Do you feel that your personal importance is
not duly reflected by your present status as radio amateur or as a radio pirate?
Do you feel inferior because one of your club
collegues just bought a new FT-1000MP or was awarded a DXCC Honor-roll membership?
If you answer one of these questions with yes, the Dawg X-ray Club has the solution for you:
DX-ers guide to instantaneous fame
Don't stay a little grey amateur
no one talks about. Take yourself important and turn into a shining star
the DX-community talks about. Make your call famous over night and become
a world reknown DX-pert. It is so easy if you just follow the rules on this
page: Join the Dawg X-ray Club!
The Rules
1) CQ calls
1a) Be a phoney
Use phone mode only. It takes up more frequency space and thus provides
a much broader presence of your personality. It is not as tedious and old
fashioned as telegraphy (CW). Be aware that in the near future CW contacts
will not be acknowledged anymore for DXCC and IOTA awards. Only for jamming
purposes (see 3j and 3m below) CW might still be appropriate.
1b) Be a broadcaster: the TNWN principle or "In doubt I shout"
Some know-it-alls might tell you that listening is more important
than transmitting for radio amateurs. But why would this apply to operators whose
declared goal is fame? Can you think of any renowned broadcast station that
listens before transmitting? Thus, never delay your transmissions by previous listening.
Note: The consequent implementation of the "transmit
now, worry never" (TNWN) principle is the chief distinctive mark
of Dawg X-ray Club members.
1c) Spelling and yelling
CQ-calls can be so boring if you just use the standard version of the phonetic
aphabet. Therefore, be creative like:
"This is DAVID KENTUCKY FIVER LARRY IDAHO ZEBRA calling CQ DAAAAAAWG X-RAY"
Please note the pronounciation of DX which is extremely essential: "daaaawg
x-ray, daaaawg x-ray" (try it several times, if you are not already familiar
with it).
1d) Making sense with vanity call signs
Choose vanity call signs that allow customized spelling. Let's assume
your name is Diethelm. By the right choice of call sign your CQ-call could
read like:
"This is DIETHELM LOOKING FOUR FRIIEEEED CHICKEN EGGS"
Another unconventional way of spelling the own call sign:
"DOTTEL FOTTEL NINE SOTTEL DOTTEL"
became the trademark for "Moehringer", a ham who advanced to the most famous
radio amateur of his hometown Moehringen, a little village near Stuttgart.
We should add that Moehringer's spelling habits were only a small part
of his contribution to sense making in amateur radio. An invaluable platform
for the latter was - and maybe still is - the VHF repeater DB0ST (the former DB0WR, see the history blurb of DL4TA and
follow his link to the "official" DB0WR web site - both sites in german).
Moehringer's fame certainly was unrelated with any other pattern of behavior
described on this page and, therefore, he could never be elected as a club
member.
1e) Callers to ignore
Never answer to a weak signal or any QRPers. Be warned that "QRP" is a movement of losers
who try to interfer with regular amateur radio traffic using inefficient equipment.
Dealing with them only takes you time and is almost never worth it. Therefore,
if weak stations are calling you, just resume CQ-ing. By long transmission
cycles you increase the chance to attract rare DX-stations. Be goal-oriented.
2) DX-Cluster
The DX-cluster is now becoming the stage to demonstrate excellence for the
ambitous expert. Don't miss your opportunities there!
2a) Self-Spots - do it yourself
Proudly announce yourself by DX-spots. If no one besides you spots you,
who else than you should spot you? Some people might object that a DX-spot
must contain second-order information, i.e., that a station A hears a station
B with A different from B. But this is nonsense, made up by people who have
not yet reached your status! Hasn't the cluster been particularly designed
for important DX-ers like you? Don't hesitate to spot yourself on a daily
basis so people will learn about your schedule of activity. Use spots like
those of "Len", the grand seigneur of self-spotting:
DX de KN6LEN 28600.0 KN6LEN WEST COAST listening for dx 1710Z
Actually, self-spots may be very important second order information,
just of another kind: they mark the few moments when the spotter realizes
who he is and where he is on his dial at the same time. One should be aware
that "spot yourself" is free translation of the famous antique greek motto
"gnóthi seautón" ascribed to Thales of Milet.
2b) BINGO-Spots
Let others know about your successful DX-operations. If the DX-station was already
spotted fifty times before, just make your spots unique by personalizing them. An
excellent method to make others envy you are the so-called BINGO-spots:
DX de ID1OT: 3799.0 XY7Z BIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNGGOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1255Z
DX de DA7ZLE: 3799.0 XY7Z my DXCC # 333 1256Z
DX de SW8NK: 3799.0 XY7Z NEW ONE !!!!!!! 1257Z
DX de M0RON: 3799.0 XY7Z WKD ON 23 BANDS !!!! 1257Z
DX de AL1AR: 3799.0 XY7Z wkd without antenna !! 1258Z
Or even better, make the cluster a show room for all the fabulous qsl cards
you have recently received:
DX de N1NNY: 21225.0 P5/4L4FN rcvd QSL, my #345, nice color card! Tnx Ed! 2048Z
Such spots will easily elicit the attention you need and deserve. For example, an impressed
fellow-DXer might respond:
DX de DO0FUS: 21225.0 P5/4L4FN congrats N1NNY, you are a great op!! 2050Z
Further reading: Wilhelm Busch: "Das tapfere Schneiderlein" (The brave little
taylor)
2c) Digg the cluster not the bands
Look for DX-stations on the cluster. Never waste time by searching the bands
yourself.
2d) Attracting DX-stations through spotting
A clever strategy of cluster-aided DX-ing is to seek the attention of the
DX-station by placing cluster spots and anouncements. Since landline access
and plenty of computer equipment is obligatory at DX-locations, you can expect
any DX-station to monitor the cluster permanently. Invite the DX-station to
your frequency by anouncements like:
08Feb2002@08:55:24 YT1ZFW -> ALL: To LU1ZA Pse luck for YT7ZDX & YT1ZFW on 14095 73 Tnx!
11Feb2002@19:40:48 YT1ZFW -> ALL: To JX7DFA Per Please QSO rtty,I need JX for rtty dxcc!Tnx
Or simply tell others to make the DX-station come to your favored band:
21Jun2001@15:40:18 DL1QSL -> ALL: Pse ask VU7DX for QSY to 20, need VU7 on 20!!!!!!Tnx
2e) Global players without antennas
Not owning shortwave equipment does not mean you should renounce to become
a global player in the DX-community. Just put fantasy DX-spots on the cluster
or retype cluster spots you see. Start discussions by full anouncements. Being
a so-called cluster crab will make your life
more colorful and make your call famous within a few weeks. Find more about
DX-ing, the optimal use of the DX-cluster, and how to apply for becoming
crab of the month (crab
nomination has been discontinued).
2f) DX-peditions rely on YOUR opinion
DX-peditioners are people enjoying life and traveling around sponsored and pampered
by generous DX-organizations. Usually they have no idea (and they don't care)
whats going on on the bands. Therefore, it is important that you share your
opinions and complaints about DX-peditioners with the whole community. The
best place is on the DX-frequency itself, but you should also consider to
state comments as DX spots or AN/FULL anouncements in the cluster. You may
use fantasy calls for postings. Examples:
DawgX 14200.0 TI9M have no mike for SSB? TI91304 21 Feb 2002
DawgX 21000.0 TI9M Very bad operation ... TI91811 21 Feb 2002
In the course of a major DX-pedition one can discern two typical phases
that the opinion of our club members passes through:
I) whining and complaining phase: "poor operators"
II) dazzling phase: "great guys, got them on 20 bands"
3) On DX-frequencies
3a) Tune in and stay tuned
Tune your transmitter directly on the DX-frequency to make sure that full
output power is available on the target frequency. Transmit for longer periods
to test whether your equipment is ready for heavy duty cycles.
3b) Who is the DX?
Ask who the DX-station is. Often DX-spots are set by people who cannot tell
A from B. Ask for DXCC region or IOTA number and don't waste time by looking
up this information yourself. Enough people just hang around on DX-frequencies
and don't know what to do with their time.
3c) Where is he listening?
Ask for the split frequency. Getting this information on the DX-frequency
makes your life much easier. You will also win new friends because usually
many people just wait to tell you. In rare cases some crumblers might complain.
Then just appeal on HAM spirit.
Hints: Mention your call several times on the DX-frequency - many ears
are listing and it is a unique opportunity to introduce yourself on an international
podium. Be social, say hello to friends and discuss latest local news. There
should always be time for a little chat, shouldn't it?
3d) The "coup"
Once you located the split frequency, put the mike gain to the maximum and
start calling. Keep on calling until many people on the DX-frequency tell
you to shut up because you are already five times in the log of the DX-station.
As you will notice, efficient behavior on the split frequency of the DX-station
will also provoke broad feedback on the cluster by people who envy your operation
skills. For instance:
7003.0 F9BBL 20-Jan-2002 2340Z qrm-ing vp8 <PA7XMM>
10100.0 F9BBL 17-Jan-2002 2216Z you calmed down and got your <OH7YZZ>
10100.0 F9BBL 17-Jan-2002 2201Z Is continous calling Ham spi <OH2ZRF>
10100.0 F9BBL 17-Jan-2002 2158Z d10100 My tx is off your is <OH2ZRF>
10100.0 F9BBL 17-Jan-2002 2156Z no but you qrm all the time <OH2ZRF>
10100.0 F9BBL 17-Jan-2002 2154Z Are you OZ 9BBL? <OH2ZRF>
Here the spotted station has already reached an exceptional level of excellence.
The spots indicate that he skillfully applies our master rule 1b) and also
some of the following rules, 3f), and presumably also 3e). Wow!!
Also watch for feedback by anouncements mentioning your call. For instance,
they could look like:
09Feb2002@17:25:06 K2CXW -> ALL: IK9SAW QRMing: Well done, DX-stn gone QRT: Tnx!!
12Feb2002@09:06:29 F9NZD -> ALL: IK9SAW TKS FOR BIG QRM HAVE YOU A RECEIVER ???
3e) Tail riding
If the pile-up is big, an economic, elegant and time-saving technique to get
in the DX-station's log is tail riding. Let's assume your call is DM3LIB and
the DX-station asks for SQ3XYZ: Then it is clearly your turn - basically he
asks for your call and just got problems with some of the letters.
3f) Instructions from a DX-station?
There is a quite general rule how to handle instructions from a DX-station:
If you hear the DX-station at all (experts don't need to hear the DX-station),
ignore any instructions from this side. Commonly, DX operators are guys
hanging out on a sunny island and drinking Baccardi. Mostly they are occupied
with other things and have no clue at all what they are doing with their
radios. Their instructions, if sensible at all, are for newcomers, not for experts like you.
Here an example: The DX-station asks for AS while you are sitting in
the middle of EU: You should take your chance NOW and call. This is the time
when all the other EUs shut up and the DX station can hear your signal loud
and clear. Always keep in mind our chief guideline (1b): In doubt YOU shout!
3g) Tell the DX-station about yorself
Once you attracted the attention of the DX-station, don't be too brief.
Even if the DX-station doesn't want to know, tell him or her all about your
equipment and your antenna system. Don't forget a detailed weather report
and some personal information, such as about your past DX-successes, your
club memberships (like your DIG number), the name of your dog, etc. Repeat
your call and the call of the DX-station several times to make sure that
all listeners will learn about your close association with the DX-station.
3h) Celebrate successes, you deserve it
After getting in the log of the DX-station, go back to the DX-frequency
and ask for QSL information. Ask several times because people sometimes spread
wrong QSL-information. Finally you should put BINGO-spots in the cluster (for
details, see 2b above). Explain in full anouncements how you achieved your
DX contact and why this is impossible for other people. Further references:
The song "Bobby Brown" by Frank Zappa.
3i) Dupes are fun for everyone
Make sure to work DX-stations repeatedly on the same band. Every dupe QSO
is another demonstration of your value as a DX-er and the quality of your
equipment. Also you keep the frequency busy and prevent that too much unqualified
people get a chance.
It is a very fulfilling experience to work a DX-station ten times ore
more on one band. If you have achieved this you should look up the Happy Duper
Award (HDA) program maintained by the Dawg X-ray Club. Recommended references
for passionate dupers: H. Boell:."Nicht nur zur Weihnachtszeit" (Not only
at christmas time). The movie "Groundhog Day".
3j) Turn frustration into action
After calling the DX-station incessantly you might become frustrated.
Some DX-stations are just bad operators, incapable to put your call in their
logs.You should then go back to the DX-frequency and express your frustration
by deliberate jamming. Yes, be an asshole! Your QRM serves four very important
purposes: I) Your psychological relief. II) It is a clear statement of what
you think about the DX-station (but see also 2f, above). III) It prevents
other less skilled DX-ers from working a station that is not in your log.
IV) It chases incapable DX-stations off the band. Often, DX-stations are
chickens - after a bit of QRM action by people like you they go QRT voluntarily.
3k) International Amateur Police Department (IAPD)
Unskilled DX-ers tend to misbehave on DX-frequencies. In such moments your
intervention is required: It is up to excellent operators like yourself to
give education by lengthy explanations and instructions on the DX-frequency.
Education on DX-frequencies is favored by the Dawg X-ray Club because
of its multiplier effect: People will learn about your excellence and at the
same time many ignorant people will receive the lecture, even those not actually
misbehaving. (Join the IAPD task force and receive
your personalized IAPD plaque. Apply at the Dawg X-ray Club headquarters.)
3l) The split/up rap: Join it and feel the togetherness
Every skilled Dawg X-ray Club member starts to call the DX-station simplex
to find out about the split frequency. If you hear your club collegue you
should not only tell him "split" or "up" if there is good short-skip condition
to him. Make a "split" or "up" call on every ocassion. You will be rewarded
by the fulfilling experience of togetherness, if not only a few stations,
but an immense choir of "splits" and "ups" forms the refrain of every simplex
call. Participating in this chain reaction of radio excellence will make you
feel truly connected with all the other Dawg X-ray Club members. Yes - you
are not alone!
3m) QRM-ing for the shy
If you feel somehow confused about a CW-pile-up you happen to come across,
the noblest and most discrete strategy the Dawg X-ray Club recommends is to
simply send questionmarks. Even our shyest members should feel comfortable with
this strategy and its impact is nevertheless tremendous: First, such genuine
confession of deep confusion is an important first step to your perfection as
DX-operator. Second, spicing the air with questionmarks will subconsciously
cause the DX-station to question his or her behavior. Third, this strategy adds
to senseless QRM, just as any of the more vocal behaviors recommended for our
members.
4) DX-operations
You should not go on DX-peditions since it costs you money, it is work, and
it opens opportunities to your competitors only. Therefore, the Dawg X-ray
club does not recommend DX-operations to its members. However, if you happen
to operate as a DX-station here some rules:
4a) Long lists - rare birds
To take up very long lists can increase your importance dramatically. It
documents how wanted you are and it keeps a lot of people listening to you
for a long time. Since the propagation changes over time, you also get rid
of QRPers.
4b) Become a net celebrity
For maximum public exposure, join DX-nets. With the upcoming of the DX-cluster,
DX-nets lost their original meaning. But they still provide an excellent opportunity
to work few people with maximum overhead of senseless communication and under
the admiration of big audience. For more information about DX-nets, see the
very instructive No List Lizards, Inc.
page, in particular, the article Sitting Ducks (article unfortunately no longer online).
4c) Call by countries not by numbers
Calling by countries can never be just (think of all the 335 DXCC prefixes).
Therefore, it gives you the natural opportunity to set preferences. For
instance, it is nice to work all your buddies at home (switch to your native
language then). Although driving most other people crazy, it will substantially
increase your local status.
4d) The two favorable split strategies: gluing and spilling
As a DX-station you shape your pile-up like when you have played in the sandpit.
You can either squeeze the callers like lemmings or spread them all over
the band. Both is fun. Therefore, Dawg X-ray Club members adher
to the extreme strategies of split operation:
1) Gluing: Never change your listening frequency, or even better, just
stay simplex. This naturally fades out QRP-ers and other little pistols.
2) Spilling: Skip successively over the whole band. It is a rewarding
experience when an entire band becomes yours. Try it!
4e) Secret service operation
A fascinating way to pile up pile-ups, even as a not so much wanted DX-country,
like DL or W, is the so-called secret service or undercover operation. Use a
fluent DX-operation style but strictly avoid to give the own call for long
periods of time - let's say longer than half an hour. In many DX-ers this
will trigger the wfwl (work first worry later) reflex and big pile ups will
be guaranteed. Also for major DX-peditions secret service operation can be
droll: Imagine the confusion you can cause in the DX-community, and think
of all the poor guys taking a pirate's 599 for the confirmation of their
DX-contact.
4f) Dawg X-ray Club parties - How DX-stations recruit new club members
Some Dawg X-ray Club members are just natural talents, may they suck up
our rules by nutrition or acquire them in early childhood, who knows. But
can a DX-station help to recruit new club members?
Definitely so, simply by rewarding those who carefully apply the club
rules. Give a Dawg X-ray Club party: Accept callers that you didn't call upon
(see 3f). Put tail riders (see 3e) in your log. Be a gluer (see 4d) and
work only the yellers that completely cover up the DX-frequency. Encourage
tattletales who unbid tell you their whole life story although lots of
stations are waiting (see 3g). A few rewards will break the ice and bring
almost everyone in party mood...
Important notes:
1) All call signs on this web page are chosen for demonstration purposes only. Coincidences with calls of existing amateur operators are purely accidental.
2) The examples on this page are picked arbitrarily. The choice is not meant to reflect any representative statistics concerning the distribution of club members over different countries, regions, license classes, etc.
3) You can send your suggestions for nominees for the famous Dawg X-ray award. Please add a detailed list of achievements. Self-nominations are encouraged.
4) If you know typical patterns of behavior of Dawg X-ray Club members that are not included here, please send a mail to the address below.
5) If you find the behavior described on this page embarrassing, don't follow the rules of the Dawg X-ray Club and just refrain to become a member. Probably, no one in the whole world would blame you...
6) This page is primarily a pladoyee for modesty and self-criticism. Who besides us cares these days about amateur radio and DX-ing in particular? Our passion can be fun but also bears the potential of obsessiveness. Even in the heat of the DX-moment we should try to recognize this danger (gnóthi seautón) and avoid behavior that is ruthless and embarrassing. See also W8KC's DX Point-Counterpoint!
7) Essentally this page highlights a hit list of "not-to-do's" in DX-ing, some just odd, some thoughtless, and some highly illegal: all in all a caricature of repelling attitude. Find the complementary information, reasonable assemblies of "how-to-do's" at: So you want to be a DXer? (AA0MZ) and Operating practice (ON4WW) .
8) If you feel uncomfortable about this page, please
direct any comments or complaints to the person responsible.
9) In any case, don't take this page entirely seriously. It's just a hobby. Relax and enjoy...
Further related information:
The Rotten Radio Series in the QST magazine written by H. P. Maxim (W1AW) --using the pseudonym T.O.M.-- starting in 1917 (W1UJR webpage)
The Amateur Radio Operators Code written by P. M. Segal (W9EEA) in 1928: "The Radio Amateur is CONSIDERATE, never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others." (Webpage of The CW Fists Club)
W8CNL was calling "CQ Dog Xray". So, some nut sent him 4 copies of a dog's Xray. - WA7RFH (QST for November 1974, Strays, p. 88)
So you want to be a lid by A. J. Massa (W5VSR), in Ham Radio Horizons 1978.
Primer and links to detailed
information for the DX-cluster. (Webpage of the Falmouth Amateur Radio
Association, K1BI)
DX Point-Counterpoint:
"DXing brings me closer to the world's people" versus "You DXers are all idiots!!!"
(W8KC webpage)
Books about DXing. Classics and recent (AD1C webpage)
The end:
Responsible for the content of this page: Fritz Sommer, dl4tt@qsl.net.
The credit for this web site, however, goes to many radio amateurs who provided
information, ideas and feedback.
Last update: June 14th, 2007
- visits since February 12th, 2002: