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

Mon May 28 09:56:56 EDT 2012

Indeed, although as the ham population ages, a larger fraction of DXpeditioners will be retired.  Of course, that brings its own problems, including health issues; I seem to remember a recent article (in DX Magazine, perhaps?) on the increasing need for medical preparations on DXpeditions.  The physical challenge of landing on Malpelo, among others, also comes to mind.

I think also an important link to (re-)establish is the one between Dxpeditioners and wildlife managers, since another great limitation on DXpeditions is getting access at all.  On the surface, it's hard to think of a more natural fit than the one between DXpeditions and ecologically sensitive sites.  Hams typically erect a tent or two on the beach and then pretty much stay in them for two weeks, not to return for several years; the free, world-wide publicity they give to the site, however, would be hard for the managers to obtain any other way.  It seems to me that this relationship is improving, and I hope this trend continues.

And, just to correct the opening, when I saw this presentation, my response was, "Wow!  They did 3Y0X for under $500k!"  Darned editing mistakes. . .

Ed.

-----Original Message-----
From: The Romagni's [mailto:eromagni at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2012 8:54 AM
To: Ed Callaway; SFDXA at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [SFDXA] FW: [Dx-qsl] N1DG's DXpedition Costs powerpoint

Ed 

You bring some great points there, the other thing that cross my mind when I saw the presentation was, how many of us can actually take off 5 to 6 weeks from work and family obligation, and take a risk to go to the ends of the world!

As cost of fuel goes up, the cost of putting an expedition together like 3Y0X will sure go up, and I will predict that eventually some of this rare ones will be very rare, as not that many few will be able to pull a budget big enough to travel to some of this places.

Again, this presentation should serve as an eye opener to DX Clubs to properly educate new and old members, as well as help provide some sort of assistance when it come to cost to some of this teams.

Steve
W4DTA

-----Original Message-----
From: sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:sfdxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Ed Callaway
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2012 7:19 AM
To: SFDXA at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [SFDXA] FW: [Dx-qsl] N1DG's DXpedition Costs powerpoint

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

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