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DXpedition Basics By Wayne Mills, N7NG
23 December 2012 | by  |
| DXpedition Basics Written By Wayne Mills, N7NG |
Good morning from the #hamr shackadelic zone where I’m listening to our local repeater or in today’s vernacular lurking the frequency. Also, my weather report from near the beach is overcast, cool, expecting rain, and choppy surf conditions. It is the kind of day where I’m knocking to-do objectives off my list and enjoying life.
Wayne Mills, N7NG author of DXpedition Basics suggested, “But when DXpedition organizers accept contributions and support, there is an implicit, and even maybe an explicit obligation to conform to certain operating criterion. Specifically, organizations which funnel money to DXpedition groups for the benefit of the DXing community have become more particular about whom they support. Their assistance often demands minimum standards of operating proficiency, and may depend on the track record of the group. Following a few simple rules can go far in assuring the success of a DXpedition effort.” (p 2, 1994)
Mills stated, “In fact, many have said that the DXpedition operator is responsible for the conduct and outcome of an expedition, and that, indeed, the pileups in a sense mirror the DXpedition operator. The DXpedition operator must be in command, but just how is that accomplished?” (p 2, 1994)
Lastly, Mills suggested a fundamental premise for expeditions, “We will start with the premise that the overall objective of the DXpedition is for DXers around the world to simply have fun. With rare exceptions, no expeditioner ever expects to profit from his DXpeditioning activities. Rather, considerable expenses are incurred primarily in transportation costs and loss of employment income. This is a fact; chiseled in stone!” (p 3, 1994)
I’m sad to read that a highly successful year of DXpeditioning is coming to a close with a disruptive footnote attached to its banner resume for our ham radio community. It seems to me that Wayne Mills, N7NG in association with the American Radio Relay League and the International DX Association sought solutions to perplexing questions more than a decade ago.
We are fast arriving or if not have already arrived, where it is time to start this conversation anew, in lieu of significant technological and social change. Thus far, leading donor organizations remain silent in an age of unparalleled communications and intense social engagement.
I recommend downloading DXpedition Basics, print, review, then take it with you to the next gathering and renew this decade old conversation that better reflects ham radio in the 21st Century.
73 from the shackadelic near the beach.
The Blue screen of DEATH!!!!
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| The Blue screen of death |
Merry Christmas to all my readers!!!
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].
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Bill Hein, AA7XT, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Colorado, USA. He is co-owner of Force 12 and InnovAntennas. Contact him at [email protected].
Almost there!
Christmas is almost upon us.
Preparations are winding down. Hopefully, all your trees are trimmed, houses have been decorated, gifts bought and wrapped, and all baking done and goodies carefully put away.
As Mary and Joseph travel towards the star, may your hearts find wishes granted and prayers answered.
May you and your loved ones be blessed this Christmas with the Peace that is beyond all understanding.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
Larry Makoski, W2LJ, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Jersey, USA. Contact him at [email protected].
Windows 8 Presents Opportunity
Brian Boyko, a freelance IT author, created this informational and rather entertaining video on Windows 8.
The video echos a lot of my experiences, albeit brief ones with Windows 8. A few weeks ago I attempted to use a Windows 8 Surface tablet at a mall kiosk and left in frustration. Last week while Christmas shopping I happened to venture into the computer section of a department store and played with a Windows 8 laptop. After ten minutes of trying to make sense of the Metro interface, I again left in frustration. I should mention I’m not a computer newbie. I’ve been using computers for over 30 years, and have worked with them in a professional capacity for over 20. I used Linux before it was sexy and my first GUI based OS was Windows 3.1. I’ve never owned a piece of Mac hardware (I have an iPad and an iPhone), but if you drop me in an Apple store and put me in front of a Mac, I can be web browsing, viewing pictures, and creating documents in moments. I just can’t do it with Windows 8.
User interface changes are always stressful to end users. The last major one Microsoft made was the ribbon bar in Microsoft Office replacing the venerable and admittedly long-in-the-tooth menu bar. At first I hated it and customized all my Office applications to have the buttons I needed in the quick bar which sits up in the title bar. Eventually I got used to the ribbon bar, but being a fan of minimalist interfaces I think the quick bar is much more efficient. But, OK, I admit Microsoft was right with the ribbon bar and it’s a valid step in the evolution of user interfaces.
I won’t repeat everything in Boyko’s video, but he’s absolutely right on all points. The Windows 8 Metro interface is a massive departure from the old interface. The revolutionary change would be a good one if it was actually an improvement. But similar to when Microsoft tried to put a desktop OS on a mobile device (Windows Mobile/CE), now they’re trying to shoehorn a mobile phone and tablet OS on to a PC, and it just doesn’t work.
This video goes into the desktop mode a bit more and shows the discontinuity between Metro and the desktop:
The changes in Windows 8 presents an opportunity for anyone who uses Windows, including amateur radio operators and software authors. While Windows 8 has a compatibility mode that essentially lets you run legacy apps in a legacy pre-Windows 8 style desktop, it’s problematic. If Microsoft doesn’t abandon Metro, they’re likely going to push application authors to the Metro interface, perhaps at some point even eliminating the legacy user interface. With such a revolutionary change to this tool and its steep learning curve, it may be just as easy to migrate to Linux, Mac, or a Chromebook and learn something totally new that is actually going to be productive and useful. With Windows 8, essentially Microsoft has increased the pain of upgrading to the point where it is equal or less pain to migrate to a different platform. I suspect many people will horde old or bootleg copies of Windows 7 and XP, storing them away like a rare wine or expensive cigar, for use when getting a new piece of hardware. It’s going to be interesting.
That was fun!
Surprise! The world did NOT end yesterday …….. and seriously, did you think for even the tiniest bit that it would?
But it was the shortest day of the year and Winter has officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere (Happy Summer to you folks lucky enough to enjoy it in the Southern half!). So for once, I looked towards the dark hours, because at sunset the 2012 Zombie Shuffle commenced. I made one QSO on 20 Meters with John K4BAI before being called to dinner. After that, the family went for a drive to go view some Chrsitmas lights.
When we got home, I jumped on the radio – about 9:30 PM and stayed on for a little over two hours. Much to my surprise, I heard not a Zombie soul on 40 Meters. Even though I know that 40 Meters goes long, I expected to hear something there – but no dice.
For me, all the action was confined to 80 Meters. When all was said and done, 16 Zombies were nabbed including 4 Maya Kings. Not great; but not as terrible as I thought it was going to be with 40 Meters out of the picture.
Thanks to all the Zombies and Maya Kings that made it into my log – and special thanks to Paul NA5N for running the event.
This afternoon, I went grocery shopping and you would have thought I went to a regular shopping mall! There was traffic everywhere and a close parking spot was not to be found. What is it about the Saturday before Christmas that makes seasoned motorists drive like they’ve never been before the wheel before? Traffic and crowds were a nightmare – glad I have all my Christmas shopping done. Now …. onto wrapping!
As Advent draws to a close and Christmas draws ever closer, I leave you today with a beautiful Advent hymn – “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel” which is being sung in the original Latin (it started out as a Gregorian chant) by Hayley Westenra who has an absolutely angelic voice.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
Larry Makoski, W2LJ, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Jersey, USA. Contact him at [email protected].
2012 CQ WPX CW Log Check Report
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| Summary 13.9% Score Reduction |
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| Not In Log |
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| Incorrect Call |
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| Incorrect Exchange Information |
Let’s start with my score summary as I took a 13.9% (n = 376,208) score reduction as a result of not in log, incorrect call, and incorrect exchange information. I mentioned in my previous post there is cause and effect when the score is officially adjudicated.
Likewise, there is perspective, as I claimed (n = 1,588 Qs) and my final was (n = 1,506 Qs) or 2.9% of calls copied incorrectly (n = 46) and 2.0% incorrect exchange information (n = 32) with 0.3% not in the log (n = 4).
Subsequently, 376,208 points was subtracted from my claimed total of 2,699,166 points (2,699,166 – 2,322,958 = 376,208 point reduction).
The question I’m asking of my performance, “What is my root cause?”
There is a definitive pattern when reviewing incorrect callsigns and incorrect exchange information. If I were to scatter plot then a picture emerges that is the preponderance of evidence suggests missed dits and missed dahs of letters-to-numbers and numbers-to-numbers.
For example, SH8MU corrected to S58MU, SH0XX corrected to S50XX, or IH3EO corrected to S53EO, SH2ZW corrected to S52ZW, and SH9ABC corrected to S59ABC.
Examples of incorrectly copied numbers such as 228 corrected to 238 or 275 corrected to 285.
Root cause analysis suggests I am not hearing crucial dits/dahs and cannot be explained away as mistakes at the keyboard. The solution is carefully listen or ask for a repeat if there is any question about either callsign or exchange information.
What patterns are you seeing in your log check report?
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