How Long Did it Take You to Earn DXCC HR? How about #1 HR?

[KY6R]

I'm 6 away from Mixed Honor Roll after 10 years of DX-ing. After 325, man it goes sooooo sloooooow.

[K0RS]

Well, I was first licensed in 1964 and I got to DXCC #1 in, I think, 2000.  That's pretty meaningless though, as I took an entire sunspot cycle off when I was younger pursuing other interests.  

I moved in 2003, so just for the hell of it, I started DXCC over.  I'm now at 304, but again, I really don't put much time into radio in the summers, which are dedicated to motorcycling and 4WD with my wife.  The first couple of years after I moved was spent working with 100w to a vertical, so I wasn't real competitive in pileups.  Now, if I do anything involving HR when it's nice out, it's usually antenna work.  I do try to watch DXPeditions, even in warm weather, so I may get on just to work something that doesn't come around very often.  I don't spend a lot of time just tuning around when I can be outside, so I'm sure I miss a lot of good Qs.  I was fortunate to be active in the '80s and early '90s when a lot of stuff came on that hadn't been activated in a long, long time.  I was also a pretty active contester during that same period, which filled in a lot of band slots.

Oh, BTW, the second lap was all CW.

[AA6YQ]

I'm 6 away from Mixed Honor Roll after 10 years of DX-ing. After 325, man it goes sooooo sloooooow.

Got my Novice ticket in January 1990, hit 331 (not deleted) in 2000, and reached the top of the Honor Roll when 7O1DX was accepted last year - so a bit less than two solar cycles.

    73,

         Dave, A6YQ

[K2DC]

It took me just under 9 years to get the 329 confirmed that was required for HR  at the time.  And yes, at that level it gets extremely slow.  With all that in less than 9 years, I've only worked and confirmed another 5 new ones in the last 3 years.  The next new one for me that was scheduled was Heard Is. in 2/13, but now that's been cancelled.  With 7 to go it could easily take me longer to get #1 HR than it did for HR.

73,

Don, K2DC

[G3RZP]

I've been DXing since I got my licence in 1963, on and off.  Fior quite a long time, it was more off  than on. Still haven't got to #1 - just (!) need KP1. Got to HR when I applied for DXCC in 1993.

[AA9RN]

Received my ticket in 1994. HR in I think 2006 or 07.All I need now is KP1

[NU4B]

I started working on DXCC running QRP in 1985. I was off the air for 7 years in the mid 90's so that's about 20 years and I'm at 292 total/286 current. Technically I'm at 295/289 because there are 3 countries I have credit for that I worked with higher power - KP1, Crozet, and Heard. I probably need some antenna improvements (or some help from the sun gods) to get much further. Not much easy stuff left.

[WG5G]

EARNED HR IN 10 YRS RUNNING QRP, 5W CW, 10W PEP SSB, THAT WAS FROM 1984 TO 1994, AM CURRENTLY ON MIXED HR AT 332. HONESTLY TOP OF HR SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS I CAN BUILD A MUCH BETTER ANT SYSTEM, HI HI, 73/72 DAN WG5G.

[NI0C]

It took me from 1959 to 1963 to earn my first DXCC award, No. 6565 Mixed.  In those days, ARRL published (in QST) the call sign of everyone achieving a new DXCC or an endorsement, and also listed the entire Honor Roll every month!  My call sign (K0VSH) appears in the June 1963 QST.  There were only 58 Mixed Honor Roll members listed, with only one (W1FH) at the top.

As of this morning the Mixed DXCC list consists of 68+ pages, and the Mixed Honor Roll fills nearly 16 pages.  The top HR listing fills more than four pages.  So, nearly one in four DXCC menbers is on the HR, and about one in four HR members is at the top!

I didn't make it to the HR until 2009, and I doubt I'll get to the top.  It's all been fun!

73,
Chuck  NI0C

  

[KY6R]

Wow - really excellent responses. Heard Island was the only one on the "Announced DX Operations" calendar that I need for an all time new one:

http://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html

Between the deletes and additions and the fact that what I need are almost all very hard to activate (expensive, controlled access due to environmental or political concerns), patience is what will get me there. Malpelo - HK0NA sure was exciting - and a good boost to keep me interested. I still can't believe they scaled those rocks in 100 degree F heat. Amazing.

At least these responses tell me that I am doing just fine - and that all of this is par for the course. I only care to hit HR once - just to finish what I started. The journey along the way sure has been one of the most fun hobbies / pass times that I have had.

Once I make HR - I am going to rework my antenna farm and concentrate on 40M and 20M with some serious gain. Probably go with a long boom 5 element 20M yagi on 20M, and a modified K8UR style wire 4 square hanging underneath for 40M - or maybe even 30M. I'll keep the 40' tee hatted 80M vertical and K9AY up as well - since the vertical works surprisingly well on all bands 80 - 10M, and is a good reference antenna to test against.

I have gotten back into serious cycling and going to the gym while I wait for the next all time new one to get activated. Might as well get back into shape while I wait!  

[N5UD]

First licensed in 1965, but did not chase DX. I had inverted vees and ground planes, but could work DX world wide. My first beam type antenna was a 2 element home made quad in the fall of 1967. First DXCC award was 1968. I didn't really have a good DX station until mid 70's. 1994 was my Top of Honor Roll. 25 - 30 years. Some off periods for school, but not much off time. I don't recall which year I made Honor Roll.

Much more of a challenge prior to internet and so on !

73 Tony N5UD

[W7ETA]

Congrats OM.

If we are REAL lucky, The reef, 7o, and P5 will be on this cycle.

73
Bob

[KB3LIX]

No where NEAR the HR and frankly, I don't expect
to live long enough to get there.

But DAMN,
it IS fun trying to get there !

[W5DQ]

Don't know .... still working on it after 36 years

Made an accidental DX QSOs here and there up until about 2000 when I started chasing DX in earnest .... now at 250 worked / 238 confirmed.

Since 2000 have received DXCC Mixed, RTTY, Phone, CW, 20M and 15M. Closing in on 40M and 10M.

[N5UD]

First licensed in 1965, but did not chase DX. I had inverted vees and ground planes, but could work DX world wide. My first beam type antenna was a 2 element home made quad in the fall of 1967. First DXCC award was 1968. I didn't really have a good DX station until mid 70's. 1994 was my Top of Honor Roll. 25 - 30 years. Some off periods for school, but not much off time. I don't recall which year I made Honor Roll.

Much more of a challenge prior to internet and so on !

73 Tony N5UD

I will add that my 5BDXCC is number 1105. 40-10 were not too bad. I even got nearly all QSLs via buro, and others state-side managers. i could just work another guy from country XYZ, and get buro or manager eventually.

QSLs on 80 however just drug on. I finally had to QSL direct to finish that off. If I had the doe-re-mi to QSL direct from the get go, the 5BDXCC would have been a low 3 digit number. I had it worked. Just could not get those cards, especially 80 meters ! I bet it took two years to CONFIRM 80M.

73 N5UD