The higher you go, the lonelier it gets…………………. :-(

73 Joel W5ZN

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Randell Curtis, W5ZJ via ADXA
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2026 10:45 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ADXA] Today's lack of DX!

More specifically lack of new ones. 

In the quest for new DX, and basically finding none, I have taken a look at the entities I do not have and believe I am onto my issues as to why I am not working any. 

First and foremost the entites that end with the word Island seem to be few and far between.

AMSTERDAM & SAINT PAUL ISLANDS

ASCENSION ISLAND---which may be on in a few days, and semi-easy to work

BAKER & HOWLAND ISLANDS

CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS

CROZET ISLAND

HEARD ISLAND-----which should be renamed to NOT Heard Island

KERMADEC ISLAND

MALPELO ISLAND

MARIANA ISLANDS---which has been worked, but QSL is rarer than the island

MELLISH REEF---which is just a wannabe island

MIDWAY ISLAND---which has been on recently but I missed them...or was that Guan I missed?

NAVASSA ISLAND

NEW ZEALAND SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS

PETER 1 ISLAND

PRATAS ISLAND

SAN FELIX ISLAND

SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND

SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS

TRINDADE & MARTIM VAZ ISLANDS

TROMELIN ISLAND

WILLIS ISLAND

I am getting the vibe that the most of these entities only rise from the water on a full moon on February 29th and run QRP SSB only. 

I could be wrong about this and the real issue could be that most ham operators do not own boats to activate these island. I feel that we should make a ham radio recruitment push in the Yacht and Sailing clubs of the world. 

My other issue is all the countries that lie over the north pole short path from approximately 352.3 degrees to 8.6 degrees. While being able to hear stations from these compass headings occasionally, the lack of  them hearing me has been their problem. I should probably break down and buy them all new receivers. 

In other news that doesn't matter. The reversable pennant has not been completed, but the one that did not get struck by lightning is still working great allowing a QSO with A31AA and K5UR on 80 as well as 3G0Z on 17, 30, and 40.  Glad to have checked UR off on a few bands toward the WAR award aka Work All Rick. 

The reversable pennant really needs to be done and off the bench since parts for Bertha are on the fast plane from Greece. Fortunately they will be delivered locally by FedEX and their hand in it should give me  several extra days before delivery, for bench cleaning.

I hope all have a great day, and please do not be stressed by the fear of me running out of things to ramble about.  I have saved plenty more for later.

Good DXing

Randy/W5ZJ

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