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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
Tom McTigue (N0YD)
on
March 31, 2003
View comments about this article!
What makes a good Dxpedition?
Several ham friends and I were sitting around the other day discussing what DX seeking hams thought made a good DXpedition.
Good DX location, one high on the List of Most Wanted DX locations
Experienced and professional DX operators
Multi-band, multi-mode operation
Round-the-clock operation with different operators
Strong signals from good radios and good antennas
On-line web site with daily information on operations (perhaps some photos)
On-line logbook with look-up capability
Photos and brief history of location on QSL cards
Organizers remember their responsibility that "It's not over till the paper work is done".
It's important for organizers to select QSL Manager(s) in countries where there is little or no mail theft and high probability that QSL cards will get through and returned in a timely manner. Perhaps one QSL manager in the USA and one in Europe.
OK, that's our list. We'd like to see lists/discussion from other DX seeking Hams.
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by AE9B on March 31, 2003
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I think you did a good job with the following adjustment.
#2.. Eliminate the Professional Operators, I shouldn't have to pay for them to go on the trip. (I'll pay my fair share for cards though).
With the closing of our current sunspot cycle I get the feeling that more of those trying to work the DX will be disappointed at the efforts forthcoming. Even with good equipment (or the best equipment affordable, sponsored or otherwise procured and transportable) nobody can predict propagation or noise conditions or effort.
I agree with the intent of your message.. I just worry for those who put out the effort and in many cases a lot of money.. to come home and have to hear what a poor operation they did.. because Joe Ham guy.. didn't get a card. There's no guarantee of success that's what makes it exciting and challenging.
Good topic and I hope others will add to your thoughts.
Tom
AE9B
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by W9WHE on March 31, 2003
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I would add only one thing:
Operators that recognize when the pile becomes too deep and switch to split.
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by KT8K on March 31, 2003
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My additions: What makes a good DXpedition are operators who (1) divide the pile by call areas when it gets too deep, (2) differentiate clearly between when they are there to ragchew and relax, and when they're there to run a lot of QSOs, and who (3)occasionally give a break to a QRP operator or two. I agree that split operation is good, too.
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by WB2WIK on March 31, 2003
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One would think that #2 on your list would cover it, but it doesn't.
Very high on my list would be to train all operators to identify the DXpedition callsign with each and every transmission, on any mode. Instead of "QRZ?," instead of "TU," instead of "CFM," instead of ANYTHING that might be transmitted to establish that a contact has been made and I'm ready for the next one, simply sending the DXpedition callsign suffices and solves a great many problems. Doing so does not slow down the operations one iota.
I'd also insist that at least once every ten minutes the DXpedition operators clearly announce their callsign, location, listening frequency range (if not simplex) and QSL route. This can all be programmed into voice, CW and digital keyers to be sent automatically from each station every 10 minutes, providing each operator a chance to sip a drink of water or something, and again will solve a great many problems.
The DXpedition's ability to have a big signal doesn't seem to be all that important, although it surely helps build up huge quantities of contacts for short-duration operations. If the operation will last two weeks or more, as many have, the station can have a puny signal and will still make 60,000 Qs. I'd much prefer having to strain to hear a weak DXpedition brilliantly operated than having a big signal piling in from a poorly operated station. The biggest problem I hear with most of the expeditions is insufficient identification. Technically, most of a DXpedition's contacts wouldn't count for anything since two-way contact was never established by the exchange of both party's callsigns.
WB2WIK/6
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by W7TJ on March 31, 2003
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I would add one key element: CONSISTENCY. To the best that the crew,weather,and propagation allows, follow and stick to a plan of operation. ( for example, if the plan is to be QRV on the Low Bands, they should be there Every nite Consistently...rates may vary, but stick to the plan. - Randy
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by N2MG on March 31, 2003
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For me to care a lot, they must be on during a contest, and on 6 bands.
73 Mike N2MG
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by NI0C on March 31, 2003
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1. Awareness of propagation is important for the serious dxpedition. Several years ago, I missed working Spratly during a really good opening on 40 meters because the operator gave up on North America and switched to working Asia! (Spratly is one of the sixteen current countries I still need).
2. In really huge pileups, I have appreciated the operators (notably, Jacky F2CW) who will occasionally announce a clear frequency to reward the alert operator who is listening. More than once I've worked a new country that way.
3. As to the question of signal strength, I tend to weigh in with the OH2BH philosophy that the DX station should have a commanding presence on the band. However, some recent expeditions, such as A52A and the "Micro-Lite" VP8THU, have proven that amplifiers aren't always necessary to achieve this.
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by NE0P on March 31, 2003
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I agree consistency is a good thing. One thing that really helped with the first VP6DI operation was that they would operate on 21.025 and 21.295 around the clock, 24 hours a day, so you knew where to find them, and when they you had propagation, they would be there. If you are in a really rare spot, you should first concentrate on giving everyone a chance at a contact which means running mainly 20, 15 and 10 meter SSB and CW. 160 should be run near the end when everyone has already had a chance to work you, as most hams cannot run 160, at least not at a serious DX level. Ditto for RTTY. I love chasing DX on RTTY, but many do not have that capability. I think a couple of the best DXpeditions in recent years were:
1. D68C-although I missed them on 80 meters
2. VP6DI-knew where to look for them at
3. TI9M-always available on several different bands at same time
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by RobertKoernerExAE7G on March 31, 2003
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Ops have necessary written permission to operate in that country (and actually go to that country! Just what the hell were you thinking Romeo!?)
All participants arrive safely; all equipment arrives on time and intact.
All participants stay healthy.
All participants arrive home safely; equipment arrives home intact.
Direct QSLs via reliable mailing route and buro.
Operators know how to control a pile up, and announce a definite range where they will listen, e.g. up 5-15.
Ops know what the difficult parts of the world are, and what time and band favors those locations.
Ops concentrate on handing Qs out on normal bands. The exception might be 30m, where barefoot ops with an inverted Vee have a good chance competing with everyone else.
Have FUN
Bob
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by KC0IGY on April 1, 2003
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Its a good list ... I would add that they should stay long enough for the big guns to get their contacts in so that little guys with wires in trees (me) can be heard.
I think my favourite DXpedition was D68C. My recollection was that the operators followed pretty much all the suggestions listed here, and I was able to work them on 20,17,15,12,and 10 m. I couldn't ask for more than that!
73,
Pierre KC0IGY
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by N8CH on April 1, 2003
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1. Most wanted varies from person to person. The three you need may be differnt from the 200 I need. Once you work them in a band/mode they are just QRM anyway.
2. Not valid. If you don't like the system the DX uses don't work them. They are usually there to hand out contacts. If they rag chew with their buddy in hometown so what. It's their show.
3. Not always an option to have multi-operators.
4. If I'm there for a CW contest I will probably operate CW. If you don't operate CW your fault not mine.
5. Some sites do not allow around the clock operations. You make do with what you can negotiate.
6. Good radios and antennas. You make do with what you have or can bring in. Beams and amps not always an option.
7. Daily info on ops not always available from some more remote locations. Your lucky to have power let alone internet connections.
8. I agree. an online log is a good touch and not hard to do. Not always feasible during a DXpedition but can be put up after the fact.
9. Not important to have a card that you have to wait a year for. It's only a receipt for a contact. Goes in the box or file. Who cares what the card looks like if you get the contact confirmed.
10. Could be improved. The paperwork to the ARRL and the QSL card are the final steps in the contact. Don't put them off for a year or two. Happens too often.
Just my thoughts. Having been to GITMO a couple times it's different than setting in your shack wanting them to spoon feed you the contact. My reason for being there may be different than your requirements. I may be on vacation and DXing for fun, even if I am in an rare location.
chuck
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by K1MKF on April 1, 2003
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> I would add that they should stay long enough
> for the big guns to get their contacts in so
> that little guys with wires in trees (me) can
> be heard.
Only problem is the big guns will get back on for the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time, just in case...
I like spilt by call areas. And the DX should sign with every contact.
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proper identification
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by JJ1BDX on April 2, 2003
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I second what WB2WIK/6 says: proper identification, preferably every time when each QSO ends (FCC Rule 97.119(a)), or at least once in every 10 minutes or more often as Steve says.
Quite a lot of JAs violate this too when they perform JCC/JCG expedition - very frustrating and irritating; let alone for DXpeditions.
73 de Joe JJ1BDX/3 es K1BDX
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RE: proper identification
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by WB2WIK on April 2, 2003
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My point about "proper identification" is this:
Regardless of rules and regulations, and most DXpedition operations are not regulated by the FCC, but by whatever the local agency is for the territory involved, common sense, award rules and contest rules all dictate that a "contact" is not established until two pieces of information are exchanged: Station callsigns, plus another piece of data. The other piece of data could be a signal report, or a serial number, or a State, or County, or Grid Square -- or most anything -- but in all cases, the callsign exchange is required to validate a contact.
A DXpedition who identifies once every ten minutes has actually made one contact every ten minutes, with the station he is working when he happens to ID. All the other contacts made really shouldn't count -- callsigns were not exchanged.
And, on phone or CW, it takes no longer to send a callsign than it takes to say or send, "QRZ?" So, I simply don't understand the big deal...why can't DXpeditions enforce the "ID with each contact" rule? It's ridiculous not to. Having operated from lots of big-gun contest stations, I know if conditions are there and I can hold a frequency, I have no trouble running 200-250 Qs an hour, sending or saying my station callsign with each and every contact. I can't believe that everybody else cannot do the same.
WB2WIK/6
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RE: proper identification
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by K0XU on April 2, 2003
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Somehow you all have missed the most important one. They must pick MY CALL out of the pileup on whichever band I hear them on.
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by K2GW on April 3, 2003
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>>It's important for organizers to select QSL Manager(s) in countries where there is little or no mail theft and high probability that QSL cards will get through and returned in a timely manner. Perhaps one QSL manager in the USA and one in Europe.
I agree totally, with the modifier "Western Europe". Sending QSL cards to many locations in Russia or Eastern Europe still seems to be a bit of gamble.
73
Gary, K2GW
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RE: proper identification
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by JJ1BDX on April 3, 2003
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I second WB2WIK/6. Callsign exchange for every QSO. Excuse me for making a distracting argument.
73 de Joe JJ1BDX/3 es K1BDX
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by WS4V on April 4, 2003
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What makes a good dxpedition?
A good crew
A good sleeping bag
A good AND waterproof tent
A good radio (No Kachinas please!!)
Good propagation
Good weather
Good supply of food
After the dxpedition?
A good QSL manager
A good, low APR credit card bill
73,
WS4V
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RE: What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by AD6WL on April 4, 2003
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I recommend that they don't bring that guy who always tunes up on their transmit frequency while they are returning a call or all those other guys/gals that are holoring for that lid to shut up or get off the damn freq. And don't bring that ham who is always saying spleeeeeeet spleeeeeet spleeeeeet!
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by W9SZ on April 4, 2003
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Lots of interesting comments here.
I've noticed a few things about the really big operations from rare locations that have huge pileups:
If the operation works several bands at once that have propagation to a given area, the pileups on each band seem a little smaller. Recently, ST0RY had a huge pileup on 40 CW but a small one on 30 meters at the same time and I was able to work them on 30 with just a couple calls.
If there are on-line logs that are accurate and frequently updated, most people tend to only work them once on that band/mode.
If the operation lasts long enough to give most people at least one QSO (i.e. the pileups thin out toward the end of their operation) there seems to be a lot less complaining.
If the operators are very fast and control the pileup well, there will be less jamming of their TX frequency. There always seem to be a few unknown stations that want to QRM the DX, though; I can only assume they are psychopaths of some sort.
Finally, if the DX operation has one or more QSL routes that are reliable and able to handle large volumes of cards quickly, you see a lot less complaining about cards. The 5A1A operation of a few years back had QSL routes of N4AA and UT3UY. I sent cards to both and was surprised to get a different card from Toly which was a neat photo card; it took longer to get than the card from Carl, though.
Good luck DXing!
73, Zack W9SZ
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What Makes a Good DXpedition?
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by W9FR on April 8, 2003
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I agree with all of the above and wish to add that the dxpedition should work the call areas by propagation in the following sequence: 1234890576, in other words east to west and north to south. I suggested this technique for both the TX0 and Ducie operations and it made the pileups much more managable. Also when you dont want to spread the pileup 25-50KHz such as some previous dxpeditions have done, try to work prefixes only within one call area such as W's, K's etc. This really speeds up the qso rate and reduces the pileup to a very managable level giving everyone including the little pistols an equal chance. Just thought I would add my 2 cents. 73 & dx, Noel W9FR
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