Help! How to deal with a Ham-Radio Pile-Up. 

100% Cal. Expedition pileups are a different animal all together though. In all my DXpeditions i normally have to go split VFO to "thin out" the pileups. Once that is achieved then most of your suggestions come into play. This is an entirely different sort of pileup to deal with though but it does mean you can get away from the multi-Kw stations who insist on calling and calling until you answer them only to find they cannot really hear you anyway..................cheers

I am seeing how skillful and polite method of handling pile-ups is important part of communication.

I find the approach to take and persona to display to others is to be “politely and firmly in control”. Pen and paper works wonders.

Best pileup worker I saw - and I have no idea how he did it - 20 stations replied back to his CQ, he wrote them all down and called them all back one by one. I was one of the calls and I did the usual "Guess he didn't hear me, I'll just wait until the next go-round" and then about 5 calls in he called me for a signal report. I was blown away.

Another good video Callum. What's also very important, as others suggested, is that the operator running the pile-up is in charge and acts accordingly. Fore instance, if the guy running the pile up asks the 2E0 to complete his call and other stations keep calling, you should stick with the 2E0 until he is in the log. If you don't you are basically saying that it is a free for all and that everyone should keep calling. Stick to your guns. Running a pile-up in a contest is, in my humble opinion, slightly different to what you suggest. In contests, it is always the goal to work stations in the shortest amount of time. When you can hear a full callsign right after the initial callers have ended, then work that guy. It is more efficient to work him because you already have his full call and it will save you an extra "over". The first time you run a pile-up, everyone sounds the same and you can't make out any callsign. As with everything, practice makes perfect and after a while you will be able focus on one particular caller and get his full callsign amongst the other callers. When this happens, running pile-ups will become much more enjoyable as I'm sure you have already experienced ;-) Keep it up! P.s. I'm am on holiday so I finaly have the time to catch up on some of your video's ;-)

This happened me on 27.555 the other day. Iam in middle north of sweden and every one wanted contact outside Europe, And i thought iam the second best choice here. Teen people or more wanted confirm from me after i started to call out. Happy times. Great videos Cal keep it up

Great tip! Been calling CQ more and more and that's great advice!

Sounds like a good approach to the problem, will bare that in mind when it happens. Good stuff Callum.

Excellent video, as always, Cal.. but, and I mean this as a compliment, we only have to watch one of your ‘Live on HF’ sessions for a perfect demonstration of the technique you described.. 73.. Thanks for all the info and entertainment in all that you do on YT!

I give preference to M3/6/7-10W and /P /M stations as part of my pile up management policy!

Thanks Cal more sage advice for us newbies and not so newbies

I enjoy the big pileups when the operator calls for specific regions. i.e. CQ any 3's, so a VE3, or a W3 etc respond, and so it really manages the multitudes, and if you're an 8, you just wait for the the last of the 7's to be done.

The best way to deal with a massive pileup is to just shout out random things that sound like callsigns. "who's the alpha alpha? caller ending in alpha alpha?" Just see who you get, lottery style.

Just perfect Commander! Thanks!

Pro tip: if you are trying to get through a pile up, always wait so long that you accidentally trample the operator running the pile up and muck things up for everyone. Bonus points can be achieved by calling out your call sign when the guy running the pile up gives it back to the other station for a final, instead of waiting for the pile up master to finish up and call QRZ.

Great explanation Callum! New to HF thrown into the fire on field day and 13 colonies. If I could recommend a video explaining splits? Feel like that would be a great follow-up. I have a general understanding but nothing beats your explanations and drawings. (KD2UVR)

Thanks for this mate! Shameless self promotion, but I'll suggest that POTA is a great place if you want to "practice" with a pile-up. I've never done a POTA activation and not gotten a pile-up. Beauty is that POTA hunters are used to being in a pile-up, and also used to the activator not having pile-up experience. Take your time. Recognize that you are in control of the situation, and work at a pace that suits you. This is a hobby, so the most important thing is for you as the "DXpedition" station is having fun. The sun will come up tomorrow no matter what we do, so take a breath and enjoy your moment. This pile-up brought to you by the DX Commander Expedition model, and the letters "C" and "Q".

I agree with not encouraging the tail end callers or the partial callsign guys by not picking them.

Hi Cal, We know the method works as we've all heard you do it many times. 🙂You and the family stay safe. 73 WJ3U

Wow, you really studied the pile up university. Never thought about this. Usually I just run a pile up. When more station are calling at the same time I'll waity till I hear a reasonable loud one and try to call him/her with the last letter of their call. If they really want to work me others will wait. By the way pile ups started to come in when using a 80m loop around my garden about 10 years ago...for some reason especially for NVIS work you sound like a KW station around 100-1000km away. And at night/morning you pick up some USA as well.

It’s called pileup management. Usually I will answer the first call I can make out enough of to go back to. In your example all the calls end in ABC so my usual method would fail, otherwise would probably answer with “call ending in Bravo Charley.”

First, tell G4ABC to nic off. Lol Good info Callum. SPD is the key!👍😄

start looking callum

I remember my first pileup, on 6 Meters FM. I could not beieve it, made about 80 contacts back in 2001

Great video as always. Would love to gave a problem like that.

Great insight on this issue. Thanks

I like it, Callum. I might even risk calling CQ in the next contest... 🥴

My worst experience was when I worked a so called speed contest. After answering a cq the frequency is yours and you have to call cq. I called, several stations came back at once and I didn’t get anything. After the ‚spd‘ (to use your nice new term), nothing. Everyone waits for me to return, but I don’t know what. No good idea to say something like ‚again'. Also I was unable to pick a station by number or whatever. So I had to repeat my cq. Everyone was angry for losing precious time… In this situation I would have been glad, if only one station had repeated its callsign (after 'spd'). Maybe a hint for all those who are 'piling up'… Repeat your call, if the cq'ing station doesn’t react immediately.

somehow easier drawn than done in practice when 10 stations are calling you, but the theory is sound..........73 from K1FNX near Boston

I’ve yet to get at least foundations but I think the way I would address that would be “alright good (time of day) everyone I’ve just heard multiple stations come through, I will get to you all shortly however ide like to start with the 2e0 callsign; station 2E0ABC how copy?” And then work down the list from there, if I couldn’t record all or even any callsigns at all then just free for all it, first come first serve

Did a pile up as a VP8 in the 80,s now that was fun Best Regards. Martin King G1VYK

The only time a "last second Charlie " really gets on my nerves is when I'm trying to give the qrp guys a chance and they come in pushing qrp plus about a 1000 watts. I generally try to go ahead and work them though, before calling CQ again.

Pile up:. Multi car crash on a Freeway or Motorway.

SPD... fascinating... Can we also introduce SSUD? As in Standard Shut Up Duration... :-p

I take one at a time and Ask the rest to wait

Stupid question ... It sounds like qrp stations calling CQ don't get pile ups, is that true? Makes me think I would not be able to do this because I'm qrp, no? It could be that G4ABC is louder than me and I can't break through. Again, it's a dumb question, but thought I'd ask.

absolutely right in terms of using the tail end Charlie method, i said my call in my head then made my call, and I get through most of the time, brilliant tip. M7CRR

I was in the naval 1382 party staged at mount pleasant airport. I also was staged at Bush Rincon Transmitter site near goose green . lived in fox holes did three tours first ship bombed second two tours on and in radio sites you have just lost any quodos Malcolm

u are still 5 and nine Callum .... from DH1KJ go ahead

sorry not malcom CALLUM

I know that I am inferior to a G4 so I must work them first out of respect... (and I tell lies)

Great explanation! For me the trick is calm control. I never really thought about the timing but I think it's about the same as yours. Sadly some of the callers will move on before you can contact them. Thanks for breaking it down. K5FIT

Love little tips & tricks like this! Thanks Callum! Keep up the great work!