Back to the roots

According to ClubLog data, around 140 Australian amateurs are serious or semi-serious DX chasers. They are actively involved in the pursuit of making long distance contacts all year round with the ultimate goal to ‘work them all’.

Compared to about 15,000 licensed amateurs, DXers present less than 1% of the total ham population. Yet they are the ones who faithfully continue the spirit of early pioneers of the wireless movement.

In the 1920s, a small but growing number of experimenters were obsessed with pushing the boundaries of long distance communications. Using very humble equipment, built by the operators themselves, and using a simple yet powerful communication mode – Morse code – those early experimenters were obsessed with what back then was an enormous challenge: to wirelessly bridge continents.

That passion in the 1940s turned into a sport called DXing: making a two way contact with as many countries and entities on the famous DXCC list as possible. And to this day, a goal to ‘work them all’ keeps us awake till late, makes us willing to learn, improve our operating skills, build bigger antennas, invest in modern radio equipment.

Yet somehow, within our hobby, DXers rarely get the recognition they rightly deserve.

Quite frankly I am bored to death with the perpetual war between the WIA and RASA, licensing issues imposed to us by ACMA. The constant reminders that amateur radio is a dying. But most of all, I am fed up with clueless trolls who rarely play radios, but are constantly present on social media spitting venom, spreading conspiracy theories or simply derailing any meaningful discussion for a constant need to narcissistically insert themselves in conversations they should stay away from.

Making a new resolution early October is probably premature, but in 2024 I intend to hang around amateurs who actually deserve my attention. Time not just to turn a new leaf, but perhaps, write a new chapter.

Announcing “DXer of the Year” Award

In order to promote and encourage DXing in Australia throughout 2024, I am pleased to announce the following prizes:

1st place: A trophy and an ICOM IC-7300

2nd place: Diploma and an ICOM IC-2730A

3rd place: Diploma and an ICOM IC-41PRO

Activity goal:

To make as many contacts with DXCC entities, as per DXCC list.

Rules:

The maximum number of points is 340 or one point per DXCC worked.

There is no restriction on bands or modes.

The use of remote receivers and transmitters other than the licensee’s own is not permitted. All claimed contacts must be made from a single location.

The competition is open to Australian (VK) amateurs only who are also subscribers to DXing Newsletter.

Duration:

January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, UTC time.

Standings and score keeping:

Competitors are required to upload their station log to ClubLog database on a regular basis. The ongoing ranking will be periodically published in this newsletter. At the end of the year, the top ranked competitors would be required to submit their final log to mail@DXing.com.au for a final log check.

Registration:

In order to participate and be eligible for prizes, competitors are required to REGISTER their participation. To register, copy and fill in the bellow paragraph and send it to: mail@DXing.com.au

“I (full name, VK callsign) am expressing my interest to participate in the “2024 DXer of the Year” competition.

I accept the competition rules, and give permission to the organiser [DXing.com.au] to publish my DXCC standings throughout the year in the Newsletter and online, with the intention to submit my final log at the end of the year, to be considered for a prize.

I will compete while respecting fellow chasers, making honest claims, in the spirit of amateur radio”.

The intention is to keep the rules as simple as possible, and allow you to focus on chasing DX.

In the case that rules need some fine tuning or clarification, we will make our best effort to make those additions and announce them here before the start of the competition. In addition to the prize fund of $2,685, DXing.com.au reserves the right to introduce additional prizes or awards to VK amateurs who demonstrate noticeable achievements in 2024 (QRP, 6m, foundation class, etc.).

Timeline:

1. Subscribe to DXing newsletter (skip this step if you are already subscribed!)

2. REGISTER to participate at mail@DXing.com.au

3. Start chasing DXCC from January 1 2024 to December 31, 2024

4. Update your log to ClubLog https://clublog.org/ on a regular basis

5. Submit the final ADIF log to mail@DXing.com.au by January 7, 2025.

The winner of the “DXer of the year” trophy and other prize winners will be announced by January 31, 2025.

I wish you all the very best luck in the new year – good propagations, and good health. Work them all, have fun!