How do you DX? How do you keep track of what you hear when you DX? Let’s check on how some NRC members answer those questions. Maybe you’ll get some ideas for your version of the hobby…maybe you’ll decide to share your responses to those questions with the rest of the membership after you read these!

Les Rayburn <lowga@hotmail.com>: I'm wondering what kind of game plan experienced DX'ers would suggest for someone like myself going into their second season.Since last year, I've logged 262 stations, in 29 states, and four countries. I've got at least one logging on every channel.

Should I concentrate on trying to log additional states (and in the process boost my totals) or should I go after more loggings per frequency (and in the process hopefully log more states)?

I find it helpful to have a "goal" to work towards. Last season it was to log at least one station on every frequency.

Most of the states I need are in the West (NM, AZ, NV, CA, OR, WA, UT, etc.).

Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@nrcdxas.org>: Given that many of your needed states will be difficult, I'd concentrate on those which would seem to be the most likely, watching for silent periods or tests which might bring you one of the more difficult ones.

To me, one of the more interesting aspects of BCB DX is the graveyard frequencies, where you have good opportunities to add several stations on the same frequency.

A third possibility is to select a few frequencies which, from your location, can best be expected to provide good sequential sunrise or sunset DX - meaning that if you were to camp on one frequency several times during the season month, you'd bag 3 or more new ones each session, and then simply rotate the selected frequencies with each DX session. On a good day for a good frequency, someone at your total number of stations could add half a dozen in a single session of a couple of hours.

Rick Kenneally <woodlandview@yahoo.com>: Les, I've logged a ton of stuff while trying to log every station in different states. Living in the middle of a bunch of small states, this isn't too hard. CT and RI are done, 2 to go for NJ, 1 to go for DE, then I start on NY in earnest.

Another list I work is the list of all Latin American stations logged from the Northeast and reported to DXN in the past couple years.

Make a list and go to work. It's amazing what other things you'll hear along the way.

Also, get an Intermatic DT17C timer and a tape recorder (or a computer and a lot of hard disk) and try some timer DXing.

Bruce Conti <BACONTI@aol.com>: Once I reached a saturation point in terms of logging states, I began trying for QSLs. As the QSL collection grew and QSLing became more difficult, I moved on to international DXing. Now I don't even really keep track of personal records; how many stations, how many states, how many QSLs, how many countries, etc. I just enjoy DXing, experimenting with antennas, and DXpeditioning. I find it most interesting to compare logs with what others are receiving. The next edition of IDXD will have logs from Mark Connelly DXpeditioning in Rowley MA while I was DXpeditioning in Maine during auroral conditions, making for an interesting comparison. Of course any new states, provinces, and countries that come along are an added bonus. Highlights over the last year include QSLing 880 KHAC (my first New Mexico) during a WCBS silent period, and receiving three Mexican stations on 660. There are disappointments too; 660 CFFR and 880 CHQT, my first from Alberta, never answered reception reports. In conclusion, the victories are few and far between, but once I got beyond the need to keep totals (a tough thing for an obsessive Virgo like me), the hobby became much more enjoyable and fascinating.

Rick Kenneally: Bruce, Try again with CFFR - I got a letter from them. I don't have the signer's name with me, but I'll look it up at home.

CHQT also didn't answer me, but 880-CKLQ-MB sent me a great 3-page verie, stickers, etc. I've sent a follow-up to CHQT.

Les Rayburn: Bruce & The Gang, As I've mentioned in past post, AM DXing was a part of the hobby that I always promised myself I'd "get around to someday". After being licensed as a ham since the age of 7, I finally found the time just before my 40th birthday to get serious about the AM Band.

Like yourself and others, I enjoy experimenting with the antennas, and seeing what I can hear. QSLing is something I'd like to pursue as well, though my only real interest would be in getting the traditional postcard type of QSL, letters just don't have the same appeal.

My "spiritual home" is New Mexico (we own some land out there I hope to retire to someday) so I'd like to receive more of the Western States. My big thrill last season was recording an ID from Wyoming. But so far, the Western states have proven to be tough here.

At least 75% of my DXing is via the Total Recording software overnite, but that is also changing a bit.

Robert Foxworth <rfoxwor1@tampabay.rr.com>: This has become my approach also. I just tune around wherever things lead to. I usually find something interesting to take my attention. No real game plan. I can't even remember how many countries I've heard. Think its in the 85 range, most of them from years ago. No paper logs, no more QSL's. Another obsessive Virgo here.

Russ Edmunds: Actually, I'm more obsessive about logging in the info on what I hear than I am the totals. I continue to keep totals, because it presents no real problem to do so. Once I got beyond the point of paying much attention to totals, that was a difference.

Patrick Martin <mwdxer@webtv.net>: I DX when I can and am an avid QSLer as many of you know. Probably without the QSLing, the interest in MW DXing would drop off a lot. QSLing is a very large part of the DX hobby to me. I am sure I am in the minority today though.

Harry Helms <ak6c@earthlink.net>: I think more of us would be into QSLing if stations replied at the rate they did in the 1960s and 1970s. It's classic Skinnerian conditioning in action---a behavior (reporting) that's not reinforced (no QSL in return) eventually gets extinguished. That's why I've basically lost all interest in QSL chasing and collecting except for extraordinary circumstances---I suppose I'll fire off some reports when the first IBOC stations take to the air. DXing is like astronomy now for me; the fun is in hearing (seeing)

something new or unusual, not in getting a verification or souvenir of the experience.

Patrick Martin: Harry; Very true. QSLing is a lot more hard to do now. In many cases, I don't get the QSL from the CE, but I get one from the PR person along with a lot of station goodies too. Almost any station will QSL today, but you have to find the right person. I have never been rude in asking for a QSL, but I bribe the station more today. It takes work, but any hobby does take work. We used to have it easy in the old days, but thanks to the FCC there was such an increase in stations that the competition increased and the stations have less time to answer reports because they try to survive today. But you can still get the QSL if you try.

Russ Edmunds: For me, at least, there were other factors - I stopped before the return rates went south. Mostly I stopped because of escalating postage costs (tapes, especially foreign one in particular) and the time the whole process took. Once I realized that I got more fun out of DX'ing than from the verifications, quitting was easy....

Greg Myers <tmyers01@tampabay.rr.com>: "Almost any station will QSL today, but you have to find the right person." That is most definitely true and from what I can gather it has been since I started QSL'ing in '78.....this particularly true with everyone’s favorite- Clear Channel!!

David Hochfelder <hochfeld@rci.rutgers.edu>: I don't know if I qualify as an "experienced DXer," but here's my method, or lack of method, more to the point. I DX mainly from late Sept. through April or May, so I guess I'm seasonal. In the summer I devote more time to amateur radio (HF CW, mainly) and shortwave listening (mainly for pirates, but also some international broadcasters). I also find MW DXing more relaxing than pounding the key if I've had a long day. I do most of my DXing at night, between say 10 PM and midnight.

That being said, I usually tune around to channels I'm interested in. In looking over my log and comparing to the NRC Log, it has occurred to me that there are tons of 5kW stations within a couple hundred miles, so I'm trying to fill those in. I also check to see if there's new and interesting stuff under my locals or under the 50kW clears that usually dominate their channels. I catch unusual things like stations running day power at night or stations running late for sports events.

As a matter of fact, that's how I heard WWKB go off last night. I tuned to 1520 and was able to null it a bit and I heard faint Spanish underneath, but strong enough to optimistically think that I could copy some usable information. Lo and behold, at midnight, WWKB went off without an announcement of any kind, leaving two Spanish stations fighting it out. The first was Ecos de Palmar from Colombia, playing great music and IDing frequently. Armchair copy, too. They went off at 1 AM, leaving the second with a religious format, with a male announcer. I didn't get enough information for an ID, so I'm hoping someone else got my DXtip and pinned this down. They were not as strong as EdP, but were decent to good at peaks.

Sometimes you just can't beat plain, dumb luck...

Also, some of you might have noticed from my recent loggings that I'm using the Quantum Loop I bought used from Jim Bagge more than the Kiwa Pocket Loop lately. The Quantum seems to give better nulls and directivity. I had a problem with it regarding audibility. The Kiwa Pocket Loop gave much stronger signals than the Quantum when I used the wall adapter with both. Switching to 9V battery, however, changed this and gave very good audibility and strength with the Quantum Loop. Odd. Last night, for example, the Quantum Loop gave much better performance on 1520 than the Kiwa Pocket Loop. Guess I'll lay in a stock of 9V batteries!

Michael Battaglino <radio_head2214@yahoo.com>: Pat, I-like many others on this list I am sure-sincerely applaud your QSLing efforts. And I happen to agree with you--a QSL is usually out there to be had if one is willing to diligently follow-up. I took your advice in that regard with x-bander KCJJ a while back--they didn't QSL for the longest time, but after e-mailing and being pointed at the Sales Mgr., he apologized profusely because his mail box was physically moved in the station and he was just catching up to his "lost" mail--wound up with a QSL, letter, e-mail, bumper stickers. It was worth the effort.Now, however, work demands are numerous and the time required to put forth the QSLing effort is just not there--unless they decide to create 26-hour days! Tape recordings suffice now, with reports reserved for DX tests and other special occasions (if I can stay awake for them--yes, Rick K. I know-- buy the timer!). In this respect, I am very much of the same mind as Harry.

Les Rayburn <lowga@hotmail.com>: Currently on the WTFDA e-mail newsgroup there is a great thread going on asking folks to describe their log book, be it Excel files, database, plain old paper, etc. I think this might make a great topic for the AM list too.

My personal AM log lists callsign, frequency, type of channel (regional, clear, graveyard), time and date of reception, location, and a comment column where I list station format, antenna, or conditions.

In hindsight, I wish I'd added transmitter power, antenna pattern, etc. Perhaps I'll put those in before the log gets too big.

Since my log is Excel based, I hyperlink the comments section to a folder which contains MP3 files of the receptions. You can review the log, and literally click on the station to hear it's ID recording. Pretty neat.

I'm curious has to what other DX'er use and also how you track call letter changes (separate entries?

footnote?)

Eric Conchie <econchie@reach.net>: Hi - This sounds like it could be an interesting thread!

My log book is varied--some people might consider it a bit obsessive, but hey, it works for me!

First, I have a typical written log kept on loose-leaf paper in a binder, where I usually log things first (also this helps if I'm going to be DXing away from home). I also log in chronological order using Corel Quattro Pro (a spreadsheet program). I also keep Word Perfect logs by frequency, call letter, alphabetical location, and by state/province (currently 29 states and 6 provinces heard since I got back into DX’ing in the summer of '97 when I moved to Tweed.

I especially like doing it by frequency to see if I can get something on every frequency on the band (I have done so-the last being CJWI Montreal on 1610)--I'm lucky in that I don't have any stations within about 30 miles of me, so nothing kills adjacent frequencies!

It'll be interesting to see how others do it.

Rick Kenneally <woodlandview@yahoo.com>: Les, I keep a log on Microsoft Access, which synchronizes with a SprintDB Pro database on my Toshiba Pocket PC. On the Toshiba, I also have a complete list of all North American stations. I have a little application that opens to a "stylus-tap" button screen that allows me to quickly select a frequency. After I select a frequency, the application gives me one page of all North American stations on that frequency and another page of all stations I've logged on that frequency. I use the Toshiba Pocket PC as my log while commuting, when I'm reviewing tapes.

Back on my desktop computer, my Access database has a simple entry form, and produces reports of stations by frequency and time, and also produces the formatted loggings that I post on this list and send to Ginnie & Bruce. The frequency list is my bible while DXing, showing what I've heard and color coded to show daytime stations, night stations and foreign stations. I've got a complete copy of that list pasted to the wall of my "shack" right above the receivers, and I carry another handy copy in the car. Actually, I blame this list for the fact that I haven't memorized the regional frequencies from here like I did when I was a kid in Cincinnati. The list is so handy that I don't need to memorize. I'm sure it's the list and not my aging memory:-)I also have a chronological log (produced from Access and copied into Microsoft Word) that has all the notes that I include with my loggings to DXN. I adorn the pages of this log with station logos pulled off the web, print the pages in color, and put them into a binder with my meager QSL collection. This makes a nice little book for browsing. All of this is clearly overkill, but if I didn't do it, I wouldn't have learned as much about the Toshiba PPC or about Access. So obsessive, excessive record-keeping keeps me a little sharper with database tools.

Ron Gitschier <RGITSCHIER@doyle.navy.mil>: Me, I highlight my loggings in my WRTH and Vane Jones books.

I used to keep an index card on each station, filed by freq long ago from when I lived in Washington State. Still have the index box w/ cards. Many of the cards have a state/regional hand-drawn map drawn showing the COL...

Station call, COL, freq, power(s) date/time of reception and maybe format was noted on the index card. Top line with Call sign and freq only.

David Hochfelder <hochfeld@rci.rutgers.edu>: I use an Excel spreadsheet with room for things like station format and comments about the conditions when I logged them, as well as date and time, day and night power and pattern, and so on. I print out a copy and keep it in a three-ring binder, and I add to it or modify entries till it gets too messy. Then I type all that new information into the spreadsheet, print out a new copy, and repeat the cycle. I wind up making a new printout about once a month during the DX season, and only every three or four months during the summer.

I can't send the file to the list, but if you want to have a look, email me off-list and I'll send it as an attachment.

Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@nrcdxas.org>: Guess I can use more or less the same answer here:-}

I use a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet (which could be converted to Excel, except that as an Excel file it takes up about 2.5 times the disk space). I run several different spreadsheets within the one file as indicated below.

A) The logbook - whatever I see fit to enter into my log, so it includes some degree of program details, sorted by heard date.

B) The log of new stations & call changes - I maintain the call changes here for record-keeping and reference purposes, but they're noted with an indicator which permits me to exclude them in sorting for counting totals. Default sort is by heard date.

C) An abbreviated by-location & state-by-frequency listing of the prior, used as a quick-reference.

D) Totals kept by both frequency, by state/province, by country and by continent.

I've tried to roll up what started out as several separate files into the separate worksheets within a single file. My next step will be to set up some additional formulas to 'read' data from one panel into another to avoid duplicate entries when possible, and also some to handle automated totaling where possible.

Of course, since my AM log, unlike my FM log, is combined from 5 separate locations, (all less than 100 miles from the furthest other one) - Little Silver, Glen Rock, Parsippany and Kinnelon in NJ and Blue Bell, PA, distances would have to be worked out, especially as to those heard at all locations, which are probably a significant number.

Frederick Vobbe <fredv@nrcdxas.org>: I use the old paper log, albeit I use LogEQF for my ham radio work. I prefer the paper log as I have sheets headed by frequency, and have the log behind the AM Radio Log in a 1" binder.

The reason I don't use computer is because 95% of my DXing is done mobile or while at other locations on a trip.

James Niven <James.Niven@med.va.gov>: Hi Group, This is my first post to this group since joining, I am finding the threads here of lots of interest. This thread in particular is a great discussion topic.

I use Microsoft Access 97 at present. I have a database of all AM World Radio stations, some 16,000 records. I have a logbook which is connected also where I am able to track logs of heard and qsl'd stations. I am also able to track totals from all world logs and also all logs by USA states and also what stations I have on different frequencies.

I am currently working on some fine details to complete this application so I can make it available to those who wish to use this database program.

I would be interested in feedback as to who would like a copy?

Charles Hutton <charlesh3@msn.com>: I'd be curious to know how you got the database of 16,000 stations, and whether/ how it gets updated.

James Niven: Charles, The database was created from scratch and updated when I find the time and find the information. It was created for my own use primarily and I am offering it to those who wish to go this route. I guess something like this is long overdue as well.

Steve Carter <ve7stevecarter@yahoo.ca>: James; I have a copy of Access 97 and would be most interested in receiving a copy of the logging application.

Russ Edmunds: Welcome! I'm curious as to the source material for this and how you keep it current. My guess would be it's FCC data, and even at that some databases are more reliable than others...

I've tried to teach myself Access using the DIY CD's. I've never been able to complete it before losing interest, though - I've tried 3 different times. But that's a different story:-}

James Niven: Russ, Yes, I use FCC Data for the main USA/South/Central American data. Its one of the many sources that is available.

Yes I understand learning Access can be a pain. I tried many times and after I guess sitting at it and

using other peoples databases you do learn. I am not an expert but only a beginner, lots to learn though.

Next time I’ll try to get to one of the other topics that was mentioned in this column…how best to hear certain states, provinces, or geographic areas.