The DXCC Dilemma
January 10, 2009 by Darren
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 43DA010Welcome to 14DA062 Eric
October 27, 2008 by Darren
The Dx Adventure Radio Club continues to attract outstanding candidates to its ranks with the recent signing of one of Europe’s most proficient DXers in 14DA062 Eric. Founder of the Golf Tango and Sierra Sierra DX Groups respectively, a past member of Alfa Tango, a former high ranking official with Sugar Delta, and a current Cluster dk Lounge Member, Eric qualifies for DA-RC membership via the Leadership classification and, with over 250 DXCC worked and confirmed, the DX Hunter classification also.
An experienced conductor of Special Event Station work also through efforts with GT and SD, Eric is committed to contributing to DA-RC’s dx adventure schedule in the future and looks forward to linking with other members of the French team to achieve these goals. Furthermore, this experience and unique skill set ensures Eric will also prove a valuable asset for the Club’s Mentor Program which sees experienced DXers assigned to new and/or interested members and others seeking to achieve membership status with the World’s most prestigious DX Group.
Outside of the radio communications hobby, Eric is a committed family man and enjoys getting out and about with them in the beautiful French Countryside. Like many radio hobbyists in modern times, Eric also enjoys studying facets of the hobby such as antenna construction and propagation forecasts on the internet, reading product reviews on the latest Yaesu products and more!
On behalf of the World Headquarters Team and the DA-RC membership body, welcome 14DA062 Eric to the Club. It is an honour to have you on board.
73 de Darren 43DA001/010DXpedition Quandary
October 16, 2008 by Darren
With propagation on the improve and the next long-awaited 11m cycle almost upon us, more and more thought by DA-RC members is sure to be put into possible DXpedition locations – knowing that efforts to activate that elusive DX entity will be well and truly worth it in terms of progressive numbers issued and contacts in the log.
One of the burning questions on the end of all members’ lips, however, is, “Which DXCC, or which island, do I choose? If I do choose to recruit DA-RC members for a DX excursion, which DXCC or IOTA would be the most attractive to fellow members and the DX Community abroad?” Clearly, it’s a valid consideration given the enormous amount of islands, lighthouses, castles, windmills and DXCC available to the roving DX’er…
Obviously, a DXpedition to a DXCC or IOTA that has never been heard before is much more exciting to DA-RC members than one which has appeared on the band previously – even one which is already known to house one or two 11m DX’ers. After all, knowing that you have played a part in 11m DX history and made a major contribution to the hobby is something that can never be taken away from you!
It goes without saying that a DXpedition to an extremely rare DXCC or IOTA is also more attractive to the DX chaser also. Some operators around the world are so eager to work rare DXCC, for example, that they are prepared to sponsor or part sponsor DXpedition parties, not to mention QSL cards. The Dx Adventure Radio Club also has systems in place for members to promote and encourage DXpedition work to rare DX entities.
The only problem is that DXCC that have not been active before are usually so remote or isolated from the rest of the world that they present a huge financial and time challenge to DXers to get there. Apart from seclusion, some DXCC have also not been initiates due to the dangers of operating radio equipment in that particular country. Some communist countries, such as North Korea for instance, would likely ‘shoot to kill’ any individuals undertaking radio communications, fearing they were spies sharing secrets on nuclear infrastructure or planning a military coupe. Pirates, cannibals, terrorism and/ or guerrilla warfare activities are all genuine concerns in some potential DX locations that would understandably discourage one from travelling to DX hot spots – no matter HOW MUCH of a hero you would be crowned for going there. Risking one’s life for the purpose of activating a rare DXCC, after all, is something not many of us would do. (Okay, maybe DA-RC members would!)
So which DXCC are considered to be the ‘Most Wanted’ in the 11m DX Community? Which DXCC have never been officially active on the 11m band before? According to our records, only 26 of a possible 346 DXCC remain unconquered by 11m DXers. So obviously, each one of these elusive DX entities represents a ‘pot of gold’ to the DXCC hungry DXer; hobbyists that would give their right arm to work and confirm it by way of a beautiful glossy QSL card.
The following list of DXCC yet to be officially activated on 11m has been put together by the DA-RC Team in the hope that it might kick start some DX adventure plans by members…
071 MIDWAY ISLAND 222 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLAND 229 HEARD ISLAND 231 ST. PETER & ST. PAUL 243 AGALEGA & ST. BRANDO 247 NAVASSA ISLAND 260 BAKER & HOWLAND ISLANDS 262 JOHNSTON ISLAND 263 KERMADEC ISLAND 264 KINGMAN REEF 267 KURE ISLAND 269 MELLISH REEF 270 MINAMI-TORI-SHIMA ISLAND 273 JARVIS & PALMYRA ISLAND 277 SABLE ISLAND 278 WAKE ISLAND 282 AUCKLAND & CAMPBELL 287 MALPELO ISLAND 294 PETER 1ST ISLAND 296 CLIPPERTON ISLAND 297 BOUVET ISLAND 321 CONWAY REEF 334 NORTH KOREA 335 SCARBOROUGH REEF 336 PRATAS ISLAND 343 DUCIE ISLAND
* Note: If you think we have missed one, or listed a DXCC that has in fact been active in the last few years, please let us know by posting comments.
73 de Darren 43DA010