VK0EK expedition

IW7DMH, Enzo

In the end I had Heard Island in my log.
My 6300 worked flawless this morning, as usual indeed. I zoomed in my panadapter at the maximum signal to noise ratio. I could see their signal before listening to them. It was a matter of two calls as soon as the propagation was up. It happened both in 17 and 15 bands and I am very very happy for this 9300 miles away contact.
I firmly believe in a pc-less Flex usage, but I have to admit I could never have these contacts without the amazing and unreplaceble pan.
Five stars for Flex People! Thank you very much.

Enzo
iw7dmh

Simon Lewis

works for me everytime! find a hole .... work out the pattern ... in the log first / second call 20/17 and 15 CW /SSB

def very happy as a DX radio .. love my 6500's

Simon Lewis

https://soundcloud.com/simon-lewis-11/vk0ek-15-cw

15m CW

17m SSB

https://soundcloud.com/simon-lewis-11/vk0ek-17m-ssb

Walt - KZ1F

What will ever happen when dxpeditions and rarer dx figure out many people 'cheat' by using aids, like skimmers, such that the op can discern their pattern. I suspect what will happen is they'll start being random rather than sweeping up then sweeping down. Clearly aids like skimmers put the average op at a disadvantage with the highly predictable dx op. Once the op becomes unpredictable that puts the non-aided op at an advantage. As they, at least used to, say in Boy Scouts, "the best way to be found when you are lost is to not try to hide (stay put)".

Tim - W4TME

I disagree with the characterization that using "aids" is cheating.  To cheat, you have to violate some agreed upon set of rules or regulations.  I know of none that disallow using "aids" like spotting programs and skimmers; it isn't a contest.  If you take this to an extream, you could declare using a FLEX-6700 is an unfair advantage because it has the best receiver available, high-resolution wide-band panadapters which allow you to monitor 8 bands that the DX is working at the same time and beat the pileup when the bands open.

In my book,  any advantage achieved by using available technology (or developing your own) more efficiently should not be discouraged.

Al_NN4ZZ

And conversely, for some the challenge is to make the contact with self imposed limits.  (i.e. QRP, wire antennas, mobile operation, etc).  

Many of the DXpeditions are now promoting an ATNO day and some of the new tools show you contract confirmation in real time help to prevent duplicate QSOs. Both help to get more folks in the log especially those with little pistol stations. 

IMHO there is plenty of room for all, and in the long run technology advances providing choices for better radios, tools and techniques. 

By the way, it was still some work to get VK0EK in the log but the Flex radio and CWS were a big help!

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 - HW.................... V 1.6.21.77
SSDR / DAX / CAT...... V 1.6.21.159
Win10


 

Walt - KZ1F

Tim, that's why I had put the term in quotes. I realize it's not, strictly speaking, prohibited except a few contests, I believe. But, I suspect, even in those people do cheat.. 'Well everybody does it so, therefore, so can I '. It's capitalizing on technology to display predictability in ops, an advantage not uniformly available to all. If it were, there would be no point as there would be no advantage.

Simon Lewis

Wayne VK4ACN

I do like the DXA website. I think it great you can see your contacts and eliminate the 'did he hear my call sign right?' Saves insurance contacts. Maybe more could use this idea. Wayne

Walt - KZ1F

"They will remain fairly consistent...", are you referring to the dx op's predictability? If so, they can be as random as they want, they have hundreds, perhaps, eager wannabes trying to make a 2-3 sec exchange with them. I was commenting on skimmers, not panadapter or filters, and certainly not Flex 6000s

Simon Lewis

DXA has been a great success and my QSO's were in LOTW cfm within a couple hours ... Can't be happier - its been a great success from my side

Simon Lewis

They can be .. but my experience is most dxped ops are not .. they usually sweep up and down picking off the ones they hear in their window ie VK0EK listening 125 to 135. There is no need for them to be random - just swinging from top to bottom or vice versa - on the other hand I want to be random .. find the holes are they move and try get a QSO - it's usally pretty good for a medium sized pistol - I don't have the fire power yet to just choose a freq and be head and shoulders above the masses .... yet!!!

Rick Hadley - W0FG

Heard Island has been challenging.  I managed to snag them on 30m and got the instant LoTW QSL. I landed FT4JA this morning on 15m, but with the current band conditions and nothing more than a Butternut vertical for the low bands and a 30' high Hex-beam, it's been work, even with the Flex.  I doubt I'd have landed either without the 6500.  On a more positive note, I got my TX7EU LoTW QSLs today, including my RTTY contact so I'm at 114 on RTTY with just 100w, and just a couple short of 300 Mixed in the two years since I got the Flex.