You’ve been asked to be a system control for the YL System and you are enthusiastically
excited about being able to lend a hand and enjoy meeting new people and making new friends.
But after a few sessions you just can’t seem to get the hang of it. Everyone else seems to be
getting all the check-ins and you just don’t feel as if you are contributing anything at all.
The excitement of helping falls off dramatically as you only get a small handful of check-ins,
if any at all. This can be a very sobering and discouraging moment that leads you to consider
throwing in the towel and saying “uncle”. Just a word of advice though, we have all been there,
so don’t give up! You ARE making a major contribution to the system by being there and
contributing your time and efforts. Your time and efforts DO make a big difference to those who
check in with the system and to the other controls for your session. Remember, we are a team
and are working together to provide support, back-up and relays for each other.
As a fairly new YL System control that has felt many of the same feelings as you may be feeling,
rest assured that it likely is not your station but rather you are at the mercy of the horrible
propagation we are now facing as the Solar Cycle winds down. There are several things I have
observed from participating in most all of the sessions over the past couple of years as a
member listener and participator as well as a system control.
Things I have learned:
Each period has its own unique personality and characteristics because of the geographical
locations and time zones of the controls and those checking in.
Simply stated, different periods have a significantly different check in populations to draw
from, mostly due to the time zones and propagation and our busy schedules. Because of this,
different people check in at different times of the day even though some may check in on most
every period every day. Unfortunately, we don’t have an equal distribution of check-ins from
around the country throughout the day. The personality and identity of the period plays a huge
factor in how many check-ins as a control you can contribute. As a control, you should make
note of where you are located versus where the predominant number of check-ins are coming from.
Propagation is not our friend, at the moment. There are certain areas of the country
immediately surrounding us where we cannot even “buy” a check-in. Generally speaking,
propagation has had longer “legs” of late and we cannot expect many check-in’s within a 300-500
mile radius around us. (For example, a majority of check-ins for 3rd period are clustered in
the mid-Atlantic states which is in my “sweet spot” zone followed by the Midwest and South and
to a much lesser degree the West. Because of my location, I typically get a higher percentage
of the 3rd period check-ins. However, in working Sunrise and 1st period, I can rarely get many
contacts, especially now with lousy propagation, however other controls can get a significant
number, because of propagation and their location in reference to those checking in. The 2nd
period seems to have more of an equal distribution of geographical check-ins but not entirely.
I cannot speak to Moonbeam because I am usually not available during this time.)
As we all know, propagation will change as the seasons change. Propagation also changes as the
sun moves across the sky during the day as well. Things will not stay the same forever. We
also are fighting the bottom of cycle 24.
Location, location, location is the key to getting check-ins. Simply because of the
characteristics of each period, there are predominant parts of the country that will be active
at different times of the day for the different YL System periods. So those available stations,
the ones that are listening and trying to check in, must be in our own personal propagation
“sweet spot” zone. Each of us have our own “sweet spot” areas of the country where we can
consistently make contacts.
Don’t get discouraged if you are not getting the number of check-ins that someone else is. Its
not the number of check-ins you, but rather being there and being available that matters most.
Don’t get hung up if you are not getting as many check-ins as others do. What I have noticed is
that each period has generally one or two controls that get the majority of check-ins. Don’t
sweat it if you are not getting what you think are your fair share. Recognize who is checking in
and from where on your period. Are they in your own “sweet spot” zone? Remember, just because
you can hear another station, don’t assume that they can hear you, or vice versa. Propagation
is a strange animal and you never know for sure what you are going to get.
As a good radio operator, each of us must mitigate any technical issues we may have at our own
station by ensuring that we have an adequate station configuration and that our stations are in
good working order. By that, as an example, ensure that grounding is taken care of, and improve
your ground plane to the best of your ability. Most importantly, be willing to accept any
station limitations that you may have and don’t worry about it. Very few of us are fortunate
enough to be in a position where we have unlimited resources and can build a superstation. Take
all of the above points into consideration as you evaluate your own control performance and
contribution to the System. Look at the other periods and see where most of their check-ins
come from.
Is there another period where you might be more useful?
Shelby – AG5GP