Welcome to the Spokane DX Association
This in from our friends up north:
“Dear PNW friends,
Rebecca VA7BEC here with a reminder about the BC QSO Party coming up Feb 4, 2012 8am to 8pm local time (1600z Feb 4 to 0400Z Feb 5).
The profile of the BCQP has never been higher, and this bodes well for more participation than ever, from inside and outside BC.
But even a major increase in the number of BC operators on the air may not be enough to sustain pileups the whole 12 hours, and the state QSO parties taking place the same weekend may be more appealing to PNW operators south of the 49th. Also, close proximity could make QSOs with BC stations difficult — but not impossible.
So what I’d like to ask is, could you remind members of your respective clubs about the BCQP. If anyone happens to be at the radio on Feb 4, tuning around the bands and hears a lonely VE7/VA7 calling CQ, please drop by. Boost our Q counts and our spirits. The exchange will be RS(T) + federal electoral district from BC stations, and RS(T) + state from US stations.
I’ll be running the sponsor call VA7ODX on phone. Ralph VE7XF will use VA7ODX on CW. If you hear us, please drop by and say hi.
If anyone has questions, email me. I’ll try my best to answer or find someone who can if I can’t.
73,
Rebecca VA7BEC
Contest Coordinator, BCQP, Orca DX and Contest Club”
http://www.orcadxcc.org/bcqp.html
There you go SDXA. If you can make a few Q’s during their QSO party, I’m sure it would be appreciated.
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Hi SDXA,
As most of you may have noticed the scores for these QSO Parties are all over the place. The National QSO Parties and the State QSO Parties are good places to get in and have fun. It’s a good chance to try out your station and antennas, and see just how things are going to work. If you would like to go for an award like WAS or DXCC to name a couple, this is a good place to get a good start. It also will show you the different propagation patterns that come with being on the radio for the duration of these Parties.
The main goal here is to have fun and not feel like you have to compete against the bigger stations. If you look at the pages of QST and CQ magazine there will always be scores all over the place just like in these QSO Parties. Generally QSO Parties are considered places to have fun.
Just as in sports, there are different classes or categories of contestants. Major Leagues, Minor leagues and people out just having fun with backyard games with friends and family. Usually these lines don’t cross, but in Ham radio there are none of these divisions so easily marked out.
The purpose of my writing this is to let all SDXA members know that there should be no embarrassment in posting a low score. Everyone has responsibilities that supersede our hobbies. Each of us should be encouraged to join in and have fun and the fact of getting on and just making a few QSOs should be rewarding in and of itself.
Some seem to think you need to do better than the last time in an outing, and others just want to enjoy the fun of it. Not all will want to enter any competitive type of activitiy and that is fine also. It’s important to remember we all don’t have the same goals or standards. DX, Contesting, rag chewing are all part of getting on the Amateur bands and having fun. This hobby has many different aspects to it, but if you don’t take an active part in some way, are you really enjoying the hobby?
With the diversity in Amateur Radio it is necessary to keep in mind we all have different wants and desires to enjoy the hobby.
Writing as your Club President I am just trying to say no matter how big or small a score you made, ( so far mine is the smallest team score posted! HI HI), the main goal from my perspective is to have fun first.
I’m interested to hear what others think about this.
–
73
Wayne WA1PMA President SDXA
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Just as a reminder, a couple of major DXpeditions are occurring this month, Malpelo Island from January 21st to February 5th/6th. They will be operating all bands and the normal modes (SSB/CW/Digital). For the latest information, your can visit their QRZ.com site or their dedicated internet site.
Another DXpedition to watch out for this month is to Pitcairn Island as VP6T. Pitcairn is a very isolated island in the South Pacific who is home of those decedents from the HMS Bounty. They will be operating from January 20th to February 4th. For more information you can visit their dedicated internet site.
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Gary just posted this on the reflector today and we thought it would be a good idea to post it here on the web site as well:
“The SDXA would like to encourage you to renew your ARRL membership through the club. If you do $2 of the normal fee is retained by the SDXA.
If you are joining the ARRL for the first time or your membership expired 2 years ago the SDXA will retain $15 of the normal fee.
It doesn’t cost you more. It is a benefit the ARRL offers affiliated clubs.
For us to take advantage of this benefit your application for ARRL membership or renewal must be made through the SDXA using these forms.
Planning on joining or renewing ARRL membership? Please fill out the appropriate form and get it to me with the normal fee. Send it and the normal fee to me at my home address (qrz.com) or the club’s PO Box. (or catch me or any officer at the meetings). Make out your check to SDXA.
This is a great opportunity for the SDXA and we urge you to take advantage of it.
Thank you and 73.
Gary K7GS”
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I just wanted to let everyone know that I posted some pictures of the SDXA Awards Banquet back in December. Thanks goes to Steve for his photography skills, except I couldn’t find a decent picture of myself in the bunch. Oh well, I tend to break cameras anyway 
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At the January meeting, Wayne was soliciting members to join teams again for the various NAQP contests coming up soon for CW, SSB, and RTTY. These contests are a good way to get your feet wet in contesting and have a little fun. NAQP CW is Jan 14-15, SSB is Jan 21-22 and RTTY is Feb 25-26. So if you would like to participate in one of the teams, be sure to let Wayne (WA1PMA) know on the SDXA reflector or via email.
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When Randy sent me the archive of all of the files used for the convention web site in 2009, I found a bunch of pictures of the convention I thought you might enjoy. This is not all of the pictures in the archive and I will be adding more to the gallery as I have time. Enjoy!
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I think most of you will agree that the annual Christmas banquet was a very enjoyable event and I’m sure we all look forward to attending again next year. I just received some pictures from Steve (K7AWB) today and I will try to get those posted sometime in the next couple of days in between my hectic work schedule with our office relocation. Congratulations to all those who received awards for your contributions you make to the club and all DX’ers.
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Elvin (JA3CZY) sent these great pictures of his antenna array and I thought I should post them on our site. It can’t get much better than a stacked array on a tower located on a high rise It makes my little 3-element Steppir pale in comparison! Arigatou gozaimasu Elvin-san!
JA3CZY Antenna System
JA3CZY Antenna System
JA3CZY Antenna System
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TROPHY COMPETITION
This is the traveling trophy between 5 (yep a new one) NW DX clubs:
- BC DX Club http://www.bcdxc.org/
- Orca DXCC Club (new) http://www.orcadxcc.org/
- Spokane DX Association http://www.sdxa.org/
- Western Washington DX Club http://www.wwdxc.org/
- Willamette Valley DX Club http://wvdxc.org/dotnetnuke/
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1. CQWW DX RTTY – September 24-25, 2011 – Completed
2. CQWW DX SSB – October 29-30, 2011 – Completed
3. CQWW DX CW – November 26-27, 2011 – Completed
4. ARRL RTTY ROUNDUP – January 7-8, 2012 – Completed
5. CQ WPX RTTY – February 11-12, 2012
6. ARRL DX CW – February 18-19, 2012
7. ARRL DX SSB – March 3-4, 2012
8. CQ WPX SSB – March 24-25, 2012
9. CQ WPX CW – May 26-27, 2012
10. IARU – July 14-15, 2012
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