[ADXA] The Cost of a "New One"

[w5znjoel at gmail.com]

Greetings ADXA Folks,

 

I just finished writing my article for the 1st Quarter ADXA Newsletter and
sent it off to Glenn. The topic is about pets so I'm confident you will want
to read it when the newsletter is distributed via this reflector. Its such a
thrilling piece that I actually fell asleep this afternoon proof reading it
!!

 

I have another topic in my head that I chose to post here rather than in the
newsletter and it pertains to the cost of a "new one". Now, I'm not
referring to money. If you look at the different stations of ADXA members
you will see we range from some very large stations through mid-size to
small and they are all very effective. The reason you run with the big dogs
is because you don't pee like a puppy!! So exactly what do I mean by "cost"
if I'm not talking about money? Very simple, I'm referring to personal
commitment. I often refer to the 1964 Beatles hit "Can't Buy Me Love" during
my presentations at Contest University to make the point that you can spend
a heck of a lot of money on radios and antennas and still not be successful
in DX'ing if you simply don't have a personal commitment to know what you're
doing.

 

Three examples are very noteworthy for this writing. The first is Jon,
KI5UCZ. Jon has a modest station but has the drive of a hungry wolf that
hasn't eaten in a month. He recently posted about his effort to work TX5S.
He had been working 15 hours a day, 7 days a week and thought he would never
have the opportunity to work Clipperton. Through his persistence and
endurance he was able to pick them up for a new one, literally at the very
last minute!

 

The second is Dennis, W5RZ, "Mr. BIC". He is at the top of the Honor Roll,
mind you, but wasn't satisfied with his DXCC Challenge numbers. The other
members of the Russellville DX Mafia had left him in the dust. That had to
change - can't have that! We have all enjoyed reading his posts about
focusing on spending what time he had on the air, in the hunt, searching for
new band-entities and his success far exceeded his goal. Dennis doesn't have
a massive station but is determined. So determined that his new numbers have
the dynamic duo of Russellville, BHS and JJJ, hearing LOUD footsteps flying
up behind them on the DXCC Challenge count!

 

The third is Lanny, K1LEC. Lanny has a modest station with a hex beam. You
know he works a TON of DX! Lanny has some family caregiver responsibilities
and doesn't have unlimited time, but his time is coordinated and focused.
Plus, he always shares with all of us what he is hearing and working right
here on the reflector.

 

So, what is the "Cost of a New One"? It is commitment, plain and simple. It
is not measured by the amount of money spent on equipment, we each have our
own personal desire and resources to build the station we can or want, but
that doesn't buy us "love". It takes planning, desire, and commitment!

 

I was driven to write this after my bout trying to work Yemen on 160 meters.
I failed in 2000 with 7O1YGF, again in 2012 when 7O6T had a big DXpedition
to Yemen's Socotra Island. That continued last fall with 7O8AD then 7O73T.
The failure was attributed to either a lack of propagation or lack of
attention to the difficulty of 160 meters by the DXpedition operator. Then
came the announcement that Vlad, OK2WX, would be in Yemen on Socotra Island
as 7O2WX in February with the big announcement "focus on the low bands". I
became excited but once the operation began my excitement turned to
disappointment. The propagation on 160 meters was horrible and to make
things worse Vlad would only show up on 160 for about an hour then bail to
another band. So much for the "focus on the low bands". 160 is a brutal,
unforgiving band. A propagation path can open for as little at 10 seconds
and you "gotta be there". So for 8 straight nights I had the headphones on
from 5:15 PM (30 mins before our sunset) until sunrise in Yemen at 8:45 PM
our time. For 3.5 hours each night, I sat listening to nothing but noise in
the headphones. Vlad would be on but no propagation. Every night after his
sunrise I would get up from the chair, disgusted, and stomp through the den
to the bedroom. Kim wouldn't even say anything to me as I walked through
knowing I was upset and didn't work him. Friday night, three days left
before Vlad packs up and leaves, I'm in the chair as usual at 5:15 PM,
headphones on, listening to noise. At around 5:50 PM I started hearing faint
CW too weak to copy. Over the next 8 mins the signal started to build and at
5:59 PM I had a peak and put Vlad in the log! By 6:05 PM he had completely
faded into the noise. That was #290 on 160 meters.

 

I relate this story to emphasize the three examples above. Some times you
can't just simply turn on the radio and let your computer work another
station. Your computer will do that but it has no clue of the "BIC" concept
or how propagation works. You control that part and that is why you are a
successful DX'er and can run with the BIG DOGS!

 

Thanks for reading this, now GET BACK IN THERE AND WORK 'EM !!!

 

73 Joel W5ZN 

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