Topband: Are US Possession DX?

[Ford Peterson]

Herb wrote:

...snip...

> I brought this issue up because there *is* confusion my many including logging
> software gurus.  It would be nice if the ARRL would make a statement in the
> rules that would make it crystal clear that "for the purpose of the ARRL 160
> Meter Contest off shore U.S. Territories and Possessions are not considered
> DX." If that is what the ARRL CAC really intends they could help out by saying
> so.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

Herb, and others...

>From the ARRL website, we get the following list of "Sections:"

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/secinfo.html

The traditional US sections are listed, along with the following:
Pacific -- Hawaii and U.S. possessions in the Pacific 
Puerto Rico 
US Virgin Islands 

Herb presented evidence to me previously that illustrates there is a problem in the community.  Most notably, that given his location in the world, no other DX would call him, and no other DX would return calls from him with responses similar to "no dx to dx u lid."  He had a good signal into MN, and I'm certain was being heard all over EU, SA, and AF.  To receive exactly ZERO calls from DX tells me that there is a problem.

It is hoped that Ward-N0AX can somewhat promote these facts and encourage the log authors to take a look at their software to ensure that for the ARRL 160M contest, all of these 'section' countries, which for every other measure are considered DX, are not DX but sections and eligible for QSO points and multiplier status.

Any DX failing to recognise PR, VI, and points west of KH6 as 'Sections,' are losing both Qs and mults in the ARRL 160M contest.  Herb further provided evidence that suggests certain log authors had programmed into their software certain controls that further diminish his opportunity to work DX for mults.  CT was mentioned, and a suitable workaround for Herb was discussed on Topband, but no workaround for EU to call Herb--hence the 'no dx to dx u lid' comments.  This needs to be fixed.  Not everybody uses CT.  My intuition tells me that the problem is more common that some are indicating.  I encourage all to test their software to see if the problem exists elsewhere.

Good luck Herb...  Don't lose hope.  We need you on the band for that ever elusive SWEEP.  Let's try to get this fixed by next December...

Ford-N0FP
ford at cmgate.com