Ham Radio Basics--DXing--The Pileup

When working CW should you also give an abbreviated two letter "call" in response to a CQ or QRZ as you suggested when working SSB?

Good advice, Jim, for SSB.
Note folks, sending only two of your letters really irritates SOME ops.

Hi, JIm, lots of good advice here. I personally prefer whole calls when I´m on the receiving end. And I definitely prefer the pileup to wait for my QRZ. One more advice: If the DX is asking for a specific call or combination of letters, som stations keep calling even though they are note remotely close. That slows down the pileup and is just annoying. Personally I ignore them, even if they are strong. Bad conduct is not rewarded. I also try to pick out QRPs and mobiles, as I know how hard it is to get through. Good DX de Tom JW6VDA.

Hi Jim, I just subscribed and I'm really enjoying your videos. You give a lot of excellent advice here, and I'm going to put it to use. My call is what seems a mile long when I use proper phonetics, and I often shorten things by saying fox instead of foxtrot, and just use wxp without the phonetics. As you mention, they will usually respond with Kilo Foxtrot 5, and ask me again for the rest, which I give in phonetics. I probably just need a vanity call!
Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing more of your videos.

73,
Brett KF5WXP

Great info and advice! Thanks for doing these! A big help.

Hi Jim,
When I am on the DX side of pileup I really prefer full call signs because it speeds up the pileup. 90% of time I can get the complete call sign. When I am calling DX I also send my full call sign. Often the DX station catches only UA9 or only CDC out of the pileup mess. Thus I get better chances. Long call sign has its own advantage. While callers with short call sign have already finished their call I am still saying Delta Charly. This tail ending sometimes helps. I only give "the last two" when I know for sure the DX station prefers this.

Great video Jim! Used your videos while I was getting my license, just got my call sign today! 73 KE8FDD

Thanks Jim, Excellent discussion, and all your videos so far have been helpful and just plain enjoyable. Keep them coming and I'll be listening. 73, KC1DIW.

Jim, you're a great presenter and communicator, really easy to listen to. Keep up the good work!

What do you think of adding /QRP portable or just announcing QRP to get their initial attention at times to make you stand out?

Very informative deeply appreciated

I just subbed. I have a lot to learn, and I believe that your videos will educate me. Thanks!

Hi,Thank you for writing. I am sending this same response to many. On Tuesday, November 2nd in the morning at 0300 I was taken by ambulance to the local hospital with severe shortness of breath. I had been having a problem breathing for more than a year. A blood test in the Emergency Room showed my D-Dimer score of 12,281. A D-Dimer of over 500 is considered high. I was told that I set a new record in the ER at 12K. My oxygen level was about 82%. A CT scan showed I had a bilateral pulmonary embolism with almost total blockage. I was close to dying. A powerful blood thinningmedication was injected many times over the next several days. I was in the hospital for 5 days. I was sent home Saturday evening. I was on oxygen full time for a few days and mostly at night. I must use a walker. I can only walk a short distance on a level surface. Treatment for the blood clots is 6 months. It will take that long for some of them to go away. While in the hospital many came by to ask me questions about how I was able to live the last few months. I had been to 3 doctors recently and not correctly diagnosed. The outlook is good. I must follow the doctor's orders carefully. I do not feel strong enough to have vistors and don't want to risk infection at this time. My wife is taking excellent care of me. I will beuploading a video about Pulmonary Embolism soon. All of us who sit for a long time are at risk. Again, thanks for your message. 73, Jim W6LG

I have watched some videos of DXing and I am wondering what are all the numbers they are saying back and forth? I know some are call signs, some are signal and power.

What would you recommend for a DXing radio that won't break the bank. And antenna? I do not have much room for ground radials (lots of concrete and a swimming pool), thank you for your help.

Is that an oximeter on the table???

Well presented Jim, and some very useful points. I like the way you say "LISTEN LISTEN and LISTEN some more " It sure plays the part. de Graham ZL3MA

Jim, thank you for all the knowledge you impart on us "newbies", I have and will continue to enjoy learning from your wealth of knowledge! -Kenn KD2NVJ

Shortened calls are a minefield and are not legal. Always best to stick to the full call, IMHO.

Great tips and a lot of these I've picked up from my OM. Like you said, it's best to listen to the patterns of the DX station working their pileup. Stations who don't know what to look for, end up spending what seems like an eternity in the pile up and eventually miss out because the DX station goes QRT. 73's Jim de AA7YA

Hi Jim, I know it’s been a while now but I sure hope you’re feeling better these days? W5PN

Ke2il great Jim keep it up sal

Great vid, Jim. Super content but what really sets you apart is your delivery. You have a deep, powerful voice yet you speak slowly so you are very easy to understand. Thanks for the good info.

More power is the answer to getting through pileups

I notice that some runners will mix up how they respond to calling stations. They might grab a loud station once or twice, and then hang back for some and pick out something when the pile up thins out. I initially thought this was a pretty neat practice, but then I had a heck of a time timing my call!

Anyway, thanks for sharing this video. I enjoyed watching! 73 from KD2PUW

I always learn on this channel. Thank you.

Another good educational video. Keep up Jim. KK7T.

excellent advice

Isn't it ilegal to send only part of a call sign?

I am an inexperienced extra and this was very informative….

Good info, especially for newbies. Always be professional and use proper phonetics. I think complete calls should be the default in pileups. . Shorten if Really needed. A discussion on pile ups seems incomplete without explanation of panadaptor use & tricks. By far the most useful tool in a pileup. Listen , listen, listen... and learn to use a padadaptor. I'm lost without one now ! There is NOTHING like watching & working a pileup on a screen. A video on working a pileup with a panadaptor would be great.

Jim I love your videos

Marty KO4DPJ

That helped a lot, thank you!

Nice would like to hear more on making dx contacts tricks. Thank you very much

Love them old Drakes....73

Thanks Jim!

Thank You Jim. Your video's have been a great help, as a new ham. W3VRX. 73's

Great video! I run 100 watts with a efhw and have been able to make it through a few really noisy pileups by finding the patterns. Pretty new to ham but really like trying to get those long distance contacts.

learning lot from you Jim I'm still C B base station doing my ham radio lience soon Rob

Great video jim. I know I'm late to the game this is an old video. But hey, I'm a newer ham. So much different in the cb skip world I came from.
There I would drop the hammer and come out on top.
I'm older now and as a ham I'm learning patience. Hah. Thanks again.

Giving partial calls is absolutely horrible advice. It slows things down for everyone. I speak from experience of a half dozen expeditions.

Don't be a lid, give your full call!

Tnx Jim today and most of the week, I had a noise level s9. The conditions will change and give me time to work on antennas. The it's the point that the most important thing in the system
73 Paul KQ4CD

Enjoy all your videos. Regards from Belfast Ireland... Joe GI4GID

great info Jim! I've heard you on 20m in the last few days hope to make contact - ve1qfa

You are a definite asset to our hobby! Thanks foe ALL of your thoughtful videos!