Note: There
are geographic variations to these recommendations due to varying
local band plans and licensing regulations. We would encourage other
Societies to adopt this Code of Practice
This
is the recommended Operating Code of Practice as issued by
the UKSMG in conjunction with JAROC, HARDXA, JAROC,
SixItaly, DRAA, LABRE-SP
and SSA. In due course
it is hoped that many other Amateur Radio Societies will adopt the
recommendations over time. The Operating Code of Practice is
aimed at all radio amateurs using 6m with the hope that its adoption
will make the use of the band more productive and fun for everyone.
Now
that the use of the 6m band is at an all-time high, it is very
important that the way each of us use the band does not upset our
many close radio neighbours by spoiling their ability to work DX
stations and have fun them themselves. Please read these
recommendations carefully and try to adopt their use in your every
day operating. The alternative is that your poor operating practices
will bring your callsign into disrepute that will be remembered for
many years we are sure!
You
automatically represent your country every time you transmit and if
you do not abide by internationally accepted practices and
conventions you are effectively disgracing yourself and all your
fellow country amateurs!
6m
AS A DX BAND: 6-metres is a DX band
just like any other of the amateur radio high frequency DX bands and
it, along with other 6m operators, should be treated with respect
and tolerance.
LOCAL
BAND PLAN: Always respect your
local band plan. In Europe this is issued by the IARU and is
attached as Addendum (1).
LOCAL
QSOs: Do
not cause nuisance and disturbance to other dedicated 6-meter local
and overseas DX operators with local QSOs within the 50.100MHz to
50.130MHz DX Window. If you do wish to local rag-chew, it is
recommended that you do this above 50.250MHz where interference will
be minimised. Note: Please remember in Europe that French
operators are not allowed below 50.200 so local QSOs held just above
50.200 could affect their ability to work DX.
LEARN
TO LISTEN: True 6-meter DXers spend
about 5% of their time transmitting while 95% of time is spent
listening and observing changing band conditions and propagation
modes. Learn to recognize propagation mode characteristics and when
the band is likely to be showing signs of an opening. This will be
far more effective than just calling CQ DX at random and ad
infinitum.
50.100
- 50.130 DX
WINDOW:
The DX Window is widely accepted concept and
should, in principle, be used for INTER-REGIONAL
DX QSOs
only, especially the 50.110 calling frequency as discussed below.
The definition of what constitutes a 'DX' station naturally lies
with an individual operator, especially when a particular station within
your own Region
constitutes
a new country! The
50.100 - 50.130 DX window is only to be used for QSOs between
stations in different regions, where the same region is anywhere
within a range of single-hop Es propagation i.e. roughly 2400km or
1500 miles. We
would ask you to think carefully before having any intra-European short
distance QSOs
in the DX window. For those of us in Europe, this is especially
important in periods of multiple-hop Es or F2
propagation to avoid burying inter-regional
QSO opportunities under a layer of European QRM.
PLEASE BE SENSIBLE and avoid local QSOs in the DX window if at all
possible!
As
the DX Window is heavily used, always listen before you call and
always ask if the frequency is being used before you
transmit (should be done on any frequency anyway). Just because YOU
can’t hear anything, it does not mean that the frequency is not
occupied or some rare DX is using it. Remember that operating
etiquette calls for you to ask if the frequency is occupied BEFORE
calling CQ.
50.110
INTER-REGIONAL
CALLING FREQUENCY:
The
international DX calling channel
is 50.110MHz. This should be used for long range DX contacts and
such contacts should be inter-regional
in nature
(please
note that a "region" is not necessarily a
"Continent" the use of the term "Region"
provides more freedom in particular circumstances to make QSOs
within your own Continent on 50.110. e.g. in the USA: east-to-west
coast QSOs, or in Europe, JW to ZB2 which was technically prohibited
using the old term of Inter-Continental calling frequency).
If a local station returns to your CQ, move quickly to an unused
frequency above 50.130MHz. Do not use the DX calling channel for
testing or for tuning up your radio/antenna.
Do not encourage pile-ups on 110. If you have a successful CQ
ensure that you QSY elsewhere in the band.
50.110
CQING:
LISTENING is the first rule of working rare DX on 6m. So think twice
before calling CQ on 110. It would be stupid to say that you
shouldn’t call CQ but please remember that this is a shared
frequency so your reputation will be on line if you insist on
calling CQ unceasingly every minute of the day or throughout an
opening - even if you do say "CQ DX only" or "CQ
outside of my region
only". The occasional CQ is good as it can discover an
unrecognised opening.
If you are a 6m DXer and have been intensely listening for weak
exotica for hours on 110 and up pops a CQ caller, rather than ask
him rudely to clear off, ask them POLITELY to QSY and TELL
THEM WHY OR WHAT YOU ARE HEARING OR LISTENING FOR, and please GIVE
YOUR CALLSIGN. Of course, this applies equally well to any
frequency on 6m. Most operators are sensible and will do so –
probably because they would like to work the DX themselves!
Conversely, if you call CQ or are occupying 100 and someone asks you
politely to QSY and GIVES YOU A REASON,
do so without arguing about the rights of doing so - remember
that that you share this resource with thousands of other operators.
If
you really must call CQ on 110, think twice, listen for five
minutes, cross your legs, count to 100, and if the overwhelming
desire is still there go ahead and CALL - but keep it short! At the
end of the day the choice is yours and yours alone. Don't forget to
QSY when successful unless it is inter-regional
DX!
QSO
TECHNIQUES: Many operators do not
take the time to learn how to DX, develop QSO skills and techniques
and jump right in. This is not to be recommended as typical 6m
propagation does not allow wasting of time during DX QSOs due to the
nature of propagation of the band (borderline HF/VHF). Openings
could be very short in time duration and DX stations wants to work
as many callers as they can during an opening.
Basically, follow the style and take the lead of the DX operator in
providing information. Otherwise keep it simple and to the point as
there are other stations who are also waiting in line for a QSO with
the DX station. Do not waste times in exchanging unnecessary
information such as locator codes, names, QTH, equipment, weather
and so on. Just exchange your call signs and confirm your signal
reports and move on to allow other DXers to have their QSOs. Leave
out all the extra information (such as Maidenhead squares) unless it
is requested. Many opportunities to work a DX station are extremely
short and if your operating practices prevent others from working
the station it will be remembered by those who missed out for a long
time. Next time it may be you who misses out.
For
more details about how to be successful in 6m pile-ups read 'Working
Pile-ups & CQing on 110'.
FREQUENCY
CONFLICTS: With the quickly
shifting propagation as regularly encountered on 6m, it is quite
possible that two stations who have been occupying a frequency for
several hours running pile-ups without hearing each other,
to suddenly find themselves in a clash. In these
circumstances, operators should mutually resolve the situation as
quickly as possible to avoid conflict. It should always be
remembered that no individual operator 'owns a frequency', even if
you have occupied a frequency for several hours.
DX
PILE- UP OPERATING: Working and
breaking DX pile-ups can be a frustrating experience on 6m as it is
on HF. Manners and good operating are very important. You should
listen to the DX stations carefully and not continue to call if they
request a particular country or prefix to go back to them if that is
not you. You should always go back with your complete callsign, give
it quickly and give it only once. There is nothing more frustrating
and aggravating for others in a pile-up to you to double with the DX
station and miss who they going back to. Of course, you should NOT
call if you cannot hear the DX station!
If a
QSO is uncompleted due to QSB or QRM, don’t continue to try and
complete the QSO to an excessive degree, use your judgment and call
back later. It is likely that others are hearing them OK and can
complete a QSO. Take the lead from the DX station and don’t call
back immediately if they are working someone else. The message is
simple, try to avoid calling over the top of the DX station – it
does you no good and just upsets your fellow DXers.
SPLIT
FREQUENCY OPERATION: When a DX
station creates a large pile-up of stations all calling him on their
own operating frequency (simplex operating) it creates tremendous
QRM problems for those calling and the DX station. Under these
circumstances, it is recommended that the DX station uses split
operating; that is transmitting on one frequency but listening
over a range of frequencies above the frequency being used by
the DX station. This mode of operating will significantly increase
the QSO rate of the DX station.
However, split operating on 6m can cause TREMENDOUS
interference with other DX operators who, through no fault of their
own, are running a simplex pile-up in the same split-frequency
section of the band. To minimise this interference, it is
recommend that a maximum split of 10KHz (definitely NOT 100kHz) is
used.
DUPLICATE
QSOs: It is always tempting to call
a rare DX station every time you hear it. This should be avoided as
it means that you taking away the opportunity for the DX station to
work a new station and give them their first QSO with the DX
country. Use your judgment if the DX station is known to be rare!
Conversely, a quick call can sometimes be useful if no one else is
going back to the DX station to show that there is propagation.
CW
OPERATION: CW is probably the major
mode of operation on 6-meters due to the usually weak nature of many
real DX openings. Do not call a CW DX stations using SSB as
they will not be able to hear you and you will be causing severe
interference to other CW DXers trying to work the station. The
contrary is true as well, if you cannot break a SSB pile-up using
SSB then do not call using CW!
FM
QSOs: All FM
transmissions should be made above 50.500 MHz for the obvious reason
that FM is wide band and could wipe out weak DX signals. There is no
acceptable reason to transmit FM below 50.500 MHz, as there is
plenty of spectrum allocated for this purpose.
Notes: This Code of Practice may be amended by UKSMG, JAROC
& HARDXA from time to time to reflect current licensing
conditions and operating practices.
If
you have any comments, additions or amendments please e-mail:
UKSMG
United Kingdom
Six Metre Group |
|
Secretary |
HARDXA
Hong Kong Amateur
Radio DX Association |
Steve Beesley |
VR2XMQ |
JAROC
Japanese Amateur
Radio Overseas Club |
Tsugio San |
VR2JJ |
SixItaly
Italy's Six Metre
Group |
Sergio Roca |
IK0FTA |
DRAA
Dodecanese Radio
Amateurs Association |
Mike Balaskas |
SV5BYR |
LABRE-SP
Paulista's
Amateur Radio Federation (Brazil) |
HamiltonT.
Horta |
PY2NI |
SSA
The Swedish Radio Amateur Society |
Derek Gough |
SM5RN |
Addendum 1:
IARU Region 1 50MHz Band
Plan
(with
the UKSMG's recommended change to the adoption of the term
"inter-regional" rather than
"inter-continental")
50.000 - 50.100
|
CW only
|
50.020 - 50.080
|
Beacons
|
|
|
50.090
|
CW calling
frequency
|
50.100 - 50.500
|
SSB and CW only
|
50.100 - 50.130
|
DX window
|
|
|
50.110
|
Inter-Region
calling frequency
|
|
|
50.150
|
SSB centre of
activity
|
|
|
50.185
|
Cross-band activity
centre
|
|
|
50.200
|
MS reference
frequency (CW and SSB)
|
50.500 - 51.000
|
All modes
|
50.500 - 50.700
|
Digital
communications
|
|
|
50.510
|
SSTV
|
|
|
50.550
|
Fax
|
|
|
50.600
|
RTTY
|
|
|
50.710 - 50.910
|
FM repeater outputs
(UK)
|
51.000 - 51.410
|
All modes
|
51.210
|
Emergency
communications priority
|
|
|
51.210 - 51.410
|
FM repeater inputs
(UK)
|
51.410 - 51.830
|
All modes
|
51.430 - 51.590
|
FM, 20kHz channel
spacing
|
|
|
51.510
|
FM calling
|
51.830 - 52.000
|
All modes
|
51.940 - 52.000
|
Emergency
communications priority
|
|