[ADXA] Assessing DXpeditions In Today's DX Environment

[The Romagni's]

Great post, Joel. Having been involved in several complex and costly
expedition planning efforts, I can offer some insight into the realities
and challenges that occur behind the scenes when organizing an operation to
a top-10 most-wanted entity.

When we look at the current list, it’s clear that many of these locations
are in areas where a successful activation can realistically require
budgets approaching or exceeding a million dollars. Additionally, the DXCC
rules as they stand today allow very little flexibility. As a result, many
newer DXers may never have a practical path to working the #1 most-wanted
entity under the current framework. Realistically, very few operators are
willing or able to attempt places like P5 or a rock such as BS7.

As with any hobby, disparities exist. Some operators have greater financial
resources, stronger stations, or the ability to support large-scale
operations. That said, we have also seen some unintended consequences
affecting engagement in the DXCC program, for several of the reasons you
mentioned. It’s worth pausing to consider programs like POTA, not to debate
whether one is better than the other, but to acknowledge the level of
participation and enthusiasm it has generated compared to traditional DX
pursuits.

Beyond financial considerations, there is also the factor of time and age.
Many of us can look around the room and see how that dynamic has shifted
over the years. I recall being among the younger DXers to set foot in YV0;
today, the remaining entities I need to reach the top are few, but the
practical challenges associated with them make the goal increasingly
difficult. Still, I digress.

Support from clubs like ours is clearly essential, and as stewards of
membership funds, I commend the leadership for taking a responsible and
thoughtful approach to allocation decisions.

In any case, the next few months should bring plenty of activity on the
bands, so get out there and enjoy it.

Steve
W4DTA

On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 10:48 AM <w5znjoel at gmail.com> wrote:

> Greetings ADXA Folks,
>
>
>
> Assessing the seriousness and competence of planned DXpeditons in today’s
> world of DX is challenging.
>
>
>
> Sixty or so years ago, an individual would pack up a Collins S-line or
> Drake line, jump on a boat to a remote island or step off a plane and drive
> six hours into remote Africa and fire up the radio. Licenses, operating
> permission, and everything else was in order, well most of the time except
> when Romeo or Don Miller were involved !!! We had some ADXA members who did
> this, Lloyd and Iris Colvin did, as well as many others.
>
>
>
> Then came the era of the BIG DXpedition. Those multi-million-dollar
> efforts with chartered sea going vessels, helicopters, and a large team of
> high profile and extremely efficient pileup operators who chunked in tens
> of thousands of their own dollars to support the DXpedition. They knew how
> to erect effective antennas that worked, how to abate RX noise, and most
> importantly they knew how to LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN for weak signals and to
> stay on the band because they knew propagation and when it would change,
> maximizing the effort to get those weak “DX puppies” in the log. These
> adventurers successfully activated a ton of remote islands and other
> locations that afforded those of us who are now “Old Dog DX’ers” many new
> ones and helped place us at the DXCC level we have achieved. If you’ve
> never attended one of the old DX Convention’s 4-hour long banquet wearing a
> coat and tie, listened to boring speakers, award presentations, and had to
> watch a more than one hour video with penguins running around a tent
> erected in the snow with 60 MPH winds blowing, well you haven’t missed
> anything! But back then we were all excited to see the photos, videos, and
> hear the stories from those DX adventurers! Of course, these operations
> were all on CW and Phone, and some RTTY. FT8 and automatic systems didn’t
> exist then. With the exception of one current planned DXpedition this type
> of BIG effort seems to have faded away.
>
>
>
> Today we see just a few individuals, maybe even just one, boast about a
> planned BIG DXpedition to a highly needed DX entity then get off a boat or
> a plane, throw up a short vertical and fire up an automatic FT8 machine
> running 24 hours a day then zip over to the bar for a few beers while the
> “machine” is running. You think I’m making this up??? I recently had an
> in-person conversation with an individual who had been on a couple of these
> and he told me, with no concern or reservation whatsoever, that is exactly
> the common practice now. Oh sure, after a few beers the one, or the few,
> will fire up a second radio and make a few CW or SSB Q’s to somewhere close
> to make things “look good” then claim bad noise or no prop. There is no
> planning as to how to maximize receive capabilities or enlist operators who
> actually understand radio and radio propagation. Just let the machine do
> the work. This has negatively impacted the game of DX and taught new DX’ers
> they don’t need to know anything other than how to click a mouse button.
>
>
>
> So, Harrison, why is this important for you to want the ADXA folks to read
> this, if you’ve read it this far? It all comes down to evaluating
> DXpeditions for ADXA funding. We want to support serious DXpeditions to
> areas needed by our members to help you be successful and move up the
> ladder to achieve the coveted Honor Roll. It’s your money and we want you
> to get results from your investment. There are several BIG DX clubs that
> fund DXpeditions. NCDXF is one, INDEXA another, and many more. These groups
> have resources to financially sponsor DXpeditions well beyond ADXA’s
> ability. So when a DXpedition is announced to a much-needed location one of
> the first things we investigate is whether these large DX clubs are
> sponsors, or planning to sponsor. If not, that’s sort of a yellow flag. Not
> a red flag, but a cautionary one as the large groups traditionally only
> support serious, well planned DXpeditions with a high level of success
> potential. This was an initial “yellow flag” for VU7, a much-needed entity
> but no large support. The upcoming CE0X effort is another, the lone
> individual has no club sponsors, only individuals.
>
>
>
> I’m not passing judgement on today’s DXpedition style. I’m from the old
> school and have very fond, exciting memories from those old DXpeditions and
> beating all of you (OK, some of you) in the pileup. But I’m still in the
> BIG DOG DX game and will GET IN THERE AND WORK ‘EM regardless. Times change
> and we ADXA folks must be diligent and focused on how we assess planned
> DXpeditions and use your money to support adventures that meet the
> expectations of our pursuit of DX! On behalf of the ADXA board, we will
> continue to do just that!
>
>
>
> Now, GET IN THERE and if a rare one pops up out of nowhere as always, WFWL
>
>
>
> Happy New Year to all,
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN / ZF2ZN
>
>
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