Topband: Best Practices and the Number Game

[Art]

I can't quite agree on the leaderboard business. Some of us simply don't 
enjoy operating some modes. Thus we'll never see the top of a 
leaderboard. In any case IMHO that's not what constitutes a "good" 
expedition. A "good" expedition to me is a well run affair that has 
given everyone worldwide a fair opportunity, and (kudos to K4UEE) got 
home safely. I think FT5GA was a "good" expedition given their 
constraints. But then I worked it on two bands. Even if I hadn't, it was 
still good. They were there when they could be.

73 Art

Nelson Moyer wrote:
> I couldn't agree more about the numbers game! Numbers have become the
> measure of a successful DX'pedition, and the leader boards feed the fury, as
> every self-respecting DX'er (including me) likes to see his call in the top
> 100, whether or not he needs all of the band/modes with those green check
> marks. I can easily exercise restraint and refrain from calling on
> bands/modes I don't need when there is no leader board, but post a leader
> board and all restraint goes out the window. It becomes a local contest with
> fellow club members.
>
> I predicted that K4M would reverse the howl during and after FG5GA, and it
> apparently did, though K4M went out of their way to work EU, while FT5GA
> didn't try very hard for most of NA. I'm not sure running simultaneous
> pileups up of down 2 is the answer, though. I would rather see DX'peditions
> work geographical areas by propagation peaks where openings are short and
> weak. Most DX ops will take the loudest signal they can hear, so
> simultaneous pileups to NA and EU will mean that whichever continent has the
> loudest signals will get the Qs and the others will be no better off than
> before. Where multiple continents have propagation, e.g. EU and the East
> Coast, or JA and the West Coast, the op has the choice to limit by continent
> or not. K4M rarely called for NA exclusively except late in the operation,
> leaving low band ops in NA and EU competing with JA, which isn't much of a
> contest. K4M called a lot for EU on several bands and modes, giving EU a nod
> for the difficult path.
>
> While the unofficial code of best operating practices has been around for a
> while, maybe it's time to reexamine it and write it into the literature on
> recommended DX'pedition practices. DX'peditions that don't follow
> recommended practices would disqualify themselves from DX'pedition funding
> DXCC approval, and awards. That recommendation should cause a stir!
>
> Nelson, KU0A
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: topband-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com]
> On Behalf Of n4is
> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 5:46 AM
> To: 'G3LZQ John'; topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: Topband Digest, Vol 82, Issue 37 K4M on 160m
>
>
>
>   
>>> I think most of our overseas friends on 160m are missing the
>>>       
> point...<<
>
>
>
> John you are 100% right, the point is clear, most Dx expeditions is ignoring
> openings and best practices in return of high number of QSO's. It is an
> issue both way, east or west, and it is getting worst, no going in the right
> way.
>
> We can do better then this. Why not adopt the practice of EU up 2 and non EU
> down 2, or vice versa. It is not that difficult to get organized again as we
> used to be.
>
> I share same frustration here not working several new ones on top band due
> wall's ignoring band conditions for rare openings on TB.
>
>
> My two cents.
>
> Regards
> JCarlos
> N4IS
>
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