[ADXA] The best DX band. and other old stuff.

[rcurt at centurytel.net]

Greed is a a powerful thing that can lead you to a path of pain and misery. A few months ago I wrote about not having 200 countries on any band. I set out to try and change that, amd finally did on 15 meters which is one of my most favorite bands. 


However, a very poweful thing called greed caused me to want 200 countries on a second band. I have always felt that 20 meters was the very best DX band. My Elmer, W5DYS Paul Dudley spent most of his time on 20 meters where he ran a Kenwood TS 820 into a National NCL2000 and then into a 2 element hygain tri-band quad. I'm sure you all remember the hygain quad...the one with the gamma matches. This was on a free standing 50 ft tower and was turned by a prop pitch motor from a WWII bomber. It seemed to me at that time, that he was one of the best operators, with the best station ever, and he did quite well on 20 meters. I later replaced his quad with a Telrex TB5EM, 5 element yagi after he suffered wind damage on the quad. 


After a year and a half as a young kid novice operating 15 meters and 40 meters I hitched a ride, with my friend Paul Coats WD5BMD ( later W5PRC), to the exam location in Memphis . I remember this trip well. We ate in at the first Taco Bell I had ever seen. I don't remember what I had, but I do remember, by drinking water, it fell within the budget of the $2 bucks I had in hand. 


The general exam was passed, as well as the CW test where I had to send and receive 13wpm in a big room full of people testing,  and I was ready to operate on 20 meters the very best DX band! What I found on 20 meters was lots of big stations, and lots of QRM that quicly overwhelmed my Hammarlund HQ129x and Johnson Viking Ranger which I had purchased with money earned from digging holes by hand....septic tank holes..at $25 each. When I finished digging a hole, it would be over my head, and I would need a ladder to climb out. I found this experience much like operating 20 meters. I was in much over my head, even after building my first amp, a single 811a in grounded grid which gave me a whopping 3db over the Ranger transmitter alone (you can do the math). I attempted to build a 20 meter quad, but lack of $$, and engineering skills hampered my attempt, and it was a failure. 


I finally left 20 meters alone and worked my DX on the easier bands. Which brings me up to the current date. I spoke with "Mr. Needmore" and he suggested that the easiest way to get to 200 countries on another band  was to bite the bullet and spend some time hunting on 20. I set JTAlert to give an audible alert on all the DXCC entities that I didn't have on 20, and was soon  rewarded with new DX spotted, sounds in the shack. One evening of operating around midnight gave me 5 new entities I did not have on 20, and I have been able to pick off an occasional new one. This morning I checked my count on lotw and it looked like this....


20M<https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/accountcredits?awg_id=DXCC&amp;ac_acct=1&amp;aw_id=DXCC-20>1940519919917M<https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/accountcredits?awg_id=DXCC&amp;ac_acct=1&amp;aw_id=DXCC-17>1880219019015M<https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/accountcredits?awg_id=DXCC&amp;ac_acct=1&amp;aw_id=DXCC-15>20304207206


Now I am pursing the most elusive DX ever which is the final one before raching a personal goal. I suppose If I needed Canada for #200, that propagation to Canada would cease or the government would ban Amateur Radio in that country. In reality, I do not think #200 will take long to find. 


So here we are on Tuesday 7/7/2026, wich happens to be "Taco Tuesday", and I hunt for #200 on 20 meters in Honor of my late Elmer Paul W5DYS, and plan to have some .99 cent tacos in honor of my  late friend Paul W5PRC. 


Everyone do your best to stay cool, and have a great day!
Randy/W5ZJ
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