Traditional DXpedition methods are being challenged by rising costs, prohibitive environmental constraints and growing restrictions on transportation services. As a result, many DXCC entities that perpetually sit at the top of the DXCC Most Wanted list will retain their position at the top of the list, denying access to DXCC Honor Roll for many until forward-thinking teams develop some novel solutions to address some tough problems. In the past few years, there have been some risk-taking hams who have used modern station design concepts and remotely controlled DXpedition stations to create massively successful DXpedition operations using new approaches to the DXpedition game. At the 2025 International DX Convention, the convention team will be offering an all-day event on Friday, 4 April, of the 3-day convention. A series of panel discussions and demonstrations will be provided to DXers, DXpeditioners, contest station designers and hams of all interests that will provide insights to where things are likely to be heading in amateur radio. Speakers/panelists will include George Wallner (AA7JV), Bart Janke (W9JJ), Don Greenbaum (N1DG), Gerry Hull (W1VE), Bill Fehring (W9KKN), Gregg Marco (W6IZT), Ned Stearns (AA7A), Glenn Johnson (W0GJ) and possibly others. The following topics will be the focus of a series of 45-minute panel discussions that will be completely open to audience participation: Mission analysis Search for solutions Distributed team building Data networks for amateur radio Radio system designs Managing user experiences Station integration and test Pulling it all together and executing at a high level Watch for details on the IDXC website in the coming months. Consider attending this first-of-its kind event that will introduce you to the next generation of DXpedition and distributed/flexible contest station designs. https://dxconvention.com/
that is a good question. in my view, no. If a station is remotely controlled or if the signal travels partly over via an IP connection of any sort, it sort of mitigates the whole concept of DX. You might as well contact the other party via e-mail or a cell phone. It might be fun, but in my view it's not DX. That being said, since I have no interest in certificates or contests..... I don't really have a dog in that hunt. So whatever they do, it's not my problem.
No ifs, ands or buts about it? Paul has and makes a good point; and it has been done before. With great results. Legally and ethically. My opinion, as a DXer with small means and acreage: for decades we've used information, techniques and tools, devised by ourselves, to help satisfy our DX needs, in the form of news letters, DX clusters, propagation prediction tools, PSKReporter and WSPR reports - to name just a few. Thanks to various websites I can now see and confirm that I'm being heard by station X in entity Y at time Z, any time of day. That information comes solely from the internet, be it via landline, WiFi or via satellite. Case in point: what Paul N6PSE is referring to is not that. If I can confirm that I'm being heard on some remote island, then so can everyone else, on the very opposite of the globe of where I am located. From there on it doesn't matter who hits the PTT or CW key or presses TX on a digital program's interface. Someone at the radio on the island, or drifting a few hundred meters offshore, or via satellite link from the other side of the planet. The actual QSO, assuming I can hear the DX station's reply to my call, still happens via RF over whatever band is being used. Innovation. It's what we're all about.
well.... as long as the actual QSO message travels over the airwaves from your station to the distant station, and both of you can hear each other, then it's DX. All of the spotting, logging and other tools are irrelevant to the definition. If some app tells you that I'm on-air, and then you and I have a QSO on the radio, that's fine. BUT if the message travels via the Internet part of the way in either direction then it's not DX in my mind. Of course this is just my opinion.... but under those conditions, I would not list such a QSO in my log as a DX.
from point of view of some here.. If there is a repeater that hear you and re-transmit you and you hear yourself back then would be a dx also. NO WAY! If there's no one replying as it should, should not count as a dxpedition. and i cant see how sponsors would get in on a expedition of some kind of remote station. the dxpeditions has more roles than the dx itself, is the effort to to contacts on the site with limited resources. thats what the adventure is about. If not, let send some helio ballons over north corea with a remote station and try to do that contact.
Ft8 is yet another issue. One can sit in the park and have the computer work and log stations for you. I truly believe that FT8, and digital in general, should be in a class of itself and not lumped into SSB/CW for DXCC. It's apples and oranges.
that would be an excellent conversation starter with a devout FT8 fan..... The DXpedition paradigm has always opened up my imagination... of the remote location... the environmental conditions.. exotic... harsh... lush...etc.. So.... Setting up a remote station replete with satcoms for remote control... just takes all of that sensory input away from me.... When there is no effort put into the difficult task of intense ops in tents... LOL.... the luster of bagging a prized entity is not there... at least not for me.... I will admit to the occasional automatic calling of a prized DX catch on FT8... leaving the desk at times to get up to pee... and then I return to find the RR73 and logging window open .... waiting for me to press OK.... ummmm not very exciting for me other than the surprise that I bagged another one whilst up for a pee.... So.... it counts in my mind, but it doesn't give me much momentary joy that I would get by watching it all unfold... I think I drifted off topic for a bit.... Back on topic.... yes it should count... some effort was sustained getting the DX station on the air. That effort should be rewarded with interest from our community of egoic DX hounds... Peace
Hmmmmm balloons over NK you say.... hmmm. How about drones over New Jersey.... heheheh you're welcome comrade...Bwahahahahahahah
ummm I got back into the hobby about ten years ago.. after a 30 year break.... then it was SSB/Cw and RTTY... Not a lot of RTTY because the machines were big and delicate. DATA ie RTTY is simply another comms mode... easy to do in your shack, but hard, cold and or sweaty in a remote locale.... For me.... and I am just speaking for me.... It is all about the effort put into the DXpedition... and the fun and or risk that people experience whilst performing their tasks.... There are all kinds of ways of establishing comms open to us as hams.... I reward the effort. Getting a computer set up to interact on FT8 is a skill... a low level skill for some... a high level skill for others.... HAM radio was promoted during it's early days to help build a skilled reservoir of competent communicators... pre-war and post war #2. We are building various skillsets within the paradigm of communications.... I self-reward ALL efforts to improve my skills within this hobby.... Please don't forget that our hobby has sustained itself through innovation and discovery.... Don't let the contesters or DXhounds convince you otherwise.... There are no cash prizes or presidential medals for winning a contest or 5BDXCC. It should always be about the accomplishment ie... launching a fishing weight into a tree for an EFLW.... and not breaking the neighbor's window on a misfire... LOL.
Let me start by saying. I love radio. I enjoy many forms every day. From listening to regular radio while working FT8 to chasing voice later in the day...to trying to bag a sat (I'm doing this, this year) to getting my Morse code up to something that doesn't sound like a spasmodic woodpecker has a hold of my key. FT8, like many other digital modes, has allowed a lot of people to go after awards and contest when they are limited. They might be limited by physical issues (handicaps), limited power, and antenna restrictions to actually enjoy radio. I see it as one tool. Not the only tool. A great tool at the bottom of the solar cycle. But ham radio is autodidact by nature. The greatest expression of DXCC maybe be growth. Sure, you bagged a bunch with FT8, but you learned Morse and now have many more contacts in that mode, and of course voice. Just my thoughts. ki4kea
From discussing what is essentially a repeater/auto qso to anecdotal interludes of minutia. Hardly worthy of the lofty description of a bunch of hobby radio hams who use rather than promote technology. But easy seems to be their goal
