Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll  (Read 4551 times)

  • Guest
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« on: March 23, 2008, 07:05:43 AM »

I'm at 320 - trying to make 9X0R, Glorioso, Willis and Marion my 321, 322, 323 and 324th DXCC Counters. A J2 would get me to 325.

I'm also praying someone goes to Malpelo, Kingman and Cambell - that would just about wrap things up for me.

Bouvet, Amsterdam, Heard, Navassa are all needed, but they seem like pipe dreams now.

I'd like to do this in 10 years, but 2009 would be the 10th year. Its not impossible - but I always remember the Stones lyric:

"You don't always get what you want - but you get what you need . . . ".

How about you - how did YOU get to honor roll - how long did it take?

73 es gud DX,

Rich
Logged

NI0C

  • Member
  • Posts: 3625
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2008, 07:25:24 AM »

Well Rich, my DXCC certificate is 45 years old this month and I'm not there yet.  In my estimation you're doing a super job!  
GL & 73,
Chuck  NI0C
Logged

  • Guest
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2008, 07:38:01 AM »

Thanks Chuck - I need to check my math - I started DX-ing in 2001 - so 2011 will be my 10th year of working towards Honor Roll.

Now if "someone" would only go to these last few places, AND, if the sunspots would only just start cranking up again . . . .

BTW - the first 274 were made with "only" wire antennas and 200 watts or less. I'm an "ex-QRP-er" who hates amplifiers, but once I got to 274 or so - I realized that I needed an amp and a yagi, and phased vertical arrays for the low bands.

But the first thing I will do when I hit Honor Roll is sell my amplifier!

I sure would love to be the DX some day.
Logged

W3ML

  • Member
  • Posts: 171
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2008, 07:41:52 AM »

My 10th year has gone by 3 times and I am not there yet, so you are doing great.

John
Logged

WA4DOU

  • Member
  • Posts: 580
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2008, 10:17:41 AM »

Rich, I too have been working on it off and on for 45 years. I'm at 328 with 8 "deleteds" so I'm a few years away yet. At the rate they're adding new ones, you better work a few extras to secure your place on the "Role".  G/L
Logged

NU4B

  • Member
  • Posts: 2501
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2008, 03:04:21 PM »

Still working on it. But I'm doing it QRP and CW. Been doing it since 1984. (was off the air from 1994-2001) But I'm up to 275 worked. 2008 has been good so far with 2 new ones. No.274 Pitcarin and No.275 Ducie. The next one I might have a shot at is Glorioso. Although given where it stands on the "most wanted list" its going to be a difficult task at best. And then Willis - another rough one. (come on sunspots)

I guess technically at the ARRL I would have 278 because there are 3 countries I haven't worked QRP yet that I have credit for - Heard, Crozet, and Tokelau.

In any case I have a long way to go before 329. But is been great fun. I've operated with 5 watts for so long I wouldn't know what to do with a 100 or a 1000.

I think before I add power I will make antenna improvements.

Also if you guys would kindly QRT when you hear me calling a DX station that would be a big help. - just kidding, see you in the pileups
Logged

W4YA

  • Member
  • Posts: 317
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2008, 06:08:41 PM »

1965 to 1975 approx. But they kept deleting and adding faster than I could keep up. So, I was on and off. Still need bs, bp, 7o and p5.
Logged

  • Guest
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2008, 07:14:41 PM »

I applaud anyone on the DXCC chase, and especially the QRP and Honor Roll #1 folks - they really have done the amazing feats of DX skill.

I'll try those things after getting "regular" Honor Roll - that does seem doable in 10 years. I wonder what the record is as far as how fast someone got to Honor Roll.

Maybe move to a rare counter - that might be a good way to get to honor roll fast - eh?

Anyone want to sell me a property on Navassa? Maybe Captain Jack Sparrow has a sublet there - with no HOA's and CC&Rs?
Logged

W2IRT

  • Member
  • Posts: 4229
    • What I do for fun
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2008, 09:59:46 PM »

I also started in 2001 and to-date I'm up to 310 Mixed. I was in a NYC apartment with low power and wires for about 4 years, and I missed a lot of good stuff in the earlier years, including D68C and XR0X.

I did get Bouvet this year, Scarborough, Willis and VU7 last year, VU4 in 2006 and Desecheo in 2005 so I'm not complaining. I'm really hoping to bag Marion and Glorioso later this year, and there's talk of something this fall from Malpelo, too.

With luck I'll hit HR in 3 or 4 years, provided some sorely-needed entities get activated between now and then. Hopefully ol' Sol will develop some facial blemishes soon!
Logged
www.facebook.com/W2IRT
Night gathers and now my watch begins. It shall not end until I reach Top of the Honor Roll

Great times are at hand, and soon there will be DX for all—although more for some than for others.

KC9MAV

  • Member
  • Posts: 59
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2008, 07:10:58 AM »

I have 5 dx countries but I have been a general for about 2 days.
Logged

N3ZC

  • Member
  • Posts: 1438
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2008, 07:18:20 AM »

It'll probably be a Post Mortem thing for me..too many new Good Buddies in the past couple months..calling on the DX's TX freq (when running split)..more & more it's getting too hard to hear if they (the DX) got back to you (or not)..I'll take my key/rig with me when I "Go"..& work em from "there"..

             ;-)  Tom  N3ZC
Logged

AF3Y

  • Member
  • Posts: 4424
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2008, 11:03:31 AM »

Ahem, that WILL be one of those Navy "Flameproofs" right??  Hi Hi!
Logged

WA4DOU

  • Member
  • Posts: 580
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2008, 04:48:44 PM »

"I wonder what the record is as far as how fast someone got to Honor Roll."

 I've heard a claim of 6-7 years a time or two. If it's believable, it's only because of spotting which made dx'ing much easier than in bygone eras. 40 years ago it wasn't unusual for hams to have invested decades in the chase. For me the thrill of the chase is 2/3rds of the challenge. We have to hear them before we can work them and if we've heard them before but didn't manage a qso, it just magnifies the thrill next time. Some of the VP8's and VK9's & 0's have remained elusive and unheard by me yet. But working Glorioso in the middle of the night on a dead band with no one else in the whole world calling him or working KL7 on 6 meters after only hearing it twice in my life were huge thrills. I don't regret my failure to embrace spotting as I consider dx'ing a lifetime pursuit. I hope to pursue dx right up to check out time. Good luck in your quest.

 
Logged

N3ZC

  • Member
  • Posts: 1438
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2008, 05:18:21 PM »

"Ahem, that WILL be one of those Navy "Flameproofs" right?? Hi Hi! ".........


"Please allow me to introduce myself
Im a man of wealth and taste
Ive been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's "DX" away!...

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But whats puzzling you
Is the nature of my game"

I think you get the picture....

             73'  Tom  N3ZC
Logged

  • Guest
How Long Did It Take YOU to get to DXCC Honor Roll
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2008, 09:06:10 PM »

Thanks, Roy, WA4DOU - that gives me a good idea on timeframe, and I agree with you regarding the cluster. I did do some DX-ing from NJ when I was in high school - WA2QHN, and do remember those days - way before the cluster. Someone would come up on 146.94 simplex - I believe and mention there was DX. I had a new TR-7400A back then - big deal for a high school student. I also had a TS-511S, the forerunner to the TS-520.

But I worked DX and didn't even bother to get cards from places like KZ5, etc. I was more into CW ragchewing with other high school students after school. I guess that was our "chat room" or "internet" back then.

MySpace in CW ????
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up