[W8MWA] A good weekend to pick cherries

[Jan Ditzian]

DX tasters:

If you are thinking of putting your toe into the DXing waters, this is 
from the ARRL DX News:

> The CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, SARL
> Field Day Contest, Asia-Pacific CW Spring Sprint, SKCC Weekend CW
> Sprintathon, KCJ Topband CW Contest, Dutch PACC Contest, OMISS SSB
> QSO Party, FISTS Winter Unlimited CW Sprint, AWA Amplitude
> Modulation QSO Party and the Balkan HF Contest

It will be a good weekend to cherry-pick DX stations that you need on band or mode.  In a contest, there are so many DX stations that most do not operate split; if you are not comfortable with, or capable of, split frequency operation, you can still make QSOs.  If you are starting out in DXing/contesting, don't be stiff-necked or proud, use a DXCluster to show you what DX is on the air and where to find it.

Do you need the exchange for one or more contests? Try WA7BNM, and don't worry about copying what you get if you are not really in a contest, just give the contesters what they need.  They are all good for awards afterward (DXCC, WAC, WAS, worked all Russian Oblasts, ...).

http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/weeklycont.php

If you decide to try Topband (160) or 80, see what you can work before sunrise.  Even if you don't work anyone, you can tell other hams that you get up before sunrise to catch the rare ones on 160.  Going fishing and catching fish are two different actions.

73,
Jan, KX2A