[SFDXA] FW: [Dx-qsl] N1DG's DXpedition Costs powerpoint

[Ed Callaway]

For a week now I've been reading comments from people shocked at how incredibly high DXpedition budgets are, and my level of puzzlement has been steadily increasing.  When I saw this presentation, my response was, "Wow!  They did 3Y0X for under than $500k!  How'd they do that?!?"

I was under the impression that the budgets for these DXpeditions -- especially the Southern Ocean DXpeditions -- were far higher than it turns out they are.  **I** certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for organizing 3Y0X, for example -- a three-year project that included the five-week lease of an Antarctic-rated vessel with fuel and crew, a helicopter with fuel and Antarctic-rated pilot, getting tons of Antarctic-rated shelters, equipment, etc. in a container shipped from NA to Ushuaia (and stored there until the expedition arrives), getting Iridium satellite phones (and air time), buying insurance for a Southern Ocean voyage, etc., not to mention the time and manpower needed to work through the environmental approval, landing permit and licensing hassles -- if I were given a budget of $475k.  I would have refused that job assignment outright, as being impossible on its face.  I'm not sure I would have done it for twice that amount.

I've always thought 3Y0X was one of the greatest DXpeditions ever organized.  After hearing of its budget, I still do, but now also think that K4UEE and K0IR should receive some type of travel financial-efficiency Hall-of-Fame award.  Just amazing.

(And that was the DXpedition with the *largest* budget, I think.  The *smallest* Southern Ocean DXpedition budget was $160k.  How was that financial miracle performed?)

Let me turn this question on its head:  How much did the average DXer think these expeditions cost?  Did people really think a group of 20 could be sent to a Southern Ocean island for two weeks for less than this?  Or is the expressed amazement we're hearing now just due to the fact that no one gave a thought to this issue before?

Ed Callaway, N4II

-----Original Message-----
From: sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of The Romagni's
Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2012 9:57 AM
To: 'David Novoa, W4DN'; SFDXA at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [SFDXA] FW: [Dx-qsl] N1DG's DXpedition Costs powerpoint

The numbers are amazing. We all know that hams can be cheap, but as the trend continues, you might not see those rare ones come up, as the cost to put this operation go up, and the average ham only sends $1, and lets be real, the cost of $1 not longer comes close to cover a stamp/qsl cost and help for the operation.

This is why back few years ago, we came up with the dxpedition fund, just remember when you work this guys, that they also have day jobs, and that some of them have taken leave from their jobs to go to a rare place such as
BS7 or VK0. 

Steve
W4DTA

-----Original Message-----
From: sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of David Novoa, W4DN
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 5:33 PM
To: SFDXA at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [SFDXA] FW: [Dx-qsl] N1DG's DXpedition Costs powerpoint

Fellows:

Don't miss this presentation.
--73,
Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: dx-qsl-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:dx-qsl-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Dougherty
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 6:16 PM
To: 'dx-qsl at mailman.qth.net'
Subject: [Dx-qsl] N1DG's DXpedition Costs powerpoint

All,
Further to the discussion of DXpedition funding and costs, Don's excellent PowerPoint presentation from Dayton is up at the NCDXF's main Webpage.

http://www.ncdxf.org/misc/N1DG-DXpeditioncosts-Dayton2012.ppsx



---------------------------------------------
73 and Good DX
Peter, W2IRT

Letter O Manager,
ARRL Incoming 2nd District QSL bureau
Vice President, North Jersey DX Association