I pick out stations in a pileup according to my principle:

The Strongest Shall Survive!

I do not make SKEDS and I do not operate on LISTS or NETS.

I have no problem with duplicate QSOs. I log them all. If you are not certain that you’re in my log, break through the pileup again!

I do NOT respond to stations calling me with their last two letters. This practice slows down the rate dramatically. I prefer not to answer questions during a pile up.  I will give my QSL route occasionally.

I am not interested in signal reports.  I do not log received signal reports at all.  They all go in my log as 59(9).   For an article about the RST reporting system go to W4RNL’s website .

I give out 59(9) signal reports almost exclusively and the reason for this standard report is to create a rhythm that will speed up the rate of contacts.   It is sometimes hard enough to read a callsign correctly, and I do not believe in creating unnecessary hoops for the other station to jump through in order to have a valid QSO with me.

For the same reason, I see no need for the exchange of WX, QTH and other information during a pileup QSO.   If I want this information I will ask for it.  Occasionally I feel the need for a longer QSO and certainly enjoy that too, but generally I am trying to keep a good rate going.

QRP is a challenge and certainly a valid endeavour, but adding /QRP at the end of a call is not.  This practice is illegal in TF and some other countries and stations calling with/QRP in their call are wasting time in the pileup and will be responded to and logged only with their call.

Roger Western, G3SXW explains this very well in his book “UP TWO – Adventures of a DXpeditioner” available from Idiom Press :

“Advice to smaller-stations: always try to call slightly off frequency.  But if you are a QRP station please do NOT send ‘/QRP’ at the end of your call-sign.   So often the pile-up operator can only copy part of the call-sign through all the noise and it happens often that I can hear the letters QRP but not anything from the call itself.  If only he had sent his call-sign without that suffix then I might have picked it up.  Whilst talking about QRPers – please do not demand (as some do) that I write ‘QRP’ on your QSL card.  This is not part of the call-sign and who am I to know your output power?”

A QRP station generally has a poorer than average signal and should concentrate on getting their call sign across rather than endlessly sending /QRP.   I also do not give preference to QRP stations in a pile up – use your skills to get through and we can have a very satisfying contact.

Stations trying to be helpful by QSPing information to me like ”XXXX/QRP is calling you”,  ensure that I will NOT work that particular station until he makes the QSO on his own.

I believe that everyone should fish in the same murky water so to speak.
I am the Chairman of the International Committee for the Extermination of Lists And Nets(I.C.E.L.A.N.).
Read the Adventures of Timmy the Twerp .

Direct QSL requests received without SAE or sufficient return postage will be answered via the Bureau at a later date.