[ADXA] Various Comments - LONG Email

Wed Sep 23 11:56:15 EDT 2020

If it were easy, it would not be so much fun!

Thank you,
J Ferguson

> On Sep 23, 2020, at 10:53, Crownhaven <crownhaven at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> Joel, thank you!  I agree 100%.  I don’t mind stating that as DXAC member, Delta, I have read enough comments on the awards reflector to confirm a lot of ops want to do it the easy way.
> 
> It’s not necessarily the kill but the thrill of the hunt.
> 
> Steve, QQ
> 
>> On Sep 23, 2020, at 10:27 AM, w5zn at w5zn.org wrote:
>> 
>> Greetings ADXA Folks!
>> 
>> I'm sitting here early this nice, cool fall morning listening to 160 meters for the first time this "season". I don't have my RX antennas up and running yet, that is this weekend's project. I am listening on my TX array and its good to hear some sigs coming in from South America and VK.
>> 
>> As Glenn has noted, the quarterly newsletter will be out in a few days. We have articles from Rick, AI5P and EJ, K5EJ plus my usual ramblings. In my section I talk about remote operation. It was, once again, a major topic of debate, confusion and agitation on the ARRL Awards reflector a few weeks ago regarding its impact on the DXCC awards program.
>> 
>> The ARRL Awards reflector debate has now turned to whether or not some reefs currently on the DXCC Entity List should be deleted. As you can imagine from other reflector debates the discussion has migrated to a variety of related and unrelated topics!
>> 
>> I won't repeat my editorial that is forthcoming in the newsletter as you can read it when it is distributed however I will state, firmly, that the expectation that a person should achieve DXCC Honor Roll, or "working them all" in some perceived period of time is not only a false perception, it is ridiculous! If you're sensing that I'm not a fan of "everyone gets a trophy" you're right. Whether you believe the pursuit of DXCC is a competition or an individual achievement is irrelevant because very simply it is an award that is EARNED regardless of how you view the program. Some have complained that the award and rules have become too political....uh??? Did they just wake up yesterday? I've been DX'ing and a DXCC holder for over 45 years and I've heard that statement the entire time! Since the DXCC program is based on countries (OK "Entities") that are controlled by governments would you expect anything else? The DXCC rules have evolved over time and that is a good thing but we simply do not change rules on a whim or because someone cannot have instant access to a country that currently outlaws or prohibits amateur radio. To quote John Wayne from the movie Big Jake, "Times change" and if you've been DX'ing as long or longer than I have you are well aware of countries that outlawed or prohibited amateur in the past that now are active on the air daily. Just hang on....remember this program is based on political entities that change and evolve over time. If you feel slighted because your one or two needed countries seem hopeless, just QRX, times change and remember I still need one, just one, to have "worked them all" that seems hopeless right now but I'm not throwing in the towel over P5!
>> 
>> I remember an interview with past ADXA Charter Member Dick Freeling, W5TIZ (SK) that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat statewide newspaper on May 29, 1975. During the interview he noted he had made contact with all countries except South Sandwich Island and Bouvet Island. Dickie said "It is highly unlikely I will ever contact them in my lifetime. There is no one there and they are closed down due to an active volcano." If you are not aware of W5TIZ he was a blind radio amateur. He lost his sight as a Lieutenant in World War II at the hands of a German sniper. At the end of the interview Dickie said his life was much better because of amateur radio. I believe we can all say that! Fortunately, times changed and he did work South Sandwich and Bouvet before he became a silent key!
>> 
>> Let's all remember one thing. The DX Century Club Award is still the premier operating award in amateur radio, period, whether you chose to only pursue a mixed award of 100 or you continue that pursuit toward a 5BDXCC on your way to the Honor Roll or 3,000 on the DX Challenge. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE WHINERS AND CRYBABIES that try to tell you otherwise. If you hold a DXCC award at any level YOU EARNED IT! Remember that. You earned that award using a shortwave station that you assembled at your home after you studied and passed an exam to be granted a license to transmit by the federal government. Don't forget that and pay no attention to the minority of folks who believe just because they can't work an entity today that somehow they have been "cheated" from a life achievement. To once again quote a movie character, James Bond, "We're not dead yet!" :-)))
>> 
>> I am being somewhat firm with my comments and highlighting them for one reason and that is I love the Arkansas DX Association. Why? Because we're not on our reflector fighting, crying, cussing or discussing things for the purpose trying to convince someone we know more than we really do. We're on our reflector posting juicy DX we're hearing and working so others can possibly grab a "new one". We're on here congratulating our fellow ADXA members for their DX achievements and helping each other improve our stations and operating efficiency. That is our objective.
>> 
>> Yes, the rules will continue to evolve and it is important that we provide our input on these matters. We are fortunate to have ADXA member Steve N4JQQ as our DX Advisory Committee member for the ARRL Delta Divison. Steve is very active in the discussions and always seeks our input on matters regarding the DXCC awards program. With that aside, let's continue to keep our actions civil and positive. Thank you ADXA!
>> 
>> NEXT TOPIC:
>> We most likely will NOT be hosting a virtual conference this year. I believe most of us are virtually Zoom'ed out, literally. If not, that is a blessing. Try to stay in perspective! This technology is great and in the future will provide an excellent path for folks to join our sessions who cannot attend in-person for one reason or another but for now we do not plan an annual conference event. What we do need is to hold an annual meeting of some sort to conduct a little association business. The ADXA board will be reviewing options.
>> 
>> SILENT KEY:
>> Some of you knew DX'er Jim Lane, KN4F, in Memphis. Jim became a silent key a couple of weeks ago.
>> 
>> That's about all (enuf??) for now. Thanks to everyone for your support of ADXA, the DXCC program and ARRL.
>> 
>> 73 Joel W5ZN
>> ADXA President
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> ADXA mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/adxa
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:ADXA at mailman.qth.net
>> 
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> ADXA mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/adxa
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:ADXA at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html