RE: [DX-CHAT] EZ

[Peter Dougherty]

Nope, sorry. EZ has been QRT for a few years now. The Turkmenistan
government hasn't issued licenses for a long time and appears to have no
plans to do so in the near future. I haven't heard anything at all within
the last year. Some of the former licensees have been petitioning the
government but so far nada.



-
73 and Good DX

Peter,
W2IRT

Letter O Manager,
ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau
Vice President, North Jersey DX Association




-Original Message-
From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Barrie Smith
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 9:53 PM
To: dx-chat@njdxa.org
Subject: [DX-CHAT] EZ


A few months ago a EZ8 was spotted on DX Watch.  I tuned to the frequency 
and worked him.

A few minutes later there was a spot, from another EZ, stating that the EZ8 
was a pirate.

Since then, I have not seen a spot for EZ.  What's the story on EZ?  Are 
there any active stations in that country?

73, Barrie, W7ALW 





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[DX-CHAT] Dayton 2012

[Peter Dougherty]

Just found this picture of the Dayton public works department readying a
sign for the Hara arena for 2012:

http://hackedirl.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/9b63ce53-305d-436e-912b-0e4b947
bdca4.jpg

 

About says it all, I think.

 



Regards,

Peter Dougherty

 



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---<>

RE: [DX-CHAT] VU4PB and S21YZ

[Peter Dougherty]

Yep, got both in my long a couple of times already (the S2 for two new
bands). Yagi at 72' and legal limit helped :)


--

 - pjd

-Original Message-
From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Mecseri
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 8:14 PM
To: dx-chat@njdxa.org
Subject: [DX-CHAT] VU4PB and S21YZ


I heard VU4 here only once, S21 not even a whisper.

Are you guys doing any better up Nort?

73

Lou

KE1F


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[DX-CHAT] Marathon 2010

[Peter Dougherty]

Anybody else submitting an entry for CQDX Marathon 2010? Just e-mailed off
my entry. A little disappointing; only 243 CQ entities (239 or 240 DXCC,
IIRC), but all 40 zones in the log. I was shooting for 250 DXCC again this
year (last time I hit it was 2006).

 


-
73 and Good DX

Peter,
W2IRT

Letter O Manager,
ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau
Vice President, North Jersey DX Association

 



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[DX-CHAT] TN5SP?

[Peter Dougherty]

 

Just worked a station signing TN5SP on 40 CW. Anybody know anything about
that call? I haven't seen anything in the usual bulletins and nothing on
QRZ. Did I just give our old friend Slim a new contact in his log or is this
one legit? Strong signal to NJ beamed due east at 2245z so I'm not
completely ruling it out, but my spidey-sense is tingling on this one for
sure..

 

---

 

Regards,

 

Peter, 

W2IRT

 



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RE: [DX-CHAT] IRCs agn...

[Peter Dougherty]

I think I'll wait till they start trickling out through QSL managers, which
is how I get most of my IRCs in the first place. I had 17 to get out between
June and now and I probably won't need to send another card out (other than
K4M) until the new year.s

---

Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT


-Original Message-
From: Wally [mailto:wallyc...@comcast.net] On Behalf Of w1...@cooledge.com
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 3:38 PM
To: w2...@verizon.net; litwi...@cox.net; dx-chat@njdxa.org
Subject: RE: [DX-CHAT] IRCs agn...

For my IRC's I mail to this person
rhode.p.ista...@usps.gov
She is at PO in RI and can get you the new
IRC's.
All you want. About a one week turnaround.
W1ioo Wally

-Original Message-
From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Peter Dougherty
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 3:14 PM
To: litwi...@cox.net; dx-chat@njdxa.org
Subject: RE: [DX-CHAT] IRCs agn...


I feel your pain. My local post orifice morons barely understand the concept
of IRCs, let alone what to do with them. There's only one clerk there who
has a clue and I'll only deal with her. Yesterday I went in to buy a
quantity of the new ones (with the 2012 expiration) and she tried to sell me
the ones that expire this year. When I explained that they'll be worthless
paper in under three months she just shrugged and said the manager won't
order any new ones till all of the old ones are sold. And of course, said
manager is *never* in when I ask for him.

I'm just glad 90% of what I need to do at the PO I can do online or at the
machine in the 24-hour lobby. If only I could get my IRCs and 61-cent stamps
this way and mail out "Media Mail" parcels, I'd never need to actually enter
a post orifice again.

---

Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT

-Original Message-
From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Steve Litwins
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 2:41 PM
To: dx-chat@njdxa.org
Subject: [DX-CHAT] IRCs agn...


Just went through a session at our local PO re redeeming the soon to expire
IRCs.  The postal clerks all work through a computer program which is used
as inventory/cost etc control.  I went in with some IRCs and they could not
figure out how to get the computers system to take care of the transaction.
So...if the computer program dies the PO must be shut down as it's the only
way transactions can be recorded into the system.  At least...that the way
it was explained to me.  The are stuck on square zero WRT dealing with IRCs
until somebody in their mgmt sys tells them how to enter the transaction
into their computer prog.  So...I went back to the house with IRCs still in
hand and have to wait until they can figure out how to deal with their
computer system.  I hope they can do this in the 3 months left to cash the
expiring IRCs before the expiry date.
I'll try and pass the info on so you all will not have to go through what I
just did...
73/dx
steve, k8wk
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RE: [DX-CHAT] IRCs agn...

[Peter Dougherty]

I feel your pain. My local post orifice morons barely understand the concept
of IRCs, let alone what to do with them. There's only one clerk there who
has a clue and I'll only deal with her. Yesterday I went in to buy a
quantity of the new ones (with the 2012 expiration) and she tried to sell me
the ones that expire this year. When I explained that they'll be worthless
paper in under three months she just shrugged and said the manager won't
order any new ones till all of the old ones are sold. And of course, said
manager is *never* in when I ask for him.

I'm just glad 90% of what I need to do at the PO I can do online or at the
machine in the 24-hour lobby. If only I could get my IRCs and 61-cent stamps
this way and mail out "Media Mail" parcels, I'd never need to actually enter
a post orifice again.

---

Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT

-Original Message-
From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Steve Litwins
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 2:41 PM
To: dx-chat@njdxa.org
Subject: [DX-CHAT] IRCs agn...


Just went through a session at our local PO re redeeming the soon to expire
IRCs.  The postal clerks all work through a computer program which is used
as inventory/cost etc control.  I went in with some IRCs and they could not
figure out how to get the computers system to take care of the transaction.
So...if the computer program dies the PO must be shut down as it's the only
way transactions can be recorded into the system.  At least...that the way
it was explained to me.  The are stuck on square zero WRT dealing with IRCs
until somebody in their mgmt sys tells them how to enter the transaction
into their computer prog.  So...I went back to the house with IRCs still in
hand and have to wait until they can figure out how to deal with their
computer system.  I hope they can do this in the 3 months left to cash the
expiring IRCs before the expiry date.
I'll try and pass the info on so you all will not have to go through what I
just did...
73/dx
steve, k8wk
***



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RE: [DX-CHAT] ZS8T

[Peter Dougherty]

Yes, I agree; that was a huge and bitter disappointment for me. Marion is
one I hope to get one of these days, but from what I last read last year,
it's treated by the South African gov't the same way the U.S. treats
Navassa, thus it probably won't be up for a long time. But, I did manage to
get Petrus on Bouvet for an all-time New One, so I'm not too upset
on-balance.

I've had some amazing luck with rare and obscure entities in the last little
while, but the truly world-class ultra-rare places are still not in my log,
since most were all on before I got active and haven't been heard from
since,-- or only here-and-there, for a day-or-two at most (Kingman, Heard,
Macquarie, Campbell Island, Navassa, Yemen, etc). P5 I just couldn't hear
and I only had low wires and 100W back then. I think the only one in that
category that I can say I'm lucky enough to have snared was Scarborough Reef
this last activation and I'm still over-the-moon thinking about busting that
pile as many times as I did. VU4 and VU7 were similarly thrilling, too. I'm
really looking forward to Glorioso next month as well.

As I wrote in another forum, I'm utterly fascinated by the thought of
working entities that have been artificially closed off, seemingly-forever,
by government fiat -- rather than just plain difficult or expensive to
activate. Think Navassa versus Peter-1.

With no sunspots, the tense world security and financial situations, I hope
I'm around long enough to see another 7O or P5 or ZS8. Gotta wonder, back in
the day, how many hams never lived long enough to get a BY, VU or a ZA in
their logs.

---

Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT


-Original Message-
From: Dick Flanagan [mailto:d...@k7vc.com]
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 12:36 AM
To: Peter Dougherty
Cc: 'DX CHAT'
Subject: RE: [DX-CHAT] ZS8T

I truly wonder if Petrus will ever know just how many people donated
time, money and equipment to make his operation a success.  On the
other hand, I am sure the pile-ups would have daunted even an
experienced DXer, let alone a new and experienced ham like Petrus.

If anyone could be blamed for the shortfall, I think it would be
those who inflated the expectations of the DX community without
knowing whether Petrus would be up to the task.  In many ways I feel
sorry for him and the legacy that will always follow him.

Dick

At 09:18 PM 8/20/2009, Peter Dougherty wrote:
 >Not enough!
 >
 >---
 >
 >Regards,
 >
 >Peter,
 >W2IRT
 >
 >
 >-Original Message-
 >From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Dick Flanagan
 >Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 11:39 PM
 >To: DX CHAT
 >Subject: [DX-CHAT] ZS8T
 >
 >
 >Does anyone know how many North American contacts were made with ZS8T?
 >
 >Dick
 >--
 >Dick Flanagan K7VC
 >d...@k7vc.com
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
d...@k7vc.com





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RE: [DX-CHAT] ZS8T

[Peter Dougherty]

Not enough!

---

Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT


-Original Message-
From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Dick Flanagan
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 11:39 PM
To: DX CHAT
Subject: [DX-CHAT] ZS8T


Does anyone know how many North American contacts were made with ZS8T?

Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
d...@k7vc.com




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[DX-CHAT] Dayton DX banquet tickets

[Peter Dougherty]

 

Hi all,

There's a small possibility that I may be able to make it to Dayton this
year after all. I'm wondering if anybody knows if tickets are still
available to the DX and/or contest banquets in the Crowne Plaza-or has a
spare.

 

Thanks in advance. I don't have any reservations finalized yet, but just
wondering about the possibilities.

 

---

 

Regards,

 

Peter, 

W2IRT

 



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[DX-CHAT] Re: [DX-NEWS] [dx-check:1155] Operations approved for DXCC credit

[Peter Dougherty]

A52AM – Bhutan
Operation from March 20 through September 26, 2007


Last I heard that operation was shut down by the 
A5 government because they ran unauthorized 
power, and as a result, Newington considered 
A52AM to be an invalid operation. Wonder what changed their minds?


Of course, this happens just AFTER I busted the A5100A pileup this morning!



Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 


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Re: [DX-CHAT] Introduction and Question

[Peter Dougherty]

At 01:02 PM 10/21/2008, Tim Holmes wrote:

Good Afternoon Everyone:

My name is Tim Holmes, I'm W8TAH
I joined this list for information / tips / techniques for DXing and 
I'm interested to learn all I can.  While I am an Extra, my CW 
skills are basically non existant, but I am working to try to get them back.



Hi Tim! Welcome to the world of DXing and contesting!!

Glad to hear you're considering picking up the code. I think you'll 
soon discover that CW will really become your friend for getting the 
rare ones in the log. From my own perspective I had to sit two very 
tough CW exams in Canada (3 minutes of 100% perfect copy, 10 and 15 
WPM back in the 70s), and I vowed to put the key in the drawer and 
not touch it again after getting my ticket. I took it out in 2004 
(three years after starting to DX from the US) and now if you look at 
my log (outside of contests), it's about 90% CW, 5% SSB and 5% RTTY. 
There's no magic bullet for building up your speed other than 
practice, practice and more practice. Give yourself a good 20 or 30 
minutes a night listening to the ARRL bulletins, copying what you 
can, and of course, GET ON THE AIR and work some guys once you're 
confident of being able to receive about 8 to 10 WPM or so. Also, 
practice sending and hearing your own call at about 25-30 WPM or so.


I can ragchew at about 12-15 WPM or so, but I can contest and DX at 
around 32-35 or so by just knowing what to listen for, what to send 
in a typical DX/contest QSO and how/where to listen for the other 
guy. Learn split operation (usually up only 1 or 2, not up 5 to 10 
like on phone) and how to find the DX's QSX on your second VFO...just 
listen for the 5nn going back to the DX, wait for the DX to reply and 
send his TU or call and there you go.


For DXing in general, the best tip you can get is listen as much as 
possible. Spin that big knob! Also get comfortable with the cluster 
network; learn how to make it work for you -- what to filter out and 
what to allow through.


As for contesting, there are good contest reflectors you may want to 
join for specific contesting tips. Head on over to www.contesting.com 
and take a look at their lists. Consider joining one of the big 
contest clubs in your area if you're serious about it. Work as many 
contests as you can in all modes and chase DX on all bands. Learn 
propagation, understand when to change bands and where to look at 
which time of the day.


Finally, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. We were 
all n00bz at one time or another and most folks on this reflector 
will be happy to help you out. Also check out the DXing reflector 
over on eHam, though the signal-to-noise gets pretty rough at times over there.




73 and Good DX

Peter,
W2IRT

Letter O Manager,
ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau
North Jersey DX Association  


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[DX-CHAT] Email spot alerting

[Peter Dougherty]

Hello all,

I've been using AR-User from Lee, VE7CC, for a few years now and it's 
worked wonderfully, up until I switched ISPs last month. My new ISP, 
Verizon, requires authorization to send, and this provision is not 
available in Lee's program.


With that in mind, are there any alternatives out there that could 
either attach to the ar-user program like a ligger and forward a spot 
through a regular e-mail app, or any other way of notifying an 
external device? Are there any loggers that have a "send-an-email" 
option that uses authentication that I could run in the background as 
a spot collector/mailer?


I guess the final possible solution to this might be if there's a way 
to use a different mail gateway that doesn't require authentication 
(given the spam problems out there, I'm guessing that's not a real 
possibility any more).


Thanks in advance for any suggestions.



Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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[DX-CHAT] 5X4X on 80m?

[Peter Dougherty]

Hi all,

Last night I heard a station signing 5X4X on 80m. This was quite loud 
and relatively easy to work with a vee at 70' and 1500W.


I don't really have any directionality on 80 at all and I'm wondering 
if anybody heard this station and had an inkling of whether or not it 
was legit. I tried e-mailing 5X4X's manager (DF5GQ) but the e-mail 
address is no-good. I have my suspicions that this was a pirate due 
to the strong signal, but I'm not 100% sure. There's nothing on QRZ 
about him being active on 80.


Anybody else hear this guy last night?



Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Changing e-mail addresses

[Peter Dougherty]

At 01:34 AM 9/17/2008, David Rollitt wrote:

Hi Peter
I just unsubscribed my old addy and re-subscribed my new addy, the info is
at the end of all postings. It may not be pretty but it works hi!



Hi David (and all who replied) - this cutover from Comcast to Verizon 
hasn't been as smooth as I'd have hoped, and I overlooked the 
subscribe info when I sent my original post on the topic. I've 
already done as you've recommended and all's well.






Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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[DX-CHAT] Changing e-mail addresses

[Peter Dougherty]

OK, I think old age is catching up with me. Can anybody tell me the 
URL I should use to change my subscribed e-mail address? I just got 
FiOS installed yesterday and I want to switch both this reflector and 
DX-News over to [EMAIL PROTECTED], but I'll be darned if I can find 
the link from the NJDXA home page.


Thanks in advance.



Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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[DX-CHAT] Anybody up for a Pacific trip?

[Peter Dougherty]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26396214/

They mention Kingman specifically, and I'm sure a few more 
rare/ultra-rare ones will be included in that plan. Gotta say, it 
would be great to see at least one of those "endangered" entities 
activated before it's too late.




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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[DX-CHAT] Re: [DX-NEWS] Ducie on LOTW

[Peter Dougherty]

At 05:01 PM 6/26/2008, Eric Scace K3NA wrote:

Peter --

  We received 9500+ envelopes in the post.  About half have been 
opened so far by the QSL volunteers.
  Yes, on-line requests are much faster for both the DXer and the 
QSL volunteers.  Thanks for your patience.


Not a problem - was hoping that after my donation was received that 
my LoTW matches might have been uploaded but no worries - I'm not in 
a hurry - not going to Newington until December 30th or 31st.


Thanks for your hard work and for being part of the team.



73 and Good DX

Peter,
W2IRT

Letter O Manager,
ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau
North Jersey DX Association  


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[DX-CHAT] Re: [DX-NEWS] Ducie on LOTW

[Peter Dougherty]

At 03:47 PM 6/26/2008, Jim Abercrombie wrote:

Today, I discovered all my qsl's on LOTW for Ducie Island.
Jim N4JA


Nothing here. I sent my $20 donation in cash with my physical card as 
soon as I got my last bandslot filled. Guess I shoulda done it online :-(





Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 


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Re: [DX-CHAT] Radio Procedure-on phone

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:08 AM 6/3/2008, David Yarnes wrote:
You describe the problem very well.  The only thing is, it's kind of 
like an accent.  You can pick it up going in, and you tend to lose 
it going out.  Habits are hard to break, but so long as we don't 
pick up on it ourselves, I think in time it will begin to fade.


Personally hearing "QSL" instead of "over" doesn't bother me in the 
slightest, especially if the QSO is with someone who doesn't speak 
English very well. The more of an impediment the language barrier is 
the more inclined I am to follow the other op's lead; if he turns it 
over to me with "QSL?" I will use that with him if there's any doubt 
and if condx are marginal, etc.


For stateside-to-stateside or between native English-speakers (from 
anywhere), I think it's silly, but to each their own. On local 
repeaters, though, it does grate on me, as does most other "lingo" 
when both sides are full-quieting and in-range of the repeater. When 
I elmer new hams I stress the importance of just speaking to other 
hams the same as you'd talk to non-radio friends on the phone.


The one bit of cb-crap that sets my teeth on edge is "on the side."






Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 


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[DX-CHAT] YA/LY1Y is now valid!

[Peter Dougherty]

#309 confirmed as of today. Per the DXCC blog:


The following operation has been approved for DXCC credit:

YA/LY1Y -- Afghanistan

Operations in 2006 and 2007

If you had cards rejected for this operation send an e-mail to 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] to be placed on the list for an update.


73 es DX!

Bill Moore NC1L

DXCC Manager




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 

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[DX-CHAT] I wish to register a complaint!

[Peter Dougherty]

Yesterday afternoon a cluster-crab made an off-hand about 10 and 15 
(or was it 17 & 15) being dead - to which I replied in a very 
pythonesque manner. Well tonight, after a few choice single-malts, 
the creative juices began to flow and pretty soon the following oozed 
out of my brain and onto eHam's DXing forum.


---
QRPer from down the hill enters an office containing a counter with 
an HF radio and microphone on it. A clerk is standing behind the counter.



QRPer: I wish to register a complaint!

Ofcom agent: Sorry, we're closed for lunch...

QRPer: Never mind that, ol' man, I wish to complain about 10 meters, 
wot I got permission to use not half a year ago fom this very boutique.


Ofcom agent: Oh, yes, 10 meters. What's, uhwhat's wrong with it?

QRPer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it OM, It's DEAD, that's 
what's wrong with it.


Ofcom agent: Oh no, it's resting.

QRPer: Look matey, I know a dead band when I hear one, and I'm 
listening to one right now.


Ofcom agent: No no, it's not dead, it's restin'. Remarkable band, ten 
metres...beautiful daylight coverage.


QRPer: The coverage don't enter into itit's stone dead.

Ofcom agent: no no no no, it's *resting*.

QRPer: ALLright then, if it's resting, I'll wake it up. CQ. CQ 
TEN. I'M QRV BETWEEN LIGHTNING BOLTS ON CLIPPERTON ISLAND IF YOU'LL 
WAKE UP, TEN METERS! (Ofcom agent quickly breaks out a bug and 
oscillator and sends some fast CW)


Ofcom agent: There, that was a signal

QRPer: Not it wasn't, that was you sending on a practice oscillator.

Ofcom agent: I NEVER

QRPer Yes you did!

Ofcom agent: I did naugh...

QRPer: (quickly tuning the transmitter) S CUE TEN SCUE TEN!!! 
QRZ TEN METERS! THIS IS YOUR DX WAKEUP CALL

(Turns up the AF gain and spins the VFO to only the sound of static).

QRPer: Now that's what I call a dead band.

Ofcom agent: No, no.no it's STUNNED.

QRPer: STUNNED?

Ofcom agent: Yeah, you stunned it just when you were tuning up. 10 
meters stuns easily.


QRPer: Umnow look, mate, don't play the slippery eel with me. 
That band is definitely deceased, and when I went QRV not six short 
months ago, my Elmer assured me that its total lack of activity was 
due to it bein' tired and shagged out following CQ World Wide.


Ofcom agent: Well, it's probably pining for sunspots.

QRPer: PININ' for SUNSPOTS??? What kind of talk is that and why did 
it fall flat the moment I put my tower up?


Ofcom agent: 10 meters prefers keeping quiet like that. Remarkable 
band, innit? Beautiful Daylight Coverage.


QRPer: Look tosh, I took the liberty of examining that band when the 
TI9 was on, and I discovered that the only reason there were any 
signals at all was because I was listening to other callers on ground wave.


Ofcom agent: Well of *course* you were hearing them ground wave. 
Look, if there'd been any propagation at all they'd have all come in 
long path, and VOOM.


QRPer: VOOM?

Ofcom agent: Voom.

QRPer: Mate, this band wouldn't voom if the solar flux was four 
hundred thousand! It's bleedin' DEMISED!


Ofcom agent: No no, it's pining for sunsp

QRPer: It's not pining, it's passed on. It has ceased to be. It's a 
wasteland just like 6 with no aurora! It's flatter than me 80 meter 
dipole. If it hadn't been for ground wave I'd be hearing crickets. 
It's off the dial, it's run down the coax and joined the bloody Palos 
Verdes Sundancers. Vis-a-vis DX QSOs, this band's 'ad it's lot. All 
statements to the effect of this band's being workable are from now 
on inoperative. TEN METERS IS NOW QRT! (slams mic down on the desk)


Radio: CQ CQ CQ TEN VP8LP calling from the Falkland Islands, anybody, 
anywhere, CQ CQ CQ CQ CQ (fades out).


QRPer: (astonished)

Ofcom agent: Right! (evil grin on his face; pull back to reveal the 
Ofcom agent pull out a Wouff Hong and a Rettysnitch from behind the 
counter and chases the QRPer out of the office and down the street).

---


(may be shamelessly copied eslewhere and modified to be funnier at 
will, but please credit W2IRT)




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Noise Cancelling Headset?

[Peter Dougherty]

At 07:28 PM 3/27/2008, Stuart Santelmann KC1F wrote:
I think contesting can be described as "heavy duty use", as I think 
that's what my friend K1DG primarily would use that headset for...


heh. Yeah, contesting and DXing at all hours of the day and night. 
Plus, I have a big head (heh...no comments necessary) so that's even 
more stress on 'em.


Heil wouldn't fix a lemon headset for free ?  The anti-ham radio 
fairies apparently sat on my Pro-Set a while ago, and I think I only 
paid for shipping to Heil for repair, although I can't remember for 
sure.  Plus it came back with the latest upgrades.


Oh, I never said that Bob didn't stand behind the products - don't 
get me wrong there! He's replaced them three times for just the cost 
of shipping. But it isn't the money that's the problem since even his 
full repair prices are extremely reasonable. The problem is the 
reliability of this particular item. Since it's no longer offered for 
sale on Heil's site, I'm guessing that says something right there.


I hold no ill feelings for Bob or his company whatsoever. He's always 
been good to me.  But. It's now 48 hours until the last major SSB 
contest of the season and my headset partially failed. Thankfully it 
does work in the "ANR-ON" mode so no harm, but still, it's a question 
of it being the fourth failure in three years and in my books that's 
where I have to draw the line and start looking for alternatives.


People are lining up to spend $3000 to $10,500 on new high-end HF 
transceivers and there's a typical 10-12 week wait for $3000 SteppIR 
antennas. There IS room in the market for a high-end ANR boom mic 
headset. How I wish someone would fill it with a really 
well-engineered and ergonomically-designed product.




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Noise Cancelling Headset?

[Peter Dougherty]

At 04:20 PM 3/27/2008, Jim Reisert AD1C wrote:

K1DG grafted a Heil BM10 mike to a Bose headset.

  http://www.freewebs.com/k1dg/boseheadphonemod.htm


Thanks kindly. I think that was the page I remembered. Wonder how 
that project would hold up to heavy-duty use?




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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[DX-CHAT] Noise Cancelling Headset?

[Peter Dougherty]

Hi all,

Well, it's finally happened again, as I knew it would, My Heil ProSet 
Quiet Phones have self-destructed for the fourth time in three years. 
I really love these when they work, but it's now obvious that the 
design is badly flawed and I'm not interested in throwing good money 
after bad in re-re-re-repairing them.


I'm looking at the Bose QC-2 phones right now and so far they look 
nice--but the obvious problem is no microphone. I recalled reading an 
article about 2 years ago on how someone managed to fashion a Heil 
element to some kind of homebrew boom on these phones but I'll be 
darned if I can find it. Has anybody here done this or know of the article?


Has anybody else come out with an active noise reduction headset/boom 
mic that's actually built well? I'm thinking maybe something from the 
broadcast industry (i.e. what sideline announcers at football games 
wear or something along that line)?


I can use my Pro Set Plus phones, which are really nicely built, but 
but that means giving up the active noise reduction feature, 
something I do not want to do.


Suggestions anyone?



Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Morse code buffs....question

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:41 AM 3/24/2008, Win wrote:

It is different each week.  It is usually the title of the episode.


Nope - that was only the first episode ("Jericho pilot"). The second 
season started off with "we're baaack."
Each week it's 2 or 3 words relevant to the episode. Sometimes it's a 
sentence broken down over 2 or 3 weeks (as is the case now). Two 
weeks ago it was "tho it is dark"; last week it was "know our flag" 
and the sentence will be completed tomorrow night when the 
final-episode (ever) airs. Sadly, CBS didn't renew it.


(Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy a few more pounds of Nuts)


Win, W0LZ


- Original Message - From: "Rod" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "DX-Chat" 
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 1:00 AM
Subject: [DX-CHAT] Morse code buffsquestion


This is probably not the place to ask, but here goes.
The Television show 'Jerico' has cw during the title, my cw is so 
rusty I can't tell what they are saying, is the message the same 
each week and each commercial break?

Tnx,
Rod
KA5EJX

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No virus found in this incoming message.
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3/23/2008 6:50 PM




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Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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RE: [DX-CHAT] On-Line Logs

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:38 AM 3/18/2008, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:

Still, when last QSO posted is nearly 24 hours old when the log is 
posted, the on line log is practically useless.


Depends on the band . My 160 QSO with 5T5DC posted overnight, but 
if it didn't show up until dusk tonight, no big deal :-) !! (and 
*wow* do they have a nice signal on 160!)




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] On-Line Logs

[Peter Dougherty]

At 09:28 AM 3/18/2008, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
If you have to go to an on-line log to know whether you worked the 
station or not, you DIDN'T ...
... and the analogy is similar to the "DX nets" wherein the net 
control bleats out "good one!"


My anti-flame suit is on.  So don't waste bandwidth.  You won't be in the log.


Not a flame, but consider this: Sometimes a Q is good, you've clearly 
copied your call coming back and report, etc...and the DX station, 
through touch-typing on his laptop and paying attention to something 
else, logs a different call or enters nonsensical characters by 
accident - and doesn't pick up the error.


Or maybe something even more basic - the log from that computer gets 
damaged somehow between when the Q was made and your card is 
presented to them for verification.


We can live without online logs, but if they're available, that's a 
huge plus for us AND a huge plus for them (in terms of less dupes), 
AND a huge plus for the low power/low wire stations who have a bunch 
of extra chances to make *their* Q's since less big guys will be 
calling and duping.





Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 

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[DX-CHAT] Tracking the SHOGUN?

[Peter Dougherty]

Hi all,

Just wondering if the position of the M/V Shogun can somehow be 
tracked online? I tried a few sites but the only references I could 
find to a vessel of that name were an Italian cargo ship and a 
pleasurecraft somewhere in California.




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Directional CQs

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:52 PM 3/16/2008, Charles Harpole wrote:
Many recent DXpeditions have, in my opinion, over-studied the data 
to serve "under served areas", have propagation charts, and be extra 
aware of their "important position" as the only (last?) hams to be 
at that locale.  One effect is the extensive use of DIRECTIONAL 
CQs... usually "only EU" or "only NA."


This is one of my biggest gripes in DXing (well, that and "by the 
numbers"). Human nature says that whenever  you exclude a group of 
people for whatever "good" reason you have, the excluded will 
generally take offense and resentment will start to form, regardless 
whether this is rational or not.


As such, there really is only one solution to this problem, and 
that's to open it up to everyone, everywhere for as long as possible 
(though I do think looking for the hardest parts of the world from 
where the DX is operating on the low bands, at the grey-line, is 
excellent operating practice). What this means, on the other hand, is 
the DX station needs to be skilled enough to handle the onslaught of 
callers from everywhere and have equipment and abilities to work the 
pileup down efficiently.


The other problem with directional calls is CW - It's very difficult 
on CW to convey a sense of where you want to hear from. It's easy to 
send USA or NA, but that leaves out Central and South America - would 
the DX want those too? Or does he really JUST want the US/Canada? 
Ditto for calling for JA, but leaving out the rest of Asia, VK and 
ZL, or EU but not Africa, the middle-East or western Asia, etc. It's 
easier on SSB and RTTY, but still, the longer it takes to say 
WHO/WHERE you're listening for, the bigger and more unruly the pileup will get.


It's easier for the pileup and the operator to send "XX1XXX QRZ UP" 
than "XX1XXX QRZ EU AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST ONLY" or whatever. Sure, 
the wall will become louder on and near your QSX, but just work the 
loudest ones. Eventually you'll either get tired and go for an 807, 
or you'll run out of 59++ signals and you'll get to dig deeper to the 
ones who are "only" 59, then the 57s, then the 55s, etc...at least 
till you get spotted and get another round of 20-overs calling you 
again. If you have a rock-solid wall of noise with nothing leaping 
out at you, expand your QSX range to 5 or 7 kHz on SSB. Maybe even 10 
if it's unusually bad. Work the edges, pick off the big guns. 
Eventually, you'll settle down to a single QSX with luck, pick 'em 
off with little effort. I sure can't speak for HS-land, but when I 
was on C6 I found that to be the easiest way to make Q's...take all 
callers. Though I DID take EU only for a couple of hours one night as 
I wanted to boost my country count a little.




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] cost of DX radios

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:52 PM 3/10/2008, Charles Harpole wrote:
According to adjusted GDP ratios, a $300 (USD) good DX radio, 
purchased in 1960 would cost, in 2007 USD,


a wopping $4,200, plus or minus a few dollars here and there  (or a 
really loaded FT-2000D).


Figuring another way (relative share of GDP), the cost would be about $7,300.

Of course, a Collins S-line went for over $2,000 which would be, on 
the low side, about $11,000. or on the high side,


$52,000 in today's US dollars.

Working DX can get expensive any year.


Unless you buy a K3 and get an amazing radio at a modest price (as I 
intend to do later this year or early next). Not cheap, but certainly 
affordable.





Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] how to be DX?

[Peter Dougherty]

At 07:19 PM 3/7/2008, Charles Harpole wrote:

I am vy minor DX but get large EU pile ups anyway (likely due to 
boredom, no one else to call that moment). Due to EU calling 
practices, I must use split, and feel guilty about using two freqs. 
on the band. Thus, I use one listening frequency.  But, after a few 
minutes of working the REALLY LOUD, most of the ten to twenty 
callers are all the same strength and I can not get more than one 
letter. I am loath to ask for a 5kc spread of listening freqs


5 kHz is not a huge range for a big pileup and I daresay nobody would 
begrudge a difficult-to-work country 5 kHz of space outside of 
contests. What you could do, alternatively, is say listening "up 
about 5." Move your receiver around between say 4 and 7 and 
eventually they'll catch onto what you're doing. You'll use a little 
less band if you're concerned with that, and still have a bit of a 
playground to work in.


If you were trying to hog 20 kHz, yeah, that would be insane and poor 
operating practice, IMHO. HS-land isn't exactly the US, Japan, Italy 
or France - and it's not an easy path to NA or western Europe, so I 
say go for it and have fun.




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Concern (long)

[Peter Dougherty]

At 09:37 PM 3/5/2008, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
So, in light of this... what can this post card campaign really hope 
to accomplish?


That's the real nub of this whole thing. Call me an auld phart if you 
want, but I don't want to see rules being changed or made up as the 
game is in progress and this campaign smacks of being precisely that.


Overhauling the DXCC program once every long while is a Good Thing, 
just so long as the goal isn't to accommodate one specific entity, as 
has happened in the past. The changes made in DXCC 2000 seem very 
fair and quite reasonable to me as they set down the criteria in 
black and white and don't appear to favor any one place over another 
and I sincerely believe they should not be amended for quite some time.


Besides, don't we have enough on our plates already without adding 2 
or 3 more New Ones every year?


I want to see Kosovo(a) become a new DXCC entity. However, I'm quite 
prepared to wait until it gets a prefix block assigned to it by the 
ITU, especially since UN recognition is unlikely to take place given 
Russia's promised veto.




Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Cable X-perts out of busines ????

[Peter Dougherty]

At 07:12 AM 3/3/2008, Jon Maguire wrote:

Guys,

I have severe arthritis in my hands, so assembling PL-259s has aways 
been a problem. I know, however, there are tools to both strip the 
coax, and install the connector with a minimum of hassle. Anyone 
have any pointers to these tools? Thanks in advance for any pointers.


Go with the Cablematic UT-8000 coax prep tool for RG-213-sized cable 
and get a good high-quality ratcheting crimp tool for the connector 
bodies. IF you use a high-quality tool and do the job right you'll 
get a far better mechanical connection than you will with solder-type 259s.


Here's the best link I found on the subject:
http://www.bcdxc.org/pl259_crimp_on_connectors.htm



Regards,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] directional CQs

[Peter Dougherty]

At 07:12 PM 2/21/2008, you wrote:

>There are an awful
>lot of casual DXers, as I brought up in the eHam thread, who work
>full-time jobs and strong family obligations, who really only get 2
>or 3 hours a night between supper and bedtime to play radio.

I can't argue with that!

However, there are a lot of 'em in Europe too. (Wait screw 'em... we
wouldn't want to spoon feed anyone ;-) )


You say it tongue-in-cheek; I say it with mostly a straight fact. I'm 
very "survival-of-the-fittest" in regards to how I see Life, The 
Universe and Everything. Without straying off target too far, suffice 
to say I do, very much, believe that you deserve to get the results 
commensurate to the effort you put into any task, and the results 
should be by your own actions and knowledge of the world and the 
situation around you. This is one of the big things that draws me 
into DXing, to be honest.



Probably took me an hour or two total just dipping in and out of the
shack one call, two call, five call kind of stuff... and the
casual NA DXer will have all of that to look forward to this coming
Saturday and Sunday I'm sure!


Oh, for sure. Everyone who wants Ducie Island and has access to a 
radio and the desire to turn it on and call them will get a Q this 
weekend, almost guaranteed.



Do the casual NA DXers have an easy time on FORTY meters?  No,
probably not, but many if not all not all of my higher band contacts
on *Saturday* were completed after sunset in all of EU... mostly
shutting down those bands there.  I don't even think the EU's have
been able to hear VP6DX much on the higher bands... but your prop
charts may prove me right or wrong on that.


I'm looking at prop for OH, SP and EA.

OH doesn't have much at all above 20, and even there, just a few 
hours, period. 1400-1530 on 20, maybe the same on 17 with lower 
reliability and not much beyond that. Slight chance on 15 and nothing 
on 10 or 12 to speak of.


SP has even less short-path and about 2 hours long-path on 20, and 
not much else.


EA, on the other hand, has a very good shot on all bands, including 
10m, and not too much different on 15 and above than W1/W2/W3.


Grab a copy of W6EL Prop (freeware) and plug in VP6/D into Terminal A 
and a variety of others in Terminal B. It's an interesting way to 
compare. You can run batch comparisons, too, though I've never done that.



I think EU only on 40m all evening here makes it possible for the
casual EU DXer to wake up early and work VP6DX on a reliable band ...
something that the US casual DXer will still have a chance to in their
morning on 40m as well, I would suppose, though I haven't listened for
them at that time.


Yup, if your schedule (or in most cases, your family's schedule) 
allows you to be up hamming at Dawn - and up to about an hour and a 
half after dawn on 40, you should get them easily.



40m is a huge band for the EUs at the expense of NA guys, I won't deny
that.  However, I think VP6DX is just using the propagation there as
an opportunity to make up for the other bands!


OK. maybe I'll just go with the flow. I'll change my mind. Next time 
Glorioso, Tromelin, Heard, Amsterdam/St.Paul or Crozet come up, I'll 
get all huffity when I have to fight an EU wall louder than ANY wall 
the EU guys would have had to fight through for Ducie on 40. I'll bet 
you one nickel we won't have a clear shot on 40, ever.


"If it's a 3 week DXpedition to Bhutan (I missed the first one - 
here's hoping another one starts up soon), I'd be insulted to be spoon-fed"


Isn't a 3 week DXpedition to Bhutan spoon-feeding in its own right, 
as is VP6DX and any other DXpedition that isn't some dude with an 
IC-706 and a dipole?


Interesting point, actually. I missed out Marion Island a couple of 
years ago (couldn't hear them), but got Bouvet like that a few weeks 
back. Sure takes DXing to a more challenging level, that's for sure! 
I like bagging a few new ones like that, but honestly, I DO welcome 
the big operations, since I also compete for the DXCC challenge.


But to the issue at hand, all I really want from any big operation is 
"Anyone, Anywhere." Let the propagation do what it will, let the best 
stations and the best operators reap the rewards from their hard 
work, knowledge and expensive hardware. I'd have positively hated 
that concept as a n00b in 2001; I love it now that I'm a modest 
station, a journeyman's knowledge of propagation and technique and 
have a love of competition.



Anyone know of a table of # of hams per continent so we can normalize
the VP6DX stats table to reflect per capita QSOs?  Would be
interesting in discussing the original question.


All their stats on online. This, I think, is the one you're 
interested in. I don't know from statistical analysis, so have at it: 
http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/qsostatistics/continents/index.php


To me, how an operation chooses to handle the 40m CW band slot when 
there's a simultaneous opening to the United States and Europe tells 
me

Re: [DX-CHAT] numbers directional CQs

[Peter Dougherty]

At 06:58 PM 2/21/2008, Charles Harpole wrote:
That's why I think IF ANY DIRECTIONAL CQ ARE CALLED FOR, then those 
should be requested BY NUMBERS, then who ever is loudest will 
get in and the DX op does not have to guess what geo area is best 
now.  Of course, this method hurts weak sigs, so maybe a mix of 
general calls, directional calls, and calls by numbers


If an operation decides to do anything other than general calls then 
by continent is fair -- just alternate regularly so one side doesn't 
feel like they're getting the short-end. As to going by numbers, 
we've had that discussion a few times already. I know you like it, 
and as semi-rare DX, it's your choice to do so, but from *this* side 
of the pileup it's FAR easier when it's just wide open. It actively 
slows it down going by numbers. IMHO.




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] directional CQs

[Peter Dougherty]

At 05:59 PM 2/21/2008, Dan Zimmerman N3OX wrote:

> I must admit the
>  hours-on-end of EU only on the low bands got very tiring very
>  quickly.

And yet they've made about a fifth of the QSOs with EU than they have
with NA on 160m and just 2/3 the number of QSOs with EU as they have
with NA on 80m.  Go figure.


I don't actually have a problem with 160. Well, truth be told, I 
don't have a problem with VP6DX at all...I think they're fantastic 
and will likely earn the Best DXpedition of 2008 distinction. But 
that said, topband is so quirky and with so fewer participants than 
80 and 40 that I'll never ever begrudge a difficult topband Q to 
anybody, anywhere, ever.


40 and 80, however, are a different story. They're putting huge 
numbers in the log, but look at 40m, especially. As of 2/21, 0040z, 
they were at 9010 to Europe on 40 and 7486 to NA. Holding NA ops back 
until 3am (east-coast time) *every* *single* *night* has kept those 
numbers a lot lower than I think they should be. 80's a lot harder 
path and NA, despite being hobbled, still has more Q's there than 
Europe -- 4557 EU versus 6461 from NA.



In the meantime, poor ZS's get stuck with a "whisper" and no one 
straining to hear them in particular.


No, but they get very good prop. from 80-12m according to W6EL and, 
if the piles were unregulated ("anybody, anywhere"), I'd bet a LOT 
more ZSs would get through than "by-continent." Remember, ZS has a 
shorter 40/80m window (roughly 0130 to 0600z) than Europe has, and 
has stronger propagation - thus they'd beat out EUs. But since there 
are a lot fewer ZS DXers overall than EU, the few minutes, total, to 
work all ZS DXers over the length of the operation would be negligible.


Besides, when Petrus goes QRV from ZS8 next month, they'll have 
*their* chip-shot to all possible bands from Marion over us OR Europe .



Peter, I'm sort of interested in seeing how this discussion plays out
on a reflector with some international participants ;-)  I don't know
if you saw but the original poster KA3NRX in the epic eHam thread
managed to snag himself an 80m QSO (with 100W + G5RV I do believe)...
despite the frequent and thorough EU EU EU EU.


Hey, it bugged me too, until I stayed up 2 nights in a row and banged 
'em out on both bands, both modes. XYL didn't appreciate it (ham 
shack is next door to the bedroom) but such is life. I've managed 19 
band-slots thus far and I'm hoping for #20 this weekend on topband 
SSB, if the DX ghods cooperate.



The way the QSO stats and my personal experiences watching people work
this one have played out, the only people in North America adversely
affected by VP6DX's incessant EU'ing are the terminally impatient and
those who are scared of being awake after dark.


With respect, I disagree with that generalization. There are an awful 
lot of casual DXers, as I brought up in the eHam thread, who work 
full-time jobs and strong family obligations, who really only get 2 
or 3 hours a night between supper and bedtime to play radio. Someone 
who works in the city and has to be out the door at 6am, getting home 
at 7pm (my wife's schedule - she works in Manhattan, I work from 
home) just can't get up at 3 or 4am and expect to be able to be 
functional at a high-paced job all day.


For single hams, or those whose schedules allow them the flexibility 
that I currently have, that's fine - you work 'em where and when they are.



I'm sure the UA4's and OH's SM's and LA's who get approximately 30
minutes of propagation to VP6DX


If that's their ONLY window (that short a time frame - be generous - 
1 hour, even) then a QRX for that region is absolutely fair and I 
don't think anybody would be b-tching about it. But six or more hours 
a night, EVERY NIGHT?



I'm sure the Africans who get even less propagation wouldn't
mind a standby for them... but if there are so few of them as to make
the rate *zero* on the average attempt, it's unlikely they're going to
get much window.


Actually, Africa generally has *better* propagation than Eastern 
Europe and the Middle East. They're both in the southern hemisphere 
thus will do a lot better. Check out W6EL Prop for various entities. 
I inputted C5, C9, ZS and CN.



You can continue to think that it should just be "strong vs. weak"


I will and I do. I'm always in favour of "let the best signal win," 
with the one caveat being that the DX will be QRV long enough that 
popguns and QRPers with attic-mounted moist pasta antennae will have 
their shot.



without an appreciation of how much stronger a fairly weak NA could be
in VP6 than a moderately strong EU but I think it's going to get you
some bad karma Re: some very needed SE Asian expedition that just
works JA's all day ;-)


More power to 'em. If there's a one-hour opening between XY and W2, 
*on* *any* *band*, then fine. I'll be glad to get a one-hour window 
with JA standing by -- or if they'll only be there for 3 or 4 days, 
again, fine. If it's a 3 week DXpedition to Bhuta

Re: [DX-CHAT] directional CQs

[Peter Dougherty]

At 04:23 PM 2/21/2008, Charles Harpole wrote:
Talking abt waiting out an "EU only" calling practice of 3 hrs from 
VP6DX.

realize that there is NEVER a directional CQ for South East Asia.

DXpeditions rarely call for "Africa only,"  "VK ZL only," nor "South 
Asia only."

An "Asia only" call really means "JA" if such a call was ever made.


Yet another reason I'm vehemently against calling by areas, by 
numbers or any other kind of spoonfeeding in major DXpeditions. If 
they're going to be QRV for two or three weeks, take whoever you can 
hear loudest and let the loud guys make their Q's, then as the piles 
grow smaller, take the weaker and weaker stations until finally 
anybody who calls can get through.


I can see a BS7 or similar ultra-rare/short-duration operations going 
by continent/area to give everyone a shot at one QSO in the log, but 
for big international multi-station QRO operations that will be on 
for a while, I'm strictly against this kind of operation.


Of course, it's ultimately up to the organizers and operators on how 
they want to run their DXpedition--as it should and MUST be. My voice 
is just one from the thousands who try to work 'em everywhere. VP6DX 
has been an amazing DXpedition by all accounts but I must admit the 
hours-on-end of EU only on the low bands got very tiring very 
quickly. Dare I say it, I sincerely doubt we'll ever see six 
hours-on-end, every day, of "NA only, EU-stand-by" when a DXpedition 
starts up from some place where propagation to EU is better than it is to NA.





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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] Kosovo

[Peter Dougherty]

At 06:14 PM 2/19/2008, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Even though Kosovo has declared independence, doesn't it have to 
pass additional criteria (UN Recog, ITU, etc.) before it become a 
legit new DXCC country??


Yes. It must either be officially recognized by the UN or get a 
prefix block from the ITU, either one. The date that one of these 
occurs is the event date upon which it will become a new DXCC entity.




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Re: [DX-CHAT] RE: [DX-NEWS] 9X

[Peter Dougherty]

I'm somewhat torn on this one. I'm glad there are two operations 
activating 9X. Perhaps there are some DXers who will be away when 
9X0R is active and this may be their only chance to work them. On the 
other hand, maybe going first wasn't the best way of doing it!


I've worked Baldur and his group, as well as Vlad last year and I 
will certainly try to work the big operation next month on every band 
and mode they activate. I'm just glad to see activity, period, from 
such a rare entity and I absolutely commend the team who brought 
Rwanda back to the air.


This reminds me very much of the 3B7 operations last year; we'd heard 
about the 5-star operation in September, but shortly after it was 
announced, up comes the 3B7SP operation on short notice. Perhaps the 
way to do these things in future is an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) 
for all parties, and nothing gets out until the team makes the big 
announcement - close enough to the departure date so as not to be 
"poached" by another team.


In any event, here's hoping both 9X teams have successful and safe journeys.



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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] VP6DX - 160M SSB

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:29 AM 2/16/2008, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Has anyone on this reflector worked VP6DX on 160M SSB. As near as I 
can tell, they have not been on yet. If you have had a contact with 
them or heard them on 160M SSB, can you tell me the time and date??


They have not been QRV on 160 phone as of yet.



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Re: [DX-CHAT] VP6DX Log-Dupes

[Peter Dougherty]

At 12:06 PM 2/14/2008, you wrote:

Ron:

Want another level of confusion?? Enter the call letters in the 
online log check for one of the leaders of the band/mode slot 
leaders that hey list and you would expect to see all of those 
contacts spread out across the page?? No so. I did N4NN and it 
looked like he only worked 30M. there is something that I don't 
understand here.


Yeah, weird here for me, too. I have them 12 through 160 (though my 
40 CW and 80 SSB QSOs didn't show up yet). The 15, 17 and 20m boxes 
aren't there for me. I guess what they do is delete any band from 
that display where you have them worked on all modes on which they're QRV.




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[DX-CHAT] Ducie's QRV!

[Peter Dougherty]

Just worked 'em on 40 CW. Fast op, huge signal, great ears; should be 
a hell of a DXpedition!




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Re: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition Expectations

[Peter Dougherty]

At 05:42 PM 2/10/2008, you wrote:


TI9KK has monster raging pileups.  I saw a spot for ZK2CC on 40m last
night and one called 'em.  100W.


Yup, I got the ZK2 on 15 (new band for me), low power/no-amp and with 
one or two calls, no waiting. Also this afternoon I got HC1MD on 12m 
CW, another new bandfill--also low power one call, as well as three 
mode-fills on RTTY yesterday (Uruguay, Nicaragua and Peru).



(though I'm a little bit terrified of listening the first time they hit 160m )

You and me both!




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RE: [DX-CHAT] TO5FJ 160m QSOs in online log yet?

[Peter Dougherty]

At 03:05 PM 1/19/2008, Bernie McClenny, W3UR wrote:

I worked them the first night and my QSO is in the online log search
http://www.f6exv.org/LOG_ONLINE/

My guess is either you (W2UP) did not work him or he maybe a letter or so
off.  Either way I'd send a QSL (with all your other QSLs) and let him
double check the log.


My topband Q wasn't in the log this morning but is now, so it looks 
like Paul updated it sometime today.





73
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[DX-CHAT] It Counts!

[Peter Dougherty]

FJ/OH2AM counts for DXCC as per the ARRL this afternoon
http://www.arrl.org/blog/DXCC%20Dialog



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RE: [DX-CHAT] IRC's not valid/accepted in Lebanon

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:50 PM 1/9/2008, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:


> Every time I've sent G$$ to Puzant I've gotten a card back.

You're lucky.  Two tries a year apart (latest being seven months
ago) with G$$ and not a thing.


I should qualify that statement by saying all my submissions were 
sent before Lebanon went back into hell in 2006. All mine were in the 
2002-2005 time frame, usually after about a 4-6 month turn-around.




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Re: [DX-CHAT] IRC's not valid/accepted in Lebanon

[Peter Dougherty]

At 07:50 PM 1/9/2008, Don wrote:


OD5NH informs me that IRC's are not valid in Lebanon.


Which is why, I'll bet, there are so many complaints from people who 
don't get a card. He's had that on his QRZ.com page forever and how 
much do you want to bet that a lot of people send them anyways. Every 
time I've sent G$$ to Puzant I've gotten a card back.




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[DX-CHAT] Your own personal BPL generator

[Peter Dougherty]

Or, more likely, your *neighbour's* own personal BPL generator:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/12/24/review_devolo_wireless_extender/

Oh, Joy.



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Re: [DX-CHAT] 5L2MS rejected by DXCC as a Shipboard Operation

[Peter Dougherty]

Greetings all,

Thanks to everyone who sent me private e-mail earlier today 
concerning this situation with 5L2MS. It does indeed seem that the 
operation was very much land-based and I suspect it will be rectified 
in the coming few weeks.


Now, if only YA/LY1Y would count !



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[DX-CHAT] FJ Can of worms

[Peter Dougherty]

Speaking about FJ, H boy, this is about to get interesting

http://arp75.free.fr/Lettreaucomitedxcc_english.pdf

All I can say, I'm glad FH5KH was QRV also.



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[DX-CHAT] 5L2MS rejected by DXCC as a Shipboard Operation

[Peter Dougherty]

Hi all,

Just FYI, I had four claimed QSOs with 5L2MS rejected by the DXCC 
desk this afternoon; the reason indicated was that this was as a 
Shipboard Operation (despite the photos at 
http://www.liberia2007.com/pictures.php).


I'm not sure if they operated /MM before or after the operation but 
the QSO dates that were rejected were October 8, 10, 12 and 13th, 
2007 on 30, 17, 20 and 40m respectively. There was nothing on the 
cards indicating that operation was conducted /MM nor were they 
signing /MM at the time.


Has anybody else received (or been denied) credit for this operation? 
Bill Moore is on vacation this week and next, so if this is an issue, 
I'll drop him an e-mail when he gets back in January.




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Peter,
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[DX-CHAT] Merry Christmas

[Peter Dougherty]

My gracious and charming XYL and I would like to take this 
opportunity to wish everyone on DX Chat and DX QSL a very Merry 
Christmas. Here's hoping Santa's extra-careful with your new ACOM or 
K3 (it just Won't Do to have chimney soot on that nice finish!), and 
that you don't get eight flying reindeer tangled in your antennas!


May the peace and joy of the season be with us all.



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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] FJ Activity

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:24 PM 12/22/2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I don't know how many of you caught the activity down around 14.165 
at 1930z and there after.


FJ5KH was quite active at this time, easy to work and had a big 
signal.  The natives are active.


Yup; they were begging while Martti was bangin' 'em off, too. 
Surprising. The local guys said something about showing up on either 
40 or 80 tonight, too, but so far nothing.




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Re: [DX-CHAT] FJ

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:33 AM 12/22/2007, G Nuth wrote:
You guys are lucky with the great sigs for FJ stations, not a peep 
in ZL. Doubt if we would be lucky in a pile-up even if we could hear 
them. 73 ZL3ACA


I took a peek at propagation forecasts and you should be able to at 
least hear them on 40 CW between about 0800 and 1030 UTC, and on 20 
between 1200 and 1300. I know they were working JAs on 40 CW 
yesterday around 1000 when I turned the radio on.



Thems the breaks from down-under.
True, but think how easy a shot you have to ZL8, ZL9, Macquarie, 
Heard, Willis, Christmas and Cocos-Keling etc!




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] FJ - 21.Feb.2007

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:25 PM 12/21/2007, n8nn wrote:
It sure makes it easier for the DXCC Desk to rely on the State Dept 
to make recognition, rather than trying to figure out what foreign 
governments have done.


That could really make the whole Kosovo thing quite interesting next 
year, too (DXCC-wise, I mean).




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] Re:A52AM

[Peter Dougherty]

At 04:28 PM 12/17/2007, mike giddings wrote:
A paragraph in the January issue of "Radio Communication" mentions 
that the RSGB have recently received an email from the 
Director,Bhutan Infocomm and Media Authority, to the effect that the 
callsign A52AM was cancelled on the 27 September 2007 and any 
subsequent operation under that callsign is illegal.The stated 
reason is that the station was operating with 1kW despite the 100 
watt power limit in force in Bhutan.


Anyone know if the ARRL will still honour QSO's with A52AM for DXCC 
purposes prior to 27 September 2007?


According to an e-mail I got from Bill Moore this weekend, the whole 
operation is invalid for awards, unfortunately. I'm with you, 
personally - that there was a valid license was in force before that 
date, but I suspect (just my opinion, not Bill's) that it's a matter 
of integrity and making an example of an operator who flaunts the 
regulations. Would have been an all-time new one for me, too alas.




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] RE: UP

[Peter Dougherty]

At 12:39 PM 12/15/2007, Art RX9TX wrote:
RNW> they be charged with transmitting a false call sign, since UP 
is a Russian

RNW> prefix

I  cant  tolerate  that for that long :), UP is Kazakh, Kazakh, Kazakh
prefix, not Russian.


That's it, We'll send BORAT after them!



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RE: [DX-CHAT] 'tis the season

[Peter Dougherty]

At 12:47 AM 12/15/2007, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
There were spots for E4/OM2DX on 80 and 40 earlier this evening.  I 
THOUGHT I heard them, barely, on 80, but of course, the Russian 
Frequency Cops -- the ones with the 2 letter call UP -- were jamming 
the frequency.


We've got a week, hopefully.  Plenty of time.


Got 'em on 80 through some QSB and my usual S9++ electrical QRN. They 
were stronger on 80 than 40 to me, and (of course) working EU 
heavily. Sigh. I lost them on 40 from about 10:30 to 11:30 pm then 
they came back up, albeit with deep fades, but by then, they weren't 
listening for stateside any more and the EU powerhouses took over. 
I'm hoping to nail 'em on 1 or 2 of the higher bands tomorrow before 
the impending Nor'Easter forces me to lower the tower for a couple of 
days (can't beam to them when it's down due to trees). They're saying 
freezing rain and heavy ice accretion possible as well as strong 
gusty frigid winds from the NW for 3 days afterwards. Ought to be 
"interesting" to say the least! I'm hoping I can at least get the 
tower back up part-way after the worst of the storm is over.


Gotta say, it sure would be funny if I only get them on one band, and 
that band is 80! I think that would be a first for an All-Time New One!




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] 'tis the season

[Peter Dougherty]

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2008!

God bless us. Everyone. Oh, wait a minute I might offend the athiests 
or agnostics--Even though I AM one, I'll say it anyway because it's 
that time of the year and it makes people happy.


Charles (and other PC-types), maybe, instead, it would be best for 
each of us to wish our fellow hams -- and or fellow man for that 
matter -- something blessed and peaceful that we feel deep in our own 
hearts. If the ham on the other end of the circuit feels animosity 
towards me for being wished Merry (or Happy) Christmas on a day we 
hold near and dear, that doesn't say much for him, IMHO, and if 
that's the case, do I really want him in my log?


Wish me a Merry Christmas, happy Chanukah, joyous Kwanzaa or bid me a 
merry winter solstice...I'll not take offence at any, nor will I 
think less of you for doing so.


And while I'm at it and on the subject of the 4th of July, God Bless 
America and keep her men and women in combat safe.




At 05:50 PM 12/14/2007, you wrote:

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!
AND HAPPY 4TH JULY AS WELL :-))

 Original Message -
From: Charles Harpole
To: dx-chat@njdxa.org
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 10:19 PM
Subject: [DX-CHAT] 'tis the season
To Western hams, mostly  Please remember it is most polite to 
offer a "seasons greetings" or "happy holidays" to those not of the 
Christian faiths (instead of "Merry Christmas" for 
example).  Receivers of the mis-directed "merry christmases"--most 
will forgive the senders' misplaced earnestness but the implied 
arrogance and cultural insensitivity still remains to taint in a 
small way an otherwise happy season.

Thanks for your understanding of individual differences.

And, no "happy fourth of July" to a Brit, pse.   73,
Charles Harpole
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] 'tis the season

[Peter Dougherty]

At 05:19 PM 12/14/2007, Charles Harpole wrote:

To Western hams, mostly


K4VUD ... sounds like a Western callsign to me. Your new QTH must be 
wonderful and I'm glad you enjoy being there, and thus I expect by 
now you have submitted your American license for cancellation, 
returned your US passport to the Department of State and formally 
renounced your US citizenship?




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] How do you view new DXCC countries?

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:23 AM 12/11/2007, Dan Zimmerman N3OX wrote:


Besides, don't you want to eventually be pushing 390 active+deleted
someday?  ;-)


Remember, too, that's the *only* way newcomers will ever get high 
totals since there will never be another "deleted entity" according 
to the revised rules. As older DXers leave us, new DXers won't ever 
see those truly high numbers until more entities get created over the years.


I'm really waiting for the other shoe to drop, however--the first 
time an entity is removed from the list and all credits just go away 
instantly. THAT will be an uproar that will reverberate throughout 
the Hallowed Halls Of Newington.




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] How do you view new DXCC countries?

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:29 AM 12/11/2007, Barry wrote:

If it's an exotic location, I can understand the excitement.

However, when new DXCC entities are created out of relatively 
common, easy to work entities, due to political changes  (YU, PJ, 
etc.) I view it as more of a pain in the a** having to work them and 
collect QSLs to maintain my position on the Honor Roll.

What's your view?


PITA, yes, but when you're bored silly and 5 or 6 new entities all 
come on at once (i.e. a year from now in the Caribbean), it will make 
for some Hot Times on the Old Bands. Personally, I love busting 
pileups so it'll be fun for me, especially if I can get all of them 
on 9 bands/3 modes in as short a time as possible. I'm also hoping to 
travel down for a first-activation of one of these, something that 
just wouldn't be possible to some far-flung island at the end of nowhere.




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Peter,
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[DX-CHAT] 2008 New Ones

[Peter Dougherty]

Looks like the bar may be set even higher. In addition to the 
Netherlands Antilles re-configuration possibly some action on Kosovo in '08...


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071210/ts_nm/serbia_kosovo_un_dc



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[DX-CHAT] Rec'd: ZS1JX, EA6NB, 7Q7CE, EA6/I1RSA

[Peter Dougherty]

ZS1JX: SAE+$2 sent direct on Oct. 22nd (#99 on 160m - larger-format 
card, op used his own envelope - TU!!).

EA6NB: SASE/stamp sent direct on Nov. 7th (12 CW).
7Q7CE: SAE+IRC sent via IN3VZE on Oct. 22nd. (20 RTTY)
EA6/I1RSA: SASE/stamps sent direct on Nov. 7th (20 RTTY completing 9 
x 3 sweep of the Balearic Islands).


DX of interest via LoTW:
AN1A
DH3RD
XE1MW
PJ2T



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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] Power cycling the ACOM-1000

[Peter Dougherty]

At 12:59 PM 11/19/2007, Paul M Dunphy wrote:
I have an ACOM-1000 that has exceeded my 
expectation by far.  This question is basic 
electronics, and I'm asking it in the context 
of the ACOM-1000, not radios, computers, 
etc.  I use my station most of the day, from 
about 8:00 AM until midnight.  This is done 
occasionally as in I'm in and out of the shack, 
and doing other things such as email, etc.  Now 
and then something shows up on the DX Cluster I 
need, or I just decide to play radio for an 
hour or two.  I may go 2-3 hours without using 
the amp ­ even 4-5 hours if I don't need the extra power.


I have been turning everything on in the 
morning and then turning it off around 
midnight.  In terms of wear and tear on the 
ACOM-1000, as well as the life of the tube, 
would it be better to turn it off for the 2-3 
hour periods when it is being used, or to leave 
it on all day as I have been doing?  I know the 
off/on cycle stresses components, especially 
tubes, but so does leaving a piece of equipment running 15-16 hours a day.


I'm curious about this too with my 3CX1200A7 in 
my AL-1200. My operating style is pretty well exactly the same as yours.




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] a little more on Ten Tec woes

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:26 AM 10/25/2007, Charles Harpole wrote:

Ron's suggestion confirms my assertion that Ten Tec has a customer 
service problem radios that are orphans in the storm.  I hope my 
message is a wake up call to a company whose products I admire and 
mostly proudly own.


Three strikes.. ur out in the old ball game  73


I think you may have just bought your last new piece of T-T gear, 
whether you meant to or not. I've heard a few stories out there how 
T-T "fires" customers who slag them publicly by refusing to sell them 
anything new. Personally, I own one piece of T-T gear (a 238 tuner). 
It's OK, I suppose, but there are better out there and for less 
money. I'd briefly considered an Orion-2 but I think next year I'm 
going to pick up either a Flexradio or a K3 to replace my 
much-despised-and-frequently-deaf Mark-V.




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Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] NA or USA

[Peter Dougherty]

At 01:53 PM 10/6/2007, you wrote:
I agree, especially on the first few days of an operation, 
DXpeditions have to cut things down somehow, and going by continent 
where they have the best propagation makes sense.  I do not think 
they ought to single out a specific country.  NA, EU, AS, etc. 
should be good enough.  Given the relatively few VE and XE stations 
compared to W, does it really help to ask for USA only?  If so, 
they ought to take 10-15 minutes and ask for VE only, and then XE only.


Think how the ops in South America and the Caribbean must feel! Not 
to mention VK/ZL.




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Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios

[Peter Dougherty]

At 07:15 PM 9/23/2007, Duane, WV2B wrote:

No mention of any Kenwoods, other than a big negative on the TS-50. 
So not sure how the 570/480 class rank, but certainly not as good as the K3.


The 570 is a great first-radio. It's NOT a great first DXpedition 
radio. If you put in a 2100 or 1700 SSB filter it's passable on SSB, 
but on CW it's unusable. You can only add one filter to that radio, 
so if you put in an SSB filter, which it does need, CW is useless. If 
you put in a CW filter (which I never did), reports are that on SSB 
if you're QSX is 5 to 10 up you won't need to touch the tuning.


The AGC is so bad on the 570 that if there's a strong CW station even 
10 kHz away the pumping will be so intense as to render the radio 
almost unusable. That was the first brand-new radio I ever bought and 
it got me up to about 225 countries and through 4 or 5 CQWW-SSBs and 
ARRL-SSBs, but that was by killing the AGC and riding the RF Gain. 
Once I started to get into CW the bloom really came off the 570's rose.


I liked it as a n00b, but now that I've had a Mark V and an IC-7000, 
I wouldn't touch a 570 on a bet, unless it was to donate it to a new 
ham. You do NOT want that as a DXpedition radio, hands-down.


My only concern with the K3 is the knobs are big and stick out a 
little more than on the IC-7000. Not a big deal, and may even be a 
Good Thing to the big-handed, unless we're talking about it bouncing 
around in a cargo hold or in hand luggage. I seriously don't know how 
much abuse that radio is capable of taking. I can say beyond a doubt 
that my IC-7000 took a poundin' the last two years I went to the 
Bahamas where it was in my carry-on luggage.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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RE: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios

[Peter Dougherty]

At 12:05 PM 9/23/2007, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:

The Argonaut acted like it was the only rig there.  The 706 could 
get blown out of the water when the Argonaut was transmitting.


Would have to agree regarding the 706. It's front end is as bad as 
the New York Giants pass defense.

Yes, *that* bad.



Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 

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Re: [DX-CHAT] 1B1AB

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:50 PM 9/5/2007, Charles Harpole wrote:

Hello DXers,
What is the possible DXCC status of Turkish Republic Of Northern 
Cyprus (TRNC)?   I worked 1B1AB and his web page on qrz.com in interesting.


Doesn't count for bugger-all; the first sentence on his site says it 
all: My part of the Island may not be internationally recognized...




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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] Postal thieves

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:32 AM 8/26/2007, Art RX9TX wrote:

 Hello Charles,

CH> Instead,  try Registered Mail or, if desperate, use FedEx, UPS, or
CH> DHL.

Instead, how about uploading VU4AN/VU3CHE and HS0ZCW logs to LoTW?

Last upload for HS0ZCW: 2004-04-16 07:01:06Z
Last upload for VU4AN/VU3CHE: No log data found


Or even a stateside manager or maybe a mail-drop if you prefer to 
answer the cards yourself. 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] DXCC Yearbook

[Peter Dougherty]

Many on this reflector have made some excellent points on this topic. 
I would suggest these comments be put in writing to Newington 
(preferably by snail-mail) rather than preaching to the choir here. 
My letter is going out in tomorrow's post, and I would urge others to 
do likewise.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT  




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Yearbook whine

[Peter Dougherty]

I don't think this is an issue of connectivity or the desire for 
non-computer-savvy hams to have to much through the ARRL site, etc.


In my opinion, it's exactly the same issue as paper QSLs versus LoTW. 
With the standings printed in the yearbook, it's there on paper 
pages, now and forever more, what the standings were as of a certain 
snapshot of time. In 10 or 20 years, it's nice to go back and look at 
the standings and see where you and your friends were in 2007. Sure, 
the Web serves a purpose of giving you the information in 
near-real-time, but it doesn't have the permanence or the feel of 
"authority" of the printed page.


I'm damned sick and tired of being nickled-and-dimed everywhere in 
life. This isn't a corporation that needs to meet the bottom line 
every quarter or face a shareholder revolt. The League is an 
organization who's mission includes administering the DXCC program. 
It's something we do for pleasure and a sense of personal pride of 
accomplishment. We pay per-QSO to have our cards checked, for each 
certificate, plaque and (formerly) pins, etc. Now insult is added to 
injury, IMHO, in removing the standings.



At 05:46 PM 7/24/2007, Gerry wrote:

 Yes, that's what I said!


- Original Message -
From: Jim Abercrombie
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; 
dx-chat@njdxa.org

Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: [DX-CHAT] Yearbook whine

A few minutes ago that page was not available on ARRL.org
- Original Message -
From: Gerry
To: dx-chat@njdxa.org
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 8:07 PM
Subject: Re: [DX-CHAT] Yearbook whine


They could go to the nearest Internet Cafe or public library and 
see/print them there.


Gerry
- Original Message -
From: Jim Abercrombie
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; 
dx-chat@njdxa.org

Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: [DX-CHAT] Yearbook whine

What are all those DX'ers who do not have the internet supposed to 
do? I guess they are gonna hafta whine like me.

Jim
- Original Message -
From: Gerry Hohn
To: dx-chat@njdxa.org
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 6:28 PM
Subject: [DX-CHAT] Yearbook whine


I'm perfectly happy to see the standing on the WEB page. They are updated
regularly and show the current standings rather than a once a year
(outdated) snapshot.

That being said, the Database that shows these standing is still
unavailable!

Gerry VE6LB/VA6XDX
DXCC Field Checker-Southern Alberta
VE/VA6 QSL Bureau Team
(403) 251-0384
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.qsl.net/ve6lb/

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--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.16/914 - Release Date: 
7/23/2007 7:45 PM



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7/23/2007 7:45 PM



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Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 

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Re: [DX-CHAT] FREE logging program

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:09 AM 06/30/2007, Bill wrote:
I am looking for a good free logging program to use in contesting 
and DXPeditions.  I am presently using Writelog.


N1MM Contest Logger has a really good DXpedition mode which I've used 
from C6 the last two years.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Address change HS0ZCW

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:18 AM 06/26/2007, Charles Harpole wrote:
My dream of having a simple Thailand address, Box 1, etc, was dashed 
by extensive postal mail theft by the Nakhon Chaisi government 
postal workers.
They first stole the $$ from the incoming QSL card envelops, and 
after my first complaint, began stealing the whole envelop and all 
contents and destroying everything.  This began about June 5, 
2007.  Thus I have a new QSLing address:


utwo words: QSL Manager!

I'm sure someone on one of these groups would be glad to ensure that 
those who need a confirmation of your activities get it easily, and 
would gladly forward the received cards to you.




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Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] What! BS7H LOTW

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:07 PM 06/09/2007, Charles Harpole wrote:

See the DX-News archives - QSOs were uploaded for Donors only.


73 - Jim AD1C
Boy oh boy I got roasted when a friend posted for me a message 
that implied I needed cash for a 9N confirmation (not 
true).  and now this (see above).


Ham radio gotta come to terms with the cash side of DXing  Yes, 
absolutely DXpeditions are for the wealthy (with time to spare, 
too), but the costs are very real regardless of resources.


Issues that need careful thought :

-real value prizes for ham contacts (or birthday celebrations or whatever).
-donations that are really purchases.
-contests that award with real value items.
-cash for QSLs.
-cash for LoTW.


Well, in this instance this isn't cash for QSLs or LoTW. It's a nice 
gesture of thanks for those who donated ahead of time (they get their 
LoTW hits a few weeks before the cards come out). I got no problem 
with that, though I do wish I'd known this would have been the case 
ahead of time. I held off and sent a modest donation along with my 
card. From what the announcement said, after the bulk of the paper 
QSLs are mailed out, everything will get uploaded to Logbook.


I have no problem with any operation doing a nice favour like this 
for those who were able to help them out before departure, just so 
long as the integrity of the log is never compromised and any 
requested QSL for a legitimate contact is sent.


As it turned out this time, I couldn't afford to send a donation 
before they went (I was waiting for Uncle Sam to come through with 
our refund) so I just have to wait a few more weeks for the paper - 
and the electrons - to arrive. I have the satisfaction of knowing I 
did, ultimately, help this operation financially once I was able to 
do so, and I know from the online logs that my QSOs are all valid, so 
no biggie.


Yes, there are more than a few "hams" out there who sell QSL cards or 
worse, collect green stamps, but that's a horse of a different 
colour, and my contempt for those individuals is well documented elsewhere.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] 3B6SP expedition?

[Peter Dougherty]

At 09:42 AM 06/07/2007, Dan Zimmerman N3OX wrote:

I could use ZS8 too...

I hope the 3B6 guys are able to get underway soon... all I saw was a
cluster spot from a GM station that said something like "back to 3B7"
...

I've got my fingers crossed that condx hold out... we don't need
85/2/0 solar condx for 3B6 from here but it sure wouldn't hurt.


Don't forget the 5-Star DXpedition to St. Brandon in September 
(3B7C). Big power, big antennas and a 3 week operation.





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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] LoTW

[Peter Dougherty]

At 05:44 PM 06/03/2007, nick cominos wrote:
Anyone getting the "Internal Server Error" when uploading to the 
site?  I've been getting this all weekend.


Dunno about that, but I've been trying to e-mail someone with an 
arrl.org (i.e. staff) address and it's bounced all day today (was 
working FB yesterday). I uploaded 2 days ago, so haven't tried since.




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Peter,
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RE: [DX-CHAT] BS7H thoughts

[Peter Dougherty]

At 06:59 AM 05/10/2007, Bernie McClenny, W3UR wrote:

Back to the one and only way to remove a current counter from the DXCC list.
The only way is if the said entity no longer meets the criteria in which put
it on the list to begin with.  Rules that are made up afterwards do not
affect its status.  Remember BS7H was added to the list back in the mid 90s.
Then afterwards in an effort to not have any others added to the list like
Scarborough Reef the "100 meter high tide" rule was added.  Believe me you
don't want to remove anything off the DXCC list, unless it does not meet the
criteria.


I don't think there's a solution to this that will please everybody. 
I'd personally like to see the rules overhauled completely at some 
point down the road, but how that could be accomplished I really 
don't know. I'm not in favour of creating new ones by rule changes, 
nor deleting/removing old ones by fiat either, but the mish-mash that 
exists now is somewhat bizarre and could use a revamp at some point.


I'm definitely not in favour of mollycoddling DXers and DXpeditioners 
by removing tough- or dangerous-to-activate entities just because 
they're tough or dangerous to activate. Free will is truly a wonderful concept.





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Peter,
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Re: [DX-CHAT] Best BS7H quote I have seen

[Peter Dougherty]

At 02:20 PM 05/06/2007, Mike(W5UC) & Kathy(K5MWH) wrote:
 IMHO what is between the ears counts at least as much as that 1.5 
KW amp and a giant antenna at 100 feet, and when the chips are 
down, that big killer signal isn't worth much if you don't know 
what to do with it.


So true. I have to wonder how many folks who didn't get the BS7 just 
parked on one frequency and kept calling over and over and over and 
over, not trying to find his QSX or his pattern. That's how I've 
gotten every single rare one, without exception. When he's on a fixed 
split, play to the fringes and be as loud as you can be. Works every 
time. Am I the first one through? Hell no, but if there's propagation 
between me and the DX, and the DX is wide open or calling North 
America I'll be in the log within the first hour that (a) he's 
audible, and (b) I'm at the radio.


Well, unless Glorioso makes it to the airwaves this year, I think the 
only other interesting operations (that have been announced) will be 
Agalega/St. Brandon (June to Agalega, September to St. Brandon). 
Here's hoping St. Barts gets "new one"status soon, or a DXpedition to 
another top-10 or top-20 most-needed entity is in the planning stages .




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Best BS7H quote I have seen

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:23 AM 05/06/2007, Dan Zimmerman N3OX wrote:

I had to
visit a better station to work the rare ones (my club's station, with
a Cushcraft X9 at 120' and a kW in the shack).


I've always resisted that.  Even when I was in college and we had an
X9 at the club station (K2CC), it was the rig in my dorm room and a
wire or nothing at all.  Just a personal handicap on the whole DXing
biz, but you're not going to see me whining on the cluster.  Of
course, I was dorm hamming at solar max last time so I was knocking
down new ones (T30 comes to mind) on 10m with a 12 foot wire.


heh. The club station in question for me was the Hall of Science in 
Queens, WB2JSM, of which I'm a life member and past VP and station 
manager. I don't restrict myself artificially when it comes to 
all-time new ones, with one exception: I won't be spoon-fed on a 
handicapped DX net. If I can't work from my home station I will visit 
a station where I can work them from (and will let me use my own 
call). I'll use full legal power, the cluster, my ears and anything 
else that will give me an advantage and get my call in their logs. 
Yes, I've used a DX net in the past, but would never dream of 
accepting assistance from anybody on that net. If I work the guy, I 
exchange signal reports and if I don't get through, so be it (this 
was back in my 100W/wire days, before I knew better).


Luckily (???) I'm now at the point that anything I need will be 
through DXpeditions. BS7H was number 300 in the log for me.




I read that email on scarboroughreef.com ... you know, the profane guy
with atrocious spelling... and I wondered what piece of crap he was
trying to work BS7H on because I read his comments while I was hearing
them just fine here near DC on my delta loop at 25 feet, and I have
power line noise!


Yeah, another real piece ofwork.

Now AA8CH is ranting and whining on the e-ham DX forum, too. How much 
you wanna bet he's a colonel or captiain in the DX Police Deptarment, too :-)




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Best BS7H quote I have seen

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:17 AM 05/06/2007, Dan Zimmerman N3OX wrote:

I can't believe the nerve of people who think they're entitled to a
contact with the DX just because there's a DXpedition on.  It doesn't
matter that they're a poor operator, it doesn't matter that their
antenna system is garbage and they're running low power, they think
it's the DXpedition's fault.

The fact of the matter is that those of us on this coast who have
built a radio station that can be used to contact some guys running
medium power to simple verticals on some rocks 8000 miles away are the
ones who get the contact.  It's a team effort, but I think the major
monster DXpeditions who can work EVERYONE in a particular geographical
area have made some people decide that everything must be that way,
even if it's technically impossible.


Dan, you hit the nail on the head. If you fancy yourself a DXer you 
need a station to cash the cheques your mouth writes, first and 
foremost. If all you can afford is 100W and a wire, then you're a 
fair-weather DXer (solar-wise). You'll do well with sunspots, but 
will struggle at this point in the cycle. That was me from 2001 until 
2003, after which I added a little AL-811 amp (600W). I had an 
Alpha-Delta DX-EE at about 45 feet up. 225 countries, more or less, 
5B DXCC, WAZ, WAS, too. In 2004 and early 2005 it was rough, though, 
and my ability to get through the piles was a lot harder. I had to 
visit a better station to work the rare ones (my club's station, with 
a Cushcraft X9 at 120' and a kW in the shack).


When I moved out here to New Jersey I had a choice of what I could 
put up. I enjoy contesting, but I'm a DXer first and foremost. I 
could have stuck up a 3 element tribander and some RG-8 and called it 
a day, but I knew I wanted a real shot at BS7 or P5 if either would 
ever come on again, and I wanted to be in the log first-day of any 
DXpedition that came down the pike. I went with the Force-12 C31XR 
and have not regretted it for a minute. 6dB over dipole on 20, 6.8 
over a dipole on 15 and 7.4 over dipole on 10, 70 feet up, fed with 
3/8" hardline and connected to an AL-1200 legal-limit amp and a 
pretty good transceiver.


If you can't afford a good station or you've chosen to live in a 
CC&R-restricted property that's fine; nobody's going to point their 
fingers at you and laugh, unless you start to whinge when you can't 
break through the piles of the bigger operations. We all have to 
start somewhere, with something, and if that setup leaves you in the 
dust for BS7, P5, 7O, etc, so be it. Ed was on in P5 when I lived at 
my old apartment with the wire and 600W. I heard him exactly once, 
and he had a pileup big enough to choke a horse that I had no hope of 
getting through. That's life. P5 will be on again, and I hope my 
station here will still be working when it does come back up.


I'm willing to wager that for most of the complainers, if they did 
two things they'd get a lot more in the log. Buy a small amp. 600W or 
800W makes a HUGE difference (difference between working an 
ultra-rare one and not), and two, if putting up a yagi - even a small 
one - isn't possible replace their 15 year old feedline with 
something that's not green and full of water on the inside. Frankly, 
though, a wire at 15 feet above the ground is really never going to 
cut it except near solar max, and even then




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Best BS7H quote I have seen

[Peter Dougherty]

At 09:17 PM 05/05/2007, Dan Zimmerman N3OX wrote:

To ALL de IZ8DEO <1824Z> : 10.104 the mother of the idiots is always pregnant


Fantastic!

BS7H a no go for me.  Gotta wait 'till next time.  I should have some
big aluminum in ten years

Heard 'em well on 20m several mornings but couldn't pull the trigger.


Very easy here in NNJ. CW and SSB on 20 on Tuesday morning. Heard on 
30 and 17 but too weak to work reliably, and I really didn't want to 
be a hog and deprive others of an all-time new one just for a 
band-fill. Never heard loud long-path or evenings, but booming 
early-mornings, before 8 am.


I didn't really need a super-fancy antenna system either. No stacks, 
no long-boom monobanders, just a Force 12 C31XR up 70' or so (3 
elements for 20m on a 31 foot boom), but  having a legal-limit amp 
and diversity-receive on the Mark V really did make things go easier.


I couldn't believe the cluster-crabs whining like girlie-men, and 
especially one nutjob in 8-land who needs some serious couch time - 
or at least a tribander, good feedline and a decent amp for next 
time. I'm laughing my @$$ off, too, because this lid was complaining 
how hard it was at solar minimum. Imagine an operation like this at 
solar max, with ten times the number of low-power/low-skill 
appliance-operators calling with their popgun stations making it a 
lot harder for the DX to hear anything out of NA.


All in all a great big-ol THANK YOU to the whole team for a job 
well-done; card and DONATION on the way. I'm really looking forward 
to seeing their presentation at Hamvention.


I still can't believe how lucky we, The Deserving, have been in just 
the last two years. KP5, VU7, VU4, Peter the First and now BS7. I 
missed Ed in P5 but someday :)  Now hoping for Bouvet, Navassa, a 
legal/accepted operation from Yemen.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] Re: BS7H

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:23 AM 05/02/2007, John Warren wrote:

Larry K4WLS wrote:


If you wanted a "Give Away Extra", now you got it !!!   ENJOY all
the Lids, CB'ers, and QRM you invited in !!  I got BS-7H back in
'95 with a H.B. Vertical and 90W. Just for fun, bet I can do it again.


Larry,

There's no reason to believe that the BS7H QRM is due to the 
newcomers into our hobby. Doubt that most of them know who BS7H is! 
Much more likely to come from frustrated, impatient 20wpm OTs who 
are near the top of Honor Roll.


Nope, I disagree with both of these. I'm not talking about frequency 
cops here, they're a different breed.


I think many of the real problem-children here are more likely 
General- and Advanced-Class(less) ops who wander cluelessly through 
the hobby. This type of op likely has 20+ year old un-maintained 
equipment, coax that's more green than copper and white inside, a 
lossy trapped tribander on a rusty old 30 foot tall TV tower and who 
knows where to find his buddies and not much else. Because his 
station is crap or his ears aren't working, he'll come up and start 
calling on top of the DX, not hearing anything, just keep at it. Or 
the other type who looks at his cluster connection, sees a spot for 
something he doesn't quite understand and just starts throwing his call in.


This last type is the kind of ham I knew a lot of when I was new to 
the hobby. This bunch gets excited when they have 20m SSB QSOs with 
Bulgaria, Latvia and the Czech republic (no offence to OMs from those 
FB countries intended) and ecstatic when they work a couple of JA, 
VKs and ZLs in a day. The concept of what BS7H really is is lost on 
them and they just blunder into the pile not understanding the 
dynamics involved, how to call, etc. They are NOT really DXers, 
they're wannabees or don't-wannabees.


Think of the guys you see at hamfests in coveralls or other 
ill-fitting clothes and callsign-hats, wandering around with moths in 
their wallets and between their ears. This type will criticize or go 
against anything that they can't understand or can't afford. They'll 
put down contesters and DXers with big stations because they can't 
afford to do it themselves, or don't want to take the time to learn. 
I think we all know a bunch of guys who fit this description to one 
degree or another.





Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 




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Re: [DX-CHAT] BS7H INTO NE USA

[Peter Dougherty]

At 06:34 AM 04/30/2007, Jerry Keller wrote:

BS7H was 5-5 to 5-7 much of the afternoon here in eastern PA, n a 3 el yagi.

I'm surprised that they couldn't be heard in NJ, just a few miles 
east of my QTH. Must be something wrong with the antenna or the 
feedline. Or maybe an arrogant, ill-mannered attitude blocks the 
ears (as well as the head).


As another New Jersian, I can say they had a very readable signal 
most of the day on Sunday (when you could hear beneath the QRM). This 
morning they're about 53 (but perfectly copyable) as of 8:45am, 
short-path. I was able to hear them from the time they first showed 
up until about 3pm (Eastern time), then again from about 6:30 
(weakly) on and off before I QSY'd to the TV at 8:30.


All I have here is a C31XR (3 el on 20) at 70', so no stacks, etc, 
here. I'd also suggest checking your feedline!




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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RE: [DX-CHAT] BS7H INTO NE USA

[Peter Dougherty]

At 11:53 PM 04/29/2007, Dave AA6YQ wrote:

Punishing all operators from a particular region because a few misbehave
just increases the frustation level and puts more QRM on the DX frequency.


That's the risk, for sure. But conversely, what can a DX operation do 
when their pileups are completely out of control (in a manner not of 
the DX's doing)? As ops become increasingly desperate, it can only 
spiral worse unless the guys at the pointy end do something. What can 
they do is what I'm curious about.


With the first day of a DXPedition to a rare entity falling on a 
weekend, the result is highly predictable.


Here's hoping a lot of these troublemakers will be going to work 
tomorrow morning .



In "the Complete DXer", Bob W9KNI says "But sometimes, the experienced DX'er
gets into a situation where it quickly becomes obvious that there is no hope
of a QSO. And it is then the frustrated DX'er shows the world, or at least
himself, what kind of person he is.


After 5 hours on-and-off today I just gave up, visited a friend and 
helped out the XYL.



search of anyone who'll listen to his latest rendition of "ain't it awful?".


After days like this, though, sometimes venting helps. I suspect BS7 
and P5 will always be this way (the only things to bring everybody 
out of the woodwork). It's kind of a shame that these two are 
extremely difficult from NA. The only saving grace is if Navassa ever 
comes up we're in the best position over here.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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RE: [DX-CHAT] BS7H INTO NE USA

[Peter Dougherty]

I am not by any means a newcomer to DX, but THIS is worse than ever 
-- and no one can blame the US lids for it!!! Call by numbers is 
fine -- as long as WE can hear what numbers the DX is calling!!.


Shame on the world's hams!!


I Couldn't agree more. I was listening all day on both CW and SSB and 
the degree of insanity I heard was unlike anything I've ever heard 
anywhere, ever. I've never operated on CB but could it have been any 
worse than 14185 was today? Time for a good Rettysnitching, I say.


I really don't understand what it is with (southern) European hams' 
attitudes. If you believe any of the propagation prediction programs, 
Europe generally has propagation to BS7 24 hours a day on at least 
one band, often as many as 5 or 6 bands are good simultaneously, so 
if the Scarborough guys are QRV chances are EU DXers will get a much 
better shot at them than NA will. Serious European DXers will likely 
get them on several bands and modes. Yet in the 3 hour window for NA, 
these clowns won't stand by or stop bitching on the DX frequency.


On the other hand, it would also be nice if the team would call NA 
for a few hours at a time; seemed like it was JA and EU day all day 
long. I'm sure that will change in the next day or two, so I'm not 
too worried. Yet .


I don't know what the answer is; perhaps the DX operators once in a 
while should have a listen to their TX frequency and administer the 
clue bat when things get bad. Maybe along the lines of "since you are 
so badly behaved, no more Europe for the next 12 hours," and hold to it.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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[DX-CHAT] LoTW versus paper, etc.

[Peter Dougherty]

At 09:33 AM 04/27/2007, Bob Schenck, N2OO wrote:

The fairest way to do things is the way it is currently being done.
LoTW is voluntary and it should always be such.
Many reasons.
There will always be people who "paper log".
There will always be DXpeditions that "paper log".
There will always be DXers who do not own a computer and/or do not have
access to the internet.
"Paper" QSLs therefore should always be available.


1% agree, Bob. I love 'em under certain circumstances. I will 
ultimately put together an album containing the nicese QSL I get from 
each entity, and every all-time new one gets a card request (and 
donation, now that I'm down to DXpedition-only needed, hi hi), and I 
look forward to each one with bated breath.



I can say with strict confidence after handling 3Y0X (and associated calls),
and the recent VU7 operations, that paper QSLing produces a rather large
funding source for the mega expensive DXpeditions.
Actually, much larger than I had originally thought.


Which is why I suggested the wait be a year to 18 months. It would 
absolutely be foolish to cut off your primary source of funding by 
mandating a quick upload to Logbook. But conversely, there are those 
who aren't into paper at all and need a couple of band-fills for DXCC 
challenge points, or need RTTY for a mode-award. Logbook works 
perfectly for guys like that.


I just got 5 Q's confirmed for Vatican City on LoTW the other day. 
Had I known they were going to upload, I wouldn't have sent my paper 
QSL request for the 2 new bands and one new mode, because at this 
point, how many more identical-looking HV0A cards do I need?



This will never be recovered if LoTW is utilized soon after a DXpedition is
over. Never. Trust me on this.
If DXpeditions were forced to utilize LoTW, it would definitely negatively
affect the funding. And as such, it could very well make it more difficult
to do DXpeditions, especially to the rarer hard to reach entities.


If they were forced to upload IMMEDIATELY upon their return, I 
completely concur. Hence, a statement on the Website that "all logs 
will be uploaded to Logbook of the World between one year and 18 
months after the completion of the DXpedition." We're about a year or 
so out from Peter 1 now; how many direct QSL requests with donations 
are you receiving, on average, per week now?



As for some sort of PayPal donation account tied to LoTW in order to "fund"
DXpeditions, that would of course be in contradiction to DXCC rules that
state that nobody can ever "require" payment for a QSL card. And it would
not be fair at all.


Yeah, I'd concur about having it tied to receiving confirmation. That 
would stink like a herring in August. Having prominent PayPal 
donation links all over the site, though, there's nothing wrong with 
that, IMHO. Just NOT on the QSL page!



Please, let's not take more away from the personal touch that a QSL card
brings to our hobby and to the pursuit of the DXCC (and other) awards.


But at the same time, not everyone wants a card if they're chasing 
paper. As I posted last night, if I never see another card from 
certain parts of the world it will be far too soon. I have a lot of 
entities on 8 bands and three modes already; all I'm missing is 12m 
(I never had a WARC antenna during the last cycle). I really don't 
care about paper cards, just give me a hit on LoTW for those and 
that's all I ask. Next Swains operation, for example. I need 'em on 
10 and 12 only.


I also have no problem with DXpeditions uploading their logs a year 
or two afterwards, but only if they choose to do so.


The problem with it being voluntary is that LoTW stays in its infancy 
and never matures. If you give people a reason or incentive to upload 
a log they will. We're, what, 3 years into the LoTW program right 
now? My LoTW hits are at an all-time record high of 16.7%. And only 
that high because most of my hits come from contests.


I know that you (Bob) and many others love paper cards and relish 
what they mean both individually and collectively to the hobby and 
its past; but there's a growing number of techno-savvy users who just 
don't want the hassle (or the expense) of going the paper route, and 
having a viable alternative to paper QSLing for the major operations 
I think should be a requirement at some point down the line.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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Re: [DX-CHAT] Re: U.S. Postal rates set to go up

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:03 PM 04/26/2007, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:

Pete,

If the ARRL or DXCC desk were to mandate LotW posting for DXCC approval, you
would hear even more screaming from a certain small but vocal element of the
DX community.


Probably would, but sometimes a kick in the rear end is needed to 
jump-start new technologies or methodologies. I'm sure at first 
Cabrillo logs weren't universally accepted either. Let 'em moan and 
whine, I say.


It costs nothing to do, takes a few minutes to sign and upload and 
you do it ONCE. If you've gone around the globe, camped with 4 other 
guys in a tent that you shared with crabs the size of turtles, gotten 
sunburned on bits of your body you never knew existed and made 
survived 20 days on the HMS ArrrMatey, you can take a half-hour to 
upload to LoTW.



And frankly, mandating it would probably backfire on the League.


Maybe a little in the first year or two. Hold your ground, stick to 
your principles and it would be a no-brainer pretty quick after that. 
As for DXpeditions, I'm talking about making this a requirement for 
any operation that requires an entry permit, special permission from 
the telecommunications authority to operate from; not making every 
Tom, Dick and Harry go through this when he comes back from vacation 
(though my Q's were uploaded from C6 while I was still down there!)



I just can't see them doing it.


Sadly, I think you're right about that.


The continual increase in postage is going to put even more pressure,
though, for electronic or other non-postal confirmations.  Which in many
ways is sad... there's nothing like the actual feel of a QSL card... and I
for one get a small "kick" out of the 1932 W3WN card I have sitting in the
shack right now, it conveys a sense of history that a computer entry or .jpg
file online never will.


I'll still send for cards from all-time new ones, for rare band-fills 
and on difficult bands. And of course for memorable contacts. But how 
many Italian, French, British, Portuguese and German cards do you 
need/want? For that matter, how many American cards does a typical 
French, British, Portuguese or German ham need?!


We're just going to have to figure out an alternative funding method 
for DXpeditions.


Well, that's why I suggested mandating uploading to LoTW within a 
year (or even say 18 months - a reasonable figure, and still shorter 
than the buro for some people). Lots of DXpeditions are putting up 
PayPal donation links on their Web sites, which I think is a 
fantastic idea, too.



One thought would be this... if I work your DXpedition, one of thousands of
W3's... why not permit me to confirm electronically via your web site, and
not only request your return QSL the same way, but cover the postage and a
"donation" cost on-line via a PayPal or similar service?  There are some
pitfalls in this, of course -- the biggest one of which is determining what
the minimum "charge" would be to cover postage and handling, closely
followed by the need to make any amount above and beyond that purely and
totally voluntary.  So it's a thought, but it needs work.


Yeah, you could quickly devolve into a "charging for QSL" quagmire. 
Besides, can you imagine being a DX QSL manager having to look up 
40,000 addresses, format them for your labels, print and stick 40,000 
address labels before even stuffing the cards? No, I think for QSL 
direct, the old tried-and-true method is just fine, as is  the buro. 
But if you just want a confirmation for an award, screw it...LoTW is 
the best way to go.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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Re: [DX-CHAT] QSL manager for 3DA0EI

[Peter Dougherty]

At 10:46 AM 03/28/2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

Is there a QSL manager for 3DA0EI?
Worked him on 40M during the WPX contest.


QSL via EI7CC.



Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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[DX-CHAT] DXCC application and ZD9

[Peter Dougherty]

Hi all,

This morning I received back the paperwork and cards for my 
12/30/2006 DXCC application. All was well with one exception. ZD9ATN, 
(Good Buddy Simon, IZ7ATN) was kicked back for lack of documentation. 
I remember reading a few things about this operation when it was 
happening last year, but I assumed it would be authorized. Does 
anyone have any additional information? I e-mailed Simon also, but 
e-mails to him in the past have gone unanswered.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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Re: [DX-CHAT] BERU

[Peter Dougherty]

At 06:50 PM 03/10/2007, Bob Nielsen wrote:

On Mar 10, 2007, at 3:26 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


I was unable to find this contest listed anywhere, including QST.
What is BERU??

John Owens - N7TK


British Empire Radio Union.  In recent years, it has been called 
the  Commonwealth Contest.


Ah, OK, I thought it was in honor of the late Beru Lars of Tattooine 
(wife of Owen). Didn't live all that far from Toshi Station (home of 
good power converters) as I recall.





Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 





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Re: [DX-CHAT] P5BCST

[Peter Dougherty]

At 09:29 PM 03/07/2007, Jack - K4WSB wrote:

Anybody got an idea as to who or where this guy is?


Some bright-spark's trying to say it's a North Korean Broadcast (P5 
B'cast) on a given frequency. So everybody's alarms go off cuz this 
in-duh-vidual thinks he's being cute on the cluster.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 



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[DX-CHAT] F12 Delta 240

[Peter Dougherty]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anybody here has used the new Force 12 Delta-240? 
I'm thinking of getting one this summer to go up about 80' or so, and 
I'm trying to find out what its real-world performance is like. I'm 
especially interested in seeing how well it plays with other yagis (I 
have a C31XR and small WARC yagi on the same mast), how it compares 
to other larger 2-element 40m antennas and what its construction is 
like. It LOOKS like a decent antenna on the F12 web site, but I don't 
know anybody using one around here.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 



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[DX-CHAT] Any TN news?

[Peter Dougherty]

Hi all,

A few weeks ago the bulletins were talking about an operation by some 
German hams from Congo (TN, not 9Q), originally supposed to happen in 
November, then postponed till November. Has anything official come 
out about this operation yet? Does anybody know if it's still on or 
postponed indefinitely?




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 



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[DX-CHAT] Merry Christmas

[Peter Dougherty]

On behalf of my XYL (who's making a wonderful turkey dinner as I type 
this), I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and best of 
the holiday season. It's been a heck of a good year for DXers -- 
Peter the First, VU4, VU7, 5A and two all-time New Ones created 
amongst other highlights. Here's wishing everyone a happy and 
prosperous New Year for 2007!




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 



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Re: [DX-CHAT] [DX-NEWS] SWL QSL

[Peter Dougherty]

At 04:02 PM 12/08/2006, Dan Violette wrote:

Just put:

TO: ONL8XYZ at the top, remove the QSO and 2X type items (cross-out) 
and replace with HRD WORKING, MODE, etc.


example:  HRD WORKING  DateTime  Mode  RST (QSO with, 2X 
crossed out)

  PT4XX2006/12/07  1715Z   SSB59


I use DX Base for logging, which has a very complex label generator, 
and I have special labels for SWLs (which frankly look better than my 
standard 2X labels!). I'm usually nice and give the SWL a 4-colour 
card, not a cheap B&W "buro" card. I actually had one guy send me a 
SWL request from Wales with an SAE and $1 in US coins.



Many countries require some SWL QSL card replies to get a license 


Is this still the case in 2006? I know Belgium, France and Germany 
still have SWL "licenses," but is being a verified SWL still required 
there (or anywhere, for that matter) in order to become a licensed ham?




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 



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[DX-CHAT] 3Y0X DVD arrived today

[Peter Dougherty]

Just FYI, the Peter 1 DVD in this morning's post. Looking forward to 
watching it tomorrow night (when it's supposed to be about 25F and 
windy up here!).




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 



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Re: [DX-CHAT] VU7

[Peter Dougherty]

At 08:16 PM 11/30/2006, Russell Kellam Jr wrote:
VU7 is supposedly QRV but not a single spot on the DX Cluster, any 
band any mode?? Russ W4UBC


They were spotted on 80 a few hours ago, but nada here at sunset 
(around 2200z). Their license is for December 1st to 31st, 
supposedly, so I'm not convinced that any Q's they did make before 
z on the 1st would be good anyway. Maybe that was just ol' Slim 
havin' some fun!



Of course, the day they ARE going to be QRV we have (yet another) 
high-wind warning for our county so down comes the tower, and due to 
ill-placed branches, the beam's gotta be NW instead of NE. Sigh.


Now that I think about it, ya know, I could become professional 
weatherman with my setup here. All I have to do is wait for a 
rare-entity DXpedition or CQWW-SSB to start and put out a guaranteed 
forecast for high winds and storms!




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT 



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