Time for another tutorial, as I've been seeing a
LOT of confusion on PJ about how this is done.
And if you don't do it exactly according to this
protocol, a QSO is unlikely to result. This step-
by-step assumes use of the 6-meter band. The
same protocol applies on 2 meters or any other
band.

(1) STATION A (W1ABC) calls "CQ W1ABC D6".
He is running SPLIT right now, transmitting
on 50260 but listening on 50254. He is NOT
listening to his transmit frequency (50260).

NOTES:

(a) If W1ABC has 2-receiver capability, he
MIGHT be listening to both frequencies
in order to possibly catch a caller who
isn't following this protocol correctly. DO
NOT DEPEND ON THIS. FOLLOW THE
PROTOCOL DESCRIBED HERE.

(b) The "D6" goes AFTER the call sign. This
is important. See the explanation in the
final paragraph below.

(2) STATION B (K4DEF) hears W1ABC's "CQ
W1ABC D6" on 50260 and knows that
W1ABC is listening on 50254, and that
50254 is going to be the QSO frequency.
Therefore, he QSYs from 50260 to 50254
and calls AND listens for W1ABC on 50254
SIMPLEX.

(3) W1ABC has been listening on 50254. If he
hears somebody trying to call him on 50254,
he KNOWS that person is now listening on
50254 also, because according to the
protocol, if the responding station is
transmitting on the D6 frequency, he is also
LISTENING on that frequency. See Step (2)
above. Therefore, W1ABC switches
immediately from SPLIT mode to SIMPLEX
mode on 50254.

(4) If W1ABC (now on 50254 simplex) decodes
K4DEF's call sign, he responds with sending
the Tx2 message on 50254, and the QSO is
started. If W1ABC knows somebody is calling
but doesn't have K4DEF's call sign yet,
W1ABC changes to calling "QRZ W1ABC" on
50254. NOBODY IS NOW TRANSMITTING OR
LISTENING on 50260.

That's it. In other words. the calling frequency
(50260) is used ONLY for calling CQ. Once
anything is heard, ALL TRANSMITTING AND
LISTENING switches to the UP or DOWN
frequency. The only person who EVER sets up
to operate in SPLIT mode is the station who is
calling CQ, and he exits SPLIT mode as soon as
he hears anybody trying to call him, EVEN IF he
doesn't know who it is yet -- because he knows,
according to this protocol, that the calling
station (whoever it may be) is listening on the
offset frequncy, not on 50260.

One final note, which has been documented
elsewhere but bears repeating: NEVER respond
to a CQ by transmitting the Tx2 message.
ALWAYS respond to a CQ by transmitting the
Tx1 message. Make sure that WSJT is set up to
transmit Tx1 by looking to see which radio
button is marked.

If the station calling CQ has formatted his CQ
message incorrectly (such as by calling "CQ D6
W1ABC"), and the station who wants to call
W1ABC double-clicks on W1ABC's call sign, WSJT
will automatically (and incorrectly) set itself to
transmit the Tx2 message. You must then
manually correct this by clicking the Tx1 radio
button. Just be aware of this WSJT idiosyncracy
and be prepared to override its choice if it goes
to Tx2 inappropriately. And ALWAYS format your
offset-method CQs correctly, as shown in Step (1)
above.

73,
Bill W5WVO