[ADXA] The Cost of Being a DX'er

[EJ]

Sound advice!!!

 

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of w5zn at w5zn.org
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 6:46 PM
To: 'adxa' <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [ADXA] The Cost of Being a DX'er

 

The tip I remember most from K5UR is "The first thing you do when you walk in the shack is turn on the AMPLIFIER!!!!"

:-))

ZN

On 2018-11-01 11:47, EJ wrote:

Great commentary on DXing.  

 

If you want to work a lot of DX then  follow the advice of Woody Allen: "80% of life is showing up".  I'll paraphrase that to "80% of working DX is turning on your radio and listening".

Regarding goals: I follow a tip that Rick UR told me long time ago.  Make a list of stations you need and focus on working them.  My totals went way up after I started making a needs list and hunting particular stations

 

Good DX 

 

EJ K5EJ

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  [mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of w5zn at w5zn.org <mailto:w5zn at w5zn.org> 
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 6:58 AM
To: adxa <adxa at mailman.qth.net <mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net> >
Subject: [ADXA] The Cost of Being a DX'er

 

What does it cost to be a DX'er?

$100? $1,000? $10,000? $100,000?

Actually, all of the above are true because I'm not asking in monetary terms. Whatever the level of investment in your station, you have the ability to work DX and add to your totals.  The real cost is in sacrifice.....what are you willing to commit to in order to reach your next level in DX'ing?

 

Are you willing to sacrifice an evening on the couch or your recliner, complaining about what's on TV or the news, in order to read a technical article and implement that in your station?

 

Are you willing to stay up late in order to be on the air for EU or AF sunrise (SR)? Are you willing to sacrifice that nice comfortable bed in order to get up at 4:00 AM to be able to catch SR in the USA while it is sunset (SS) in Asia? Are you willing to sacrifice some "quite time" in order to listen to noise on a dead band waiting for that brief, maybe only 15 second opening, to a DX station you need?

 

The Beatles had a hit song released in 1964 titled "Can't Buy Me Love". I use that line at times in my presentations to make the point that no matter how much money you spend on your station it won't bring you the love of DX....only making the personal sacrifice to learn about propagation, tweaking your station's performance and operating it effectively to get that rare one you need in your log will do that. That is why we all feel an extreme pride of accomplishment, do a "happy dance" or walk outside and scream to the heavens "WOO HOO!!!!!" when we do, regardless of what you have spent on your station.

 

The large number of posts and comments on our reflector during VP6D was extremely pleasing! The level of excitement is great and so far this is shaping up to be a very productive winter DX season, even at the bottom of the sunspot cycle! Did we forget the bands are supposed to be dead? Just goes to prove the bands are in better shape than we have been programmed to believe. You never know if a band is open if everyone is "listening" or waiting for someone else to spot on the DX cluster.

 

So, the quest continues. What is your next DXCC goal? Make the personal sacrifice to lay out your plan then implement it.....I know you need something, GET ON THE AIR AND WORK IT!!!!!!!

 

73 Joel W5ZN

 

 

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