30 Years of DXing What I’ve Learned

Chet ThayerWA3I

What is DX?

• Dave Sumner, K1ZZ said “DX: It’s whatever you think it is”

• “DX” is simply an abbreviation for “distance”

• For HF, DX generally means from one country to another

• For QRP, DX could be to a distant state• For VHF and above, DX might be a few

hundred miles

What is HF DX?

• There are 195 “countries” in the world today (196 counting Taiwan)

• The definition of “country” for DX Century Club (DXCC) purposes is much broader (continental USA a “country”, Hawaii is a “country”, Alaska is a “country”, etc.)

• There are exactly 340 DXCC countries• If you have been on the air for one

contact, you already have 1 country!

What Do I Need?• License

– Technician (DXing on 80m, 40m 15m, 10m, 6m)– General (DXing on all bands)– Extra (DXing on all bands, plus bottom 25 kHZ of each CW

band)• Rig with frequency coverage for DX bands• Amplifier (within the limits of your license)• Digital mode capability (Lots of RTTY and PSK31 DX)• Antenna: bigger is better (“Any antenna you can keep up

is too small”)• However, ANY antenna will work• Knowledge of code is a plus (keyer or keyboard with

memories)

WA3I Station

• Elecraft K3 HF rig• 500 w solid state amp• Inverted Vee for 80m and 40m @ 40 ft• Butternut Vertical @ 20 ft, one radial per

band• CW via DX4WIN logging program (copy by

ear)• Digital Modes via FLdigi (PC connected

directly to K3)

Where Do I Find DX?

• Listen, Listen, Listen• “Not the strongest stations on the band.”• DX Contests (Many more stations on the air.)• Daily DX/Weekly DX (by W3UR) (Suggested to

me by K3DX)• Spotting Networks

– Around 1990: 2m packet cluster– Around 2000: Internet (will demonstrate, later)

• Call “CQ DX”

What is the Operating Technique for Working DX?

• Language is NOT a barrier: EVERYONE speaks English• Listen, Listen, Listen

– Can I hear the DX station?– Simplex or split (can I hear the station calling the DX)?– Split: Good DX stations will end with “Listening UP”

• If the DX station is operating simplex– Give your call (only) once or twice, then hope– Continue ONLY after the DX station finishes– Keep it up until he hears you or you give up– If he calls you, keep it SHORT: “Thanks, you are 599 in

Delaware from WA3I” (CW even shorter)– He will say “thank you” or “confirmed” and get back to calling CQ

DX

What is the Operating Technique for Working DX?

• If the DX station is operating “split” or “duplex”– Listen, Listen, Listen

• Where is the DX station?• Where is DX listening (i.e. where is station working the DX)?

– Double check your VFO’s– Send your call once or twice, then wait– If he calls you, keep it SHORT: “Thanks, you are 599

in Delaware from WA3I” (CW even shorter)– He will say “thank you” or “confirmed” and get back to

calling CQ DX

How Do I Work a DXpedition?

• Most often, they will work CW first, later they will operate SSB and RTTY

• The first few days are the most crowded• The last few days often are ATNO (all time

new one) ONLY (for the really rare ones, even this time is very crowded)

• Trying a band near the MUF (maximum usable frequency) is often more successful

• Try when they sound strongest

What is the Operating Techniques Should I Avoid When Working DX?• Generally, it is bad manners to call on the

DX station frequency (check your VFO’s again!)

• Don’t give your call over and over again without a break

• Don’t call before listening• Don’t be a “policeman.” It just causes

more QRM• Don’t call if you can’t hear it yourself!

How Do I Log DX Stations?

• Paper Log – Started on day 1– Stopped after 14 log books (in 2003)

• Starting mid-80’s I put ALL DX QSO’s (from day 1) into first D-Base, then ExCel

• In 2003, K3DX introduced me to DX4WIN– Transferred the ExCel file to DX4WIN– From that point on, kept entire log on PC

How Do I Log DX Stations?

• Many good logging programs out there• I recommend DX4WIN

– Complete record of all QSO’s– Integrated with internet– Shows at a glance the DX that “I NEED!”– Keys my transmitter on CW– Demonstration

How Do I Get It Confirmed?• First check QRZ.COM• Online QSL Request Service (OQRS) run by M0URX,

Tim Beaumont, England (Immediate pay by PayPal, return almost guaranteed (Demo)

• Clublog a similar service (Demo)• Logbook of the World (LoTW) by ARRL (Demo)• Snail Mail (Demo) – Address via QRZ.COM

– Card– SAE with your address– $2 (or more) hidden in SAE– All in envelop with overseas stamp

• Travel to DX location and trade cards in person• Last: QSL Bureau (when it is not important)

ARRL QSL Bureau• Great service – inexpensive• Extremely slow• Incoming Service – Must have SASE’s on file

with “3” Bureau:– National Capital DX Association, P. O. Box 1149,

Clinton, MD 20735-5149• Outgoing Service

– ARRL Outgoing QSL Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111-1494

– $3 for 11 to 20 cards ($0.80/oz for more than 20)

Awards, Bragging Rights• DX Century Club (DXCC) Basic Award – 100

countries, worked and confirmed, any band, any mode

• Worked All Continents (WAC) – worked and confirmed QSO’s with each of the six continents.

• Work and confirm 100 countries on a single band

• 5 Band DXCC (5BDXCC) – worked and confirmed 100 countries on any mode, on each of the five “original” bands: 80/75m, 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m

Awards, Bragging Rights

• DXCC Challenge – 1000 confirmed DX contacts, each with a different country/band/mode combination (One way to think of it is 5BDXCC on CW plus 5BDXCC on SSB)

• DXCC Honor Roll – confirm QSO’s with 331 different, current DXCC countries (rule actually states you must be within 10 [9 or less] countries of the total: 340 – 9 = 331

Memories and Milestones• My first real DX: JH1WIX, Japan, 6/29/1970,

15m CW from Oklahoma• Earned DXCC 2/23/1988 (Started 1984)• ZK1XN, South Cook Is., 2/21/90, 15m SSB, my

1kw/vertical xmit, K3DX receiver/beam, audio via telephone!! Didn’t get the QSL until 10/13/01!!!

• 5BDXCC 12/31/1997• DXCC Challenge 4/12/05• Completed 8BDXCC 12/6/12• Broke 300 countries from current list: 2015