DX University

News and Views

DX University at ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention

For the first time, HamCon Colorado, in conjunction with Mile High DX Association (MHDXA), is sponsoring DX University (DXU). DXU is an all day event scheduled for Thursday, June 27th from 7:45AM (7:30 breakfast) through 5:00PM. Courses run from 8:00AM-1200PM, an hour on your own for lunch, and courses from 1:00PM-5:00PM.

If you are a "seasoned" DXer, "big gun", "little pistol", or just interested in DXing, you will NOT want to miss this event! Hamcon CO & MHDXA are providing you with this rare opportunity to learn some of the "ins and outs" of DXing from eight of the best DXers in the United States. We will focus on everything we possibly can to give you a very well rounded learning experience.

The cost for the DX University is $45 for pre-registration, or $55 at the door! You will be provided a continental breakfast (starting at 7:30AM), a morning and afternoon break with refreshments provided, special "DXU memorabilia", and a membership for the remainder of 2013 in MHDXA (new members only). Register here.

DX University faculty and presentations :

Dick Williams, K8ZTT	Moderator
	I am president of MHDXA and am responsible for organizing and developing DXU for HamCon CO. As the moderator for DXU; my role will be introducing our instructors, and ensuring we stay on schedule!! Additionally, I will be the "contingency" instructor; if one of our instructors has to cancel at the last minute, I will be "filling in" with a block on ClubLog.
Walt Stinson, W0CP	"Dxing In's and Outs"
	I am a past director of the ARRL, an avid DXer and DXpeditioner, and was Secretary of the DXCC2000 committee (which wrote the current DXCC rules). In "DXing In's and Out's", I will cover the origins and rules of the DXCC awards program, the CQ WAZ awards program, and such topics as: Why DX?, Famous and Infamous DXers, and the secrets of successful Dxing from a city lot.
Phil Krichbaum, N0KE	"DXing Fun with a Budget Station"
	For 37 years I lived in a condo at 8,000 feet. Probably sounds like the "ideal" location for DXing? The condo, however, was in the bottom of the Vail valley (3000 ft below average terrain); but I still worked all the DXCC counters! I am going to give you some "tips" on how to make the most out of a poor location, budget station, operate portable, work as a guest operator, and operating practices that help maximize using what you have available. And guess what; you do not have to "break the bank" to put together a station to work DX!
Kelly Jones, N0VD	"Finding and Working DX"
	Topics include; gray-line, cluster spots, SFI numbers, split operation, zero beat – these might sound like an unfortunate medical diagnosis, but in fact they are all important aspects of finding and getting that DX station into your log – or more importantly – you in his log. We’ll cover these and many more topics as we discuss what it takes to increase you DXCC count. Whether you are just starting out, a well seasoned DXer or something in between, I’ll share various tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the years to help you work towards achieving your DXing goals.
Jonathan Woo, W6GX	"Antenna Modeling for Beginners"
	I’m sure you have seen those nice looking computer generated antenna radiation plots in one place or another. Ever wonder how those plots are generated? Welcome to the world of antenna modeling- the source of the antenna patterns and SWR graphs. Antenna modeling is fast becoming an essential element in Amateur Radio with the introduction of inexpensive and even free modeling software. And antenna modeling is easier than you think! In this program you will be shown a live demo of the antenna modeling program EZNEC. The goal of this exercise is to give you the basic ins and outs of antenna modeling. My hope is that this will be the start of a journey in optimizing and improving your antenna system with greater accuracy and predictability.
Wayne Mills, N7NG	"Best Practices for DX and DXpedition Operating"
	"Best Practices for DXers and DXpeditioners" (as presented on the DX University webpage) is a set of suggestions intended to encourage more efficient and courteous operating at both ends of the DX circuit. These are common sense guidelines that will help improve your DXing experiences.
Barry Mitchell, N0KV	"From the DXpediton's Point of View"
	Objectives include techniques that seem to enhance an operator's ability to make successful DXpedition contacts, and techniques or practices that should be discouraged because they are likely to detract from or lessen one's ability to make successful contacts.
Ken Eigsti, W0LSD	"DXCC in a Weekend"
	DXCC in a weekend? Really? Yes it can be done and we will explore just how to make that happen. Hey, no guarantees and if not in a weekend you will at least have a great path for getting that first 100 countries in the log quickly. We will look at which countries might be easiest and on what bands and times to look for them. I want to give you a good blueprint of when to expect to work certain parts of the world.
Jim Reisert, AD1C	"Logbook of the World"
	Logbook of the World (LoTW) is an exciting way for Radio Amateurs to confirm two-way contacts they have made without the use of traditional paper QSL cards. These confirmations can then be used as credit toward various awards. Learn how to get started using the system. Explore the various awards for which you can apply. See how to save both time and money while pursuing ham radio wallpaper.

Note: We will have to have at least 25 registrants by the end of May, 2013 to hold this class. Although we don't expect to have any issues filling the class, If we cancel the class, your payment will be refunded.

Posted: 2013-04-13

Tuition Grants for DXU Students

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

22 April 2013

NCDXF DX University and Contest University Scholarships

NCDXF is committed to bringing younger DXers and Contesters into our hobby. NCDXF will provide full tuition scholarships for hams 25 years of age and younger at all DX University and Contest University sessions held in North America for the next year. This includes those held at the Dayton Hamvention next month.

Funding for this project comes from NCDXF’s Scholarship Endowment Fund, which is separate from its General Fund used to support DXpeditions.

Credit for the success of NCDXF is made possible by our contributors, individuals and clubs.

Joining or renewing membership has never been easier. Please visit our website at http://www.ncdxf.org

Glenn Johnson, WØGJ
Vice President, NCDXF

w0gj@arrl.net

Posted: 2013-04-28

DXU Best Practices

With ever increasing activity, pileup behavior on the DX bands seems to be becoming worse and worse. The DX Code of Conduct is a widely circulated list of operating rules that have been adopted by many DXpeditions. The original Code is directed at DXers, and it instructs them how to operate in a way that could bring order and make pileups more civil.

Less widely known is that "The DX Code of Conduct" Web pages also contain a set of guidelines for DXpeditioners or DXpeditioner's Code. The DX-Code organization has asked DXpedition leaders to "support" the DX Code of Conduct. Which code they support is not always clear, however.

To clarify this situation, the DX University offers clearly delineated guidelines for both DXpeditioners and DXers. They are referred to separately as "Best Practices for DXpedition Operating" and "Best Practices for Courteous and Efficient DXing." Links to these pages are found elsewhere on this page. Best Practices" for DXers is similar to those of the DX Code of Conduct, although presented as suggestions.

The "Best Practices for DXpedition Operating" is the result of a considerable effort by a group of experienced DXers and DXpeditioners who hold strongly to the principle that DXpeditioners themselves are in the best position to control and manage their pileups.

We hope that DXpedition leaders and operators will review and adhere closely to the Best Practices for DXpeditioning Operating in order to help assure well-run operations. While the DX University takes no position on how these guidelines can or should be used, we hope that the organizations might would recommend these "Best Practices," These guidelines are simply offered as our recommendations for good operating practices.

Posted: 2012-10-08

Upcoming Scheduled Sessions

NEW ITEMS

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DX University

Hamcon

ARRL Division
Convention

27, June, 2013

Estes Park, Colorado

DX University™

A Guide for DXers and DXpeditioners