Barry, you read my mind.. thanks! Certain DXpedition ops (i.e. Vince K5VT - SK) would really do something neat. Vince would have this huge CW pileup going, and send "32". I'd spin the dial up to 32 and call once. Bingo! Reward for actually LISTENING to the DX op

73, Gary K7ZD

On 12/12/2012 7:46 AM, Barry wrote:

As a former big gun in a good location, now a little pistol in a bad
location, I can say I find the current state of DXing very
discouraging.  The instant bedlam generated by the Cluster and skimmer
networks makes it very difficult for the little guys.

The other big factor is the "need" for so many to work every band-mode
combination.  While I can understand wanting a QWSO on each band and
mode, is EVERY combination necessary?  For example, if you worked them
on 20 SSB, 40 CW, and 15 RTTY, do you also feel obligated to fill in the
20 CW and 20 RTTY slots, too?  If so, why?

Fortunately, there's not much I need any more, so I haven't even
bothered chasing most of the DXpeds in the last few years.

Barry W2UP

On 12/12/2012 07:20, Ryan Jairam wrote:
>From those whom I have spoken to, they absolutely do NOT just work
"the big guns."

In fact, having a variable split makes a big station less useful than
it could be.

They absolutely do listen to the little pistol guys.

The biggest challenge I've had was finding a good split frequency and
often the one that nobody is calling on is the one that gets me in the
log.

Watch some of those DXpedition videos and you'll see how they do it.
Some DXpeditions use set split patterns, but others spin the knob,
sort of like they were S&Ping.

Just be patient and they'll find you. Of course, don't expect that
you'll win versus the guy with a kilowatt and a tower. Head to head
he's going to crush you. But you can get in the log if you think
outside the box a little. I worked DXCC mobile, so I know all about
being at a distinct disadvantage...

I won't lie, I make more than one QSO and try to fill up band/mode
combos as much as I can. If I plan to pursue CW/Phone awards in the
future it will be useful. I'm doing less of that now, but still trying
to get as many challenge points as I can.

But I don't spend hours in a pileup, so I don't see how I'm setting
anyone back. Usually I am in the log in a few minutes.

73
Ryan, N2RJ

On Wed, Dec 12, 2012 at 8:52 AM, Robert <rc...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Sorry Bert, I'll have to respectfully disagree. While DXing is a
competitive
sport, it shouldn't be based on who can afford a 30 meter tower with
stacked
beams and a 1500W amp. Sure, those gentlemen will be making the first
contacts with the DX stations - it's only logical. However, there are
many
more ops that have the 100W with a dipole and have worked hard just
to get
that. They deserve a fighting chance, not a give-a-way, just a
chance. It's
hard for a  new ham to get excited about DXing if all they get to do is
listen to stations making "insurance" contacts.

Robert - N9EF


On Dec 12, 2012, at 6:12 AM, "Bert Garcia" <n...@earthlink.net> wrote:

In my opinion I think DXing is fine the way it is. We don’t need any
once
per mode or once per band rules. If we do need those rules, perhaps ARRL
should restructure the Challenge Award and only permit once per mode
or once
per band to count for each DX callsign.

There are many facets to ham radio. Making rules to ensure the
100W/dipole
weekend DXer gets a contact shouldn’t be a priority to a DXpedition.
DXing
is a competitive sport. Be polite when you’re on the air – all bands,
all
modes.

Bert N8NN

From: Peter W2IRT
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 12:23 AM
To: dx-n...@njdxa.org
Subject: RE: [DX-NEWS] Best Practices for DXpedition Operating

My opinion on this is pretty simple, and I've stated it repeatedly. For
something in high demand (top-25 entity, for example) there have to
be some
clearly communicated goals from the outset. Establish those goals, do
what
you can to communicate them loudly and clearly to The Deserving and
don't
deviate from your plan unless your pilots convey critical information or
your rates show a need to change. Be LOUD, work the areas with the best
rates for as long as you can. Focus on the hardest-to-work region as
propagation opens.

Here's how I'd do it.
1)      Priority is as many unique as possible for all time new ones
2)      Once per mode and/or
3)      At most once per band
This means either no clublog greenies or work with the Clublog
developer to
come up with a module that shows bands and modes worked, but not a full
band-mode matrix.

The Plan:
Planners must fully understand that there are three major centres of ham
populations. NA, EU and JA. Within each major center is East Coast
NA, West
coast, central; Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe (and
western Asia); JA stands by itself. NOT to marginalize SA, VK/ZL, OC
and AF,
but the highest rates will be had with the three major continents.
NOW, with
that said and understood:
1)      One of the three areas of the world will be extremely
difficult to
work due to a polar path (Eastern NA to South-east Asia; south
Pacific to
Southern Europe, Caribbean to JA, etc).
2)      Two of those three will have propagation on all bands and
modes, and
will have an opening 24/7 somewhere.
         I.            As such, they MUST focus—tightly—on those in
the first
category. Like Martti on Scarborough Reef dedicating 3 hours to North
America only. No exceptions.

Following the terminator is an absolute must. If you're going to an
ultra-rare place, you need someone good with propagation, who can
read and
understand the charts and formulate a concrete plan to use as a base.
With
the morning terminator an hour away from the Canadian maritimes, if
you're
in darkness, that's the time to start calling NA East Coast, for
example. If
you're on 3B9, as you go into dawn start calling NA West Coast (you'd
have
had all night to work NA East coast in this example). And so on.
       II.            Keep one station on 20m SSB 24/7 if you have a
large
setup. If not, have one station alternating between 15, 20 and 40
SSB. Be as
loud as possible! That's where you'll rack up the uniques. Better to go
begging on 20 phone than have an international bitchfest that the
weak guys
can't get through cuz you're always trying for the margins.
     III.            Make sure you have a skilled operator for CW and
SSB who
speaks fluent Italian and/or Spanish and/or Russian…and knows how to
keep
the howling wolves at bay.
a.       If necessary, make an example of a couple of egregiously bad
ops
and publicly NIL them, but only as a last resort
b.      Make it plain that if you're asked to stand by, if you don't,
you
will not be logged. Period.
     IV.            When you first start, and when propagation is
open wide,
don't restrict callers. Loudest wins. Concentrate on rate, rate, rate
and
did I say RATE. Work the big guns. Work'em down as fast as you
possibly can.
       V.            When you have two wide open areas (NA and EU
working
Africa, for example), alternate EU only/NA only for reasonable times
or if
you have the stations to do it, EU on SSB, NA on CW, then switch
after an
hour or two. Or 10CW/12SSB to one continent, then the opposite.
Something
like that, so you don't p!$$ off entire continents.
     VI.            Understand that QRM will generally start getting
bad in
areas where frustrated ops who haven't worked you yet start getting
into the
807s and 813s after supper their-time. 2100-0100z,then 0400z to 0700z
being
the worst, in my experience.
   VII.            When that slim window opens to the region (1)
mentioned
above, they get unconditional priority. Follow the terminator, but be
aware
of latecomers if possible. i.e. as the terminator moves into the US
Midwest
there may be some guys in Vermont or Georgia who are just getting
fluke good
propagation.
VIII.            Keep your rates high even as the operation wears
down and
don't worry about the 100W/wire guys for a few days—assuming you're
going to
be there for 10-14 days! The more big guns you get up front, the less
effort
to work the weak guys later on. Meaning less QRM.
     IX.            In the second week, or last few days if a short
trip,
whittle it down to regions (NA East, NA Central, etc) and spend more
time
going after secondary targets (SA, Africa, VK/ZL, for example). Work
split
for US Generals. Pause at the top of the hour for QRP, mobile, or
'need-for-an-ATNO' callers when things slow down.

Use these guidelines and anything from a top-5 to a top-100 will have as
much success as possible. The threat to a good operation comes from two
fronts. (1) Southern/Eastern Europen lids (and their U.S.
counterparts) who
cannot or will not be quiet and who ignore operators' instructions;
(2) DX
Hogs who'll be after you on 22-25 slots if you let 'em. If you have a
major
operation and want to work the band/mode hunters that's wonderful. As a
hunter myself I truly welcome those 22-25 slots. But if you're a smaller
operation, there for limited time or whatever, make your intentions
in this
regard crystal clear and don't let the Clublog charts overwhelm your
operation.

Here's an idea for those good at programming. How 'bout this. Hard-core
DXers pre-register on your Website with an email address and
callsign. When
that call works the DX and the log is uploaded at some point, the
Website
generates an email to the DXer saying "you're in the log. Please do
not call
again on this band." Positive confirmation delivered as quickly as
possible
after each upload, so the DXer knows he doesn’t have to dupe you for
insurance, but also no public leaderboard for the global circlejerk
that it
can start.

In short, I believe the single biggest challenge that inexperienced
DXpedition teams face is not knowing who to look for when/where.
Propagation
will drive rates but at the same time, if you're a highly in-demand
location
in a difficult part of the world, you have to be prepared to sacrafice
slightly higher rates in favour of working rare areas over harder paths.

And finally, if your operation plans to heavily rely on QSL funding,
don't
neglect that part of the globe who pays the best! Just sayin'!

----------------------------------------------------
Regards,
Peter Dougherty, W2IRT

www.facebook.com/W2IRT

From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Dan M. Rod
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 10:25 PM
To: dx-n...@njdxa.org
Subject: FW: [DX-NEWS] Best Practices for DXpedition Operating

Looking at  this situation when you are on the other side(DX
Station),its
not easy to help everyone with a new one, and there are some hams
that have
your countryon the log and they try to stablish some rag chew when
you are
calling dx !,pile up went crazy ,so you must try to be pollite and
keep on
going specially when there are just 3 persons doing Dx from your
country.
73 and keep up the good work and please enjoy HAM RADIO

HR2WW Dan


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