Prerequisite Reading

by Wayne Mills, N7NG

For the last few months, I have been writing a series of articles suggesting ideas which might add to your DXing skills. Some of these are simple, some more complex.

On Friday of this week, a group of very experienced DXers and DXpeditioners will conduct The DX University at the Visalia International DX Convention in Visalia California. With the aim of improving your DXing effectiveness, we will present ideas for improving your station, and your ability to find and work the DX more quickly – ahead of the crowd. We will also present suggestions on why and how we do DX and what can make it more fun. We have registered more than 130 serious DXers who will attend the presentation next Friday. This is far more than we expected for a first run, and we are grateful for the response. With great help from the IDXC organizers, we have expanded the classroom and set up for what we hope will be a valuable and worthwhile experience.

In the interim, for those attending and for those who can’t attend, I want to mention some excellent preparatory reading. Over the history of DXing much has been written about the hobby. One of the early books on the subject was written in the mid sixties by the well known DXer, DXpeditioner and contester Don Miller, then W9WNV. Other issues aside, Don was an excellent operator – one of the best. Suggestions from the DXpeditioner’s side should never be taken lightly. Don offers excellent ideas on how to approach the pileup. In particular, he offers a section on Tailending that must be read and understood.

The texts by Bob Locher, W9KNI should be read and reread as well. You must be able to find the DX in order to work it, and finding it first will give you a big edge. Bob is a classic DXer who has been there and back. His “Complete DXer” volumes are valuable reading. A more recent book about a year spent in the pursuit in the CQ Marathon is very up-to-date and relevant for today’s DXer.

Martti Laine’s Where Do We Go Next is insightful reading as is DXpeditioning Basics by Wayne Mills, N7NG, www.dxpeditioningbasics.com. DXpeditioning Basics was written for DXpeditioners, but in studying pileup issues, can be helpful for DXers as well. A bibliography containing these and a number of other excellent books will appear on the DX University website in the coming weeks.

 
This week’s hint is to find the best and most significant books on DXing and study them. Some of DXing books are filled with tables and charts but very little real DXing experience. On the DXU website, I will offer brief reviews, indicating which of these publications are really interesting and helpful for DXers.

(c) 2012, Wayne Mills, N7NG