Split operation is standard practice for any serious DX pileup, and the FTX-1’s dual receive capability actually makes it easier than a lot of radios I’ve used. Here’s how I set it up and work it.
Setting up split on the FTX-1
Engage split from the touchscreen, which assigns your transmit frequency to one VFO while you listen on the other. Because the FTX-1 supports true dual independent receive, you can actually monitor the DX station’s transmit frequency while also listening across the pileup’s spread, rather than just guessing where to call based on a single VFO. Set your transmit VFO to where you’re actually calling, and don’t forget to double check it before you key up, calling on the DX station’s own frequency in a split pileup is a rookie mistake that just adds to the chaos.
Reading the pileup before you call
Listen for a few exchanges before transmitting. Most DX operators announce a listening range, “up 5 to 10” or similar, and calling outside that range just wastes your transmission. Watch where successful stations are actually being worked within that range, DX operators often have a pattern, working the top or bottom of the range more consistently than the middle.
Calling technique that actually works
Call your callsign once, cleanly, not repeated three times. A single clean call is easier to pick out of a pileup than a rushed, repeated one. Time your call for right after the previous QSO ends, not mid-exchange. If you’re not getting picked, resist the urge to just get louder, moving slightly within the listening range or adjusting your timing usually helps more than raw power.
Quick pileup checklist
- Confirm split is actually engaged and your transmit VFO is set correctly before calling.
- Listen a few exchanges before your first call to learn the pattern.
- Call once, cleanly, timed right after the previous exchange closes.
- Use dual receive to track the DX frequency and the pileup spread at the same time.
- Log immediately after confirmation, don’t trust memory in a fast-moving pileup.
None of this is about having the loudest signal. It’s about being clean, well-timed, and actually listening more than you transmit. That’s true on any radio, but the FTX-1’s dual receive makes the listening part genuinely easier to execute.