[RTTY] Are digital modes a DXexpedition afterthought?

[montemerlo at verizon.net]

At the risk of sounding a bit too critical, I believe some of the DXexpeditions are taking the Digital modes
a bit too lightly.

I have no issue with those who chose not to run Digital modes, or, as was the case with Aves Island,
awful things happen.

What I do get very upset with, are multi-week DXexpeditions, which state on their web sites that they will be running PSK31 & RTTY modes, update those websites on a regular basis, and then remove the
Digital notice the day they pack up to leave while only trying a couple of PSK31 contacts the last day.

It does a great disservice to Hams needing that DX on RTTY, who monitor them faithfully for a couple of weeks, and then do not even get a chance to match wits with propogation.

A lot has been said about how to efficiently use a DX's time. Maybe a bit more should be said about the
reverse. My instinctive response is just to add the members to that very short list of hams that either
refused to QSL or QRM'd on the air.

What do others think???

Bob KB1JZU

On a brighter note, I just recieved a QSL from SV2BFN for Maldive(8Q7GE) on 17 & 20 in great time.
16 calender days from when I mailed the direct request.....impressive for an international direct QSL
putting him in my top 10 response times.