Topband: Technology "QSO's"

[Jerry Keller - K3BZ]

In his excellent book "The Complete DXer", no less an authority than Bob Locher W9KNI tells of 
getting phone calls from friends alerting him to new ones, giving him callsigns and frequencies. Bob 
cites his own use of spotting networks, if only to see if the crowd has found the DX yet. So to me 
spotting networks are an acceptable DXing tool. Can they be abused? Probably... it seems anything 
can be abused these days.  Spotting networks are nothing more than the logical evolution of the 
postcard sked and the local 2M DX net.  Technology marches on... these are no longer the dark ages. 
But that has only to do with sharing where to listen (or look) for the DX. There's a world of 
difference between a tip as to where to point the beam and direct parallel hardline communication 
that sets up and confirms every aspect of the QSO. Abuse is often just a matter of degree, and 
knowing where to draw the line.  Will everyone agree on where the ethical line must be drawn?  Not 
likely. But the standards and examples set by the giants of DXing... like W9KNI... are good enough 
for me, and those standards apply no matter what band I'm on.

Just my 2 cents... 73,  Jerry K3BZ