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