Finding DX

A primer for those new to HF and interested in DX

1. Tuning the transceiver across the band
When I started in amateur radio the main way to find DX was to tune the receiver across the band listening for signals. I remember the excitement when I worked Norfok Island. The time was early evening. Fifteen meters seemed completely quiet. Then I heard a weak signal.

Today there are quicker ways but perhaps not so exciting ways to find DX.

2. Using the internet

2.1 Learn how to work DX
Before you go to the internet to learn about DX, read the American Radio Relay League book Operating Manual chapter "DXing Contacting Those Faraway Places".

The internet provides many resources on learning DX. I found the following useful:

• Delving into DX-ing provides basic information for hams considering becoming active in DX.
• Twin City DX Association (Minneapolis/St. Paul) is a local club that specializes in DX. Check out their newsletter to discover up comming DX expeditions. Learn the experiences of local hams. Some of the Twin City DX Association people are also members of SARA.
• Tips for The DXer lists many suggestions.
• The Ham-Radio-Doc's Orders for working DX Pile-ups suggests guides for DX operators.
• Working DX- Tips" emphasizes using low power to work DX.
• NG3K Amateur Radio Contest/DX Page gives a huge number resources to help you work DX. The resources cover:
  • software
  • tools
  • clusters
  • propagation

2.2 Find potential DX contacts

Groups of hams organize DX expeditions to make available countries not commonly heard on the amateur bands. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) keeps documentation on current DX activity. You can subscribe to email bulletins that give you information you need to work the expedition.

• location
• call
• frequencies
• time
• date
• QSL information

Check out the contest schedule at ARRL contest schedule. Work a contest. That gives you lots of countries in a short period time.

2.3 Find active DX stations

Hams broadcast the DX stations they work to other hams via web sites or telnet connections. To keep information current the list gets dated every several minutes. The information includes:

• call of DX station
• frequency of DX station
• a comment such as frequency offset to transmit to the DX station
• date and time

A cluster can display lots of data. Some cluster interfaces allow you to filter the information to show only the stations of interest to you. For example you might select 20 meter cw stations.

Some hams frown on the use of clusters. The use of DX clusters contribute to pile-ups. If you use a clusters, you do not need as much patience and skill to work DX. Use your judgement on whether to use clusters.

Here are some sites that provide clusters:

• DX Spots tells you how to set up a telnet connection. The site lists some software that makes your work easier. A web page provides a filter to select spots.
• DX Summit shows latest spots. You can enter your own spots using a web form.
• eHam is another site to see spots.

2.4 Learn radio progatation conditions

To maximize your chances to work DX you can learn the current radio progation conditions. The ARRL provides a site for progration conditions and subscriptions to emails.

3. Using amateur radio software to locate active stations

Amateur radio software makes working DX a lot easier. Some the features found in the software include:

• connecting automatically to a DX cluster
• automatically updating the list of stations found on the cluster
• announcing newly active stations that you need for awards such as DXCC and WAS
• displaying the active cluster stations on a display of the bands
• displaying the active cluster stations on a 2D or 3D map of the world
• displaying dark and sunlight areas of the world
• selecting a station of interest with click of the mouse
• looking the station up in directory such as QRZ to show operator's name, address, location, QSL
• rotating the beam to the station location
• tuning the transceiver to the selected station frequency and allowing you to specify the split
• filling in most of the log information in a form
• upon clicking a button recording the contact in the log
• keeping counts of stations in the log for awards
• providing exporting of logs for Log of the World
• allowing pre-recorded audio or cw for transmission
• printing QSL cards and maiing labels

There are many software applications. I use MacLoggerDX. What software do you find useful?

You can see a movie of MacLoggerDX in action. The movie may start slowly depending on your computer, software and internet connection. On a Mac, Safari and Firefox start very quickly on a comcast connection. On a PC, Internet Explorer starts the movie slowly. Firefox starts the movie much more quickly.

4. Have fun working DX

Try out some of above DX techniques. Then adopt the combination of techniques that give you fun. This article emphasized using the internet to enhance the ham radio experience. Let me know what techniques help you find DX.