[Elecraft] PS on The Complete DX'r

[Vic Rosenthal]

Julian (G4ILO) wrote:

> Does the guy running a kilowatt into a big beam 
> on a tower still experience that thrill? I doubt it.

  Not if he's working a station a few hundred miles away, but if he's 
working a super-weak station in a rare location on the other side of the 
world, of course he does!

> I think the downside of becoming a DXer is that the joy of making that 
> unexpected DX contact is replaced more often by frustration when you don't 
> work it.

This explains why the guy you mentioned has a KW and a beam, to reduce 
the frustration.  A good antenna does more to increase one's enjoyment 
in amateur radio than anything else.

> Personally I think there is more fun to be had 
> chatting with like-minded people using a radio you built yourself than 
> there is working DX using thousands of dollars worth of commercial gear
> and an antenna that annoys the heck out of the neighbours.

How about working DX with equipment you built yourself?  And as for the 
neighbours, doesn't being considerate work both ways?  Why should we 
hams limit our activities because ill-informed people like to object to 
things that they don't understand?  My neighbour has a poorly-trained 
dog that is incredibly annoying in many ways, however I understand that 
he gets some pleasure out of harbouring this animal so I put up with the 
midnight barking, etc.  Why shouldn't he accept the antenna that I find 
so rewarding?

Vic K2VCO