1 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA

2 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics

3 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics First do all the stuff Bryce has mentioned: –Where is the pileup? Who is he working? Can you hear the pileup? –Is the pileup near an existing QSO? Where’s he going to listen next? Listen: Find the Station Being Worked and Select a Frequency Listen with a wider bandwidth (2.4 kHz)

4 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics If you can’t hear the pileup? –If you can hear the pileup and/or stations, try to determine where he will listen next. –If not, keep listening, check the nets and make some careful assumptions

5 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics How Long Should You Call? –Depends on the situation. Weak signals? 160M? Fast pileup on 20M? –Listen During Your Call (Do you use a footswitch? Full Break-in? Do you have competition? The middle of the pile might be right Maybe the edges of the pileup?

6 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics –Has he started to transmit? (Listen carefully) –Did he come back to someone else? (Listen carefully) –DO NOT TRANSMIT IN THIS CASE -- Listen and study –Wait for the next solicitation: Listen carefully

7 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics Did he come back to me? Be Sure – If not, wait; he will call again. If he doesn’t come back to anyone, call him again. Reply Format Most important: Do NOT repeat your call - even once - if the DX station already has it correctly. Not once! If you send your call again, you are telling him that he does not have it correctly. If he doesn’t have it correctly, DO NOT send a report. Send you call again and wait.

8 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics Was it a “Good Contact?” If not, work him again – he owes you that. It takes TWO to make a good contact. Both parties are responsible. This is one of the major differences between a contest and Dxpedition. Timing: –There is a trend to “push the button too quickly.” –K6xxx vs TX7M – Slow vs Fast = – These are examples of a Poor DX Op The Measure of your Ability: How is Your NIL Rate?

9 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Calling DX and QSO Mechanics CW operating skill in the general ham population Code readers: Good? Computers, decoders, etc. Good? Yes! But…

10 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA From the DXpedition’s Point of View The DXpedition operator is -- or should be – in charge. Know what the DX operator can hear. It’s usually more than you imagine. So: Don’t call out of turn. The op can hear you! Listen instead. If he’s asking for fives, don’t call unless you are a five, or you are portable five. Don’t be superman. If he says no portables, he’s a poor operator, but you have no choice. Don’t change portables – he will know.

11 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA From the DXpedition’s Point of View If he comes back to a partial that can’t possibly be you, do not call again. Listen again instead – take the time to plan your strategy. Be aggressive, but follow the rules – his rules Always follow his rules. It’s his pileup and his responsibility. The pileup is a reflection of his operating skill. For major expeditions, if you enjoyed it and can afford it, send a donation. If it’s a vacation expedition, donations are discretionary. They shouldn’t expect a donation.

12 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Internet Resources Online logs (shouldn’t be necessary because…) –Club Log –Real-Time log (TU2T, 5M2TT) –The online log should not include times and dates because… –Logbook of the World – an alternative –DX chat rooms

13 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Internet Resources Remote receivers (Stew Perry, General) Remote transmitters Remote Stations -based bulletins (The Daily DX, QRZ DX, etc.) DX Alerting systems Pagers, etc. Software beepers Any and all advanced communications

14 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Ethics Use of Lists and Nets (Not so prevalent now) Use of Internet chat rooms –Some positive features –Was it a two-way QSO on the ham bands, or was information exchanged via the Internet Use of a surrogate to work your DX = Cheating

15 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA Ethics Altering QSL cards = Cheating DXCC Rules –Set a definition for your DXCC –Station Location(s) for your QSOs and awards –Who’s working your DX? Use of remote stations, receiving and transmitting for working DX

16 © 2011, Utah DX Association, All rights reserved UDXA