[ADXA] The Definition of "DX"

[w5znjoel at gmail.com]

How do you define "DX"? The old phrase "Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder" applies. 

 

When I passed my exams and acquired my ticket 54 years ago, I was taught a
CQ to a specific area or region meant just that. If someone calls "CQ MT"
they're looking for Montana. A "CQ DX" would indicate a distant area.
Stations located outside the indicated area should standby, or not call.

 

My friends Jon, AA1K, who lives in Delaware and Dave, W0FLS who lives in
Iowa call "CQ DX" on 160-meter CW every morning to test propagation and
there are DX stations who listen for them. Occasionally they will be called
by a "local" station, maybe in the next state! Now, I know Delaware is a
much sought after state for WAS and can understand someone wanting a Q. Jon
and Dave both oblige and work the local caller but when the band is open to
DX areas, which is NOT a daily or even weekly occurrence, the local callers
can interfere with the ability to complete a DX contact.

 

This occurs more frequently on FT8. Now, all of you FT8 folks PLEASE do not
get riled up. I'm not bashing FT8 but trying to emphasize good operating
practice because the trend has become very bad in recent years. One example
is this morning as 160 meters was open to Japan. This is not a frequent
occurrence. I thought I would work a few JA's and maybe give some of them a
new state so I called "CQ DX" and was immediately flooded with local
callers. I can work Oklahoma at high noon local time on 160 meters any day
so why not honor my "DX" request with my CQ? I am always willing to get on,
anytime, and hand out a Q if needed. A similar situation occurs when a rare
DX station is on, maybe even off the normal FT8 frequency as with the
current KP5 operation. I've had local stations call me when I'm calling the
DX station. I don't understand this and it is very bad practice. Let me say
that again; this is very bad practice and suggests a very poor operator!

 

My point in this is, again, not to bash any specific mode but to focus on
good operating practice and being a good operator. I have not noticed any of
the ADXA folks doing these things, which displays good character among our
group and indicates you are all very good operators.

 

Let's continue to set an example of how good operators are supposed to act
on the air. DX is an intense, aggressive sport that gets very ugly at times
but let's stay focused!

 

Now..GET IN THERE!

 

73 Joel W5ZN

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