[ADXA] Gaining Skill, Experience, and Working Bouvet

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

Isn't that Scarborough??  :-))) Couldn't resist that one.

Yes, I've heard K5UR make that statement many times!

ZN

On 2023-02-07 06:33, BILL KENNAMER wrote:

> My ideal DXpedition has always been:
> 
> Op lands on a recently created volcanic island in a rowboat, works 20m 
> cw for four hours with 100 watts to a vertical, gets in rowboat and 
> leaves, island sinks back into the ocean, and it counts!
> 
> FUV
> 
> On Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 06:11:50 AM CST, w5zn at w5zn.org 
> <w5zn at w5zn.org> wrote:
> 
> Greetings ADXA Folks,
> 
> I was taught long ago by Larry Price, W4RA, that everyone is entitled 
> to their opinion, even if its wrong! We laughed lot about that over the 
> years before he became SK simply because he told me that on more than 
> one occasion.
> 
> DXpeditions generate a lot of opinions. Some are valid, some are not, 
> and some who offer an opinion just need to go sit in the truck 
> (something my dad would tell me when I started talking too much as a 
> kid).
> 
> Obviously, Bouvet will go down as the largest DXpedition opinion 
> generator in quite some time. Crozet was a very limited operation 
> however we knew that from the very start so there wasn't disappointment 
> in only seeing Thierry on a couple of bands and modes.
> 
> Bouvet is different. There were big plans, big money raised, lots of 
> "anticipation" (with all due respect to Carly Simon) and wild 
> expectations. Once the 3Y0J team arrived at Bouvet, reality set in. 
> Unlike Crozet, there is no established camp and infrastructure, the 
> weather is significantly different and the physical stress to just get 
> on the air and operate is significant. We know from past Bouvet 
> DXpeditions and also those to places like Peter 1 it is a harsh 
> environment. It is very easy for us to sit in our comfortable shacks 
> and second guess what's happening on Bouvet. Heck, we even do that 
> after a Saturday afternoon football game right here at home where we 
> can watch all the excitement in real time! I was doing quite a bit of 
> complaining yesterday until Kim finally told me to "shut up and suck it 
> up!" and then she something about "JUST GET IN THERE AND WORK 'EM!" I 
> wonder where she heard that one?
> 
> I'm disappointed that the Bouvet team has had to scale back plans. It 
> is unknown how long the operation will continue, there are just too 
> many variables in the equation. For now, based on the latest news 
> release, they will only be operating 30 meters thru 12 meters CW and 
> SSB......WHAT? NO FT8????
> 
> And here comes the opinion I'm "entitled" to, even if you believe I'm 
> wrong. It was rough, really rough last night on 30 CW with all the 
> DQRM, their weak signal, and a humongous pile up. To break through such 
> a pile up takes operator skill and experience. FT8 is an excellent mode 
> that I support and it has provoked a lot of hams to become active on HF 
> and start working DX. However FT8 doesn't provide much of an 
> opportunity, if any, to develop operator skill. DX'ing is a very 
> intense radiosport activity and you won't develop the skill to compete 
> if you're only an FT8 op when an operation is using mainly CW. I want 
> to strongly encourage those of you who are not yet proficient in 
> managing a DX pileup on CW, or simply not proficient in CW, to get in 
> there and listen.....then listen again, then listen some more. Try 
> different options with your station to improve reception of the DX 
> signal, either to improve the copy or to eliminate some of the DQRM. 
> Only you can develop the experience to fine tune your station. Then 
> listen to the pileup. Determine and understand how the operator is 
> working the pileup. They all use a different approach. Some start low 
> and move up working stations to a point then move back down and start 
> over. Some work up and then slowly work back down. Others just grab 
> stations at random. Pay attention to what is happening and learn, gain 
> that experience. The experience you gain from this will improve your 
> skill on every mode, SSB and digital.
> 
> And just remember - "You Can't Run With the Big Dogs if You Pee Like a 
> Puppy!!" Those in ADXA who have worked them all or within a few didn't 
> just sit around and miraculously wind up on the DXCC Honor Roll 
> overnight. They developed skill and experience and improved their 
> station that came from paying close attention to operations like Bouvet 
> over the years. These opportunities don't come very often so please 
> take advantage of it, even if you don't make it into their log.
> 
> So, while 3Y0J is not currently running FT8, use this opportunity to 
> LISTEN AND LEARN. It will pay huge dividends down the road for the next 
> "BIG ONE".
> 
> End of OpEd piece!
> 
> Let's all pay attention to Bernie's "The Daily DX" or the 3Y0J Facebook 
> page (a link is on our website) for the latest news and see how the 
> 3Y0J DXpedition progresses. GL in the hunt and as always "GET IN THERE 
> AND WORK 'EM!!!"
> 
> 73 Joel W5ZN
> ADXA President 
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