[RTTY] Operating PSK-31 from DX locations

[Richard Ferch]

Barry has hit the nail on the head. There are obvious (to us) reasons why
DXpeditions and contesters are accustomed to short QSOs, but those reasons
just aren't obvious to newcomers. Did you ever try to explain the attraction
of a "VP6DI TU 599 DE VE3IAY" QSO to a non-ham? Most people, even most hams,
just don't get it.

There are contesters and DX chasers on PSK31, too (e.g. the PODXS 070 club),
but they're in the minority. One of the attractions of PSK31 to many
newcomers is the slow-paced macro button culture, which is probably easier
for someone to break into than the faster-paced DXing and contesting culture
most of us here are used to.

If you're wondering about how to spread the word on DXpedition operating
procedure, I suspect there's not that much point in putting the information
on this reflector, where you're preaching mostly to the converted. Perhaps
an opinion article on http://www.eHam.net, or some postings to the psk31 and
digitalradio reflectors on http://groups.yahoo.com (each of which has more
than 1000 members) might have more impact.

73,
Rich VE3IAY