DXpedition politics.
DXpeditions are funded in many different ways.
- Sometimes the operators will fund themselves entirely bearing all personal travel and equipment transportation costs.
- Sometimes a DXpedition will be funded by a group or organisation who’s members have an interest in that DXCC entity being activated.
- Some DXpeditions might be sponsored by equipment manufacturers.
- Some DXpeditions may be sponsored by the individual donations of many hams around the world in support of a rare entity being activated (often one that they personally need).
- DXpeditions can also be funded by any combination of the above methods and of course other methods not listed here.
The crux of all of this is that there is often a degree of ‘obligation’ to make sure that those sponsoring the DXpedition get a fair chance at working them. This is where it can get a bit tricky.
I have sat in pile-ups trying to work many of the bigger recent DXpeditions. I say ‘bigger’ because these will often have better antennas and amplifiers that will afford me the best chance of hearing and working them. Sadly some of the smaller DXpeditions who travel very light often don’t have antennas or power levels conducive to big signals. It’s when you’re sat in the pile-up watching the DX work a succession of other stations that you get a sense of the geographical spread of stations being worked. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that some do seem to favour their countrymen.
Now move on to the current 3C0C activation of Annobon Island by Elmo, EA5BYP and Javier, EA5KM. They are being rounded criticised on public discussion forums and DX spotting networks for favouring their countrymen. Many of the complaints seem to be coming from US based hams who to be fair do seem to run some of the slickest and fairest DXpeditions of recent years. My question is this - do they have a legitimate complaint?
As I see it, if two Spanish hams choose to go to Annobon Island and then work what seems to be a disproportionate number of Spanish hams back home, do the rest of use have good reason to moan? I’m not sure we do.
Now I certainly wouldn’t want all DXpeditions to turn into ‘QSOs for friends’ type operations because then we’d all lose out, but I do think the cries of foul from many stations is just sour grapes at not getting through the pile-up.
Dean,
I think you’re 100% spot on. If a “private” DXPedition is made, without soliciting money or equipment from anyone; then the Hams involved have the right to QSO with whomever they please.
The “major” DXpeditions don’t do that; but then, they generally do look for funding from private and industry sources.
Good topic!
73 de Larry W2LJ
Thanks for the comment Larry. I’m still hoping I can get lucky with 3C0C but I’m not going to be too disappointed if I don’t get a QSO. Good luck to anyone who gets through the QRM!
I think in this case it has been a mix of poor conditions favouring EA & Italy, and also i feel that the antennas may have been set up woefully low on short masts. In the case of 3C0C in the first two days I had no problem working them on 15m 17m and 20m.
Clubs sponsoring the DX’pedition such as Chiltern DX Club also have conditions to adhere to in return for their money, one of those conditions is that DX Team make a promise to work CDXC members (UK) that give us all here in the UK a chance. A good reason to be a member of the Chiltern DX Club in my opinion.
This being a 2 men team is extremely difficult for them to please everyone from a DXCC entity in the Top 50 of the rare ones. Sadly the team have had to stop the DX’pedition and are now back in Equatorial Guinea, giving me a new one on 20m this evening.
The critisism shown is in frustration that many outside South Europe were not able to work them. But then it is easy to critisize when one is sat in your shack with a mug of coffee by your side.
Let’s hope that 3C0 will again be active very soon.
73 Tim M0URX
I agree re the conditions Tim - they certainly haven’t helped.
Thanks for the insights and info. 73 de Dean