[SEDXC] Comments on the VP6DI Dxpedition

[David L. Thompson]

Here are my comments I made about the Dxpedition After 5 days of operation.
I have worked them on 40, 15, and 10 and it took 5 hours on 15 and I had to
bring up the Henry 2K to do so.  40 and 10 were easy.  I called them for an
hour on 12 SSB with no luck...and tomorrow I'll have my Henry 2K (and all of
500 watts) there.  Good luck to all on working them.

>From the rec.amateur radio Dx newsgroup...................

The VP6DI Ducie Island Dxpedition seems to have upset nearly everyone.  I
hear Europeans, South Americans. Australians, and some in North America
complaining.  Europeans say they work only JA and North America.  South
Americans and Australia say they don't even listen for them.  But wait a
minute...Ducie is a new Country for DXCC and the plan was to work 21Mhz as
the primary band and this has worked well (even if it took me 5 hours over 2
days to work them).  I worked Mike VP6AZ on 10 and he is learning fast.  I
got them on 40 on first call but have not heard them on 17 and 24 until
today when the VP6 YL got SSB privileges.  There was a 30 minute window (at
57 to 8)
but I only had my 100 Watts so no QSO yet.  She was gone for 1 and 1/2 hours
and when she got back the JA's and west coast had the skip.   So I hope she
will be back so I can work Ducie on 24 SSB.

On 14 SSB I have heard them 3 times.  The first JA1BK was running JA.  The
second they tried simplex on 14195 and when the roar cleared they were gone.
The last was tonight when the operator tried to work NA by districts (he
said he would work NA them Europe but I guess only I heard that).  He worked
a K2 and nothing in W3 or W4.  By the time he got to W6 some of the out of
call area callers had gone although his frequency was filled with
complaints.   How much right do these hams have to complain if he could not
work anyone in my district for all the fuss?  They not only complained by
called and called and called!

I understand they have extended the Dxpedition but there will always be next
time.  The Dxpedition had to take along the VP6 hams as this was their
Dxpedition and I think that is great.  I remember working Tom VR6TC (now
VP6TC) when all he had was a small hallicrafters
receiver and DX35.  I still treasure that along with one from long SK VR6AC
for 2 way SSB,   I have VP6 on 80 to 10 including the 17 and 12 meter bands
many times. I even have a scratched out VP6 160 CW contact too.  I am sure I
will get Ducie on all these bands too.  Right now the main goal still must
be to work the maximum number of hams for new DXCC credit.  Working them on
other bands is still secondary.  I have over 300 countries on all the bands
80 to 10 (except for 30 meters which I don't work) and if I can wait and
have patience then so can everyone else.  Good luck to all on working the
new country and please stay cool.

73 Dave K4JRB

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