[ADXA] Where's DX???

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

ADXA Folks,

For more years than I can remember, because the phrase became popular 
long ago before I was born, "How's DX" has been a common and frequent 
question among DX'ers. The question is even the title of the DX column 
in QST that our ADXA friend Bernie, W3UR, produces. Given the impact of 
the pandemic on amateur radio worldwide one could easily modify that 
question to "Where's DX?".

That's a valid question however it is rooted in what your DX passion is. 
My current DX focus is to achieve the 300 mark on 160 meters. I am 
currently at 282 and in the years prior to the 2019-20 winter low band 
season I would pick up around 4 to 5 new ones each year. I obviously 
knew the pace would slow once I crossed the 275 mark since the large 
majority of new ones I need can only be activated by a DXpedition. For 
the past two seasons I have not work one new DXCC country on 160 meters. 
I love 160 meters in the winter time. It is still a thrill for me to 
come into the shack very early each morning, fire up the rig and listen 
for far away stations in southeast Asia or the Pacific. They are simply 
not there and can easily lead one to conclude the band is dead.....no 
propagation. I monitor the ON4KST Low Band Chat page and the old 160 
guard that still check in there is convinced band conditions have left 
us and we no longer have any low band propagation. They almost convinced 
me as well however during DX contests the CW segment on 160 meters comes 
alive with a ton of DX.

Then I notice that while the CW segment is void of DX stations with the 
exception of a couple of stalwarts in EU and JA that religiously come on 
and call CQ literally every day, the FT8 frequency at 1840 KHz is wide 
open, and you can hear most of the DX stations by ear so propagation is 
NOT dead!

40 years ago we all listened to the "old guys" grumble about things, 
laughed them off and energetically marched toward a goal we wanted to 
pursue without pause or worry. When I see the grumbling about band 
conditions from the old guys today I sit back, laugh, and realize today 
we are the grumbling guys of 40 years ago!!! Hey, that's not being 
derogatory.....I turned into one as well and sometimes I'm in charge of 
leading the grumbling!!!! Rather than focus on grumbling, though, I try 
to focus on a goal each year to keep my amateur radio interest alive and 
while my goal of 300 on 160 meters is stalled at the moment I simply 
refocused my goals in the short term. I still want to hit the 300 mark 
but in the interim I decided to finish WAS on 222 MHz while continuing 
the DX hunt on HF. I had already worked and confirmed 40 states on 222 
MHz so a group of us close to the same count decided to push forward and 
finish our goal, and we did.

So, now what......where's DX?

Its there, right in front of you. It may not be right in front of you on 
your preferred mode or band however it is there, most likely on a 
digital mode. If that makes you vomit in your mouth (sorry but it does 
for some) then please try to calm your queasy feelings. My favorite mode 
by far is CW but if a new one I need on 160 meters only shows up on FT8 
you better get out of my way!!!! (that's a friendly advisory notice, not 
a threat!!!). We have cussed and discussed modes here before and it is 
not productive and benefits no one, so just let it be (I believe the 
Beatles said that).

If propagation was dead and DX went with it we would not be seeing the 
activity and QSN reports that you post here on our reflector. Some of 
you even get mentioned in "The Daily DX" with your QSN posts. Are you 
missing the thrill of running in a pile up? Get active in one of the DX 
contests. During the pandemic I have focused my HF operating on DX CW 
contests. It exercises my operating skills and keeps them fresh, it 
allows me to assess my station performance and address any issues that 
arise (better now than in a pileup for a new one when you really need 
top performance), and it affords me an opportunity to enjoy amateur 
radio. You don't have to run continuously for 48 hours in a contest 
either. A couple of hours of active participation will do the trick.

A lot of our ADXA members are in there knocking off new ones, others are 
on the air staying "radio healthy". If you're not among them you are 
most likely asking "where's DX?" The answer is "On your radio, turn it 
on!". To once again quote my favorite line from Shawshank Redemption 
"Get busy livin', or get busy dying!"

To get busy living you know what to do - "GET IN THERE AND WORK 'EM!!"

73 Joel W5ZN
ADXA President
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