1. DX 101 Lone Star DX Association

2. Getting Started in DXing What is DX and DXing ? What is DX and DXing ? What is the DXCC? What is the DXCC? Why do DX ? Why do DX ? How do you DX ? How do you DX ? Where do you DX ? Where do you DX ? Operating (QSO) tips Operating (QSO) tips Confirmation (QSL) tips Confirmation (QSL) tips Summary and Q & A Summary and Q & A

3. What is DX ? DX = DISTANT EXCHANGE DX = DISTANT EXCHANGE DX = Another Country or possession DX = Another Country or possession DX = What you want it to be: DX = What you want it to be: on HF on VHF/UHF on Any Mode – SSB, CW, digital on Any Mode – SSB, CW, digital

4. What is DXing ? It’s your to excitement and adventure! It’s your ‘magic carpet’ to the world

5. What is a DX entity? Listed on the ARRL DXCC List /) (www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/) Distinct geographic and political entities which DXers seek to contac t Not always a political “country” The DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) has criteria to determine what is an entity

6. What is DXCC ? DX Century Club DX Century Club THE premier ARRL DX operating award THE premier ARRL DX operating award Work and confirm 100 ARRL entities Work and confirm 100 ARRL entities Submit application to ARRL (HQ or field) Submit application to ARRL (HQ or field) Local Field Checkers: K5QY, K5GH, K9MK Local Field Checkers: K5QY, K5GH, K9MK Presently 339 Entities (+61 Deleted = 400 possible) Presently 339 Entities (+61 Deleted = 400 possible) Full list of rules and entities on arrl.org Full list of rules and entities on arrl.org

7. DXCC can be a lifetime activity Basic DXCC is the first step – 100 entities Basic DXCC is the first step – 100 entities Any band or combination of bands Any band or combination of bands Phone, CW or Digital modes one or mixed Phone, CW or Digital modes one or mixed Can do DXCC on one or each mode Can do DXCC on one or each mode

8. Basic DXCC certificate

9. CW DXCC

10. DXCC can be a lifetime activity DXCC on individual bands Next achievement level

11. 10M DXCC

12. 15M DXCC

13. 17M DXCC

14. 20M DXCC

15. 40M DXCC

16. 80M DXCC

17. 160M DXCC

18. DXCC can be a lifetime activity 5 Band DXCC 5 Band DXCC Earn endorsements for additional bands and entities Earn endorsements for additional bands and entities Next achievement level

19. 5 Band DXCC Certificate

20. 5 Band DXCC plaque with 12M & 160M endorsements and additional entity count endorsements on the way to getting them all

21. DXCC can be a lifetime activity Honor Roll – within 9 of having contacted all the current entities (330 of 339) Honor Roll – within 9 of having contacted all the current entities (330 of 339) Next achievement level

23. DXCC can be a lifetime activity #1 or Top of Honor Roll #1 or Top of Honor Roll means you made a contact with all the current entities (339) means you made a contact with all the current entities (339) (FYI was recently 340 entities. DXAC just deleted KH5K Kingman Reef) (FYI was recently 340 entities. DXAC just deleted KH5K Kingman Reef) Next achievement level

24. #1 - Top of Honor Roll plaque N5JB said it took 56 years to earn this plaque!

25. DXCC can be a lifetime activity DXCC Challenge - work all entities by band and mode (Phone, CW & Digital) DXCC Challenge - work all entities by band and mode (Phone, CW & Digital) Earn medallion endorsements Earn medallion endorsements

26. DXCC Challenge plaque with 1000, 1500 and 2000 band-entity medallion endorsements earned since 2007

27. DXCC via satellite There is also an ARRL award for DXCC worked via satellite There is also an ARRL award for DXCC worked via satellite Amsat is working hard to get a HEO satellite in orbit and even a GeoSynch satellite. Amsat is working hard to get a HEO satellite in orbit and even a GeoSynch satellite. Should then be possible to work DXCC by satellite again. Should then be possible to work DXCC by satellite again.

28. DXing can be a lifetime activity Other DX achievement awards Other DX achievement awards Islands on the air IOTA - RSGB award Islands on the air IOTA - RSGB award WAZ – Work all 40 CQ magazine zones WAZ – Work all 40 CQ magazine zones 5 Band WAZ (one of the toughest) 5 Band WAZ (one of the toughest) WAZ now available on LoTW WAZ now available on LoTW

29. Why do DX? Enjoyment and Adventure Enjoyment and Adventure Personal Achievement Personal Achievement International Goodwill International Goodwill Skill development e.g. CW Skill development e.g. CW Learn radio & geography Learn radio & geography

30. Personal or small group DXpeditions Personal or small group DXpeditions Vacation and Holiday style operations Vacation and Holiday style operations Seldom to really exotic, hard to get to locations Seldom to really exotic, hard to get to locations Usually are trips to civilized places with low ham populations Usually are trips to civilized places with low ham populations Trips are often to activate an entity for a contest Trips are often to activate an entity for a contest E.g. E51NJB operation from South Cook Island to activate E5 during the ARRL CW contest. E.g. E51NJB operation from South Cook Island to activate E5 during the ARRL CW contest. E.g. DL3CW trip to activate semi-rare ZD9 Tristan de Cunha E.g. DL3CW trip to activate semi-rare ZD9 Tristan de Cunha

31. E51NJB “Dxpedition” from a bungalow on the beach with a vertical in the sand

32. Major DXpeditions to Exotic Entities Many are Expensive & Dangerous Recent 2016 DXpeditions VP8STI & VP8SGI 2016 South Sandwich & South Georgia K5P – Palmyra 2016 3XY1T – Guinea 2016 VK0EK – Heard Island 2016 FT4JA – Juan de Nova 2016 EP2A – Iran 2016

33. Other Notable DXpeditions 3YØX - Peter I 2006 K5D - Desecheo 2009 K4M – Midway 2009 VP8ORK – So. Orkney 2011 HKØNA - Malpelo 2012 7O6T – Socatra Yemen 2012 ZL9HR – Auckland & Campbell 2012 K9W – Wake 2013 T33A – Banaba 2013 XZ1J – Myanmar 2013 FT4TA – Tromelin 2014 FT5ZM – Amsterdam & St. Paul 2014 K1N – Navassa 2015 Can anyone tell us where all these places are on the globe???

34. Top 10 Most Needed Entities 2012 1) KP1Navassa Island 2) P5North Korea 3) 3Y/BBouvet 4) VP8HSouth Sandwich 5) VKØHHeard Island 6) FT/WCrozet 7) FT/ZAmsterdam & St. Paul 8) KH5KKingman Reef 9) FT/TTromelin 10) FT/JJuan de Nova & Europa

35. Goodwill North Korea P5 North Korea P5 Albania ZA Albania ZA Macedonia Z3 Macedonia Z3 South Sudan Z8 South Sudan Z8 Kosovo – New country? Kosovo – New country? Afghanistan - YA5T U.N. Kabul Afghanistan - YA5T U.N. Kabul Demonstration activities

36. How do you DX ? SWL - receiver and antenna SWL - receiver and antenna To make a QSO: To make a QSO: License from FCC License from FCC Transceiver Transceiver Antenna Antenna KE4UYP 17M LOOP

37. How do you DX ? Effective antenna(s) Effective antenna(s) Modern transceiver with RIT Modern transceiver with RIT Amplifier (optional) Amplifier (optional) Extra class = all privileges Extra class = all privileges DX Cluster- via internet access DX Cluster- via internet access CW skills – DXpeditions are often CW intensive CW skills – DXpeditions are often CW intensive Remote Ham Radio $$$ Remote Ham Radio $$$

38. Access an internet DX Cluster VE7CC* AE5E K5DX Many others Chase cluster spots *VE7CC also includes downloadable cluster software

39. DX Cluster Typical Page View DX Cluster Spots K5SF 3502.2 HC8N Galapagos up 1 09/24 0323 W2QO 7084.0K5D Navasa rtty up3 09/24 0322 N5JR 7180.4 HG1S Hungary LSB 09/24 0322 K0SR 10016.1 OH2BH Finland Martti Finland Martti 09/24 0322 WY3X 7034.0VK0EK Heard Isl dn 8 09/24 0322 WY3X 7037.0FT4JA Juan Nova up 5 09/24 0320 K5AND 50110.0 HK3JRL Columbia 09/24 0320 N4RJ14195.0UU7J Ukraine 4s now 09/24 0320 W2QO7015.1RK3DX Eu Russia Andy 09/24 0320

40. DX NEWSLETTERS QRZ DX - www.dxpub.com QRZ DX - www.dxpub.com DAILY DX – www.dailydx.com DAILY DX – www.dailydx.com ARRL DX Bulletin – www.arrl.org ARRL DX Bulletin – www.arrl.org Magazines - DX Magazine Magazines - DX Magazine www.dxpub.com www.dxpub.com

41. Propagation Most significant factor in DXing Most significant factor in DXing Out of our control Out of our control Learn about the sun spot cycle Learn about the sun spot cycle Learn the SFI, K and A indices Learn the SFI, K and A indices Solar activity now heading down Solar activity now heading down Soon 10, 12 and 15M will close Soon 10, 12 and 15M will close 20M will close at night 20M will close at night

42. Sun Influences Propagation http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/ Coronal Mass Ejection Sunspots

43. Solar Indices Dxers Watch SSN 11 yr cycle – we are now on the down side Solar Flux Index SFI=10.7cm 60-300 Correlates to SSN (The higher the SFI the better) A=Geomagnetic Index 4-50 K= Geomagnetic Index 0-9

44. Solar Cycles/Indexes Best DX propagation SFI = 120+ SFI = 120+ A = Geom Index 0-15 A = Geom Index 0-15 K = Geom Index 0-2 K = Geom Index 0-2 MUF = Just above best operating frequency MUF = Just above best operating frequency

45. PropagationPrimer:www.ae4rv.com/tn/propflash.htmwww.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html Propagation data and charts: http://www.hfradio.org/propagation.htmlhttp://solar.spacew.com/www/realtime.html

46. Propagation Beacons:www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/28.htm Propagation Software: www.qsl.net/propview/ www.qsl.net/w6elprop - FREE www.taborsoft.com/wwizard3 - $65 http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/

47. Operating Guidelines Night Work on the highest band with signals Work on the highest band with signals Work low bands if open Work low bands if openDay Follow the sun Follow the sun Bands open and close with the sun Bands open and close with the sun Work highest band that is open Work highest band that is openTransition Look for gray line openings on lowest bands. Sometimes they are amazing. Look for gray line openings on lowest bands. Sometimes they are amazing.

48. Where do you DX ? ANYWHERE ! Elroy WB9GIE: Trek-mobile -Yaesu FT-817- 2.5 watts 96 countries and all 50 states

49. Skip - W5GAI Austin, Texas 10/15/20: 4 ELEM. TRIBANDER AT 72ft 10/15/20: 4 ELEM. TRIBANDER AT 72ft. 40/80/40/30/17/12: Trap Inverted V Modest, but very effective 200 Watts - ICOM IC775 - DSP 332 Countries Confirmed 332 Countries Confirmed

50. John – N5JB Parker, TX K3 P3 KPA-500 KAT-500 x2 ALPHA 9500 FT-736R (Sat) 3 el 40, 2 el 30, 4 el 20, 5 el 15, 6 el 10, 3 el 6, 4 el 2, G5RV cut for 40 (274’), 80 vert, 160 inv vee, STEPP IR (orthogonal)

51. OPERATING TIPS Please be friendly & courteous Please be friendly & courteous All DXpeditions operate split; seldom simplex All DXpeditions operate split; seldom simplex Please abide the DX station’s split instructions Please abide the DX station’s split instructions May be listening up or down May be listening up or down If you have a sub receiver find the station just worked and call near his freq when he’s done If you have a sub receiver find the station just worked and call near his freq when he’s done Watch spots and listen to determine if the DX operator is moving up or down the band. Watch spots and listen to determine if the DX operator is moving up or down the band.

52. OPERATING TIPS Please don't call/tune up on the DX Please don't call/tune up on the DX Please don't call if you can't hear Please don't call if you can't hear Please don't call on DX freq i.e. mind your split or RIT settings. It is easy to forget. We all do it from time to time, but it is still annoying to other ops. Please don't call on DX freq i.e. mind your split or RIT settings. It is easy to forget. We all do it from time to time, but it is still annoying to other ops. Please don't be a policeman – enough already Please don't be a policeman – enough already Please ignore the deliberate QRMers Please ignore the deliberate QRMers Casual operators – don’t fight the pile. They aren’t listening on your freq. Better to move on. Casual operators – don’t fight the pile. They aren’t listening on your freq. Better to move on.

53. OPERATING TIPS Stay up late or get up early to be on when the DX is on – Well Duh!! Stay up late or get up early to be on when the DX is on – Well Duh!! Check prop programs – W6EL etc. Check prop programs – W6EL etc. Prop usually peaks nr sun rise/set Prop usually peaks nr sun rise/set Check beacons and cluster spots Check beacons and cluster spots Pileups will subside in a few days Pileups will subside in a few days standard int’l phonetics Only use standard int’l phonetics Learn CW - The rare ones use CW

54. QSLing TIPS Use a picture QSL – gets a better response Use a picture QSL – gets a better response Have your call printed on both sides of the card Have your call printed on both sides of the card Include an SAE and a “green stamp” with any QSLs you send directly - 2 green stamps to EU Include an SAE and a “green stamp” with any QSLs you send directly - 2 green stamps to EU Look up and use the QSL Manager if there is one Look up and use the QSL Manager if there is one Use IK3QAR site to find the manager Use IK3QAR site to find the manager Use ARRL outgoing bureau or other QSL Services Check LoTW before spending money to send a paper QSL unless you want the wallpaper Check LoTW before spending money to send a paper QSL unless you want the wallpaper

55. LoTW ARRL Logbook of The World ARRL Logbook of The World Sign up with the ARRL Sign up with the ARRL Get the password and software upload utility Get the password and software upload utility Read the FAQs – lots of info Read the FAQs – lots of info No QSL cards necessary No QSL cards necessary Nominal Fee Nominal Fee Simplified award submissi Simplified award submissions

57. DXing Summary Fun Fun Educational Exciting Challenging Goodwill Memorable experiences Many friendships An activity for a lifetime DX IS !

58. Good DX! Lone Star DX Association www.lsdxa.org