[ADXA] Starting today, only chasing needed B/M

Wed Mar 13 16:02:25 EDT 2019

Hi San,

I would let the DXexpedition set the terms.  Like in the 7P8 case, they say come and get us!  Other expeditions will say do not work us unless you need us for a new Band/Mode country or for ATNO.  I normally just like to fill in new band modes, but once is a while I like to see what I can do in the Weenier mode against the big guns.  As K5UR would say against their huge antenna systems.  That is a hoot for sure to measure yourself against them when they are in the race!  I know you are like Joel and never met a pileup you didn’t like, so I say go for it.  The other day when I worked the 7P8 on 40m I was looking at the map and there I was the only station in mid USA that worked them during that time period.  The other USA station was on the east coast.  That sure pumped me up and during that whole time they faded out and making me sweat a little bit.  I know for a fact my 40m cloud warmer antenna sucks compared to the beams on that band.

Speaking of kicking out ATNO for a newbie DXer, when I was down in Fort Smith we had no less than have a dozen hams within in mile radius.  Plus an 1 KW BC station within that footprint.  When I first started to DX after 25 years of being a ham, I would get wiped out by all of the above.  It was frustrating at first, then I improved the receivers and technique as best I could.  Learned how to use technology to my advantage.  There were a few ATNOs I was knocked out on, but I was only using a vertical down in Fort Smith during the time I was pushing hard to up my DX total.  Now some would get pissed and move on, but as many as I lost I gained by those same individuals.  K5JUC, W5SJ, and K5YCM ( I am sure there are others) would let me come over and use their stations when they were hearing stations I couldn’t on the vertical.  So I am sure I got ten more ATNOs that way.  K5JUC and K5YCM lives within walking distance of my old QTH.  The friendships have grow and we would normally work on something after we both got them.  Sometimes I would work them first and other times the host would go first.  I always like to do my own thing no matter what QTH I am at.  I even bought over my own keyer over to K5YY’s QTH to work some DX with.

Now back to the leader board, etc.  I also don’t care about the national level, but if I see a friend or other ADXA members chasing DX (we all look and compare right!), many times I will get into the chase just because of the comradery of my friends!  That is probably the only thing that kept and made me into a DXer is the social aspect and mentoring.  I need mentoring and I do my best to help others.  

Memories like Joel stopping Kathy and I at the ARRL Centennial, mean the world to me.  K5YY, W5SJ, and K5JUC and others calling me to tell me tell me to get on the air or to have a good laugh after we both making the contact.  Like the time we saw you work FT8! 😊   Those are great memories.  

Speaking of DXing, I have to give Rick K5UR credit for me being a DXer.  The rest of you can blame him and  I am sure he would cringe if he reads this!  We had a disagreement and he said more or less to me, to know DXing you need to become a DXer.  He was right and now I wish I had been a DXer all my ham radio career.  I lost about 30 years before getting into the chase.  If I had become a DXer back in 1972 instead of the late 90s,  I am sure I would be on the honor roll by now.   I still hate it when I miss ATNO or a new band mode country, but I tell myself that is great as it leaves me something to shoot for later.

Sorry I got off the subject, but have thought about it for a few days now.  In summary I would let the DXexpeditions set the terms.  Many times if I am working one all the bands I including the ones I didn’t really need, I will add more to the QRSS donation for each contact.  So really they benefit from all my contacts even if I only needed them on one band or mode.  BTW, I have gotten lazy on new ones for Band/Mode with QRSS.  I am not sure if anyone is really knocked out from an ATNO if they are trying hard.  As the expedition goes on you can work them on a shoestring most of the time if you can hear them.  

Now with FT8 there is no reason for any Weenier to really complain.  Now if there was a DXer near you and they mention you were interfering, that is a great way to help them and work something about between you.  I think that is part of the Amateur code never lessen the hobby for others!  But they need to at least let you know it.  If a DXexpedition says only work us if you need us for a ATNO or for Band/Mode, they I will abide by those rules set by them.  So one really needs to read the web pages first, something I need to tighten up on myself.  

73 de w5jay/jay..  WeenierHead out!  😊

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of w5zn at w5zn.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2019 1:08 PM
To: adxa at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [ADXA] Starting today, only chasing needed B/M

QSL San.

I couldn't care less about the "Leader Board". That doesn't interest or attract me in the least. What I am addicted to, however, is a pileup. I just can't stay out of one. I don't care who it is, where they are or how many times I have worked other DXPeditions in that country.....I've gotta get in there and kick some east coast butt, walk over a W6 and just plain humiliate them from W5 land! I just can't resist doing that.

If you're a weenie DX'er you need to learn how to be a smarter op than me and beat me in the pileups!!  :-))

Do NOT recommend therapy for me or saddle up a posse of ADXA folks for one of those "interventions", just stay out of my way!! I'm a ham with an addiction!!!   :-))))

It is a contagious disease and some of you other ADXA folks have contracted it. You know who you are so my advice to you is, "Party on Garth!" (That's Wayne's World speak for "GET ON AIR AND WORK THEM!)

73, Dr. ZN

On 2019-03-12 10:02, HamOP wrote:

Today I have made a decision based on review of my QSL confirmations from DXpeditions dating back years ago. I no longer will get in a pileup for the sake of chasing DX per se. Others need a better shot at the DX and not be CW or SSB splattered/clobbered by a local AR/MO station.

Too many ADXA members are in the same pileups I have been in chasing the 7P8 and XR0, and I feel badly that maybe I will be calling near by or helping create a bigger pileup than needed. An ADXA member needing the station for an ATNO is more important than my watching a leaderboard. I have almost all band/modes confirmed for XR0 (2016 trip) and 7P8 (2016) - RTTY/SSB/CW - and will only call if I need an isolated B/M..  But for sure, I will call on 160m IF I hear them, since ATNO for me. This is my new policy. So on RTTY, CW and SSB I will only be calling for an ATNO of some sort. 
San K5YY  

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