[TowerTalk] Proposed Changes to DXCC for Remote Stations

[Lou Laderman]

Participants of this list may have interest in a proposed change to the DCXX
rules regarding remote stations. This is the text of a post on
https://groups.arrl.org/g/ARRL-Awards. To make comments regarding it, you
need to register  on https://groups.arrl.org/g/ARRL-Awards and then for the
sub list. 

 

 

Lou Laderman, W0FK

St. Louis, MO

 

 

Here is the message:

 

 

Posted by Mickey Baker N4MB  Aug 4
<https://groups.arrl.org/g/ARRL-Awards/message/441> #441   

 

Please note that these are proposed changes, posted here for polite pubic
comment. 
This has gone to the DX Advisory Committee Chairman and the DXAC is charged
with review.

At the end of the text below, you will find links to the complete DXAC
reports that recommend much more severe policies that the ones contained
herein.

Please remember that the DXCC award is one of the oldest and most
prestigious awards in amateur radio and let's have dialogue that is
respectful of each other and the history of this award.
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Rule Change Proposal for Using Remote Stations for DXCC Credit

 History

The DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) examined the utilization of remote station
operation for DXCC credit and recommended in their report on July, 2014:

 "The DXAC favored the proposed change of rule I.9, stating, however, some
distance limitation should be included for the remote station. Using an idea
similar to that used for contest stations, establishing a distance of 200km
separation between the remote station and the operator's home station
location and that no part of a remote station can be located more than 200km
from any other part.[i]

 The DX Advisory Committee was charged in 2017 to reexamine the issues
around remote-controlled operations and had a very poignant and emphatic
answer:

Part of the charge read, "Please consider potential ethical issues with
regard to legal, remote-controlled operations, and how these operations
comport with DXCC rules. Then, please consider DXCC Rule 11." The remainder
of the charge was detailed and extensive.[ii]

 The reply included the following from the DXAC:

".the DXAC was being asked to consider an ethics statement that it had
previously suggested not be accepted, and dealt with an issue (unlimited use
of remote radio stations) to make contacts which would be used for DXCC
credit that the DXAC had recommended against."

Both complete reports from the DXAC are available. Links to both documents
are below.

The ARRL Programs and Services Committee nor did the full Board take action
based on these recommendations, three years apart, nor since;

 Many active and successful DX Operators who have been long time supporters
of the ARRL have complained that the current rule, Section 1, Rule 9, allows
stations to "shop propagation" from moment to moment using services that
rent or otherwise share a number of remotely controlled stations
geographically diverse stations located throughout the same DX Entity;

 While the League wishes to encourage the use of remote stations,
"propagation shopping" has resulted in many amateurs with smaller stations
to be overpowered and displaced by the use of remote "super stations." This
has deprecated the need for operators to learn to take advantage of
propagation or to build and improve stations; "Propagation shopping" allows
operators to simply click to find the "loudest signal" thus not developing
skills for communication. For the DXCC Honor Roll achievement to be
equitable, this practice should be discouraged, so that this achievement is
more of a reflection of the art of DX'ing;

 ARRL recognizes the need for amateurs to use their own stations, whether at
their primary residence or a remote residence, or to use a third party
station for DXCC if it is impossible to build out a station at their home.

 We propose this change in the DXCC rules which are fair to those who have
made contacts to date, easy to understand and with which to comply, and
limits "propagation shopping" for DXCC award credit going forward;

 Program and Services Committee, after receiving considerable input
worldwide with the specified recommendations from the DX Advisory Committee,
propose the following DXCC rule change to the ARRL Board of Directors for
approval to change Section I, Rules 9 and 11 as follows:

 Amend Section I, Rule 9, of the DXCC Rules which currently reads,

 "a) All stations used to make contacts for a specific DXCC award must be
located within the same DXCC entity."

 To:

"a) All station transmitters and receivers used to make contacts for a
specific DXCC award on or after the date of adoption of this rule must be
located within the same DXCC entity, with additional restrictions regarding
remote operation.  Any and all remote contacts submitted for DXCC must be
conducted with the transmitters and receivers:

1.     Within a circle with a radius of 200km from the applicant's permanent
address as shown on their license. If the license does not specify a
geographic address, the radius center will be the post office serving the
applicant. This provides for remote operation of an applicant's primary
station from anywhere, or an additional station within the circle, OR;

2.     Within a circle with a radius of 200km from the applicant's location
at the time of the contact. This provision provides for the travelling
amateur, who often carries and establishes a temporary station, and the
remote use of that station within 200km of the applicant's location at the
time of the contact, OR;

3.     A single additional geographic location specified by the applicant.
This additional geographic location may be changed only once per consecutive
year - once established by making a contact from a location only that
location may be submitted for credit for one contiguous calendar year. An
example would be the applicant may choose their own vacation home station
operated remotely, or a single commercial remote superstation that is beyond
the 200km from their home location. Multiple additional remote locations are
not permitted to discourage "propagation shopping."

All claimed DXCC Contacts Until the date of adoption of this rule, will be
honored as per the prior rule in effect.

 Amend Section I, Rule 11, of the DXCC Rules which currently reads:

11.  Issues concerning remotely controlled operating and DXCC are best dealt
with by each individual carefully considering the ethical limits that he/she
will accept for his/her DXCC and other operating awards.  As the premier
operating award in Amateur Radio, DXCC draws intense scrutiny from its
participants.  As DX chasers climb up the Standings there will be increased
attention given to these achievements and the owner of these achievements
needs to be comfortable standing behind his/her award and numbers.  Peer
attention has always been a part of awards chasing, of course, but in these
times with so many awards and so many players it is more important than ever
to 'play the game' ethically.

 Technological advances, while welcome, also add to the difficulty in
defining rules for DXCC, but the intent of the rules is what is important.
It is never OK to remotely use a station outside of the 'home DXCC entity'
to add to the home-entity DXCC totals -- just as it is never OK for you to
ask someone else at another station in another place to make QSOs for you.
Remotely controlled stations must be properly licensed if they are to count
for DXCC.  It will continue to be up to the operator to decide what types of
legal remote control operating he/she will use (if any) to contribute to an
operating award.

 To the following:

11.  Issues concerning remotely controlled operating and DXCC are best dealt
with by each individual carefully considering the limits defined by the DXCC
and other operating awards.  As the premier operating award in Amateur
Radio, DXCC draws intense scrutiny from its participants.  As DX chasers
climb up the Standings there will be increased attention given to these
achievements and the owner of these achievements needs to be comfortable
standing behind his/her award and numbers.  Peer attention has always been a
part of awards chasing, of course, but in these times with so many awards
and so many players it is more important than ever to 'play the game'
ethically.

 Technological advances, while welcome, also add to the difficulty in
defining rules for DXCC, but the intent of the rules is what is important.
It is never OK to remotely use a station outside of the 'home DXCC entity'
to add to the home-entity DXCC totals -- just as it is never OK for you to
ask someone else at another station in another place to make QSOs for you.
Remotely controlled stations must be properly licensed if they are to count
for DXCC.  It will continue to be up to the operator to decide what types of
legal remote control operating he/she will use (if any) to contribute to an
operating award.

 

  _____  

[i] July 2014 DXAC Report to the PAC
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/Committee%20Reports/2014/July/D
oc_27.pdf,>
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/Committee%20Reports/2014/July/Do
c_27.pdf,

 [ii] July 2017 DXAC Report to the Programs and Services Committee
 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/2017%20Board%20of%20Directors/July%202017%20
Reports/_23DXACReportJuly2017.pdf>
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/2017%20Board%20of%20Directors/July%202017%20R
eports/_23DXACReportJuly2017.pdf