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 Previous: Surfin': Plumbing, Antennas and Emergency Communications |  Next: ARRL Expresses Concerns About Ham Radio Impact of 70-cm Changes |
By Anthony A. Luscre, K8ZT
Contributing Editor
February 24, 2003
We continue our QRP DX adventure. We look at ways to be more successful when hunting DX with our low-power signals. We also take a look at the various tools and tricks available to complete the process including finding the DX, getting QSL cards and awards.
Finding the DX--If You Can't Find It, You Can't Work It!
There are basically five ways to find DX stations: Listening on air, DX spots, private spots, announced operations and DX news bulletins/personal research.
1. Listening On Air: To be most effective, don't just listen, spend quality listening time (QLT). QLT is knowing how, where and when to listen.
How to listen includes using quick audio clues, including the sound of CW signals, polar flutter, the quick rhythm of short exchanges with a rare DX station, quickly picking up the call sign prefix of potential DX and non-DX stations and the unmistakable sound of a pileup. On phone clues can include the accent of DX station, frantic tone of stations replying to the DX station and the direction and signal strength of signals.
Don't forget to check out those weak signals you hear for untapped DX opportunities.
Where to listen is a learned experience, but general guidelines include checking near the bottom band edges and other frequencies where DX tends to hang out. Where to listen also includes which bands to choose. Time of day and propagation can help you decide which bands will be most productive. In general your efficiency with your QRP signal will be best on the highest frequency open band.
When to listen is greatly dependent on propagation. When to listen will also be determined by target area of the world and the band you want to use. In QRP DXing reducing competition can be very advantageous. Choosing the right day(s) to DX can give you that advantage. I always suggest the day before big contests. The DXpeditions are in place and often checking out their equipment and are a prime target for QRP DXers. Another way to choose opportune times is to get a calendar of world holidays.
Also: Knowing when DX operators in certain countries may have a holiday while the rest of the US is busy at work can give you a edge.
2. DX spots can be an easy way to find lots of DX. The downside, of course, is that every other station monitoring the spots also knows where the DX is. This can result in almost impossible competition for QRP operators.
You can monitor DX spots using a over-the-air packet network, or via Internet sites or using telnet-based clients, including DX Monitor by Peter Ralph Jennings,VE3SUN.
3. Private spots are actually the predecessors of today's DX spots. But, private spots still can be very effective (and often more effective). Basically, you let your local ham radio friends know which DX entities you still need. When they DX that's on your list, they give you a quick phone call, page or a shout on the local repeater.
4. Announced DX operations let you know days, even months in advance of when rare DX entities are expected or planned to be on the air. Many DXpeditions also maintain Web sites to give updates on upcoming operations and even on-line logs, so you can check to "make sure you are in the log" without going back to the pileup for an "insurance contact."
5. DX operator news is available in hard-copy form as newsletters and, nowadays, often via e-mailed or Internet-based, newsletters, some of which, such as the popular The Daily DX, written and edited by QST's "How's DX?" Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, are available by subscription only.
Such newsletters and bulletins have long been a great source to learn of upcoming DX operations as well as the operating habits of DX stations. Other examples include the well-respected Ohio-Penn DX bulletins (OPDX) and the ARRL's weekly on air and e-mail W1AW DX Bulletins. For additional bulletin links visit DX Notebook. For additional DXing resources visit the DXing Links page of my Web site.
6. Personal research can be a most effective way to get that elusive country. Basically this involves combining the first four methods above along with personal experience, notekeeping (times, frequencies, operating habits of your DX quarry and other stations that have been successful at getting through) and your strategies to get into the DX's log.
QSL cards from the author's collection |
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You Found It, Now Work It!
Once you find the DX station, you still need to work it. To accomplish this, you need to know when to call, how to call and where to call.
1. When to call? Timing is everything. If you are running a kW coupled to a monster antenna system, more than likely you can just drop in your call sign get a prompt response. It's a bit more difficult for QRPers to compete for the other station's attention. One of the best techniques QRPers can perfect is proper timing. Knowing exactly when to reply, how fast to send (or speak), the proper cadence and emphasis of letters and the number of times to repeat your call--among other techniques--can greatly increase your success of getting a reply.
Timing is a skill that you can develop by practicing in contests and listening to polished operators. Once you get the timing down, you'll likely find that your success rate will increase dramatically, whether you are DXing or contesting QRP or QRO.
By the way, if you are seriously into DXing or contesting, you may want to think of optimizing your call sign by reading "Choosing Your Ideal Vanity Call Sign".
2. How to call? Listen to successful stations and mimic their good techniques (not all of them are good, so learn to discriminate). Is the DX station answering quick callers, tailenders, stations sending fast CW or slow CW, listening for the last two letters of call signs or working stations by call areas? If you see a pattern, follow it.
One potential advantage with DX operators is to learn a few key phrases, numbers and phonetics in the language of the country you're attempting to work. Two books from the early 1980s were published as guides for using foreign phrases for ham radio contacts. C.W. Into Foreign Languages by Robert Morden, VE3EIM, and Francis Salter, VE3MGY, is a real bargain at $5 including postage. Orders from Robert Morden, 106 Renny Crescent, London, ON, Canada, N6E 2C5. The Radio Amateur's Conversation Guide by Jukka Heikinheimo, OH1BR, and Milka Heikenheimo, OH2BAD, is an excellent book. Unfortunately it is out of print. Fortunately, Jukka has generously given me permission to post the book's content in electronic format, so my column readers can print their own copies!
3. Where to call? Many DX stations--and probably the vast majority of DXpeditions--operate split frequency (transmit on one frequency and listen on another. The simple truth is that you need to become proficient at working split to be successful at working DX. There are many subtleties regarding just where to call (transmit). Is the DX station answering all stations calling on one frequency, is he moving his listening frequency up or down in a systematic fashion? How wide is the band of listening frequencies? (Some have been known to take up vast amounts of spectrum, an undesirable situation.) Even when the DX station is working simplex, try varying your calling frequency slightly above or below the pack.
DX Awards
Hunters and fisherman come in a variety styles. There are those who most enjoy the hunt. Some enjoy the bragging to friends. Others enjoy their mounted trophies on the wall. Finally there are those who just enjoy the trip outdoors, the camaraderie and the memories.
DXers also come in a variety of styles. I know DXers who spend all their time working DX but never bother chasing down QSL cards or awards. Others do not believe they are done until they have the prized QSL card in their possession. One friend never really "counts" a country until he gets the card; but, oddly, he never really bothers applying for DX awards either. Still others appreciate the awards and competitive aspect of DXing.
In addition to ARRL's basic DXCC (for working and confirming 100 entities published on ARRL's DXCC List), there are additional awards for specific bands and modes, 5 Band DXCC, multi-band countries ("The DXCC Challenge") and DXCC Honor Roll. Since January 2002 the ARRL has offered a QRP DXCC.
Most DX awards require QSL cards for confirmation of all contacts. So, the art of QSLing is often a big part of the award process. Although it is a big subject, to scratch the surface for QSLing information visit the QSLing section of John Shannon, K3WWP's Web site's DX Pages, Ronald Hill, W7NN's Advice on QSLing, eHam.net's QSLing page and Rod Vlach, NN0TT's ARRL Web article Please QSL Via the Bureau.
The QRP ARCI offers its own DX award. Many other DX-related awards available to the QRPer, and I will devote a future column to QRP awards.
Feedback and Notes
A timely e-mail from Oleg Borodin, RV3GM, invites QRPers from around the world to send him your DX totals for a "World QRP Top List". Oleg is the founder of RU-QRP, a Russia-based QRP club.
In a previous column, QRP Community: Construction--Kits, Homebrew and Other QRP Projects, I wanted to list the classic book Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur as a great resource. Unfortunately the 1977 book is out of print and a little dated. The good news is that ARRL's new publication, Experimental Methods in RF Design-- by Wes Hayward, W7ZOI, Rick Campbell, KK7B, and Bob Larkin, W7PUA, begins shipping this month. This book has been billed as the successor to Solid State Design.
Editor's note: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, an ARRL member, lives in Stow, Ohio. He has
worked in the field of medical microbiology for 18 years and is now a
Technology and Computer Coordinator for a local school district. Luscre is an
avid QRP operator having earned DXCC, WAS and WAC using no more that 5 W
output. Readers are invited to contact the author via e-mail, k8zt@arrl.net
or visit his Web
site.
| Previous: Surfin': Plumbing, Antennas and Emergency Communications | Next: ARRL Expresses Concerns About Ham Radio Impact of 70-cm Changes |
