[DX-CHAT] Future DXpeditions

[Jerry Keller]

What the manufacturers "expected" from the DXPedition is established in whatever agreements were worked out for the equipment loans. I wouldn't be surprised if it was done on a handshake.... that still happens occasionally, even today. There's no set agreemnent that applies all the time, and certainly none of us that were not directly involved can say what the manufacturers expected or what the DXpeditioners agreed to.  I'm betting nobody agreed to do anything but their best, and they sure did that.   Only the DXpedition organizers and their staff really know exactly how much was put up by the DXpeditioners, how much by commercial sponsors, how much by DX groups like NCDXA, and how much was donated by individuals. Hopefully, the money is still rolling in and will continue to do so. But for any of the rest of us, any assumptions or speculations...beyond the most general kind.... are just so much hot air.   I believe the DXpedition website notes indicated that they decided to leave when they did because there was a weather system coming in. That decision might well have been a matter of life and death... thank God we will never know....  I think they could have easily made 100K+ Q's if they had been able to stay a few more days.  But that too is merely pointless speculation on my part... so much hot air. The fact is these guys faced up the dragon and got the job done, and done well.   73,  Jerry K3BZ             ----- Original Message ----- From: N7MAL To: Tom Wylie ; Russell Kellam Jr ; Don Greenbaum Cc: Ken Holdom ; DX Chat Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:28 PM Subject: Re: [DX-CHAT] Future DXpeditions Don said: ""You are not correct, the radios antennas etc are all going BACK to the manufacturers."" Why am I not correct? The manufacturers donated(or loaned if you prefer) tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment. In return the equipment manufacturers can rightfully expect credit and the maximum exposure of their products.   Don Said: ""Each member of the team put up $20K or so each.   Each member had to take 6 weeks or more out his life."" As I have said they are to be commended for what they have accomplished and endured. They are a very special group of individuals who deserve all the accolades they have been, and will continue to, receive.   Don said: ""It is well over half of the expended $."" I did not make a definite statement. I said "most likely". I based my comment on all the financial info that has been made public so far.     Don said: ""This team put out over 87,000 QSOs, the 5 most DXPedtion EVER.  It likely will go down as the costliest ever."" I guess we have a new syndrome here which I will call the Bode Miller syndrome. A lot of time, money, and resources were spent on Bode Miller and he didn't finish in the top 3. 3YØX was ""the costliest ever"" and didn't finish in the top 3. Could I have done better, NO. Do I have a right to point out what I perceived, from my own experiences, to have been the shortcomings, YES.   Lastly Don said: ""They don't owe you anything Mal"" I take particular exception to that remark. At no time have I ever asked for nor do I expect anything. I made all my contacts with the xpedtion 'fair-n-square'. I don't know what the duties of a PILOT are, but if one of the duties is to take a personal disparaging shot at anyone who criticizes the xpedition then you have more than succeeded at your duties. Very Best 73     MAL       N7MAL BULLHEAD CITY, AZ