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 Previous: Virginia Amateur Group Sets New 145 GHz DX Record |  Next: Board Discusses Strategic Planning, WRC-03 Efforts |
By Anthony A. Luscre, K8ZT
Contributing Editor
January 22, 2003
This installment focuses on the operating side of QRP while DXing. We define DX and look at ways to be more successful when hunting DX with our low-power signals.
I must confess that DX is my ham radio weakness. Given the chance to do any ham activity, DXing usually wins out. As a student growing up in a small Ohio town, one of my favorite subjects was geography. Love of geography was a big part of why I got involved with Amateur Radio. How else could I visit the entire world with very little cash?
Imagine my disappointment when I got my ticket and found myself snagging almost no DX. Yes, there was the excitement of working stations from all over the US with the meager signal of my Ten-Tec Argonaut 515, but something was wrong. I was not even hearing much DX, let alone working it.
I happen to believe that an Amateur Radio License is really a license to learn. My first lesson was that you cannot work much DX in the 40-meter Novice band, because most DX stations had no operating privileges there! My second big lesson was that I needed to learn about propagation. With a little more knowledge under my belt, my DX count eventually increased. Yes, my dream of working the world was coming true.
What is DX?
DX is an abbreviation for "distance," so the first thing we realize is that DX is a relative term. In the early days of ham radio, short-distance contacts were the norm. In fact, the ARRL--the American Radio Relay League--was founded to foster the practice of relaying message traffic from one station through multiple stations until it arrived at its intended destination. DX in the early days might have been to work someone in the next state.
In the VHF-UHF-SHF world, DX often is measured in miles. In this regard, I would be remiss in not reminding QRPers of the QRP-ARCI's 1000 Miles per Watt award program, which applies to HF contacts.
On HF, the DX usually means contacts with stations outside one's own country--although for US stations, working Canada or Mexico, our neighbors to the north and south, doesn't really count as DX. This will be the definition we will be using.
DXCC (DX Century Club) refers to the ARRL's series of 18 DX awards. The basic DXCC unit--once called a "country"--now is called an "entity." The DXCC List contains a current listing of what constitutes a valid DXCC entity. Details of the DXCC program are spelled out on the DXCC Rules page of the ARRL Web site.
Working DX--10 Simplified Tips
1. Operate! Get on the air! More time on the air can definitely increase your chances, especially if you know when and where to hang out.
2.
Listen, Listen, Listen! Listen
carefully, check weak signals that others skip over, thoroughly
explore the bands for "hidden" DX. If you find the DX before the horde
descends, your chances to work the DX are much greater. Listen to the stations the DX station
is working for a good idea of propagation and the DX station's
operating style. Listen to how and where the DX station is working other stations.
Is he working split--ie, listening "up" or "down" in frequency, answering late
callers, systematically moving his listening frequency or asking specifically
for QRP stations?
 This book by Bob Locher, W9KNI, is now out of print. Keep your eyes open at hamfests for used copies of the 1st or 2nd edition. |
3. Learn about propagation! Consult forecasts, check daily numbers (SFI, A and K), use propagation prediction software and review your logs from bygone seasons, years and solar cycles. Choose your operating times to favor the area of Earth you are trying to contact. The Propagation page on the ARRL Web site has lots more information on this fascinating topic.
4. Work contests! Worldwide contests provide a plethora of potential DX contacts--sometimes even the rare stuff. It's remarkable how well your QRP signal can be heard when it means a point for the contester on the other end. See my two-part column QRP Community: QRP Contesting (Part 1) and (Part 2).
5. Optimize your station! Put up the best antenna(s) you can. Keep your station in good operating condition. Make sure your coax is in good condition to minimize losses.
6. Learn how to use your radios' features! Spend a few quality hours with your radios and their manuals. Learn how to properly operate your gear and how to use special features. For example, know how to quickly set up your rig for split-frequency operation.
7. Develop good response timing! Knowing when to respond, pacing, emphasis and calling techniques will increase your chances of success.
8. DX spots and news. Use the many sources of DX information to learn about DX opportunities. Sources range from magazine articles to real-time spotting networks.
9. Keep good records! Use full-featured logging software that can track DX worked and monitor your progress. Learn the most effective methods to get QSL cards from the DX stations you have worked.
10. Set personal goals! Working the 330-plus DXCC entities can be a very overwhelming task for the new DXer. Setting more reasonable and modest personal goals can help a DXer to maintain motivation. The first 100 confirmed DX contacts qualify you for the ARRL basic DXCC Award. Other goals might be a specific number of new ones each year, working all the entities on a specific continent, etc.
Next Column
We will continue our DXing odyssey in my next column. In the meantime, I have two homework assignments for you. The first is really hard. Try to get a copy of the excellent, but now out-of-print, book The Complete DX'er by Bob Locher, W9KNI. You may have to search used book sites and hamfests or borrow a copy. Bob's fine writing and narrative style make its 200 pages a quick read, although a few items are out-of-date. The second assignment is much easier. Pick up a copy of DXing 101--The Amateur Radio DX Reference Guide by Rod Dinkins, AC6V. Both authors are definitely QRO, so you can skip the amplifier references, but much of their advice will work well for QRP operators.
Reader Feedback and Author Comments
The number of e-mails from QRP
Community readers following last month's column was even heavier
than usual. Many readers passed on links to additional homebrewing and
technical sites. I have posted many of these links on my Website. Remember, for more
information on any of my ARRL columns visit the QRP Community Home Page
section of my Web site. I also maintain corrections, notes and updated tables
from my previous columns on this page.
 The 1000 Mile per Watt Award is one of the fine awards sponsored by the QRP-Amateur Radio Club International (QRP ARCI). |
Two especially timely e-mails from QRP mailing lists can help homebrewers using toroid coils. For freeware toroid coil calculating tools checkout the Toroid Calculator by Diz Gentzow, W8DIZ and LPQSCalc by William Phinizy, K6WHP.
On the club news front, the Flying Pigs QRP Club International is sponsoring another New Year's challenge. This year's challenge is WAP--Worked All Pigs. You need to be a club member to participate, but, of course, club membership is free!
Annual nominations are open for the QRP Hall of Fame sponsored by the QRP ARCI. Send nominations to Ken Evans, W4DU, 848 Valbrook Court, Lilburn, GA 30047.
Finally, 2003 is the bicentennial of my home state of Ohio. Listen for the special call sign KO8HIO--quite often operating QRP. Awards, including QRP endorsements, of course, are available. Visit the North East Ohio Bicentennial ARC Web site for more information.
Editor's note: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, an ARRL member, lives in Stow, Ohio. He has
worked in the field of medical microbiology for 18 years and is now a
Technology and Computer Coordinator for a local school district. Luscre is an
avid QRP operator having earned DXCC, WAS and WAC using no more that 5 W
output. Readers are invited to contact the author via e-mail, k8zt@arrl.net
or visit his Web site.
| Previous: Virginia Amateur Group Sets New 145 GHz DX Record | Next: Board Discusses Strategic Planning, WRC-03 Efforts |
