[Elecraft] DX Spotting Systems

[Wes (N7WS)]

Like you I resisted using spots for a long time.  I wish I had all of the time 
back that I spent tuning the bands (pre bandscope too).  It's still easier to 
work them before they are spotted and on occasion that still happens.

One problem is, however, that many DX stations simply assume that they will be 
spotted and forgo identifying properly or announcing where they are listening.  
So even if you discover one of these without seeing spots, you can be clueless 
for a while as the DX station rips off "W7XYZ 5NN" for minutes on end.

So I've resigned myself to looking at spots at times.  That said, I'm not 
continually connected to any cluster but use web-based spots via dxscape.com.  I 
use Firefox and set tabs on the toolbar for bands of interest.  I just recently 
tried the new.dxsummit.fi and it's kind of neat in that it can be filtered and 
by clicking on a call, you are presented with QRZ.com and/or Clublog info, 
propagation info and a greyline map.  I've tried tabbed browsing to set band 
filters, but it doesn't work as expected.

You'll probably get s bunch of suggestions to connect to a cluster that will 
tune your radio, turn the beam, decode the station call, work him, update LoTW 
and make coffee while you browse the Internet.  I still do all of that stuff myself.

Wes  N7WS


On 12/7/2014 8:33 AM, Dauer, Edward wrote:
> I have resisted using spotting systems until now, preferring to hunt on my
> own.  Somehow, being primordial seemed more authentic. But as the totals
> rise and the easy ones are in the bag, the listening time per new entity
> has gone up sharply.  It seems , on a casual Internet search, that there
> are numerous systems out there.  Does anyone have experience with more
> than one and so able to offer advice?  If it matters, I operate
> exclusively CW and would need spotting notices by (ideally) e-mail or
> (workable) Web check-in - no texting and no VHF links.  Thanks in advance
> . . .
>
> Ted, KN1CBR
>
>