I was working Jurg HB9BIN/P on BE-012 on the 12m band just now in CW and an OK station who was 579 at my end, asked me in CW “Tell him I call”. I didn’t do this as if Jurg could hear the OK calling he would of course call him back himself…
Jurg heard the OK station shortly after that and they then had an overlapping QSO that I thought was slightly suspect from the chasers end…this was the usual thing - a delay in the chaser going back and then on the final over the chaser going back to Jurg before he had finished his over.
I won’t name the OK station publicly, but asking another operator to pass on your callsign is very bad practice in my opinion.
I won’t name the OK station publicly, but asking another operator to
pass on your callsign is very bad practice in my opinion.
Agreed, what might be sensible in situations like that would be to pass the message that an OK station was calling him so that he could ask for “OK stations only” to help cut down the qrm.
Absolutely not Colin. That rewards the poor operating by the OK station, and would in many cases lead to mayhem on your frequency.
I would personally suggest that if anyone has a problem with the operating of another station, then contact them politely, directly, and privately, via email. That is much better than flagging it on here, and in my experience of doing so, is actually effective.
Maybe you’re right, Andy, but on the other hand many of us are willing to pass on that the Activator is being called for an S2S, and its been known to happen to help a QRP station, too. Like much of life, it isn’t a black-and-white issue.
It’s not always clear cut. I always appreciate being told there is a S2S, a mobile or a National parks station or even a G station under the dog pile. Much as I try to work down through the list of stations in order of hearing them there are always some exceptions. S2S and real DX.
In general operations it is not uncommon for a DX station or special event station to be advised that “my friend xx99zz is also calling you” or “you have another xx99 station calling”. Now some of you may think this is poor practice, but then what are friends for if not to help?
“Alerting” and “spotting” are very much a part of SOTA. So I would not object to being told on air that there was say a VK6 or a /M calling me.
The activator is in control and may say “I will work through the list of stations I have heard and then call for others”.