> If everyone believed that the practice of working a rare DXpedition multiple > times on > the same band/mode for "insurance" was the proper practice, many of us would > not be able > to work them for the first time. These large DXpeditions, especially now, > offer real > time log confirmation. Work the DX, take a few minutes to bask in the glow, > then check > their Internet website for the confirmation. If you can't hear the DX when > you attempt > to work them, then don't work them. > Ed I agree that working stations for an 'insurance contact' can be annoying to some. But... I 'rarely' work a dx station that I have confirmed on that band/mode a second time. (outside of contests of course)
But, having said that. 1. Online logs are very unreliable as we saw recently. Even the stations that do have a online log, there is no way to be sure that prop will improve conditions better than they are at the moment. 2. Not being able to fully hear them is not always the reason for a doubtful qso. QRM, deep QSB, can blast a good qso out of the log. 3. Similar callsigns are murder. W9OP, W9OY, consistently give me fits. 4. Not every one has a logging program that shows exactly what band/modes are confirmed. (although he should keep a cheatsheet if that is the case) I make a little postit note grid for instant reference. In fact Joe created that report exactly for that reason. 5. I sometimes work a dx station (not a major dxpedition of course) on a band/mode I already have confirmed to ask him to qsy to a different band/mode I do need. (I always include 'when you can' into the request). And having said all that...I remember a dxpedition a few years ago that indeed did have a good online log in real time. A well known list lizard was listed for 7 qsos on 20 meter ssb. Now that is downright gluttony and shameful. And with that .... I agree with you most totally.
