EA1IEH/4 working a “10Kc split” on the 40m band for a SOTA activation!
Poor operating!!!
Mike
2E0YYY
In reply to 2E0YYY:
The activator is King Mike…not poor operating in my opinion, although I wasn’t operating. I have occasionally used the technique on SOTA CW to good effect…
73 Phil
In reply to G4OBK:
It might be considered acceptable for a DX-pedition but I think it was neither necessary or proportionate for a SOTA activation. Even if the chasers were well disciplined it is doubling the bandwidth used, since chasers finding him by the old-fashioned use-your-own-ears method would not know at first about the split it gets two pile-ups for the price of one, and the chasers calling split would almost inevitably spread so a respectable slice of forty metres SSB would be taken up. Think about it, if ten activators did it at once all the phone section would be gone! So I have to disagree with you, Phil, not good operating and discourteous to other users of the band.
73
Brian G8ADD
PS Another thought, such a wide split excludes those using older rigs: my TS520S can do up to 2.5 kHz.
In reply to G8ADD:
I used to run split on 40m a few years ago before countries such as France were allowed to txt above 7.1 KHz. I would operate on say 7.118 simplex until the callers dried up then I would announce listening 7.090 - for anyone not allowed above 7.100. I remember even some UK stations, although allowed to tx above 7.100, their transceivers weren’t able to.
.
Last week, there was some VK DX-pedition working a 20Kc split on the 12m band, one of the few places it’s possible to escape the dreaded CQ contest calls. Effectively, 25Kc’s of this miniscule band was gone. What is the point of banning contesting on the WARK bands when huge split frequency working is allowed?
73 Mike
2E0YYY
In reply to 2E0YYY:
It’s not a matter of “allowed”, Mike, we can’t stop them. All we can do is express disapproval. If enough people barrack them over it they just might pay attention!
73
Brian
In reply to G8ADD:
If enough people barrack them over it they
just might pay attention!
I wouldn’t hold your breath, Brian.
73
Mike
PS. Good to work some VK’s from your local summit this morning. I took the shorter bridle path up to the trig and it was completely dry.
In reply to G8ADD:
My concern regarding the use of split would be that you are left to the mercy of the “dead receiver and couldn’t care less” brigade. It can be hard to hold a frequency running 5W. Having chasers running several times that power on your frequency is a good way of keeping it clear.
73, Gerald G4OIG
In reply to 2E0YYY:
I’ve only ever seen that track muddy once, but I prefer the track through the trees up the ridge, its a lovely moment when you emerge onto the open hillside!
73
Brian G8ADD
In reply to G8ADD:
I’m ok with an activator working split when the rx frequency is specified. Where I do object is when somebody specifies “listening 5-10 up” or similar. On a narrow band such as 12m this can cause problems and may even tempt the band police to get involved 
In reply to G1INK:
Working split draws the Eunuchs, aka Band Police, out, like Wasps to a jar of jam.
Dave/G4ASA
In reply to 2E0YYY:
In my opinion a SOTA activation doesn’t create such a big pile-up as to justify a split operation, thus using a bigger section of the bands.
If the pile-up is undisciplined and the activator can’t be copied due to chasers calling over him/her, it’s mainly the chasers problem and they will soon learn that doing so won’t let them work the activator, so they will change procedure.
As it’s been stated several times in different threads of this reflector, it’s on the activator hands the use of different actions and behaviours in order to keep the pile-up as disciplined as possible, asuming there will always be the risk of having someone brainless or crocodile-like brained and it won’t be easy to get these ones into smart operating, listening, respecting, being patient and so on.
Best 73 de Guru - EA2IF
In reply to EA2IF:
I agree (in my opinion) split operation should only be used for special stations such as DXPeditions and then ONLY when needed. I have operated on a DXPedition and while split was needed on 20m, in my experience it was not needed or used on 12 and 17m.
By the way, if you feel a DXPedition is doing something wrong, contact one of their “Pilots” - email or other contact method should be shown on the DXPedition’s website and most likely in QRZ.com as well.
Re an earlier comment on EU-VK contacts, it appears 06:00-08:00 UTC is the window for long path contacts - unfortunately in the Australian Eastern states, this is now 4-6pm, which means a workday contact is less likely, weekend (or public holiday) is better.
I will be trying for a DE - VK S2S over the next couple of weeks.
73 Ed DD5LP / VK2JI / G8GLM.
In reply to VK2JI::
Re an earlier comment on EU-VK contacts, it appears 06:00-08:00 UTC
is the window for long path contacts - unfortunately in the Australian
Eastern states, this is now 4-6pm, which means a workday contact is
less likely, weekend (or public holiday) is better.
Hi Ed,
Nine days ago, working the 20m band, I managed to work all of the mainland Australian States, between 0540z and 0740z, from G/SP-013. However, I suspect that the chasers antennas were doing an awful lot of the work.
Saturday just gone was a totally different story. Very hard work from G/CE-002 (although I still have my reservations about the take-off from this summit.) I was unable to hear Compton VK2HRX, with his beam and 400 Watts. I’m not sure if he was beaming long or short path. I know a lot of VK chasers choose long path depending on the time of day. Managed a dozen or so VK contacts but some weren’t easy.
I will be trying for a DE - VK S2S over the next couple of weeks.
GL.
73 Mike
2E0YYY
In reply to 2E0YYY:
Yesterday at EA2/SS-050, the same story. Just a handful of NA chaser on 21 and nothing at 24. Just listened 9J2AC as the unique out of EU station…
Just wait another activation 8-/
73 de Mikel
In reply to EA2CW:
Hi Mikel,
On Saturday morning, I worked just 4 stations on 12m. Two ground wave G, one IZ6 and one VU2, for almost one hour on the band 
73 Mike
2E0YYY
In reply to 2E0YYY:
Saturday just gone was a totally different story. Very hard work from
G/CE-002 (although I still have my reservations about the take-off
from this summit.)
I would blame conditions, Mike. The inactive part of the sun was facing us - about 90 degrees of solar longitude with nothing much in the way of activity except a couple of coronal holes, and they aren’t good news on HF! There was a polar geomagnetic storm on the 11th and 12th caused by the local IMF tipping south rather than the coronal holes, and I guess that was messing you about.
Look at CE-002 on the map, the only higher ground within 20 miles is to the west, due east there is nothing higher until you hit the Urals! On a really clear day you can see the mountains of Snowdonia, it really is a fine spot as long as you don’t mind hordes of dog-walkers and the occasional parade of sub-teen girls on ponies, and to cap it there are some super pubs in Clent Village for apres SOTA!
73
Brian G8ADD
In reply to G8ADD:
In reply to 2E0YYY:
Saturday just gone was a totally different story. Very hard work
from
G/CE-002 (although I still have my reservations about the take-off
from this summit.)I would blame conditions, Mike.
I guess you’re right, Brian. It’s very easy to blame the summit when things don’t go the way you wish…
As for dog walkers, I though there was a lot on G/SP-013 Gun, but Walton Hill wins hands down. One terrier came flying across and knocked the rig over. Shed loads of kids on ponies. However, this is such an easy summit to activate. Sub 20 minute walk, a very strong fence to bungee an antenna which is no more than 20 Metres from the trig point and as you point out, great views. Can’t ask for much more really …except a log book full of DX, of course 
Not tried the pubs, but will be back later in the year for another activation.
73 Mike
2E0YYY