[ADXA] DXAC Meeting, Results

Mon Oct 10 17:52:17 EDT 2022

I don't have a dog in this fight (should there be one), but to all those
that have made it to the top by working and getting QSL cards from all
"those" places that some might want to delete or have since been deleted, I
agree that their effort was gargantuan for "back in the day".  No FT, no
LoTW and only snail mail.  How did they ever do it?  But on the flip side,
some of those DXCC locations might be "underwater" in a few years or
totally unavailable for hams to access in order to activate them ever again
for one reason or another, so why keep them on the list?

Over the years, locations have been deleted from the DXCC list.  Some Honor
Roll members (probably most) worked them when they were teenagers or
shortly before they were deleted.  By leaving these entities on the list
now will make it almost impossible for up and comers to achieve the Honor
Roll status ever again unless that magic number is lowered.  Nobody is
making new dirt, but entities do come and go all the time politically,
so why not update the DXCC list every 10 years or so to reflect the
ever-changing world and the logical chances?

Ok, here's a novel idea.  Why not create a "new" DXCC list with all those
stations deleted as a "21st Century" Honor Roll Award, leaving intact the
current one for those that just might still be able to achieve the original
Honor Roll status via that "older list" route.  Yes, 2 of them so as not to
diminish what the old-timers were able to accomplish, but give the new guys
a chance to do the same with a different, but accurate, up to date slate of
entities to work, like it was in the "wayback machine" of old.  Can I hear
the ARRL gasping for air about now?

Of course the introduction of FTx in 2017 has changed the landscape with
regard to ARRL Awards for sure.  Most of the "new guys" don't have a clue
how really difficult it was 50 or  60 years ago to get simple things like a
mixed WAS.  I know, I was one of them.  Now it's just a few mouse clicks
away during a serious weekend FTx effort and they get the  LoTW
confirmations in a few days for mixed WAS.  Bingo, check it off the list.

Just to set the record straight, I used FTx to complete several Awards
myself.  Almost like shooting fish in a barrel, but they still count.  I
only have my first DXCC certificate from ARRL hanging on the wall.  Even
though I have many of them now, the main reasons are 1) I have 7 windows in
my shack so no wall space, and 2) hardly anybody visits my shack  that
would see them anyway.  I can check LoTW or my spreadsheets to see what I
have earned and where I stand on the rest.  That's good enough for me.

A whole new world awaits.  Maybe the DXAC should go ahead and take some
steps forward.  Looking back is great, but looking forward is even better.
Of course not everybody will be happy, but that's life.

Fire extinguisher at the ready.

73's
George - WB5JJJ
HoIP - 100105
HH - 4969

On Mon, Oct 10, 2022 at 3:30 PM <w5zn at w5zn.org> wrote:

> Hi Steve,
>
> First, thanks for this excellent summary report. I greatly appreciate your
> serving as the ARRL Delta Division representative on the DXAC and it is
> great to have you as an active ADXA member as well !!!!!!
>
> I get pretty defensive (sometimes aggressively) when the topic of deleting
> DXCC countries from the list that haven't been active for a while just so
> someone can achieve "Honor Roll" status. That roll is titled "Honor" for a
> reason. It took me over 25 years to achieve Honor Roll my first Honor Roll
> and it was Mixed. Just because someone can't do it in five years, well,
> let's give them a participation trophy with a pacifier attached. Several of
> us refer to China and Albania as two countries that were impossible to work
> for years due to amateur radio not being allowed in those countries. Today,
> they are on the air literally daily. So, times and politics change.
>
> The only country I don't have to be "#1 Honor Roll" is North Korea. When
> it was active I was traveling extensively with my job and was never home
> when he was on. So do I want that one deleted just so I can be "#1" ?? (I
> would have to award myself a pacifier!!!!)
>
> Now, whether or not a rock in the south China sea that is only above water
> at low tide should have ever been a DXCC country in the first place is
> another matter!!!!!!!! That's, well to keep it somewhat clean, BRAVO SIERRA
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :-)
>
> Thanks again for the excellent summary, Steve, and for representing us on
> the DX Advisory Committee!
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
>
> On 2022-10-10 11:59, Steven Rutledge wrote:
>
> A DXAC meeting was held this past Sunday.  It was well attended.  These
> were the items put forth for discussion:
>
> 1) 4U1A county status
> 2) Balleny & Scott Island county status
> 3) VADXCC petition to suspend inactive countries
> (with possible consideration to reconsider honor roll threshold)
> 4) Return of RTTY only DXCC Award
> 5) Additional DXCC Award suggestions
> 6) Field "Card Checker" guidelines, rules adjustments considerations
> 7) Thoughts on DXCC 2025
>
> Regarding  1) and 2), under current DXCC rules, neither qualify for
> country status.
>
> Regarding 3) It was generally agreed that this was a bad idea.  BS7 was
> discussed but it was pointed out that it was declared a DXCC country under
> rules that existed at that time.  If we recommended that it be dropped,
> where does it end?
>
> Regarding 4)  There didn't seem to be much enthusiasm for a separate RTTY
> award.  Currently, RTTY is combined with the rest of the digital modes.
> Personally, I would not be against this, a Q on RTTY takes a lot more
> effort than an FT8 Q.
>
> Regarding 5)  There are over 20 DXCC awards.  It wasn't felt that adding
> additional awards would increase participation, cause an increase in
> membership or retention.
>
> Regarding 6)  We didn't touch that one.  I personally don't see a problem
> in my area with getting cards checked.  In any event, it isn't up to the
> DXAC to make changes to this program.
>
> Regarding 7)  The last review and changes to the DXCC program was DXCC
> 2000.  Is there need for a reevaluation of DXCC 2000?  Is the DXCC program
> healthy?  Can it be updated?  Are changes even needed?  We agreed further
> discussion was warranted.
>
> One member suggested that countries that had not been active for a period
> of years be put into suspended status to give newer operators a chance at
> the Honor Roll.  It was the ultimate feeling of the DXAC that the DXCC
> program should be not be diminished due to a minority of operators
> inability to achieve it.
>
> FT8 was also discussed.  It was pointed out that new, young hams are more
> interested in communicating via data than Phone or CW, the latter of which
> isn't even required for an amateur license anymore.
>
> I've tried to make this as brief as possible.  The meeting was 1.5 hours
> long and it would be impossible to recount all comments.
>
> If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me.  And feel
> free to pass this along to any ops in Delta who are interested and might
> not be DXAC members.
> Steve Rutledge, N4JQQ, DXAC, Delta
>
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