Survey Comments
DXpeditions Needed
Great comments. I enjoy working DXpeditions, especially if it means a new one. With 313 entities confirmed, the ones I need can only be worked when a DXpedition activates it. Maybe the next big one will be 7O, BS7, T33, T5, VU8, YV0 or ZS8. A big word of Thanks to the guys and gals who can go there and put em on the air so the rest of us can have a new one.
Posted by
W4MGY on 2003-03-28
Keeps me sharp!
I don't get a chance to be as much on the air as I would like (I'm pretty sure that's a complaint most of us have!). Work, family, housechores keep us all busy. It's nice when there's a DXpedition, especially a rare one, because then you don't have to go hunting because the pileup is there ! Some pileups are hard to break or never get broken; but man, is it a rush when you do get in and get that QSO! Besides, jumping into those pileups keeps those operating skills sharp between those times when you just can't get on the air.
Posted by
W2LJ on 2003-03-28
Every year is a new year
Every year I try to see how many countries I can work. That invariably means trying to work all the DXpeditions. Last year was a slow year, only about 220 or so. This year I haven't even made DXCC yet, just have not been putting in the time. I generally try to work DXpeditions on only the band/modes I need (like 40CW or 15 SSB) to give others a chance. Later on I might try for other QSOs if the pileups thin out. In 5.5 years I have only missed a few entities that have been on: 7O, FR/G and ZS8. 73 - Jim AD1C
Posted by
AD1C on 2003-03-27
time, time, time
I had to vote "zero". I simply don't have the time to devote to it. Don't get me wrong, I'm envious of you folks that have the available time to sit at the radio for the length of time necessary to crack some of these.... I'm sure it's quite a thrill, and I hope someday to have the time to try it. Just not right now, in my world. Good luck, and have fun.
73
Bruce, N1VLQ
Posted by
N1VLQ on 2003-03-26
Still need ST0RY
Liked both of the Ducie operations. THe one last year was great-staying on 2 freq. on 15 meters to insure everyone a contact. Worked most of the big ones last year, but missed South Sandwich Is. Did work them 3 times on South Georgia-it figures since I already that one. Having trouble with the ST0RY and ST2CF dxpeditions right now. Propagation is fair at best, and just not getting through to ST2CF, and having trouble hearing ST0RY. Seem to hear them best on 30 meters. Nil on 10 meters today. WIsh they would hit 20 more and 160 less. Probably a lot more people working on 20 than 160. Oh well, still have another week to try. Need to get that tower and larger antenna up. So far have worked 304 countries on 100 watts, and largest antenna has been a Cushcraft MA5B. Currently using a miniquad.
Posted by
NE0P on 2003-03-25
QRMers?
My favorite is the ARS who come on whenever there is a DXpedition. Usually they meet their friends on 14.197Mc with high power and just complain about the DXpedition or the DX and all the QRM knowing full well that they are causing QRM but being so inocent. Or, how about that /W7 station with the long CQ DX right on or very near the DX transmit freq. After his 2 minute CQ checking propagation longpath he unkeys and after being informed of the DX he so inocently QSYs down 1Mc to start his looooooong CQ over agn. Of course this gets the police going and oh what a mess that ends up to be.
73, Jim
Posted by
AD6WL on 2003-03-23
ST0RY - Great
Another example of a really superb DX-pedition. Now if conditions on the West Coast would only pick up so that ST0RY comes up above the noise level. . . . .
Posted by
KY6R on 2003-03-23
A few DXpeditions
I work DXpeditions and special event stations if I run across them. Easiest one for me was XR0X. Heard him calling QRZ to an empty band, so I answered him. Wham! Instant contact. When I was done he resumed calling the empty band with no one else around to talk to him. Got a very nice QSL card from them later.
Posted by
AD7DB on 2003-03-21
Contesting
I work most of my DX during contests but I can't resist jumping in there and busting a pile up. Sometime I'll do it with 5watts just to see if I can do it, but if it's a new one fer me I will usually turn on the amp.
73, Jim
Posted by
AD6WL on 2003-03-20
DXpeditions
There have been some great recent DXpeditions. Many were to places I already worked. I still enjoy tackling the pileups, but if it's a rare one that many other people want, I'll hold off until the pileups thin down a bit.
Now, if someone were only able to go to KP5, VU4 or VU7 ...
Posted by
W9SZ on 2003-03-17
Dxpeditions
I'm only short one entity (Scarborough Reef)from having them all.Many years ago I was happy to get one CW and one SSB QSO in the log but now I find myself working everything I can for all the band fills..not to be a "DX hog"..but it's like anything else..practice(hopefully)makes perfect(if you don't lose your mind or patience with idiots and QRM).I like to think that I'm always honing DX skills..
Jim,W3QY
Posted by
W3QY on 2003-03-17
Favorite DX-pedition
While I like and appreciate every dx-pedition, my all time favorite is T31MY. They are GREAT ops and know how to manage pileups in a way that makes it fun to work them. I also notice that their style and efficiency also promotes the best behavior that I have seen in any pileup. Now how many times do you hear "88" in a pileup?
P.S - I support dx-peditions with my NCDXF membership . . .
Posted by
KY6R on 2003-03-16
your net is a rated from my side
Posted by
ZRAB7078 on 2003-03-15
Contests?
"Contesting? Me? Not likely! I fail to see the importance it it. Don't get me wrong, I like working far-off stations, but contesting, and trying to talk to a bazillion stations in every grid to earn some kind of award or plaque to hang on the wall, TOTAL NONSENSE. If that's your bag, so be it! It's just not the reason I became a ham. '73 de KD7EZE"
This survey was asking for Dxpeditions....not contesting. I too draw the line with some contests but really enjoy dxpedions....maybe you need some more education on the terminology. Cheers and see ya in the pile ups....Steve
Posted by
W9SN on 2003-03-14
dx peditions
I enjoy working new places and some folks like Marty Laine and family do a lot of them (thanks marty) and If I can work them I try to include a $5 bill in the envelope to help with stamps and a couple bucks towards the expedition. it ain't a lot but if enough folks do it it helps.. I thank you all for the efforts on doing the dxpeditions.. 73 & good dx tom N6AJR
Posted by
N6AJR on 2003-03-14
DXing is a blast
I've been a ham for 30 years but was only bitten by the DX bug 2 years ago. I work the dx-peditions that help me with my DXCC totals. I'm at 260 entities now and worked 225 of them with 100 watts or less and just a zepp antenna. I have improved my antenna system to get to 260 (hi hi). I enjoy QSL-ing and have WAS and DXCC, which are the only 2 awards I really care about.
It is interesting that some posters thought this survey was about contests - hmmmmm.
Posted by
KY6R on 2003-03-14
Trends?
Ok, It's been a few days since the initial query... interesting results.
The two biggest catagories are zero(38%) and a few (27%).
Its an interesting trend and shows who wastes time here instead of getting on the air!
Personally, I've worked most of the DX'peditions that I was interested in, but I skip the ones where the operators seem to have lost their perspective...
73 all
Gary WG7X
Posted by
WG7X on 2003-03-13
Ah yes
>Contesting? Me? Not likely! I fail to see
>the importance in it. Don't get me wrong, I >like working far-off stations, but
>contesting, and trying to talk to a
>bazillion stations in every grid to earn
>some kind of award or plaque to hang on the
>wall, TOTAL NONSENSE. If that's your bag,
>so be it! It's just not the reason I became
>a ham. '73 de KD7EZE
Of course, no discussion about operating
habits would be complete without the
obligatory pot-shot at contesters.
Considering that major DXPeditions avoid
contest weekends in their planning de
rigeur, I fail to understand what criticism
of contesters has to do with working
DXpeditions. Someone 'splain me please?
Scott W4PA
Posted by
W4PA on 2003-03-12
DX? Where?
I'm a DXer. I work DX. I live for working DX. If there's DX, then I must work them. Why? Because I'm driven to work them. They want me to work them. They are in a far away place and have made a committment, as I have. Back to the Ducie pileup!!
Posted by
KB9CRY on 2003-03-12
DXpeditions
Contesting? Me? Not likely! I fail to see the importance it it. Don't get me wrong, I like working far-off stations, but contesting, and trying to talk to a bazillion stations in every grid to earn some kind of award or plaque to hang on the wall, TOTAL NONSENSE. If that's your bag, so be it! It's just not the reason I became a ham.
'73 de KD7EZE
Posted by
KD7EZE on 2003-03-11
DXpedition-SHMEXpedition
I'll work anyone I can hear on 20 CW. I do not solicit QSL cards, as I don't care to quantify my participation.
Posted by
ME2FU on 2003-03-11
Only mults
I only work those dxpeditions that are multipliers in contests. :)
Posted by
KL9A on 2003-03-10
DXpeditions
With 1 watt of QRP and a multiband trap vertical antenna it's a little hard to break the pile-ups. But even when I'm running more power I find that the time and frustration involved in breaking through is hardly worth the 10 second QSO. Since I already have my DXCC I usually just skip the pile-up and look for a nice ragchew with a non-"rare one" someplace.
Posted by
N8XMS on 2003-03-10
I'll join if it's fun
If I think I can work, I'll join. Otherwise, I'll just watch them. I won't join in many African peditions simply because my system wouldn't compete against the JA big guns.
Good luck to the Ducie chasers.
Posted by
JJ1BDX on 2003-03-10
Most of them
...just because. No particular reason. A personal challenge, kind of like climbing Mt. Everest but much safer.
If they seem fairly easy to work (strong signals, most stations getting through), I'll try with QRP first, maybe 1W, then 5W. If that doesn't work after a lot of trying, then 100W. And so forth.
Some of these expeditions have amazing "ears," probably the result of operating from very quiet locations where the man-made noise is nil. I recall reaching 3Y0PI on one call with 5W on 40m, which convinced me that it doesn't take a lot to do the job.
Good timing helps, though!
Posted by
WB2WIK on 2003-03-10
DXpeditions
There fun to work but I dislike the way they sometimes operate. Take RTTY mode for example. Last one I worked the DX station was below 14.080 in the area of the digital MBO stations. These stations are run without a control operator present so none of these stations know the DX station is there and as he was working split he had no idea that these automatic stations were producing massive amounts of QRM around and on him. Second is that he was not giving a set frequency he was listening on, just tuning between 14.080 to 14.090 and picking clear stations to work. This caused many stations to just blindly transmit anywhere between 14.080 and 14.090! They never listened to the TX frequency to see if a QSO was going on where they were calling the DX station. I noticed two RTTY operators trying to have a QSO when it started. They did not give up but simply switched to ARQ Amtor mode to continue the QSO. They were able then to continue even with the QRM as the error correction in ARQ mode would simply pass the text when the DX station was transmitting and the station trying to work him were listening. I did notice a very few stations moved away from the QSO that was already going when the DX station started and then they went to ARQ Amtor mode but most did not and never worked the DX station because they never bothered to listen to the frequency they were going to transmit on.
Posted by
N4ZOU on 2003-03-09
Dunno?
It must be very hard for hams without a HF ticket to work any DXpedition.
I don't remember what DXpeditions there have been during the last 12 months--don't feel like going thru my log for the past 12 months to try and count what I think were DXpeditions.
But, I'm always working on band fills.
Bob
Posted by
RobertKoernerExAE7G on 2003-03-09
Dxpeditions
Been there. Done that. It's their and their sponsor's money. If they want to do it -- have fun! I'll work them if the pile ain't too big and it ain't too much trouble but no way I'm going to get ulcers trying to work them.
Posted by
KG4OOA on 2003-03-09
only the ones I need for DXCC
I'll brave the pileups for a new country. I might add there are VHF dxpeditions too.
I have worked several six meter and 2 two meter countries because of dxpeditions. I worked my 50th
state on two meters because a fellow set up an EME station in a park near Jackson Hole WY. My hat is off to them all.
Posted by
W8PAT on 2003-03-09