “Ooooooscaaaar Noooooooveeembeeer Fooooour Zuuuuuluuuuu…..” Also pay attention to proper use of the phonetic alphabet. Remember that spelling is intended to prevent mistakes. To achieve this, specific words are assigned to the 26 letters. In a DX pileup, the DX station hears a cacophony of these words and tries to pick out larger fragments. Changing the spelling only makes the task harder.
      Very often, the DX station has not correctly copied precisely THAT letter that was given using a non-standard word. For example, “Lima” is unambiguous and short. Yet many people use “London” to spell it. If your signal is weak, the DX station will copy “Lima” more quickly than “London”. There are many more such examples. Bravo—Baltimore. Echo—Easy (very bad!). Hotel—Honolulu (bad). Juliett—Japan. Kilo—Kentucky. Lima—London (bad). November—Norway (very bad). Oscar—Ontario/Ocean (very bad!). Papa—Portugal (very bad!). Quebec—Quitto (very bad!). Romeo—Radio. Sierra—Santiago. Tango—Toronto (bad). Uniform—United/University (bad!). Victor—Venezuela (bad). Whiskey—Washington (very bad). X-ray—Xylophone (very bad). Yankee—Yokohama (very bad!). Zulu—Zanzibar (bad).
      Note that the DX station may copy a weak station not only by hearing specific words, but also fragments, syllables or intonation. If a syllable is lost due to interference, the word can still be reconstructed.
      If the DX station answers you using your full callsign, do not repeat it. Give your report and do not waste time. The shorter the contact, the better. The other operators will certainly appreciate it. When calling a DX station in a pileup, never give the DX station’s callsign! It is irritating! After all, the DX station knows its own callsign. The other callers also know why they are there. Besides, you will waste time again. Give your callsign once—that is enough. Twice is the maximum, and I would not recommend it. The only exception is when the DX station has difficulty copying you and you need to repeat it. Three times is excessive. If the DX station answers with part of your callsign, emphasise the missing part.

      For example:
      – XU7ACV, QRZ?
      (wait seven seconds)
      – ON4ZZZ
      – ON4ZZZ You’re 59 QSL?
      – QSL 59
      – Thanks, XU7ACV, QRZ?
      – XU7ACV, QRZ?
      (wait seven seconds)
      – ON4ZZZZ
      – 4ZZZZ You’re 59, QSL?
      – ON4
      – ON4ZZZZ, 59, QSL?
      – ON4ZZZZ Thanks! QRZ? XU7ACV…

      If the DX station answers by giving a fragment of a callsign that has nothing to do with yours, do not answer! Let us repeat: do not answer—listen! At this moment, the DX station does not want to hear you. If stations in the pileup followed this one simple rule, the DX station’s log would contain  many more stations. Unfortunately, many so-called “DXers” see only the end of their own nose. Others call mindlessly, knowing that the DX station will not answer them. WHY?! It is a complete waste of time and an expression of extreme selfishness. If the DX station calls someone and says “Only….” (only station…..), it means that they have already tried several times to call a specific station but, because operators continued calling despite requests for silence, they could not copy the chosen station. The same applies when calling a specific country or continent. If the DX station asks only Japanese stations to call and asks Europeans to stand by, respect the request. Refrain from unnecessary comments and urging such as “Europe Please”. That is not good operating practice.

    • b) CW simplex pileup
      The same comments I made about SSB operation also apply to telegraphy. There are, however, differences resulting from the nature of this mode. Do not call the DX station by sending “de ON4ZZZZ”—the callsign alone is sufficient, without “de” (which means “from” in telegraphy). The “de” makes it harder for the DX station to pick out callsign fragments from the pileup. The same applies to ending your transmission with K—do not do it. The less unambiguous the information you transmit, the greater the chance of a mistake. In extreme situations, “K” may be interpreted as part of your callsign, especially if you have a two-letter suffix (see Chapter 13)
      If a calling station (e.g. you) does not transmit for a longer period (e.g. the length of two callsigns), the DX-station operator will consider your transmission finished.
      Listen carefully to the rhythm at which the DX station operates. You will learn which stations it selects. Adjust your sending speed to the average speed of the stations that have made contacts. The fact that the DX station sends at 40 WPM does not mean it works best with stations sending at 40 WPM. Its speed may result from a desire to save time. It is therefore better to slow down.
      Remember not to interfere when the DX station asks for only one direction, calls using a copied callsign fragment or addresses a specific station by sending KN. Do not let the DX operator lose patience because of stations calling continuously on  the station with which the DX operator is trying to make a contact. Do not be one of them!
  • c) RTTY and other digital modes, simplex pileup
    Unlike the previous cases, digital modes require giving your callsign more than once. I recommend giving it two or three times. The rule is not to do so more often than necessary. Remember that more important than how many times you send your callsign is when you do it. Timing is decisive. If you and the other callers bury the DX station under endless calls, the only hope is that it switches to SPLIT before becoming discouraged.
  • d) SSB—SPLIT operation
    “Working DX split? Easy! Maybe not easy, but certainly easier. Now the operator’s entire attention can be focused on making contacts rather than maintaining order on the frequency. The number of QSOs increases compared with simplex.
    How can you get into the DX station’s log quickly? Listen, listen and listen again… Yes, many of the same methods used in simplex can be used here too. Check that your TRX is set to the correct SPLIT and listen for a while before calling. Remember that the best method is to call at the right moment. You can recognise good operators, among other things, because one or two calls are enough for them to make a contact.
    By listening for a while before calling, you may recognise the rhythm at which the operator of the station you are interested in works. Check how wide a SPLIT they use—5 or 10 kHz. How does the operator use this range, and where do they listen? Observe whether there is a method—and what it is. For example, on SSB does the operator pick a station every 2 kHz, or rather every 3 or 5 kHz? Or do they listen only at the beginning and end of the window? Also consider the propagation between the DX station and your station. Do you have a chance of breaking through the crowd of stations calling it, for example from Japan or the West Coast?
    Now call using your full callsign. Once. And listen. If you have carefully read everything above, calling at the right time and in the right place should not be difficult. More than that—I bet you will make the contact quickly. And no, you do not need a kilowatt. When calling, remember: if the station you are interested in answers with a callsign fragment and it is not part of your callsign—DO NOT TRANSMIT! I will repeat this until I am blue in the face—NOT YOUR CALLSIGN, NOT YOUR TURN! It does not matter that you are working split. You are still interfering and delaying the whole process, including yourself.  The fact that others do it does not mean you should join the ranks of poor operators. Do not do it. Be a gentleman on the band. Besides, by not transmitting when it is not your turn, your receiver remains on, so you listen and know what is happening on the frequency, thereby increasing your chance of making the contact.
    I recommend once again that you call by giving your callsign only once. Twice is the absolute maximum. This is truly important. Operators use different methods. Sometimes, to reduce a pileup, they ask stations to respond according to successive numbers in their callsigns. If the number currently being called is not your district number—do not transmit!
    • e) Telegraphy—SPLIT operation
      All the comments on SSB split operation also apply to CW. Please read them once again. Adjust your sending speed to the average speed of the stations with which the DX station is working. This way, you will transmit at a speed comfortable for the DX-station operator. Call once using your callsign. Repeating it several times in succession serves no purpose. Send it once and listen! If nothing is happening and you want to send your callsign twice, use QSK—you will know whether the DX station has started answering someone (perhaps you) during your transmission. If so, stop transmitting and use the second VFO to find the station being answered.

    • f) RTTY and other digital modes—SPLIT operation
      I again encourage you to review the comments in the section on SSB. The techniques described there also apply to digital modes.
      Call twice using your callsign, then listen. You will quickly realise that stations calling twice are making a mistake—before they finish transmitting, the DX station has already answered someone. If propagation permits, try to find with your second VFO the station to which the DX station is replying.

  • Tail Ending
    About twenty years ago, a new trick appeared—tail ending. It was controversial from the start and remains so today. Its appearance coincided with the spread of the second VFO. SPLIT operation then became very popular among DX-station and expedition operators. The calling crowd listened on the second VFO to the DX station’s contact with another station. Once the correct callsigns and reports had been exchanged, meaning everything was fine and the contact was drawing to a close, a “tail-ending” station appeared while the previous operator was still transmitting. If the signal was strong enough, the DX station already had the callsign written down and, when the previous operator stopped transmitting, immediately addressed the station already noted. In theory, this method was intended to save time, but it soon became clear that very few operators could do it correctly. Instead, crowds of stations began calling at random, causing the loss of valuable time, unfinished QSOs, incorrectly copied callsigns, reports, and so on.
    Today, with operating discipline on the bands getting worse, there is no shortage of operators calling over someone else’s contact. If the DX-station operator answers such a call, everyone else immediately assumes that this is how they should call—since the method proved effective. Chaos then takes over the frequency.
  • DX windows
    The relevant state institutions allocated certain frequencies for amateur-radio use. At the same time, those institutions did not divide these frequencies among the various modes. This is why a customary division of frequencies by the IARU was needed. The IARU Region 1 Band Plan provides for two sections of the 80-metre band where intercontinental contacts have priority  These frequencies are 3500–3510 kHz and 3775–3800 kHz. There is also a frequency intended for DX expeditions on the 20-metre band—14195 kHz ± 5 kHz. In addition, there are customary sections of the bands where DX expeditions or rarely active countries may “appear”. It is worth knowing these parts of the bands, also called “DX windows”, and respecting them.
    Once, while operating from Central Africa with low power, I wanted to give as many stations as possible the opportunity to work a rare country. I always looked for a clear spot in one of the DX windows to call CQ. I hoped that these frequencies were monitored by DXers waiting for something rare to appear. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that these frequencies were full of “ordinary” European stations calmly “chewing the rag”
    Many operators believe that DX windows exist so that they have somewhere to call CQ DX. I disagree. Windows are a “protected zone” for weak, distant stations. It would be better if strong stations did not call CQ DX on these frequencies, but listened more for distant stations.
    When monitoring the bands, keep an eye on the following frequencies:
    * (SSB) 1845 kHz, 3790–3800 kHz, 7045 kHz, 18145 kHz, 21290–21300 kHz, 24945 kHz, 28490–28500 kHz
    * (CW) 1830–1835 kHz, 3500–3510 kHz, 10103–10105 kHz, 14020–14025 kHz, 18075 kHz, 21020–21025 kHz, 24895 kHz, 28020–28025 kHz
    * (RTTY) ± 14080 kHz, 21080 kHz, 28080 kHz
    Also remember that DX stations may appear elsewhere on the band.
  • Conflict situations
    It is worth remembering that we share a hobby and that the airwaves are a place where we all—hundreds and thousands of radio amateurs—meet. It is natural that conflicts occur in such a large group. They cannot be eliminated completely, so perhaps it is worth listening to a few friendly pieces of advice.
    As we noted in Chapter 4, it is always worth being courteous. This is the best way to resolve conflict situations positively.
    Let us look at an extreme example—IZ9XXXX from Sicily. Pipo has an annoying habit of calling CQ on 14195 kHz—the frequency customarily intended for work with DX expeditions and rare DXCC entities. Whenever Pipo appeared on the frequency, chaos soon followed. Operators from across Europe monitoring this part of the band in search of distant stations tried to prevent Pipo from “claiming” the frequency. He had a clever approach, however: he always asked whether the frequency was clear. And it was clear, because it was supposed to be, so that European or American DXers could hear a distant station’s call. Since nobody answered Pipo’s question, he concluded that the frequency was clear and occupied it by starting a call. A crowd of stations answered his call, pointing out that he was occupying a frequency customarily intended for DX expeditions. The paradox was that practically none of those stations gave their callsigns, thereby violating amateur-radio regulations. Since 1 January 2006, IARU Region 1 has given priority to DX expeditions in the 14190–14200 kHz segment.
    I first observed this situation in mid-2003. Many times I witnessed numerous DXers insulting Pipo. Note that every one of them was violating amateur-radio regulations. If anyone were to have trouble with the authorities monitoring amateur-radio activity in their respective countries, it would be them rather than Pipo, who always gave his callsign. Trying to assess the situation objectively, we would have to admit that Pipo was an antisocial amateur who made life difficult for many other operators. However, his actions were always legal, within the limits set by the regulations.
    So what is the right approach to such cases? You will certainly achieve nothing by shouting or making snide remarks. Your involvement will make him feel that he is the centre of attention and encourage further mischief. It is better to leave him alone and change frequency.
    On 12 August 2003, Pipo tested my patience once again. I answered his CQ and we had a QSO for about 20 minutes on 14195 kHz. During the contact, I realised that Pipo did not care at all about the dozens of transmitters insulting him on the band without giving their own callsigns. He had already had worse experiences, such as anonymous phone calls threatening to kill him (his daughter answered one of those calls!). We discussed civilly whether Pipo should stop his “practice” or not, after which 14195 kHz was clear for several weeks. Of course, after some time Pipo returned. However, on the next occasion, in 2005, while the expedition K7C was operating, Pipo appeared asking whether the frequency was clear. I replied: “Sorry Pipo, but it is occupied by K7C, 73 from ON4WW.” Pipo moved 5 kHz lower and the matter was settled.
    At the beginning of my amateur-radio experience, I had a very unpleasant incident on 21300 kHz. One of the ON6 colleagues was conducting a local contact on a frequency being used by a large DX expedition. I pointed this out to the operator and asked them to change frequency. In response, I heard a stream of abuse that I will not quote here. After some time, I realised that this ON6 and the accompanying ON4 regularly occupied local VHF repeaters. Perhaps they did so because they were badly behaved, or perhaps because that was how those who reprimanded them had “brought them up”—by drawing attention to things in an offensive manner?
    Finally, one more example of an incident involving two young amateurs and an older colleague in Belgium. Two ON3 operators (in Belgium, this prefix is used by NOVICE licence holders) were having a contact through a VHF repeater. During it, one informed the other that they were receiving them well directly (on the repeater input). An older ON4 then joined in and arrogantly ordered both stations to leave the repeater. This is unacceptable behaviour. An amateur must be courteous. An ongoing contact may be interrupted if, for example, you need to use the repeater to call someone. Apart from that, a repeater is primarily intended to provide communications between portable and mobile stations.
    And so we come to the next chapter:
  • Band policemen
    The amateur community should essentially maintain order on the frequencies it uses. As long as nothing illegal is happening, outside institutions do not intervene. This does not mean that an internal police force is needed to maintain order. Self-discipline is enough.
    Let us return briefly to our acquaintance—Pipo from Sicily. If the opportunity had arisen, and instead of my calm reply to his question “is the frequency clear?” Pipo had heard a stream of abuse from a self-appointed DXer—the policeman—those insults, and the generally deteriorating language of communication, would have been one of the signs that things were getting worse.
    With someone like our Pipo, one might expect him to enjoy staying on 14195 kHz and be reluctant to move elsewhere. If, however, the policemen concentrate on insulting him, they will not only fail to get rid of him quickly, but the expedition K7C will also be unable to operate. Everyone loses time: those who want to work the expedition cannot do so, while the expedition members, who have invested time and money, sit almost idle and helpless. All thanks to overzealous policemen, the various “calmers”. Most of them have good intentions, but by using insulting language and behaving rudely, they increase aggression and chaos on the frequency. Policemen who remain calm and courteous are more likely to succeed in organising traffic on the frequency. Both types of policemen, by admonishing others on the band, transmit illegally themselves unless they give their callsigns—and most often they do not.
    When can you encounter policemen? Most often they appear on the frequency of a DX station or expedition, especially when it is working split. It often happens that an operator forgets to set split on their equipment and calls on the DX station’s frequency. Such an operator often calls the DX station several times, preventing everyone interested from hearing what the DX station is transmitting. This is a signal to the policemen that they should intervene.
    A better-mannered policeman will try to move the intruder off the wrong frequency by telling them to go up or down (UP, DOWN). They are more interested in helping the intruder than punishing them. I do not want to quote the situations I have heard on the band, so as not to spread bad examples.
    If you feel like playing policeman by pointing something out to someone, please consider what consequences your intervention may have.  Remember that the worst thing that can happen is an escalation of chaos. If someone is already pointing out the problem—remain absolutely silent! If you do point it out, do so as quickly and briefly as possible—two or three suffix letters and “UP” or “DOWN” are quite sufficient. Any longer message only increases the chaos.
    An example in CW:
    ON4WW is accidentally calling on the DX station’s frequency. Do you want to be a good policeman? Send “WW UP” to them. If you send only “UP” ON4WW may not understand that you are addressing them. They will continue making the mistake and transmitting on the DX station’s frequency. This will awaken more policemen, who will start reprimanding, chasing away or insulting them.
    Remember, therefore, to address your calls unambiguously. Sending the entire callsign takes too long—remember that everything is happening on the frequency occupied by the DX station!
    Of course, it would be best if nobody felt “obliged” to be a policeman, but that seems unrealistic. What matters is that those who take it upon themselves to restore order do so effectively. One well-aimed reminder can restore order on the frequency. Insulting comments (LID, IDIOT) have the opposite effect.
    One good policeman can be a lifesaver—two good policemen are already too many…
    The same rules apply when operating SSB or RTTY. Give a fragment of the callsign (or even the whole callsign), add a clear instruction (UP/DOWN), and the frequency on which the station you are interested in is operating will be clear again.
    In time, you will notice that the best response to policemen is no verbal response. Try to turn any negative behaviour into something positive. And keep listening—there is that magic word again—to what is happening on the frequency. In such confusion, you may paradoxically make the contact more easily, provided you can copy what the DX station is transmitting while the policemen are having their fun…
    Also remember that every policeman—unless they give their callsign—is transmitting illegally
  • DX circles and calling with incomplete callsigns
    As we said in Chapter 3  (correct use of the callsign) you should always use your full callsign, regardless of the mode. In many DX circles—most often on the 15-, 20- and 40-metre bands—the controller creates a list of stations wishing to work the DX station present on the frequency. To collect callers for the list, the controller records the last two letters of the interested stations’ callsigns. This is incorrect practice. Unfortunately, many operators have adopted this habit when working DX stations outside such circles as well. Calling with fragments of callsigns slows the DX station’s operating rhythm. I have often heard—even when I was “on the other side” as the DX-station operator—someone call three times using the last letters of their suffix. If they had given their callsign once, the contact would have taken five seconds; instead, it takes several times longer.
    When operating CW or RTTY, this happens much less often. The most absurd example I encountered in telegraphy went roughly as follows: someone called me by sending “XYK XYK”. The signal was very strong, so I wanted to log it as quickly as possible so I could work weaker stations. I replied “XYK 599”. In response I heard “Z88ZXY Z88ZXY 599 K”. This pleasant operator had called me using the last letters of their suffix and adding the letter K, used in telegraphy as an invitation to transmit. The “K” stuck to the two suffix letters as if together they formed a complete three-letter suffix. This was a complete waste of time!
    One final comment about DX circles. Many controllers often help establish contacts. This is contrary to the concept of amateur radio as making two-way contacts. Try to conduct QSOs without outside assistance. It will certainly give you greater satisfaction.
  • How to use the question mark and “QRZ”
    Sometimes operators have the bad habit of giving their callsign infrequently. This causes problems. DXers monitoring the bands find a station, but it does not give its callsign. Suppose that the person who found the station does not have access to the DX Cluster. After listening for a while, they start asking for the callsign by sending “QRZ”, “CALL?” or “?” on telegraphy, or “What is your call?” on SSB. Most irritatingly, some operators do this even though the station they are interested in is working split. There is no chance that their question will be heard. Everyone trying to work the DX station hears it instead of the DX station. The result: policemen appear, followed shortly by chaos on the frequency. To avoid this, follow rule number one: LISTEN! Do not ask all these questions. They will not speed anything up. And remember that “QRZ” means “who is calling me?” and has no application here—after all, you are the one calling.
  • How to work contest stations
    Before taking part in a contest and calling a station participating in it, read the contest rules carefully. In some contests, because of the specific rules, you cannot work all stations. Avoid calling a station that does not want to, or simply cannot, work you in that particular contest. Contest software may even prevent such a contact from being logged.
    Remember a few general rules for contest operating:
    Every station wants to make as many contacts as possible, as quickly as possible. Therefore, keep QSOs short. Never call by giving your callsign more than once. If the contest-station operator has copied your callsign correctly, do not give it again—send only the appropriate report. If the contest station is answering someone else, do not transmit!
  • DX Cluster
    A controversial subject. Most people love clusters, but some do not like them. What shocks me is how much incorrect information (spots) appears on clusters. If you post information about a DX station, carefully check everything once more before pressing Enter and correct all errors.
    Clusters also have an announcement function. Many operators misuse it to vent their grievances and frustrations or to ask for QSL information. Here are several examples of cluster-user behaviour during the recent 3Y0X expedition (similar examples can be observed on many other occasions)
    “I have been calling for three hours and nothing”
    “I listened for five hours and not a trace of a signal—what a hopeless expedition”
    “Poor operators, they know nothing about propagation”
    “Why aren’t they working SPLIT?”
    “RTTY please”
    “BINGOOOOOOO”
    “I have a new country!”
    “My 276th DXCC!”
    “Pleeeeease work Europe!”
    None of this makes sense, provides anything or contributes anything positive. DX Cluster is a tool for reporting active DX stations. Nothing more. The comment field may be used to provide information about the split being used, how to send a QSL card, etc. A cluster is for spots. If there is additional information, it should be useful to other DXers.
    Looking for QSL information? Enter “SH/QSL<callsign>”. If the cluster you use has no QSL-information search function, enter “SH/DX<callsign>”. You will see 25 spots containing information about the callsign that interests you. Among them, there will certainly be some containing information on how to obtain confirmation. You will find them even faster by using the command “SH/DX<callsign> QSL INFO”. The results will show the last ten spots for the station you are interested in that contained QSL INFO. If you cannot find anything on the cluster, search the websites.
    If you are annoyed that you do not know something, do not announce it to others. If you cannot work a station, improve your station and operating skills instead—do not vent your grievances publicly. Spots containing information such as “worked it on the first try” or “worked it with 5 W” say nothing about the DX station’s signal or propagation conditions. They only provide information about the author’s ego. Cluster users also often use them for two-way chats. Remember that a cluster is not a chat room.
    Do not post information about a pirate station on the cluster—it is not worth anyone’s attention. On the other hand, if you post information about a station such as our friend Pipo from Sicily, what do you think will happen? Correct—do not post him on the cluster either. In summary, it is important to provide accurate information. Do not flaunt your emotions, frustrations, etc. to your fellow operators. In reality, nobody cares about the state of your ego.
    Information about frequency, split and QSL is useful to everyone. So use the cluster correctly. If you do not know how, look for the instructions (enter “SH/HELP”) and read them carefully. And remember that your spots  are read by the entire amateur-radio community. It is very easy to damage your reputation. Interestingly, it is just as easy to build a good reputation.  When you have a spare moment, visit the website about “cluster monkeys”  (http://www.kh2d.net/dxmonkey.cfm)—the message is unambiguous!
  • Advice for DX-station and DX-expedition operators
    Do you enjoy holidays with your family and radio? Or do you work abroad and have an opportunity to operate on the bands in your spare time? Or perhaps—according to your XYL—you have completely lost your mind and intend to spend your money on a DX expedition? Let us suppose that you intend to transmit from a country that is sought-after on the bands. The more sought-after it is, the more likely you are to encounter the situations mentioned above (policemen, nobody listening to your instructions, etc.). The most important thing is that you remain in control of the situation.
    If you go on holiday to Spain or France, you probably will not have a crowd of stations eager to work you on the frequency. If you go to Cyprus, Crete or the Balearic Islands, you will certainly have some callers. Has your work taken you to Iran and have you been lucky enough to obtain a local licence? Sit back, because you are about to sweat!
    If, however, you managed to organise a trip to Scarborough Reef and activate a station there, the pileup will be unbelievable! Better fasten your seat belt!
    How can you “tame” a crowd of callers and keep it under control? It is not an easy task. Here are some tips. Give your callsign after every contact. If you are unfortunate enough to have a long callsign such as SV9/ON4ZZZZ/P, give it at least once every three QSOs. If you are working simplex and notice that you cannot copy a full callsign or that the stations you answer remain silent, switch to split operation. First make sure that the frequency on which you will listen is clear. When working split, remind everyone of this after every QSO. State the split you are using. For example, on telegraphy it may be 1, 2 or 5 kHz up, and on SSB 5 kHz or 5 to 10 kHz. With SSB, do not use a split smaller than 5 kHz. You will be surprised how widely some SSB stations transmit. If you use a 2–3 kHz split on SSB, these signals may completely interfere with your transmit frequency.
    Try to keep the range over which you listen as narrow as possible. Do not unnecessarily occupy frequencies.
    If on SSB you manage to copy part of the callsign of a station calling you—as often happens in a pileup—give the report and what you copied. For example, “Yankee Oscar 59”. On telegraphy, do not use question marks in place of uncopied callsign letters. For reasons unknown, most operators in a pileup will take the question marks as an invitation to transmit, even though the callsign fragment you sent has nothing to do with theirs. Example: 3TA 599, not ??3TA 599. In the second case, the crowd will start calling you. Regardless of the mode, it is extremely important to send the full callsign of the station to which you previously gave a report, using the copied fragment of its callsign. First focus on copying the full callsign, then send it so that the operator knows you copied it correctly. This also affects the pileup. If operators see that you consistently aim to complete contacts, they will be more disciplined. If, however, you “give up” and move on to another station, you have already lost. Chaos will fill the frequency because everyone will try to attract your attention.
    Do not work stations that give only two letters of their callsign. Clearly say that you want to hear full callsigns. If, while working SPLIT, you notice that the stations you are answering do not respond, listen to your transmit frequency. A policeman may be completely covering you. On the higher bands, CW speed should be no more than 40 groups. On the lower bands (160–40 m), transmit at 20–30 groups depending on conditions.
    Always inform the pileup about what you are doing. If you are going QRT, tell them. Want a short break? Say QRX 5. Changing band, mode or frequency? Tell them. This is  very irritating for operators who want to work you when they do not know what you intend to do.  If you still cannot cope with a crowd of callers and undisciplined stations, go QRT and change frequency or band. Never allow yourself to lose your temper on the band. Do not shout at anyone.
    If the pileup grows so large that it makes operation impossible, you can try working individual regions, continents or callsign numbers. When working successive regions, you call continents (e.g. Europe) or a region (the US West Coast). Operators from other parts of the world wait their turn. Working successive numbers means asking stations with successive numbers (0–9) in their callsigns to call. The advantage of working by region is that you give continents with much weaker propagation toward your direction than other, favoured continents a chance.
    Here are a few things to remember when working successive regions:
    If you use this method because the pileup is too large, change the direction of operation fairly often. Try to announce your plans, for example by saying that you will call Japan next. Work one continent for about 10 minutes. Once you have reduced the pileup somewhat, return to normal operation. This method is not recommended. Most operators spend most of their time doing nothing and anxiously waiting their turn. In addition, while waiting they have no guarantee that you will call their region or number.
    They fear changing propagation or that you may go QRT at any moment. These anxious operators are potential policemen. Remember that when working numbers, 90% of those wanting to work you are waiting idle! Despite these disadvantages, such methods are sometimes necessary to control a pileup, especially for operators who still have much to learn.
    When working numbers, remember the following: If you have started working numbers, see it through to the end. Sometimes operators using this method go QRT halfway through or abandon the idea of working by numbers. Know that this kind of “number game” will not win you the pileup’s affection. Be consistent—start at zero and proceed systematically through 1, 2, 3 … to 9. Never jump between numbers—the pileup will hate you! Make ten contacts with a given number, no more. Make sure you do not favour any number. Try to announce how many contacts with a given number you will make before asking for the next number. And remember—90% of operators are sitting idle. They are potential policemen transmitting on your frequency. Avoid this system whenever you can.
    Some operators try to work by country in addition to the methods mentioned above. This should always be avoided. I repeat: do not work this way, because you are likely to bring masses of policemen from countries waiting their turn down on your head. Besides, there is no way you can give every DXCC entity a chance.
    And one final point: in reality, the most important thing is to maintain a steady operating rhythm. If you refine this element, you will get less tired and make more contacts. And the whole activity will be more enjoyable.
  • Other comments
    The clicks on your CW tone while transmitting  can be annoying to listeners. If your transmitter produces “garbage”, repair it. Do it yourself—be a radio amateur! Other amateurs will thank you. The same applies to distorted SSB signals. Make sure your signal is clean.
    The Q code and the number code (73/88) were created so that certain standard phrases could be sent and received more quickly by telegraphy. Strictly speaking, they should not be used for voice contacts. Why say “seventy-three” when you can say “regards” (or “best regards”)? Try to use moderation and do not overuse codes on voice.
    If a DX station is sending telegraphy so fast that you cannot copy it, but you really want to work it, use decoding software. Otherwise, you will waste a great deal of valuable time making one contact. Remember that others also want to make contacts and everyone is short of time.
    “QSO NOT IN LOG”—if your cards often come back with this note, it is a sign that it is time to improve your operating skills. Listen—this is rule number one! If you cannot hear the station, why are you calling it? Read this guide and follow it, and your results will improve. Would you like to bet that you will stop regularly receiving cards marked “NOT IN LOG”?
    Since we are on the subject of QSL cards, an old saying goes: “The crowning glory of a QSO is the QSL card.” Of course, most operators have no objection to receiving your card. Some, however, take a different view. Personally, I consider it important to reply to every card I receive, whether through the bureau or direct, regardless of whether it confirms a contact or a SWL report. In Belgium, we are fortunate that QSL Bureau service is included in the membership fee of our national amateur-radio organisation, UBA. Using the QSL Bureau is the cheapest way for us to send cards worldwide. However, not everyone is so fortunate. QSL bureaus operate under different rules in different countries, and some are not cheap at all. Remember this when sending your card. Try to check whether the country you are sending to has an operating bureau. If not, consider sending the card direct with an SAE (self-addressed envelope) and funds to cover postage (e.g. an IRC).
    Contacts can also be confirmed electronically, for example through Logbook of the World operated by ARRL.
    Paper cards are not needed there, although I still enjoy them!
    Some DX stations use QSL Managers. Their operators, for various reasons, delegate card handling to other people. You can find their contact details on the Internet, for example at www.qrz.com—a website often given as QSL INFO even during a contact.
    A word about national amateur-radio organisations. During the Second World War, radio amateurs lost their licences and equipment. Which organisations do you think petitioned the authorities to restore this activity? Yes, they were the national organisations—members of the IARU. They were our voice in discussions with the authorities, and it would be good if they continued to have such a strong voice. Together we are stronger. If you do not belong to your organisation, consider joining.
    Those of you who complain about an expensive QSL Bureau in your country could ask your organisation why an inexpensive bureau is possible in Belgium but not in your country. Get involved. Could you offer your organisation help? Remember that it is your collective voice in discussions with the authorities. The strength of that voice depends on you.
    There are many sources of information about DX-station activity on the Internet. A complete list would be very long, so here are just a few: the 425 DX News Bulletin, the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin and ARRL Propagation Bulletins. Use search engines for others. Also study the IARU Band Plan for your region and the local regulations issued by your national authorities—for example, in Poland, the National Table of Frequency Allocations. It is best to print them out and put them somewhere visible.
    IZ9XXX and Pipo are slightly altered details of one of the Sicilian hams.
    Finally, we all deserve a little laughter. Visit DL4TT and read his perceptive comments in the article “Dog X-ray” at http://www.qsl.net/dl4tt/DawgX-rayClub.html
  • Summary
    It all began very modestly—with the joy of making a contact with an expedition. Using a low-power station, I managed to work more than 300 DXCC entities. There was no special secret, just a strong desire to work a new country. That meant searching through paper magazines for DXers and listening to the local 2-metre DX channel. Older DXers exchanged information there, and by listening to their conversations I could learn what new signals they had heard on their superb antennas. There were also many sleepless nights and hours of calling—sometimes unsuccessfully—to make that one QSO. Sometimes I took leave to work a new country. And in fact, it still looks modest. When other DXers visit me, they always ask, “Son, is this really all you have? And you make all those DX contacts with this?”
    Indeed, the desire to work a new DXCC entity can be so strong that it drives people to install antenna systems, expand their stations, and so on. But the point is not to build a superstation. In reality, good operating practice will lead you to success. Sometimes I feel like going over and showing all those people complaining on the cluster how to make a QSO instead of wasting time venting their frustrations.
    I wish you all success in working new countries. I hope these few tips will help raise operating standards, even if only a little. If you cannot break through the pileup, you can always call me. A good beer for a new country worked from your station is all that is needed…
    And remember that nobody is infallible. You will certainly catch the author of this article making a mistake on the band one day. If you do—smile and behave better than he did.
    I believe you will achieve many successes on the bands. Thank you to all the friends involved in this project.
ON4WW—Mark
(April 2006)