I enjoy the strategic part of getting thru a good pileup. Are there any other DXers on the list? My DX/band totals are about half CW and half Phone (with the CW ones far more easy than the phone QSO's).
Any DXers here?
- Thread starter JohnFreeman
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georgel
Behind Every Blade of Grass
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I'm not a hardcore DX'er. I don't chase points, but I do like to try to make contact with interesting or remote stations. I sometimes use DXWatch or a similar program to see what's out there, but I also enjoy scanning the bands for something that's not or find something that's not published yet and the pileups haven't started. I actually don't like fighting the pileups.
OP
Finding the unspotted station is the best. I have to admit I make use of a spotting program a lot. That is both a good thing (I know about it!) and a bad thing (everyone else does too!).
It's fun once you learn the pattern of the DX op ....and if you're good working with dual VFO's ...
It's fun once you learn the pattern of the DX op ....and if you're good working with dual VFO's ...
georgel
Behind Every Blade of Grass
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Supporting Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
OK, I have to admit I sometimes get caught up in the chase. And it's gratifying to weasel your way into a pile up, like waiting a second for the initial unintelligible wave to hit and then as it subsides, deliberately and clearly throw out your call sign with an emphasis on distinguishing characteristics like your region.
Whiskey 4...
Whiskey 4 station?
You grab your contact and leave the ruckus.
Whiskey 4...
Whiskey 4 station?
You grab your contact and leave the ruckus.
OP
That's it!
Hmm... does he take the first one, or later ones...? Is he tuning up or tuning down....
You have 1 second to find the station he just called and move your VFO to zero beat + the 200 hz up he's generally moving...
The thrill of the hunt! I love it.
Hmm... does he take the first one, or later ones...? Is he tuning up or tuning down....
You have 1 second to find the station he just called and move your VFO to zero beat + the 200 hz up he's generally moving...
The thrill of the hunt! I love it.
L
Lawless
Guest
I made my first DX contact a few days ago to South Dakota on 17M. It was thrilling!
I had made some pretty long contacts on SSB 11M back when I was doing that but only when conditions were perfect and never that far.
I have been so busy on my bathroom gut and restore that I have not been able to get out there and try some more.
I have a new antenna to construct and Balun to incorporate as well as a new SWR/Pwr meter to set up.
My wife wants me to move the "shack" into the house but I am not sure where I would set everything up.
I had made some pretty long contacts on SSB 11M back when I was doing that but only when conditions were perfect and never that far.
I have been so busy on my bathroom gut and restore that I have not been able to get out there and try some more.
I have a new antenna to construct and Balun to incorporate as well as a new SWR/Pwr meter to set up.
My wife wants me to move the "shack" into the house but I am not sure where I would set everything up.
L
Lawless
Guest
LOL, no she just doesn't want me out there in the cold and heat.noway2 said:
OP
The bands have reflected (!) the lack of sunspots these past weeks. The openings have been in the late afternoon/grey line DX on 40-20 from 3PM-6 PM local time. Of course after dark , 40M and JA's on 75 and 80 are good targets.
There's always some DX on one band or another if one looks hard enough
There's always some DX on one band or another if one looks hard enough
Ask dingleberry
Couple years ago I took my gear along on vacation with the family down in the south Pacific. Turns out there was a DX contest over the weekend, I had no idea. The secret to getting through on DX? Be one of the only operators in the country during a contest... then you get to pick and choose who you pick out of the pileup.
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L
Lawless
Guest
I put up my home brewed OCF today and made 3 contacts.
Oregon, Montana and Kansas.
Oregon, Montana and Kansas.
L
Lawless
Guest
20M for those in the late afternoon and after dark I made some closer contacts in Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina on 80MJohnFreeman said:
L
Lawless
Guest
Checked into a net tonight from WV north into NY. Nice group of guys and gals, very welcoming and sounded genuinely glad to have a new station check in. This was on 80m about 5pm. The guy commented that my signal was great. Guess my antenna is working well.
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W
WZ4I
Guest
JohnFreeman;n33286 said:
I remember some early DX struggles. Was running a TS-520S, MC50, and a small yagi on 20M. This was back in the mid 80's. DX station on Clipperton Island running split freq, and I didn't have a remote VFO!!! Did the following week! LOL
L
Lawless
Guest
Talked to some different guys in Long Island tonight as well. 75M working well tonight and very low noise.
W
WZ4I
Guest
My favorite band DX'ing band is 40M. With my ladder-line 135ft dipole @ 115 ft, I've have had very good success on 40 and 75. I do a little DX'ing on 160M using a 1/2 wave wire, at about the same height. Since it's a resonant antenna, I feed it with coaxial cable. My goal was to create the most efficient antenna systems I could, and it seems to have paid off.