[ADXA] The Cost of Being A DX'er - Part 2

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

Around November 1, I posted a blurb on our reflector about the cost of
being a DX'er. That addressed the cost in terms of personal sacrifice to
be on the air, whatever time of day, to catch a new one.

This blurb will discuss the financial aspect.

So, how much money does it take to be an effective DX'er? Good question
and one I can't answer simply because personal opinion varies
significantly as to how much one should invest in a station and exactly
what your current goals are. I will however, give you some excellent
examples. 

When I was working toward my very first DXCC award I was working solely
toward my first 100 countries, any band and any mode (at that time there
were really only two modes, Phone & CW). I was running my Novice
equipment, a DX60 xmtr and HR10 rcvr.....If you have visited my shack
you have seen these two on display! I was in high school at the time and
did not have any money. My antenna was a 2-wire dipole up 30 ft strung
between two trees running north & south. One wire was cut for 80 and the
other 40, which I also used on 15 meters with a separate dipole for 20
meters after I upgraded to General. Once I saved up some cash from
summer work I bought a used Heathkit SB100 transceiver. I didn't own a
tower until about 1980 when I muscled Big Gun Ron, K5XK, out of one he
had when he lived in Searcy!! My story is not unique....there are
several ADXA members who can and will tell you stories (true ones!!) of
their operating from the confines of an apartment, very small city lot
or even a college dorm room to grab a new one! (or maybe even mobile
from the car!!) 

I achieved DXCC with 100 countries and life was grand! I could now stand
among the ADXA Big Dogs! What followed was a long term effort to acquire
additional DXCC countries for the mixed award and I did reasonably well,
focusing mostly on 20 meters. This was before we had 30, 17 and 12
meters. 

Fast forward a few years and the introduction of the DX Challenge Award
with a focus on "Band Countries", working as many countries a possible
on as many bands. This really interested me so I began focusing on 20
meters and above. We now had the 30, 17 and 12 meter bands and I strung
up a 3-band dipole (three separate dipoles on one feedline) to grab
countries there. I didn't have a yagi on these three bands until after I
had worked over 250 countries with the dipoles! I then became interested
in the low bands, first with 40 meters so I focused my effort with
station and antennas for that band. After I hit the 300 mark my focus
moved to 80 meters along with my antenna and station priorities. After
hitting the 300 mark on that band I then moved my focus to 160 meters,
my current focus with 266 DXCC confirmed and hoping I hit the 300 mark
there before I die....that's a pretty tall order but is my "long term
DXCC goal". 

So, why am I telling you this? Very simple. We liked to talk about the
BIG STATIONS and what they have achieved......I'll confess, I'm proud of
my achievements in DXCC and like to pass that on to others (read that as
"brag"!) however sometimes that has a negative effect if a radio amateur
looks at one person's installation that is outside their possibility due
to either cost or current personal situation and conclude they need to
do something else in amateur radio or leave amateur radio completely!!
This is nothing new! When I was running an SB100 transceiver with a
dipole I used to salivate at the stations some of the ADXA members had
at the time. I didn't get depressed, I focused on what I could do with
my station at the time.

One very important thing that I'm really excited about with ADXA is the
number of new ADXA members pursuing their first DXCC award, or working
toward their second 100. You folks are great! You're focused on what you
can do with your station in your current situation, just like every ADXA
member has done for the past 51 years. 

So, what can we "BIG GUN" ADXA folks (and a few weenies) do to help? One
of our missions over the past three years has been to provide technical
help and mentoring. Recently, K5EJ and I were discussing "DX'ing on a
budget" and what we could offer to some of our new ADXA members to help
improve their current station effectiveness. EJ is preparing a
presentation for a future meeting that will address some techniques we
have all used with small stations to achieve our DXCC goal. Standby for
this one, you don't want to miss it!! 

Just remember, its not the size of your station, but how effectively you
use it!!!!!!   :-)) 

73 Joel W5ZN
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