If everyone runs split, say we end up using 3-4 KHz (or 2-3 KHz…pick one) for each station calling CQ SOTA, we will run out of CW real estate quickly on busy days. I am not a fan of spreading out and having to turn the dial for each QSO when it is very cold, and my hands are frozen.
The secret of working a pileup is for the Activator to pull some part of a call, any part, out of the pile, and reply with “WA7??” or whatever you did copy….even one letter will work to a large degree to quickly reduce the pile to a manageable level…
Chasers without “WA7” in their call must stand by…period. The activator should “NEVER” respond to a station that does not have the “WA7” as part of their call in this scenario…PERIOD.
It turns out it is the ACTIVATOR who must control the chaos…so set your rules/pattern, and stick by them. If u give in and answer someone without the “WA7” (or whatever) you will be telling everyone that anything goes, and good luck with that.
And Yes, I don’t always follow my own rules 100%, and I almost always suffer for doing it.
(Sometimes I just have to break my own rules and call that FT5 or 3Y who is calling me out of sequence!!)
CU all in the Pileup!
73
Pete
WA7JTM