[ADXA] DX in 2017

[Joel Harrison]

Another Christmas has come and gone, the New Year is here and football is
winding down (bummer!) so what in the world can we do the rest of the
winter?? Well, turn on your radio, of course!!

DX on the low bands has not been good at all. 160 has been flat, 80 has
been "so so". 40 meters, though, has had some very decent stations on.
When the 160 meter season began back in October I got off to a roaring
start, working some new ones on the band like VP6J, H44GC and 3B9HA plus a
couple "local" ones I didn't have, TK and FJ. Working five new ones on a
band and the level I am at for an entire season is a significant
accomplishment so I was feeling really good about the quick start.....then
the band just sort of went dead for new ones. The Stew Perry Top Band
Challenge contest was mediocre from Arkansas. Even through the east coast
guys have had some very good prop to Europe it hasn't really reached out
that well to Arkansas. Ken, K4ZW is on his way to XW now and will fire up
in a couple of days so I will be hunting him on 160.

So, you're not a 160 meter person and want to know what to expect
elsewhere? The turn on your radio and listen around. There is plenty of DX
on all the bands and 40, 30 and 20 meters have been very good over the
past two weeks and I know some of you need some of the countries that have
been on! You just have to get off the couch and turn on your radio. Let's
face it, today we all complain there is nothing on TV to watch anymore so
why are you sitting in front of it, exercising your thumb punching the
remote? Turn in your remote for a radio knob!

The CQWW 160 CW & Phone contests and the ARRL DX Phone & CW contests are
coming up in a few weeks so plan some operating time. There will be plenty
of DX stations all the bands.

The new ADXA website is just about ready to go live. I know you have heard
me say that several times already although everything is finished except
for the PayPal link for membership payment that we hope will be completed
this week. Once that is done we will go "LIVE!" Now, please understand one
very important thing....a website is a living thing. It will continually
go through updating and revision as time moves on to stay current with our
group and interests. When we go live there will be things that need to be
tweaked, adjusted, revised and in some cases deleted so please be patient
and provide any constructive comments you may have. I continue to believe
this will be a big shot in the arm for ADXA and will be a major benefit in
our ability to reach out to current DX'ers and potential new members in
Arkansas.

Just after Christmas Kim and I had the extreme pleasure of hosting Bill
and Kathy Priakos (W5SJ) for a short visit here at W5ZN. It was great to
see them and provide a brief tour of the station.

As a reminder, meeting dates for 2017 are:
March 4 - Russellville, AR Hamfest
June 17 - Northwest Arkansas
September 16 - Little Rock
December 2 - Annual Meeting, location TBD

73,

Joel W5ZN