Bonehead move on my part

 

With SPLIT on and not just DUAL

This afternoon I spent some time on the radio and I noticed on the DX Heat Cluster the DXpedition TK8N was being spotted in the CW portion of 15m. So over I went and there was a large pileup I thought it would be interesting to polish my skill in finding out how they were working the pileup.


 I set my Icom to dual receive which allows me to hear VFO A (the DXpedition station) in my left ear. In my right ear, it's VFO B ( the pileup). I wanted to see if I could figure out how he was working the pileup. Was TN8K moving up or down the band as he made contacts and was he moving in large or small increments? 


In time I figured out what TN8K was up to and I found myself on a segment of the band to which I was sure he was listening so I threw my call out and on the second time a very loud "VE9KK UP UP!!. I thought WHAT and I realized I was still in dual receive which is fine BUT I did not put my radio in SPLIT!!! 


I was transmitting my call right over the top of TN8K on his transmit frequency!! What a bonehead move.

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

6 Responses to “Bonehead move on my part”

  • Timothy Morse KD2TJP:

    That’s what makes this hobby so interesting and fun!!!!

  • Bill K8TE:

    You were among many, Mike, and many more to follow.

    What’s amazing after several send “UP” folks continue calling on their frequency. Some don’t even recognize their own callsigns.

    I will talk about this during my presentation “How to Work a Pileup” at DX University during the IDXCC at Visalia in April.

    Good DX & 73, Bill, K8TE

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good morning Timothy and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, yes for sure there is interesting, fun and then embarrassing. This event was number 3 all the way.
    Have a good week,
    73
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good morning Bill and very nice to hear from you, yes I have heard those who put their call right on top of the DX and thought I would never be one of “those”. Well, I am now a member of that club!
    Yesterday I was trying to work HZ1WRTC who was operating split and I made sure I was in split this time. The funny thing is whenever I heard UP UP, I immediately felt a sinking feeling and double-checked I was in split!
    I have been looking on the web for working a CW pileup as well as how to work the pileup when you have been spotted in a contest. This has happened to me and it’s just a blur of CW coming at you. I figure somewhere out there I will find some info on this. I am using Morse Runner in competition mode and that is helping. But also rig settings as well.
    Anyway, ham radio never gets boring and keeps you sharp and on your toes.
    Have a great week Bill,
    73
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • John NL4711:

    It would be nice if the bandpolice didn’t send the call too, just UP. Sending the call too makes the interference even worse.

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good morning John, I hear “UP UP” often when working split and only pay half attention to it. But when I heard my call attached to UP my head spun to my rig and I saw I was not in split mode. It may take some extra time to add the call but it work the first time for me.
    73 John and an interesting call by the way,
    Mike
    VE9KK

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