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Author Topic: New DXer  (Read 6183 times)

KG4IMO

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New DXer
« on: July 14, 2000, 01:02:17 PM »

   I am KG4IMO.  I got my call sighn issued about a coulp of weeks ago.  I have been DXing for a while but I don't have the procedures down pat can anyone send me some hints please.   E-Mail is jason@jwoodring.com  
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N5NJ

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« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2000, 06:59:25 AM »

Jason,

I think the best advice to give to anyone these days is to develop your listening ability first - then worry about transmitting.

The old saying goes: "If you can't hear 'em, you can't work 'em".  This statement is true.  Some "qsos" take place today where neither party actually hears each other.

Also, don't fire up that PacketCluster as you begin to do your DXing.  You'd be amazed that by finding DX by yourself, how much you begin to understand the attraction of ham radio to those who have gone before.  The randomness, the wonder of propagation, the thrill of hearing someone in a country on the opposite side of the globe directly to your radio!

73!
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K5IQ

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« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2000, 11:21:48 PM »

Ah, a new convert to the sweet sport of DXing!

Jason, N5NJ is right on the money when he suggests you develop the listening habit.  Not only will you learn where the DX stations are, but you'll learn HOW they operate, which in turn will help you develop your operating strategies.

Next, get comfortable working split (where the DX station transmits on one frequency and listens somewhere else).  You can tell the less experienced (and less successful) as they call the rare ones again and again on their operating frequency, when it is clear that the DX is listening somewhere else!  Basically, if you hear the DX working station after station AND YOU CAN NEVER HEAR who he's talking to, chances are he's working split.  Also, listen to the DX station's instructions:  if he says, "listening 200 to 210," that's where you want to transmit.  A lot of successful DXers will listen on the DX's frequency AND tune around until they hear the station he's working, then set up their own transmit frequency slightly up or down from there.  Depending on which way the DX station is tuning, you can increase your chances of a successful QSO.

If in a phone pile-up, transmit your WHOLE call, using standard phonetics.  Learn to send it quickly, but clearly. The DX may not speak English fluently, so enunciate!  Also, sometimes it pays to pause a second or two before transmitting; if you get the timing right, everyone else will stop yelling just in time for you to be in the clear.

Fit your operating style to the DX station's.  If he's working stations with a quick "5/9," don't bother telling him your weather, rig, etc.  Just exchange reports.  But, if he WANTS to ragchew and so do you (isn't it great to have a nice chat with someone on the other side of the world?), then go to it!

Be aggressive, but don't lose your sense of decency or your plain ol' common sense.  If a DX station says, "the Tango station ONLY!" it would be counterproductive (and rude) for you do transmit your callsign then.  If the DX is working by call districts and he's asking for "7s only," don't muddy the waters by calling from 4-land at that time.  But still, thousands and thousands of LIDs (poor operators) try these tricks anyway.  Go figure!

Develop your sense of what bands offer the best propagation to different parts of the world, and at what times.  But, remember there ARE variables involved (and that's what makes it fun)!  You may hear Europe most mornings on such-and-such a band, but you could also wake up to VKs and ZLs or even VUs long-path on the same band.

Keep a handful of envelopes on file at the incoming QSL Bureau for your call district.  The procedures vary at each "buro" (some ask for 6x9 SASEs, others for money), but you can get the scoop from your bureau's webpage.  Check www.arrl.org for links.

Learn the tips for direct QSLing.  Some basic ones are, don't include callsigns on outgoing or return addresses (some postal workers in faraway lands have figured out that callsigns mean there may be money inside the envelope), always include a return envelope big enough to handle a return QSL larger than standard size, and always include return postage.  In some cases this may be a dollar ("green stamp") or two, and in some cases this may be an IRC or two.  Learn which countries accept U.S. money and which could get the foreign ham thrown in jail for receiving $$!  If the DX station has a U.S. QSL manager, ALWAYS include a self-addressed-stamped-envelope.  It's a little thing, but amazingly many operators don't do it.

Well, that oughta clog up a whole eHAM page, but it should give you a healthy start in an extremely rewarding aspect of ham radio.  Hope these ideas help.

73,
Bob Dunn
K5IQ
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AB4KN

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« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2000, 01:05:29 PM »

Hello Jason,
Welcome aboard the DX wagon. I hope you will enjoy the thrill of DXing. Here are some tips that I have found helpful:
1) Knowledge. To help find out about rare ones and DXpeditions, there are places on the INTERNET that will arm you with incredibly important info on when and where some of the guys operate. Some of these DX services are free, i.e. ARRL DX Bulletins and 425 DX News. A very good Daily DX News service is "The Daily DX". It is available via Email subscription. The other great source of knowledge of when and where is the DX Clusters on the INTERNET, including Eham.net. They are like using a Fish Finder when you are fishing. Some like fishing with fish finders and some dont, but if you are just getting into DXing, I would recommend them. They not only help you find DX, but there is usually many others on the CLuster that can help you with DX/QSL info. Personally, I use all the sources I can get my hands on to know what is going on out there. An example of how this info can help you: I have seen rare DXpeditions come on the air and huge pileups develop quickly. I knew that the Dxpedition was going to be on the air for two weeks so I waited a couple of days, and the operators were then calling CQ with few answers. Working them then was easy. If you are going to send out some QSL cards, these DX info sources will help a great deal, also.
2) DX Nets. Some like them, some dont. All I can say is give them a try. You can find a pretty good little list of them at : http://www.ab7sl.com look under his "DX page" and there is a list of some DX nets. As with working DX freestyle, LISTEN to others working the NETS or DX, and you will quickly learn what procedure of calling is correct, i.e. split frequency, which locations the DX wants to have a QSO with, etc.
By ALL MEANS, HAVE FUN! Be aware that you will hear some "undesireable language" and short tempers from time to time. When rare ones show up, patience is necessary, but once and a while, a small miniority forget that. Be of good cheer, the majority of the time, DXing is still tremendously rewarding.
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W9SZ

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« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2000, 10:24:47 AM »

If you're going for DXCC, the first 100 countries should be relatively easy.  I worked # 100 for the Millennium DXCC (starting Jan. 1, 2000) in early April with very limited time on the air. A few people got their Millennium DXCC on January 4!  Back when I got into DXing seriously, I worked my first 100 countries in about 6 months - mostly on 40 meter CW, with 100 watts and a dipole, with no Internet, no Packetcluster and no DX magazines.  It was all listen and call.

Contests are a great way to work a lot of new ones when you're starting out.  CQWW, WPX and ARRL DX contests are great ones for that.  

There are many hams in countries not considered "rare" who love to ragchew.  You can learn a lot about other cultures and climates this way!  And you will make many new friends.

73, Zack W9SZ
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WA4DOU

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« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2001, 11:02:47 PM »

Jason,
  Good luck in the DX game. Please take the opportunity to read Carl Smiths DX column in the March 2001 CQ magazine. 73 Roy WA4DOU
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