+++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 09:31:23 -0800 From: Tree N6TR To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Rd: [Elecraft] DX real time Paul asks > What are the online sources of real-time DX activity. I believe someone > posted a DX site a week or so ago that appeared to list realtime reports > of DX stations spotted, but I can't seem to locate it now. Not exactly sure of why you wanted this - but I would like to offer the following observation from the "old school" perspective. Many people are using packet and the internet to help them find DX stations. This is a very useful tool - but I believe that it takes away some of the reasons that make radio fun. However, even beyond that - from a QRP perspective, I believe there are other reasons to be weary about using these sources as a method of finding DX. A few of the operators at the recent VP8 operations shared with me the following observation... They would often be CQing for 10 minutes with nobody calling them, and then a QRP station would call (who would be S9) and shortly after working them, there would be 500 stations calling them. It was believed that this was the result of a packet spot. Now, if you are running a K1 or K2, and want to work this DX station, would you have a better chance of calling during the 10 minute period before the packet spot, or during the 120 minute period after it? I had a similar problem when operating the CQ W CW from TI1C in '93. I had a ton of DL stations calling me on 15 CW. They were all "3rd tier" guys, not very strong. It was very difficult to pick one signal out of the mess. The typical procedure when this happens is to QSY. I would do this and call CQ for a minute before the pack found me, spotted me, and the whole mess was recreated. Eventually, I gave up and pointed my beam back at the US. When you are running QRP - being just another signal in the pack is not the way to "mojo". Your path should be to find those stations that nobody has found yet and work them before the KW boys with the high speed internet connections. Therefore, I think the best source of information about DX stations can be found right between your headphones. I realize that you might have had other reasons for wanting this information, and I really wasn't trying to pick on you specifically. I just hope that some people might think twice before using spotting information as their sole information source for working DX. 73 Tree N6TR tree at kkn.net K2 #2411 ++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D' Eau Claire" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] DX real time Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 10:19:09 -0800 > Therefore, I think the best source of information about DX > stations can be > found right between your headphones. > 73 Tree N6TR Tree makes an excellent point. For me, any operating activity that promotes un-gentlemanly and rude behavior is not a good activity. So I don't work "pile ups" where I cannot find a clear spot. I never jump on a frequency that I can hear is busy, period. Note that I said that's MY choice about what I want to do. I am not trying to convert the world to anything. Still, I work DX regularly and even engage in an occasional "rag chew" with a DX station. In almost every case, the DX called me or I heard him calling CQ on a clear frequency. One way to know when to listen for those DX stations just coming on the air is to make use of the NCDXF/IARU Beacons at 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930 and 28.200 (see http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/beaconSchedule.htm). These beacons transmit alternately on these frequencies from all over the world. The send their calls followed by dashes at 100 watts, 10 watts, 1 watt and 100 milliwatts using conventional vertical antennas. Hearing one of these beacons at lower power levels clearly tells you that conditions are great for hearing stations from that part of the world as well. Time to start tuning and listening. Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 ++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002 13:24:49 -0500 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Hank Kohl K8DD Subject: Re: [Elecraft] DX real time There is something to be said for being the one to put out the spot that causes "the pack" to start calling the DX station! There is also something to be said for putting out more spots than you take, too. And don't be shy about putting out DL's, G's, I's, etc. Not everyone has worked everything. A good resource to find the DX Clusters is http://ve9dx.weblink.nbtel.net/telnet/sites.html 73 Hank K8DD (a DX PacketCluster sysop, too) >Paul asks > > > What are the online sources of real-time DX activity. I believe someone > > posted a DX site a week or so ago that appeared to list realtime reports > > of DX stations spotted, but I can't seem to locate it now. +++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002 22:19:55 +0000 From: pjhend at ameritech.net To: Hank Kohl K8DD Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] DX real time Thanks to Ron, Tree, Hank, & others for responding to my request for on-line DX cluster info. It seems there are strong feelings on the subject from people who use the DX cluster information routinely and those who feel it is somehow "cheating" to achieve the sought after awards. I thinks it's best to "agree to disagree agreeably" on this subject as well as many others in this diverse hobby. I think there are just as many terrific operators who chase DX with the help of DX spotting as those who choose to hunt quietly and pounce on the rare station's first CQ. My interest in the DX spotting was this: when I saw it for first time the other week, I was delighted that I could see at a glance the many areas of the world that had just opened up to my W9 region. Running QRP only recently, I've found that it is certainly better to jump on the DX as soon as his first or second call is uttered, rather than spending an hour trying to bust a pileup. Ron, AC7AC, suggestion of the DX beacons from around the world is also something that sounds exciting that I had not heard about before. Having been back in the hobby recently after a 25 year hiatus, I'm finding all sorts of useful information from this elecraft group, so thanks again to those who responded. Some who responded did jump to the conclusion that I was looking for the "easy way out" when I merely was trying to get a handle on all of the resources available. I have in fact come very close to DXCC with no help from the DX clusters, but i would not hesitate to use this resource if a nice rare one came up. I'd be more than happy to have a brief "59" exchange and add a rare contact to my list and worry about "chewing the rag" with them on another occasion. I plan to be very active in the days and years ahead, so I think there will plenty of chances to rag chew down the line. I think a "Good DX Operator" is a "Good DX Operator" regardless of making use of a DX cluster or just stumbling upon (oops....I mean scientifically searching for) a new Entity. :-) Paul KB9YVP K2 #2278 +++++++++++++++++