A group of what I would call the world's top DXer's recently debated the
four most important causes of getting world class DX results. Whilst there
was not unanimous agreement, the general consensus was that the four most
important things in getting those really rare far off DX catches was:

1) site location
2) conditions (propagation)
3) antenna
4) DXing ability
5) receiver
in that order being the most important for DX reception.

1) I agree with that totally. As Conrad Hilton said of the hotel business,
the three most important things a
POSITION, POSITION, POSITION
and so it is with DXing.
A really good DX site can't be beaten.
Very best is a quiet site at the seaside next to the surf.

2) Propagation conditions also play a most vital part. Poor conditions =
poor results no matter what.

3) and 4) - I would rate 4) DXing ability slightly ahead of 3) antenna. I
used to know a young DXer who got the most amazing results just because of
his innate DXing ability. Now we have my mate Gary Deacon who also gets the
most amazing results at Miller's Point with only 40m/130ft of wire strung
out. Admittedly though, a short but well placed antenna can do wonders at a
good DX site.
I also have achieved amazing DX results with antenna's as short as 100 foot
strung out well at holiday locations

5) receiver - I agree with this totally. The fellow I mentioned above used
to DX with a Lowe HF150, a really modest RX, but he used to run rings around
many of us with much more fancy gear.

Then one year I will never forget in the Danish DX club annual competition -
a fella with a Yaesu FRG-7700 won hands down. This is a really mediocre
RX..!!

And now we have my friend Gary Deacon DXing away with his FROG, the
venerable analogue Yaesu FRG-7. Now I owned a FROG for a year on account of
its legendary MW DX capabilities, but personally wrote it off as near
useless due to its wide open 1000 Khz roofing filter and wide not very good
filters. Yet Gary consistently produces top line results of world class
quality on his FROG, proving the point that DXing ability is far more
important than a decent RX. A sobering thought for those of us touting the
top line RX's we own.

I asked Gary recently why he uses the old FROG and doesn't upgrade to a
decent modern digital RX. He answered by giving a pleasurable sigh and said
it was "steam radio"...!!! He has a Drake R7 by the way, an outstanding DX
machine in my opinion, but he prefers his FROG and does exceptionally well
with it...!!??

--
John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s
RX Icom IC-756 PRO III with MW mods
Drake SW8 & ERGO software
Sony 7600D GE SRIII
BW XCR 30, Braun T1000, Sangean 818 & 803A.
GE circa 50's radiogram
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro, Datong AD-270
Kiwa MW Loop
http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx

John Plimmer wrote:

[snip]

5) receiver - I agree with this totally. The fellow I mentioned above used
to DX with a Lowe HF150, a really modest RX, but he used to run rings around
many of us with much more fancy gear.

Somehow this doesn't surprise me. The HF-150 is a 'meat and potatoes'
type of receiver, but it's surprising to see just what it can do at
times. It's a well-designed receiver. The people who made the HF-150
understood that there's more to a good receiver than a big pricetag, a
plastic case, and lots and lots of "features".

Steve

wrote:

The people who made the HF-150
understood that there's more to a good receiver than a big pricetag, a
plastic case, and lots and lots of "features".


Wow..that would make my bought used Realistic dxAce-160 a winner! Thank
you for the reaffirmation of my obviously well honed shopping sense.



mike

John Plimmer wrote:
A group of what I would call the world's top DXer's recently debated the
four most important causes of getting world class DX results. Whilst there
was not unanimous agreement, the general consensus was that the four most
important things in getting those really rare far off DX catches was:

1) site location
2) conditions (propagation)
3) antenna
4) DXing ability
5) receiver
in that order being the most important for DX reception.

1) I agree with that totally. As Conrad Hilton said of the hotel business,
the three most important things a
POSITION, POSITION, POSITION
and so it is with DXing.
A really good DX site can't be beaten.
Very best is a quiet site at the seaside next to the surf.

2) Propagation conditions also play a most vital part. Poor conditions =
poor results no matter what.

3) and 4) - I would rate 4) DXing ability slightly ahead of 3) antenna. I
used to know a young DXer who got the most amazing results just because of
his innate DXing ability. Now we have my mate Gary Deacon who also gets the
most amazing results at Miller's Point with only 40m/130ft of wire strung
out. Admittedly though, a short but well placed antenna can do wonders at a
good DX site.
I also have achieved amazing DX results with antenna's as short as 100 foot
strung out well at holiday locations

5) receiver - I agree with this totally. The fellow I mentioned above used
to DX with a Lowe HF150, a really modest RX, but he used to run rings around
many of us with much more fancy gear.

Then one year I will never forget in the Danish DX club annual competition -
a fella with a Yaesu FRG-7700 won hands down. This is a really mediocre
RX..!!

And now we have my friend Gary Deacon DXing away with his FROG, the
venerable analogue Yaesu FRG-7. Now I owned a FROG for a year on account of
its legendary MW DX capabilities, but personally wrote it off as near
useless due to its wide open 1000 Khz roofing filter and wide not very good
filters. Yet Gary consistently produces top line results of world class
quality on his FROG, proving the point that DXing ability is far more
important than a decent RX. A sobering thought for those of us touting the
top line RX's we own.

I asked Gary recently why he uses the old FROG and doesn't upgrade to a
decent modern digital RX. He answered by giving a pleasurable sigh and said
it was "steam radio"...!!! He has a Drake R7 by the way, an outstanding DX
machine in my opinion, but he prefers his FROG and does exceptionally well
with it...!!??

--
John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s
RX Icom IC-756 PRO III with MW mods
Drake SW8 & ERGO software
Sony 7600D GE SRIII
BW XCR 30, Braun T1000, Sangean 818 & 803A.
GE circa 50's radiogram
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro, Datong AD-270
Kiwa MW Loop
http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx

I would put dxing ability, i.e. knowlege of the bands, ones equipment,
broadcasting schedules, etc., etc., at the top of the list.

John S. wrote:

I would put dxing ability, i.e. knowlege of the bands, ones equipment,
broadcasting schedules, etc., etc., at the top of the list.

I don't see how this is an 'ability'. No one was born with this gift.
The beauty of being able to pass on information via printed or spoken
means is the real gift.

The discoveries of others may be easily passed on, saving countless
hours of needless rediscovery every time information is needed.

The ability to find and USE published schedules and propagation reports
is the real requirement as opposed to an innate 'skill'. Merely turning
a radio dial, contrary to what a self proclaimed expert says, isn't
anywhere near as demanding as, say, tying your shoe laces.

...but then, he has a tough time doing even that. Not enough time in
between insults..




mike

What?

m II wrote:
John S. wrote:


I don't see how this is an 'ability'. No one was born with this gift.


Why assume that all 'abilities' are innate?

m II wrote:
John S. wrote:

I would put dxing ability, i.e. knowlege of the bands, ones equipment,
broadcasting schedules, etc., etc., at the top of the list.

I don't see how this is an 'ability'. No one was born with this gift.
The beauty of being able to pass on information via printed or spoken
means is the real gift.

Don't read too much into text. Ability to perform a complex task such
as dxing can and is usually gained by experience as well as trial and
error. For those of us willing to put in the time and learn from both
mistakes and successes the ability to dx is honed over time.



The discoveries of others may be easily passed on, saving countless
hours of needless rediscovery every time information is needed.

The ability to find and USE published schedules and propagation reports
is the real requirement as opposed to an innate 'skill'. Merely turning
a radio dial, contrary to what a self proclaimed expert says, isn't
anywhere near as demanding as, say, tying your shoe laces.

The ability to research is not a gift that one is borne with, but one
that is developed over time.


..but then, he has a tough time doing even that. Not enough time in
between insults..


I'm completely lost here...what insults are you talking about.....





mike

wrote:

What?

The 'tard boys meds haven't kicked in yet.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

A Ham Radio Operator whom I know via emailing back and forth with once
in a while,(he is over 84 years old) and he uses a Yaesu radio.I say
Antenna is the most important thing.Kind of funny we don't hear much
from folks in this news group whom use Yaesu Radios.
cuhulin