Is DXing a "gentleman's" sport?

In my quaint utopian version of life, when a station is calling out on the triple five, they say "QSY to X frequency".   You then go to that frequency, wait for them to say their call sign followed by "QRZ".   You then call in with yours.  If you are lucky, you get the first dibs on the QSL, sometimes others might have a stronger station or better propagation and get in before.   Fair enough, that's life.   But one pet irritation of mine is when people go straight to the channel and go booming in with their 400 watts and four element beam before the call has even been put out.   Then you sit there waiting patiently for the QSO to end, but just before it does, some else comes blasting in with their callsign.  They get the contact, again, you wait patiently then the propagation drops.    I know it's "freeband" and there are no actual rules as such, but is there no honour amongst thieves?   I've experienced people who I'm mates with doing this, I don't say anything because it seems a relatively trivial thing to get into an argument about, but I do nonetheless find it frustrating!   To me, the fair and polite way of operating is the wait for the QRZ before you call, then everyone gets a fair crack.

All i can say is if you can't beat em join em.
But i do get where you are coming from it pi55es me off big style as well.

Nothing wrong with a quaint utopian view Chris

You'll find a similar story on the Amateur bands even though everyone will deny it, (all Hams are OM gentlemen don't-cha-know )

One thing that I hear though on the Ham bands is where the often powerful DX station tells everyone else to stop transmitting so as to give the QRP stations an attempt. Now that is the gentleman thing to do!

Often these are licenced operators that also utilise the CB frequencies and perform a similar thing asking for only one specific callsign to call back.... doesn't always work though.

Obviously everyone is excited by a DX contact all scrabbling to get in while they have the chance but you also have to realise that often, (not always), they can't hear each other, just the DX station. For the poor old DX station it's a mush of multiple stations calling them and a difficult job to separate the callsigns so usually the more powerful station comes through clearer and is answered. Ergo, everyone jumps the ladder installing beams and connecting linears up to make sure they have a better chance.

The whole mess carries on ad infinitum.


Without starting the old CB versus Ham nonsense up....(we've all heard those arguments a million times)

Usually on the Amateur bands you will hear the hesitancy of callers especially if the DX station asks for a bit of order. Everyone suddenly becomes a little unsure of when to call in and weirdly a sense of order prevails. It doesn't always last long but it gets repeated in waves. This also gives the poor old DX station a chance of separating those calls.

On the CB bands however, that hesitancy is not there, quite often stations try and key up that mic as fast as they can!!

I sometimes hear the 'cool, calm, collected' operator who doesn't rush, speaks slowly and surely, often ending with their callsign. They tend to be successful as everyone else has shouted over the top of each other so the DX station hears the initial noise and then the clarity and callsign of the last calmer caller.

It can be quite the DX trick


Personally I can't be doing with it all, it's like watching flies gathering around a pile of you know what.
(Another plus for FT8 too! )

Anyway, just my tuppence worth. There's bound to be a serious DXer with their sixpence.

All the best,
Victor

Yes exciting isn't it ! The craziness of 11m DX is why some people cannot let it go.

In my experience most people wait for the station to call on the QSY frequency first. I guess you could "get in there first" by calling their call sign on the QSY freq... that can happen, I don't do it often myself but I may do once in a while.

I would say if someone is calling before the T5 station has even arrived and called the QSY freq, keying over the responding station is fair game. Then the QSY station can choose. Gentlemenly ? It is about as gentlemenly as the other station calling before the other station even got there.

Free band etiquette is something you aim for but no one is perfect, as mentioned sometimes you don't hear all the local stations responding, so you missed that one but you will get the next.

There is one rule that I think everyone should abide by. Even if you have entered some rough and tumble and let's face it that is always going to happen, it is the nature of the beast..always end it well, mistakes happen, people are not heard etc. so always apologize and get along with everyone... it is good for you and good for others.

Life is too short to get the hump, if you get the hump go away from the radio for 5-10mins chill make a cuppa and  come back after your adrenaline has dropped. It is a bit of DX, not a fight to the death, one day you win one day you lose.

Agree it can be a nightmare. One point of etiquette that's worth also considering is that if putting out the Dx call and offering a QSY frequency at least listen on the QSY frequency beforehand to make sure your not inviting every station to stomp all over some other Dxers QSO

Well said Steve. The other stuff is part of the excitement but QSYing all over someone is just the worst!

A quick tip on choosing a qsy frequency. I first listen and then put a call out asking if it is free. All I do, is say "26CT763, is this frequency clear?"  

If another op is using that frequency, they are usually very grateful (in my experience) and quite often pass on contacts they are making, over to me. It is surprising how far a little politeness goes to good cooperation.

Another tip, when responding to a dx qrz call, is to just go back with your unit number, rather than your full call. It is often easier for the other station to pick out.

Great tips there John

The asking if the frequency is clear aspect is something found on the Amateur bands but not always adhered too.
As you say, a few manners goes a long way

I agree Victor.
It's fresh in my mind so to say but very rare to hear it asked.
The local GW-0's never say it or they might have done it some time back say 1960 lol.

Ha! You're not wrong Alan.
Think it's rare to hear a 'G' ask, more common with an 'M' or '2E'. On CB 'freeband' it's even rarer!

I still giggle at the webSDR's with the little tags that state, "such and such's net" as if they 'own' the frequency!?!

Yep it’s a jungle out there if it’s a rare dxcc then it can be well sporty but that’s the fun of it, all fair in love N war , one has to learn some tricks of the trade and am not talking throwing power at it although obviously that can help in a pile up lol

Timing of your call can make a really big difference, don’t pile in when you here QRZ let the big guns take each other out and then call in or if you are using let’s say 5 to 10w don’t be shy of say QRP after your call 

Enjoy 

Craig

QRP is something i add to the end of my call IF i remember and it does work some times well many times just need to say it.

Sydthecat wrote:

Yep it’s a jungle out there if it’s a rare dxcc then it can be well sporty but that’s the fun of it, all fair in love N war , one has to learn some tricks of the trade and am not talking throwing power at it although obviously that can help in a pile up lol

Timing of your call can make a really big difference, don’t pile in when you here QRZ let the big guns take each other out and then call in or if you are using let’s say 5 to 10w don’t be shy of say QRP after your call 

Enjoy 

Craig

Another good tactic, Craig. 

I always add mobile or portable to the call, as that sometimes gets results.

I always remember Johnno being amazed, when I told him I was working him on a Sirio 4000, all the way to Wagga Wagga, Craig.

100 Watts through a 4 element beam normally does the trick

They do make a massive difference when working long dx. I think that is what made the contact all the more satisfying as I was on the mobile whip. The next goal is to work 41 div (New Zealand) on a mobile whip. I have SWL'd on a mobile, but was unable to get back.