Zero to 100 in 18 Months

Transcription

1 Zero to 100 in 18 Months Getting Started in DXing How I Did It By Craig Bradley, AE6RR Page 1 of 46

2 Background History After 37 years off the air I was re-licensed in Sept WV6SVW & WA6SVW 1961 to 1967 My main motivation was to get on HF and work DX Countries = 0 States = 0 May original Goals WAS in 6 months DXCC in 1 year Page 2 of 46

3 This Presentation How I did it What worked for me Lessons learned and how to do it Oriented towards helping new DXers get started It may amuse some of the old timers Page 3 of 46

4 How to Get Started The QTH and station How to find the DX or States that you need How to work them Logging Contesting QSLing Awards Propagation Modes other than SSB How I did vs. my goals, were they realistic? Reference Material Pileup Contest Page 4 of 46

5 The QTH & Station Antenna & Tuner Radio QRO Page 5 of 46

6 My Station Antenna I have CC&Rs No Antennas Allowed Stealth G5RV Jr. (1/2 size G5RV) hidden on top of the roof Auto Antenna Tuner LDG AT-1000 Radio & Amp Kenwood TS-2000x Ameritron ALS-600, solid state, 600W Added after 6 months Page 6 of 46

7 Other Operations Occasional Weekends in Truckee (6000 ft.) Portable style TS-2000x (transported back and forth) G5RV at 80 in a pine tree 800 W Amplifier after 8 months (SB-201) Mobile Kenwood TS-480 Hamstick Page 7 of 46

8 How to Find the DX Listening Packet Clusters News letters Page 8 of 46

9 Listening Where s the DX? DX Windows - SSB 80m (Extra) 40m (Requires split operation to US band) 20m (Extra) 15m /- (General) 10m /- (Tech) Currently 20m is the best DX band Some DXpeditions will occasionally listen in the General band You will find some EU and JA stations up in the General band You might want to consider working on that Extra Tune around and listen, you might be surprised and be the first to find DX calling CQ Page 9 of 46

10 Packet Clusters Packet Clusters Packet Clusters are a mechanism to disseminate DX spots using digital packet protocols History Packet Clusters originated as 2m packet stations Most are now in the Internet What is a spot? A spot will contain the DX station s Call, Frequency, the spotter s call, the time and any comments that the spotter puts in such as the split frequency Disadvantages Once a station is spotted, a pileup usually starts Rule: if they have not been spotted, work em first, then spot em Were to get the spots DX Summit HTML web Telnet W4UAT.no-ip.com, n7od.pentux.net, many others Many logging programs have a Telnet window for a packet cluster You can click on a spot to tune your ratio, point your beam (if you have one) and start the QSO log entry Page 10 of 46

11 News Letters A good source of information Announced operations Who was heard where and when QSL info Status of major DXpeditions Some newsletters ARRL DX News free to ARRL members Signup on the ARRL web site The Daily DX - Free 2 week trial subscription $28/6mo, $49/year Great daily source of very current information Special announcements are sent out when news breaks QSL info, QSLs received etc. Page 11 of 46

12 How to Work Them Get Them In the Log Page 12 of 46

13 The Exchange Listen to a few QSOs first find out what info the DX wants or follow his lead The basic exchange is call and signal report (usually 59) It is not necessary to give the DX s call Be sure that he/she has your call correct If you heard your call correctly: You are 59 QSL? If he did not get your call correct, do not give a signal report until he gets it right Alpha Echo Six Radio Radio QSL? Some DX stations like to get your name in the log also If there is a pileup, don t go into a long exchange (QTH, equipment, weather) unless he starts it or has been having mini ragchews Page 13 of 46

14 The Simplex Pileup The Simplex Pileup Simplex the DX is listening on his or her transmit frequency Simplex pileups are tough If the DX does not control the pileup, it becomes a mess quickly Know when to move on Listen for a while before jumping in How are the stations that are getting through doing it? Is there a rhythm? Is the DX taking a list? YLs have an advantage as they have a higher pitched voice You can move up a couple of hundred Hz on USB to make your voice sound higher Page 14 of 46

15 The Split Pileup Split the DX is listening on a different frequency Know how to operate your radio in split mode Be able to move your transmit frequency quickly Listen for the DX to announce were he is listening Up 5, up 5-10, 200 to 220, etc. The split frequency may be spotted but verify, it may have moved If the DX announces a new frequency try to get there first before the crowd, that s how I got Peter One on 40m! If the pileup is spread out, try the upper edge on USB, lower on LSB Listen to the pileup Try to find the station being worked and get on that frequency Page 15 of 46

16 Good Operating Listen to the DX station for instructions Be sure that you are on the correct VFO before making a LID out of yourself! Don t be a DX cop, there are plenty of well qualified ones out there If someone is on the wrong VFO and he is not QRMing the DX, why do you want him to compete with you in the pileup? Page 16 of 46

17 Logging Keeping track of your QSOs Page 17 of 46

18 Basic Logging After you have worked them, be sure to log the QSO correctly The time should be in UTC Be sure that you get the correct date in UTC You can log the frequency in MHz, KHz or band You should have fields to log QSLs sent and received The ARRL paper log works but computer logging will be well worthwhile Page 18 of 46

19 Computer Logging Computer Logging Let the computer do the work Time & Date can be automatically entered from your system clock The computer can read the frequency and mode directly from your radio QSL tracking can be much easier Reports of countries/states worked/needed can generated Lists of needed QSLs can be generated The program can automatically get the stations QSL information from QRZ.com QSL labels can be printed If you are just getting started in DXing Now is the time to start your computer log Don t wait until you have a big data entry chore There are many programs available I use XMLog Page 19 of 46

20 Contesting A Great Opportunity to Work Many DX Stations in One Weekend Page 20 of 46

21 How to Get Stated in Contesting Recommended Accessories Headset with a boom microphone Footswitch to keep your hands free Contest Logging Software Contest logging software can simplify QSO entry The contest exchange can be prefilled with items like signal report Serial numbers are automatically incremented Rig interface Popular programs WriteLog CT TR Log N1MM Many others see AC6V.com Join the NCCC There are lots of tips at Page 21 of 46

22 DX Contesting Many DX locations are activated that may not be normally on the air Galapagos Is. Canary Is. Many Caribbean Is. There are big contest stations that are normally only used during contests They have big signals They want to work everyone for points They are usually on the air a few days before the contest for testing Many use LoTW Page 22 of 46

23 DX Contests Major Fall Contests CQ WW DX Contest SSB last weekend in October Major Spring Contests ARRL International DX Contest SSB 1 st weekend in March CQ WPX Contest SSB last weekend in March There are many others including other modes CW RTTY many RTTY stations submit to LoTW Subscribe to the ARRL Contester s Rate Sheet for up to date info and lists of contests coming up Page 23 of 46

24 WAS - US Contests Sweepstakes Nov (SSB) Great opportunity to work new states Big club competition contribute your score to NCCC QSO Parties Many states have their own QSO parties Great way to work the rare states on the East Coast such as NH, DE, RI, etc. You can be guaranteed that there will be stations on from that state CQP all of the states want CA counties Page 24 of 46

25 QSLing Get the Proof They Only Count if Confirmed Page 25 of 46

26 How to QSL Cards You can have cards printed by many printers the specialize in QSL cards see ads in QST and CQ or online You can print your own cards with your computer I use QSLmaker (download from QRZ.com) Envelopes Send your cards in a envelope - #10 Security is best (prevent postal theft in 3 rd world countries) Send International Reply Coupons (IRCs) for international postage Send an SASE if you want a reply - #9 Self Seal is best (it won t glue it s self closed in the mail) Initial the contact info and write a short note on the card I once got a card back with a note stating that he didn t want it because I did not initial it or write something on it QSL Corner on QRZ.com has some great tips Page 26 of 46

27 QSL Information Lookup the station on QRZ.com Hopefully, you will find an address There are more links on the club web site You can always try to search in the stations call Check for QSL instructions Many DX station have a QSL manager They may request special postage (green stamps, one or more IRCs, etc.) Some only QSL through the bureau (buro) Page 27 of 46

28 QSL Services ARRL Incoming QSL Bureau You should have envelopes (address labels) and postage on file Some DX stations may send you a card or return yours through the bureau See the ARRL web site for details ARRL Outgoing Bureau You can save postage The DX club is starting an outgoing service Page 28 of 46

29 Logbook of The World Online confirmation of QSOs Can be used for DXCC credit Can be used for WAS credit You can apply for awards online Saves the cost of sending cards Stamp = $0.90, IRC = $2.00, + Envelopes & Cards I currently have 129 countries confirmed and 217 band countries on LoTW Many contest stations submit logs after the contest so they won t get so many cards RTTY contesters especially Page 29 of 46

30 Chasing the QSLs Track your QSL status Many logging programs will do this Critical QSOs QSLs not sent Outstanding QSLs What if you don t get cards back? If you have other QSOs with the same entity, send them cards If there is an address on QRZ.com, send a polite Try to work another station in that entity Page 30 of 46

31 Awards Time for the Wallpaper Page 31 of 46

32 Worked All Continents WAC is the easiest award to get You don t need Antarctica NA North America Your neighbor down the street qualifies SA South America Easy; Brazil, Argentina most late afternoons on 20 15m OC Oceania Hawaii is easy from here in the evenings on 20m AS Asia Japan is usually easy when there are sunspots EU Europe Germany and Finland have been heard on 20m in the late evening lately AF Africa Hardest one under current conditions Canary Is. during a contest is the best bet See the ARRL web site for rules cards (6) must be sent to ARRL HQ for confirmation Page 32 of 46

33 Worked All States WAS is a good one to go after while the sunspot cycle is down Contests & State QSO Parties WAS Nets Late night WAS nets on 40 & 80m are good 3905 Century Club Triple H Net Most US Ops are poor QSLers, but the net guys are good RTTY stations usually post to LoTW They are computer people Page 33 of 46

34 DX Awards ARRL DXCC 100 Entities Modes SSB, CW, RTTY Bands Endorsements 150, 200, 250, 275, 300, etc., Honor Roll CQ DX Award (same as DXCC) CQ DX Field Award Based on major grid squares (fields) 50 fields for basic award Maritime Mobiles count Many others Page 34 of 46

35 Propagation A basic knowledge of propagation can be useful When is the best time to listen for a particular DX? Which bands are best at what time? Some general rules The low bands (160, 80 and 40) are best at night or over dark paths The higher bands (20 and up) are best during the day or over sunlight paths Some good source of current conditions are Propagation - ARRL Propagation de K7RA free newsletter from ARRL Ham CAP - There is a lot of info on the web much more than can be presented here Page 35 of 46

36 Other Modes Consider modes other than SSB Do you need a quiet mode of operation? No shouting into the microphone Don t wake up the family There is a lot of DX on CW and other modes Digital Computer sound card modes PSK31 is a very good low power (low SNR) mode RTTY requires more power but is very popular, there are many RTTY contests CW Many DX stations only operate CW Good low SNR mode gets through in bad conditions During a CW contest there is a lot of good DX going to waste It can be done with a computer Page 36 of 46

37 How I Did vs. My Goals Were the Goals Realistic? Page 37 of 46

38 The Wallpaper Start date License dated 13 Sept 04 WAC Goal none Certificate dated 26 May 05 8 months WAS Goal 6 mo. Worked all 50 in Feb 05 5 months Certificate dated 22 Sept year DXCC Goal 1 year Worked 100 in Dec months Certificate Phone dated 1 March months 20 Meters dated 17 August months CQ DX Field Award Goal none, new award Certificate for SSB (72 Fields) dated 12 April months Page 38 of 46

39 WAS Analysis Sweepstakes Contest States Worked Confirmed Award 10 0 Sep-04 Oct-04 Nov-04 Dec-04 Jan-05 Feb-05 Mar-05 Apr-05 Mass Mailing of QSL cards May-05 Jun-05 Jul-05 Aug-05 Sep-05 Page 39 of 46

40 WAS Lessons Learned The Sweepstakes was the big push Other QSO picked up in QSO Parties Start QSLing early US Ops seem to be the worst QSLers It took me 7 months to get all of the cards after I had all 50 worked All 50 worked with 100 W and a wire antenna, that was the easy part Page 40 of 46

41 DXCC Analysis Entities Sep-04 Oct CQ WPX Contest 04 ARRL DX Contest 04 CQ WW DX Contest Nov-04 Dec-04 Jan-05 Feb-05 Mar-05 Apr-05 May-05 Jun-05 Jul CQ WW DX Contest 05 ARRL DX Contest Aug-05 Sep-05 Oct-05 Nov-05 Dec-05 Jan-06 Feb-06 Mar-06 Work ed Confirm e d Aw ard Page 41 of 46

42 DXCC Confirmed by Band # Confirmed M 40M 20M 17M 15M 12M 10M Band Page 42 of 46

43 DXCC Lessons Learned Contests, Contests, Contests 1 st 60 worked with 100 W Keep up on the QSLs Don t let it become a big chore If you don t get some entities confirmed in a reasonable time, you can send another card QSL those bands and modes You may want them some day for 5-Band DXCC or other modes Page 43 of 46

44 Reference Material Books on Stealth Stations Stealth Amateur Radio by Kirk Kleinschmidt, NT0Z (ARRL pub.) Low Profile Amateur Radio by Al Brogdon, W1AB (ARRL pub.) Books on DXing The Complete DX er by Bob Locher, W9KNI (Idiom Press) AC6V s DXing 101 by Rod Kinkins, AC6V (AC6V pub.) ON4UN s Low-Band DXing by John Devoldere, ON4UN (ARRL pub.) Page 44 of 46

45 Pileup Contest Prize 1 copy of The Complete DX er Rules This is a simulated DX Pileup Don t call if you don t need the book, let s try to get it to a new DX er (less than 100 confirmed) Turn your back this is a long path QSO Wait for QRZ Give your call only once Listen The call confirmed by virtual DX (AE6RR) is the winner Page 45 of 46

46 Good Luck & Good DX Page 46 of 46