For the large majority of Eleven Metre DX enthusiasts around the globe, the fundamental aim of our hobby is to work and confirm as many DXCC entities as possible. For most radio operators, working a new DXCC is one of the most invigorating moments our pastime can provide, surpassed only perhaps by the aforementioned QSL card turning up in the PO Box a few weeks later.
As you might imagine, working new DXCC entities in the current band climate, as we move into Cycle 24, is highly unlikely for those who have been around since the peak of Cycle 23 and even prior to that; experienced Eleven Metre radio operators who have made the most of the ‘good times’ on 27 MHz and 26 MHz and cashed in on them.
On this note, most of the more experienced Eleven Metre DXers will have amassed a healthy number of DXCC in the log – but now await for improved conditions to spurn DXpedition parties to rare and most wanted counties in order to complete the missing entries in their QSL album.
Despite the prospect of cyclical dividends in the future and greater accessibility to a wider range of contacts, several of the world’s Eleven Metre DXers have reached a point in their career as DXCC accumulators where the future as ‘paper collectors’ looks bleak. “Why bleak?” you might say. “Sounds a little cynical, Darren…”
In my opinion, one of the biggest and certainly one of the most frustrating challenges sure to affect more and more Eleven Metre radio devotees over time will be conquering DXCC entities accessible only to ham operators and this brings us to the crux of this article…
Rightly or wrongly, hams have an enormous advantage over Eleven Metre DXers because their licence, like a passport, enables them to venture to places where the common man cannot. Island sanctuaries, foreign controlled atolls, sovereign land, etc. are all far more accessible to the Ham – not just because of the government issued licenses too but also because of the extensive resources available to Ham DXpedition parties willing to tackle Most Wanted DXCC. By resources I mean equipment sponsorship from amateur radio companies such as ICOM and Yaesu, as well as large financial donations from DX Groups and individuals sometimes totalling over the $100,000 US mark.
Ask yourself this question, “Would an Eleven Metre DXer be afforded that same support?” Not likely. Does he deserve it? Some might say, “YES!” Others would say, “NO!”
Despite the fact individuals in the Eleven Metre DX Community contribute significantly to the retail communications market by way of $$$, getting any recognition from these companies to help fund Eleven Metre DXpeditions will probably never happen, for my part, until operations on Freeband frequencies are legalised. Ask anyone of these companies off the record though and they will tell you that Eleven Metre DXers have their support 100%. Note the emphasis on “off the record though…”
While many Eleven Metre DXpeditions in the past have been carried out by Ham DXers under the guise of Ham DXpeditions, this behaviour has been frowned upon in the Ham Community to such an extent that any future activities paraded as Ham but ending up on 27 or 26 MHz could result in licenses being terminated and hefty fines issued. This method of obtaining accessibility then is fast evaporating…as it almost certainly should.
A massive dilemma facing Eleven Metre DXers in the future therefore will be accessing the remote regions of the world (ie. Most Wanted DXCC); DXCC such as Scarborough and Mellish Reef, Johnston Atoll… Some might argue that any Freeband activity from these places will never eventuate and with good reason too. Are changes to the DXCC listing required in view of that? I’m not convinced. Or should everyone put their heads together to devise a way that such out of the ordinary places can be activated and ticked off in the QSL album? The future will tell.
73 de Darren 43DA010
