DQRM In The 3Y0J Pileups.
Who were the folks deliberately QRMing (DQRM) the 3Y0J pileups?
In 51 years a Ham Radio operator, I’ve never heard what we just witnessed in almost every 3Y0J Bouvet pileup. Sure, we’ve always had DQRM, but this DXpedition brought out the absolute worst in some dare I say, “Hams” – and NEVER at the level we just heard.
But just who are these knuckleheads? Who are these “radio terrorists” who wake up with the intent to create chaos and harm their own hobby by throwing dits, dahs & carriers – doing their absolute stupid best to disrupt long distance radio communications?
I’ve broke it down into few types of brain dead clowns.
1). FT8ers pissed they don’t know Morse Code. They figured if they wreak enough havoc in the CW pileups 3Y0J would move to their so-called “QRM proof” mode. You know that lazy, mindless automated computer scripted text messaging thingy. Others call it the “Participation Trophy” mode. They are a vengeful bunch! They’ll tell you FT8 is gonna’ level the playing field and save the world. No need for any actual human communication, just hit TX Enable and go eat dinner! They are so lazy, even their husbands hate them.
2). Frustrated Hams pissed they moved into an HOA and found out the hard way they cannot compete with any moderate Ham Radio station with a beam and a couple watts in a major pileup. Propagation is not their friend. Neither are their neighbors.
3). Prospective school shooters. We’ll be reading about these “life challenged” imbeciles some day. They play the victim, but they’re actually the perpetrators of chaos. Most of them were dropped on their heads by their mothers when they were babies, but Mom never told anyone. Mommy just brushed them off and played stupid. Many of them have visible flat spots on their little coconuts. They’re mad at their Moms, but take it out on the DX.
4). Amateur Radio “Tourists”. Yep, that’s why they’re called “Amateur” Radio Operators. They are living proof. They buy new complex radios they haven’t a clue how to operate, let alone operate “split“. They are useless in pile-ups, like a tourist on vacation. They stare at the nice bright colors on the radio screen and take snapshots of waterfalls. They go through life saying, “wow, neato, look at that, is he listening up?” The saying, “ya’ can’t fix stupid” comes to mind. Though, not their minds.
5). Kilocycle Cops. They love yelling at the Amateur Radio Tourists. UP, UP, UP is their battle cry. When a dozen or more get together they’re worse than the Amateur Radio Tourists. But they don’t care, they think they’re helping. Just who they’re helping I do not know.
6). Jelly Belly’s. Jealous, frustrated operators that can’t get out of their chairs to take a break, breathe some fresh air, get focused, come back recharged and give the good pileup another whirl. No, they’re so out of shape and miserable they’d much rather sit there and take out their frustrations on the same hobby they’re part of. Key up on the DX, post bullshit on the Clusters, rude comments on the DX Social Media, throw carriers for minutes at a time. Real men these Jelly Belly’s think they are. They are a frustrated bunch of Lids because their local Radio Club friends have all worked the DX, but they haven’t.
7). Pirates, Slims. These guys have zero chance of actually making a contact in a DX CW pileup, so they mimic the DX station transmission(s) making other callers think they’re actually working the weak DX station, instead they’re working the weak pirate. “5NN” and “TU” is their calling card. They take immense pleasure in hearing “TU” from the caller. In past lives they were rats.
Off the top of my head, there’s 7 types I can think of.
For many of us, we’ll look back years from now & smile how preparation, skill & moxie overcame all the DQRM to log 3Y0J. For others not so lucky, 3Y0J gave them the CHANCE to work them, and it was these DQRMers who took that chance away.
What say you? A penny for your thoughts, comment away!
NØUN
You missed one group.
Those of us who took our time, ignored the 1-7 groups listed above, and worked them for an ATNO. I spent weeks tweeking my antennas, and all other parts of the station, pointed a new beverage, (although this was never used), and made sure all equipment for all modes was ready. The trick is to “Tune Out” the trouble makers, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN.work em, log em, and go back to sleep. Oh yes, waking up at the proper times to be sure to maximize my chances. Results ATNO for me.
Also if any one of the cluster trolls make it on the island, please let me know I will work them, however the chances of any of the trolls making the trip as the 3Y0J team did is SLIM TO NONE!
8) Men who were not blessed with a normal-size appendage. They are not happy with anything in life. These men (along with their little dipper) go out of their way to try and make everyone else as miserable as they are.
Small Penis Syndrome
Absolutamente de acuerdo. Más que pena dan asco
Sure, I was frustrated at not being able to work 3Y0J. I never even heard a peep from them on my lousy antenna system. But did I DQRM them? NO! But I am a real DXer with only a couple needed to be at top of HR. Bouvet is one of them. But I have no inclination to DQRM anyone. – Zack W9SZ
Hi Lumpy, I think you mostly got it. You and I can agree to disagree about FT8. It’s not my favorite mode, CW will always be. But I think it requires more skill…or at least knowledge…than you give it credit for. Watching an FT8 pileup demonstrates how many can’t figure it out. Calling on the wrong sequence, inadvertently calling CQ or the callsign of the op’s previous QSO because they haven’t cleared old data, not recognizing F/H mode, or just not setting the clock shows there is more to it than just pushing a button. You gotta know DIFFERENT things, but you still gotta know SOME things to be successful.
But as far as DQRM, it’s guys that just CAN’T. Can’t work ’em, can’t figure it out. And dammit, if I can’t then you shouldn’t be able to either. And I’m gonna make sure (or at least TRY to make sure) that YOU don’t. That gives the DQRMer a sense of control, of power. Makes his dick a little longer…at least in his mind. It’s a world where there’ much more mental illness than we’d like to admit. Clusters sure don’t help as they direct the idiots right to the correct frequencies.
I was around for 3Y5X and it was bad too. But to me it seemed like that was more incompetence than maliciousness. Guys just not comprehending SPLIT. And of course the cops that felt compelled to correct the situation. Don’t get me wrong, there was still DQRM, especially a lot on 20m SSB from SSTVers who were pissed that the pileup extended over THEIR frequencies. As I recall there was some inept operating from the DX end too, which didn’t help. What is it about Bouvet??
But, hey, we got it done! Congrats OM. 73 and (as always) DX!
think you just about covered it, I never heard them at all mostly I expect due to band conditions but the DQRM when I should have been able to hear them was a total disgrace from I believe evert continent. I have no idea what drives these people to do DQRM but they cannot be right in the head! Absolute morons they need tracking down and locking up.
It is criminal damage and therefore a crime, so sad but we must stay strong lets get our hobby back to what once meant to us all no more easy access to a licence and compulsory ID when purchasing equipment with a central database for all to see but with read only rights. lets not make it easy for them to ruin the future of our hobby..
Time to open up a can of whip ass…….
Hey Jeff, I heard a Mud Bug or two in those pileups calling on the 3Y0J transmit frequency, what gives?
NØUN
Really it was a shame. Excellent description of the types. We hope together for better times with increased HAM culture.
On the other hand: why did 3Y0J choose 20m, 17m and 15m Varac frequencies for their operation? I did not use this mode during the activation, but where do you place Varac operators that did use their favorite mode on your list? They can not move that simple you see. It resulted in some cases in massive QRM. Something went wrong in their preparation on the dxpedition side.I would not blame Varac operators for causing QRM.
Let us not forget what these men did just to get to Bouvet. Sailing in high sea, Sea sickness, Cold weather, High winds etc. That’s Just to get there. Then to get on the island.
Everything depending on weather. Lets us not forget that Finland told them where they could land. Not the best place! As Lumpy said about a ten percent chance to contact them.
My disappointment was in the conduct of Amateur Radio Operators. Tuning up on Frequency, Interrupting a QSO, Up Up Up Police. etc
A sad time for Amateur Radio.😢
Everything you said I pretty much agree with, many aspects whole-heartedly.
What is sad is that nothing is likely to change.
Another problem – the fellows that are in the log multiple times for the same bands and modes. Every duped QSO takes one away from someone else.
Bob,
Look at this guy from Oklahoma (I left his call off the snapshot)
It’s easy to get duped in an FT8 QSO. I show two FT8 contacts on 30m, but it represents only one Q. What happens is the DX sends RR73 twice if the caller didn’t get it the first time and his log window pops up a second time. Most ops will just select “OK” in order not to miss the contact and, boom, you’re in the log twice. I’ve had it happen to me numerous times when running JAs. Not to mention they had a clock problem which required some, umm, improvisation to circumvent. Lots of guys thought they worked SL1M and called again.
I must agree with the above. QRM for 3Y0J. It was bad for FT8WW as well. I do think it comes from many FT8 ops who now want to try ssb/cw as the bands are opening. But they are not going to work the Dx as easily with a wire and 50-100 watts;thus, they call and call and call. Then I here the DX come back to them several times and they do not respond. I really don’t think they heard them in the first place. And of course they call right on his frequency. When they make a contact, they merely respond with a 73. Then the DX asks for an RST. What a mess. I actually received an email from an op who asked who I was calling. I sent back to him, “3Y0J down 10kc.” He must have gone down and called on his frequency. He then sent me another email and asked, “What is split?”. I just could not respond. FT8 is an amazing mode, but I do think it should be placed in a class of its own for DXCC. I have Mixed 340/349 all with paper QSls ans ssb/cw. The rudeness and poor operating needs to stop. Sometimes the DX just goes QRT.
Hello,
Just my 2 cents. I would be more general and wouldn’t focus on any of these 7 categories. I think what makes a DQRMer is 1) the will to make the others suffer, angry and frustrated 2) the relative idea of being anonymous, sheltered from backlash. This works anywhere in life as well, not only on radio.
I think there is no need to be a lid, or frustrated on radio, or any of these categories… We all face frustration and difficulties in our life sooner or later and we cope with them differently… and for sure, these guys have serious issues in theirs and they want the others to feel what it’s like: suffering, being helpless to solve their own problems in case they have a single clue of what it’s about. DQRMing is their outlet.
In real life, anything you attempt to harm someone one way or another could end with legal issues. DQRMing is a way to enjoy believing you are above the laws, that you can’t be caught. It’s easier to harm someone else than solving one’s own problems. Of course it’s particularly coward. You’ll always see bigger men assaulting smaller ones, not the opposite and once caught these guys loose all little courage they got then and deny everything but…
Cowards are quite easy to stop, the only thing they needs is to realize they are very close to bear the consequences of their actions. I think the case of EASSYL is a good example (cf. article of G3SXW), a shame it took so long to come to an end.
Hamradio operators are already adequately equipped to triangulate a DQRM station, what remains to be sufficiently deterrent is more coordination and cooperation within the Hamradio community.
If a DQRMer learns his Grid locator has been found out, they will shut up shop quickly, unless they live in a place with no Ham operator at 100kms around. One thing to note if that they use clusters and reversebeacon networks to be quicky at the right place therefore 1) their IP address is stored somewhere and 2) they will be informed they are about to get caught as soon as their grid is located and announced on clusters or something alike.
73 de Nick