Thoughtful and to the point post.
On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 11:33 AM, Ed Muns <ed@w0yk.com> wrote:
> I think the FT4JA team ran one of the better DXpeditions we've seen. 10%
> RTTY QSOs is just one of many things they did right in my opinion. I give
> them high marks for their entire operation.
>
> However, I have to admit that I am not a fan of selecting a "DXpedition of
> the Year". A lot of time, money and hard work go into a successful
> operation from a rare location like Juan de Nova or Heard Island. Each
> operation has a unique set of challenges. I find it impossible to select
> the "best" one.
>
> The 10% RTTY QSO rate is exceptional compared to other rare DXpeditions of
> this magnitude. In fact, it is the highest of any comparable DXpedition I
> recall. Moreover, the FT4JA RTTY operator(s) demonstrated high competence
> whenever I monitored their activity. Effectively running the tremendous
> RTTY pileups from such a location is extremely difficult.
>
> I honestly don't know if a higher percentage of RTTY contacts should have
> been targeted or achieved by FT4JA. There are many factors to consider.
> Each of us has our own interests and goals in working a DXpedition such as
> this. It is not as simple as saying 1/3 of the contacts should be RTTY.
> Maybe 20% is a fair goal for the future, but I'm personally not convinced.
>
> Heard Island made 4.5% of their QSOs on RTTY. I think that should have
> been
> higher. They clearly emphasized CW over both SSB and RTTY. There is no
> way
> to know if this achieved a higher number of ATNO QSOs with Heard Island.
> Certainly, this strategy did not change the Unique percentage in the
> Clublog
> statistics as compared to FT4JA at their 75K QSO mark, nor other recent
> comparable DXpeditions.
>
> Both FT4JA and VK0EK constrained their RTTY contacts to 4 and 3 bands
> respectively. That helped to focus their RTTY operating time to supply a
> new mode rather than additional band-mode-slots. I even question whether
> limiting to 2-3 bands would be worth the increase in ATNO RTTY QSOs.
>
> The VK0EK DXA website capability was amazing. Current band-mode operation
> was shown real-time. The actual log rolled by real-time. QSOs were
> confirmed within 1-2 minutes. Within a few hours, QSOs were confirmed on
> LotW for those stations who donated at least $5, including those who sent
> an
> online donation during the operation (within 1-2 days). That DXer benefit
> is unprecedented, especially from a location where the only Internet
> connection is via a very expensive sat phone system. The Heard Island
> project was fortunate to find a donor of not only the equipment but 24x7
> air
> time. Couple this with the ARRL ability to process online DXCC LotW
> credits
> within 1-2 days, meant that a station could work VK0EK and have their DXCC
> record officially updated before the DXpedition went QRT.
>
> I appreciate the time, money and effort that these teams (plus their donors
> and supporters) contributed for my enjoyment.
>
> Ed W0YK
> ___________________________________________________________
>
> Jim F2LZ wrote:
>
> Any RTTY fan operator should vote for FT4JA as the DXpedition of the Year:
> 10010 RTTY QSOs that is 10% of the 100K Juan de Nova contacts.
>
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>
--
Tnx es 73
Richard W7ZR
www.w7zr.com
www.ridiculousones.blogspot.com/
*Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer*
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