In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. We discuss:
The feature is “Radio Tips to Start 2023.”
In this episode, I join Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. We discuss:
The feature is “Radio Tips to Start 2023.”
Over the past week, I’ve had a couple of odd QSOs. The first was with a guy who I almost think is stalking me. He has a tendency to call me right after I’ve completed a contact with another station. Usually, I kind of sigh every time I hear his call because he’s very hard to copy.
What makes him hard to copy is that he slurs some characters together, while actually separating the dits and dahs in other characters. For example, instead of sending “WELL,” he’ll send what sounds like “PLL.” When sending a “G,” he’ll often send “ME.”
Anyway, the other night, his signal was fading in and out, and at one point, I lost him. So, I moved down the band a bit and called CQ. He heard my call and called me again, so I decided to give it another try even thoughI had a feeling that he’d fade out again. Instead of picking up where we left off, though, he gave me an earful for leaving him in the lurch on the other frequency—even after I tried explaining that I had lost him. Sheesh.
My point here is don’t make it unpleasant for other stations to work you. Try to send as well as you can, and be courteous when you lose a contact. Poor behavior just turns people off.
One of the “rules” of operating CW is to not send faster than you can copy. Unfortunately, this happens at higher speeds as well as at lower ones. The other night I heard a guy calling CQ at about 25 wpm, and I replied at that speed. After my first transmission, I could tell, however, that the other guy, while his sending was pretty good, just wasn’t copying fast enough. I surmised this because he didn’t really reply to me, but instead, went off in a different directions. I guess he figured this out, too. Instead of asking me to slow down, he signed off on his third transmission.
The point here is don’t be too “macho” when it comes to Morse Code. If you’re not copying enough, ask the other operator to slow down (QRS). In this case, I would have happily done so, and we probably would have had a nice conversation.
As a result of working several of the recent African DXpeditions, including D60AE (Comoros), 5V7RU (Togo), and J28MD (Djibouti), I’m now at 167 DXCC entities worked. My next goal is 200. Maybe I’ll get lucky and reach this by the end of this sunspot cycle.
A reader sent me the following the other day:
The ARRL posted the following on February 9th, on their Web page:
ARRL this week announced a Mobile DXCC Operating Award available to radio amateurs who have contacted at least 100 DXCC entities from a working vehicle with antennas and power source capable of operating while in motion. ARRL Radiosport Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, advised those pursuing the award to put safety first. “Distracted driving is a serious concern, so we hope all mobile operators exercise care when operating from a moving vehicle,” he said. Full, official details are on the Mobile DXCC Operating Award page. Read the complete announcement at
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-announces-mobile-dxcc-operating-award.
He went on to say:
I have to question the judgement of the League. With all the problems today with distracted driving, why in the world would they be advocating a mobile DXCC award? Do they really believe voicing a cautionary statement mitigates all risks?
I count 22 different types of DXCC awards (5 modes (Mixed, Phone, CW, Digital, and Satellite), 5BDXCC, DXCC Challenge, 12 bands (160m thru 70cm), Honor Roll, and Top of Honor Roll). Does the DX community need another DXCC award?
I am certainly going to voice my disagreement with the League, but thought this may be a good topic for either your blog or an upcoming ICQ session.
One of the hams at the office had a comment – Once the first serious accident involving a distracted DXer chasing the Mobile DXCC occurs, the term “pileup” will take on a new meaning. I will add that it is a good thing the League has $20M in the bank, as stated by N6AA. They may need it for a court awarded judgement!
My initial reaction is that this award shows where the League’s priorities are. My guess is that the DXCC program is a revenue source for the League, and more awards means more revenue. On the other hand, the ARRL may just be giving DXers what they want. Does anyone know if there’s a demand for this award among DXers? Is this award something that you’ll be working towards?
In yesterday’s missive from the Great Lakes Division director, Dale, WA8EFK, was this note:
CARD CHECKERS: Well, the facts are simply this: we need more and we need more to visit our hamfests.
The ARRL Programs and Services Committee has established a sub-committee to examine the current Field Checker guidelines, the appointment requirements and many of the details of the program. It has been a while since a thorough review has been conducted of the Field Checker rules so that is happening now.
Your Director has been asked to assist, and I have been actively discussing Field Card Checking with both active Checkers and aspiring ones plus the DX Community in general. Feel free to let me know your thoughts and I will see to it they are considered by the committee.
Today, Card Checkers can be nominated by one of the following methods:
- ARRL Section Manager,
- ARRL affiliated DX Club (A DX club is an ARRL affiliated club with at least 25 members who are DXCC members and which has, as its primary interest, DX. If there are any questions regarding the validity of a DX club, the issue shall be determined by the Division Director where the DX club is located.) A person does not have to be a member of the DX club to be nominated, or
- ARRL Division Director
These requirements impose some serious limits. For example, a Section with two DX clubs can have three Field Checkers, (possibly four, if the Director’s appointment was made in that geographic area). A change of Section Manager or Director has no bearing on appointing additional Field Checkers.
As you can see, geography and population density can affect where the Field Checkers are located and even how far they need to travel. Further, the rules are silent on how to replace non-active Checkers.
Suffice it to say, we have a list of things to consider, but hopefully, some improvements can be implemented within the next few months. In the meantime, our Division’s diligent Field Card Checkers are taking every opportunity to be at swaps to check our cards. They travel on their dime and truly deserve our sincere thanks for serving the DX community.
I don’t know how the ARRL came up with these bizarre rules, but it seems typical for the DXCC program. Also, it looks to me as though the official ARRL title is DXCC Card Checker, although as Dale pointed out to me, the card checkers do more than just check cards for DXCC credit. For more information on this program, download the PDF, “ARRL DXCC Card Checker Program Nomination and Eligibility Rules.”