The DX Mentor

Hello and welcome to episode 71 of The DX Mentor, I’m Bill, AJ8B. Between the DX Mentor Facebook page, the weekly DX column in the Ohio Section Journal, the DX section of This Week in Amateur Radio podcast, and the This Week in DX weekly YouTube episodes, I have received quite a few emails over the past months about a couple of topics. One of those is the art and process of confirming a QSO and the QSL process. Since we had already recorded an excellent episode on this very topic, I thought I would update it and then publish it. So, here it is, a discussion with Joe, W8GEX, Dave, K8DV, Tom, NR8Z, and Mike, W0VTT. If this is the first time you are joining us, Welcome! We have a back catalog covering many aspects of DX in both podcast and YouTube format. Please check us out. If you like what you find, please subscribe, like, and share to always be notified about upcoming events!   Another way to keep in touch and to see what we are up to is via the DX Mentor Facebook page. I will be posting about upcoming podcasts as well as other DX events so please follow us.  You can check the show notes for any of the information that we discussed today. In this episode we will discuss everything you need to know about confirming a QSO. Resources mentioned include:Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDX Dinner https://www.swodxaevents.orgARRL Outgoing QSL Buro http://www.arrl.org/outgoing-qsl-serviceARRL Incoming QSL Buro http://www.arrl.org/incoming-qsl-serviceK8CX QSL Ham Gallery http://hamgallery.com/ARRL Logbook of the World http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-worldK3FN QSL Service https://www.airmailpostage.com/K3FNCUSTOMQSLSERVICE.htmlQSL Display https://www.aj8b.com/qsl-display-board/Great Cincinnati Hamfest https://cincinnatihamfest.o

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #HamradioHello and welcome to episode 70 of The DX Mentor –a discussion with Tom, NY0V. I’m Bill, AJ8B.If this is the first time you are joining us, Welcome! We have a back catalog covering many aspects of DX in both podcast and YouTube format. Please check us out. If you like what you find, please subscribe, like, and share to always be notified about upcoming events!    Another way to keep in touch and to see what we are up to is via the DX Mentor Facebook page. I will be posting about upcoming podcasts as well as other DX events so please follow us.   Our guests today are Tom, NY0V, and Joe,W8GEX. Tom & Joe are experienced, passionate DXers and the conversation should be lively and informative. Tom was first licensed at age14 in 1967 from Champaign, Illinois. "Through the years I have been licensed WA9YZN, WB0OKQ, G0WVI, and NY0V. I currently operate as NY0V here in Chatfield, MN. (EN33, Fillmore County)DXpeditions to-date include T30CXX (x2) and T32CXX. I also operated in a M/S contest operation as VP5S in the 2013 ARRL DX CW. In March 2022 I operated from Namibia as V5/NY0V.Hobby interests include chasing DX, contests, operating CW and playing with antennas. "Tom is also the stateside QSL manager for V51MA. With all of these accomplishments, you would think that would consume us for the entirety of our discussion. No sir! Tom spent significant time in the South Pacific, in 19,000 feet of water, looking for..Well, it is better to hear it from him!Resources mentioned include:https://pages.jh.edu/jhumag/0602web/amelia.html https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/NY0V https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47623025  https://www.arrl.org/news/short-wave-radio-reports-may-offer-best-evidence-of-amelia-earhart-s-fate  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1937/07/06/Amateur-picks-up-message-from-Earhart/3431821501408/  https://nauticos.com/ https://nauticos.com/never-forgotten/the-deep-sea-quest-for-amelia-earhart-never-forgotten-book-ii/ Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #HamradioWelcome to episode 68 of The DX Mentor –All About DX. Thank you for joining us..I’m Bill, AJ8B.If this is the first time you are joining us, Welcome! We have a back catalog covering many aspects of DX in both podcast and YouTube format. Please check us out. If you like what you find, please subscribe, like, and share to always be notified about upcoming events!    Another way to keep in touch and to see what we are up to is via the DX Mentor Facebook page. I will be posting aboutupcoming podcasts as well as other DX events so please follow us.   Our guests today are Sarath, VU2RS, and Joe, W8GEX. Sarath & Joe are experienced, passionate DXers and the conversation should be lively and informative.  This text is what grabbed my attention and made me realize that VU2RS would be a great guest. “In celebration of World DX Day, DX India Foundation is proud to announce its commitment to promoting DXing activities from India. Following the resounding success of previous IOTA activations, such as Sacrifice Rock, Kanika Island, Sagar Island, and Nachugunta IOTA, the foundation is gearing up for more exciting adventures. DX India Foundation’s primary objective is to activate rare IOTAs, organize DXpeditions, and foster a vibrant DXing culture in the region. To achieve this goal, thefoundation is seeking support from manufacturers, individuals, and organizations to acquire essential equipment, including: – HF radios and amplifiers. – Band-pass filters and power supplies. – Tents and generators. – Coax cables and all necessary accessories. The foundation plans to establish a self-sufficient setup, comprising three stations, which can be easily transported in a container to various locations. This will enable DX India Foundation to activate rare IOTAs and provide DXers and IOTA chasers with exciting opportunities to log new entities. By promoting DXing activities and providing support to IOTA enthusiasts, DX India Foundation hopes to elevate the region’s profile in the global amateur radio community. Join us in celebrating World DX Day and stay tuned for updates on DX India Foundation’s initiatives and activities! for more details: sara@vu2rs.com 73, Sarath,VU2RS - DX India Foundation” Here is some information about our guest:Sarath was born and raised in Hyderabad, India. He developed an interest in amateur radio at the age of 15, inspired by Bharathi, VU2RBI, and his family of hams. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for amateur radio. In recognition of his family's remarkable achievement, they were featured in the Guinness Book of Records for having the largest number of amateur radio operators in a single family - an impressive 60 hams!  Sarath has received several awards and recognition for his contributions to amateur radio and public service, including:  - Rajiv Gandhi Award for Amateur Radio(1996-97 and 1997-98) - International Humanitarian Award - Honorary citizenship of Florida State, USA  All of this and contest work, DXpeditions, Fox Hunting and EMCOMM will be discussed. Let’s get started!Resources mentioned include:VU2RS https://vu2rs.com/Amateur Radio Society of Indiahttps://arsi.info/Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/      

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #HamradioOur guest today is Steve, KF8KI. We normally start with a recap of the Ham radio journey for our guest, but he is so active in so many things, I thought I would cover those other things first. Here are some of the topics we will cover: Railroads SkyWarn PhotographySCUBAFIRE/EMS Finally, we will discuss his current experience at QRZ.com.Resources mentioned include:Steves Journal and Webpage https://kf8ki.com/SKYWARN Ohio https://weathersafety.ohio.gov/weather-safety/be-prepared/skywarn-storm-spotter-programSouthwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/• IC-7760 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7760• IC-PW2 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-PW2• IC-7300 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/• IC-718 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-718/• IC-9700 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/• IC-2730B Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-2730B_Black_edition/

Hello and welcome to episode 69 of The DX Mentor – A discussion with Jim, WB2REM. Thank you for joining us. I’m Bill, AJ8B.If this is the first time you are joining us, Welcome! We have a back catalog covering many aspects of DX. Please check us out. If you like what you find, please subscribe to always be notified of a new podcast!    Another way to keep in touch and to see what we are up to is via the DX Mentor Facebook page. I will be posting aboutupcoming podcasts as well as other DX events so please follow us.  Our guest today is Jim, WB2REM. Jim is an experienced, passionate operator and the conversation should be lively and informative.Here is the Mission Statement for this DXPedition: "In the spirit of the 7163/7156 MHZ DXGroup, this DXpedition was formed to provide the Amateur Radio Community with the opportunity of working the Faroe Islands on 6-160 Meters. We plan to be active on SSB, CW and FT8. We also hope to get to know the Amateur community in the Faroe Islands and when possible, explore the natural wonders of the islands, when not operating. Some members also plan to work SOTA and possiblyPOTA from the Faroe Islands." Jim and the team will be QRV from the Faroe Islands, June 1st to the 10th.Jim exhibited excellent patience when we were trying to schedule this podcast as we had to cancel twice. Unfortunately, the date that we finally agreed upon was adate that Joe had a personal conflict and could not be with us. Boy, did I miss him!Resources mentioned include:DXPedition Website - https://faroeis.com/7163 Net - https://7163net.com/Marlin Brandohttps://greylineperformance.com/blogs/news/famous-ham-radio-prepper-marlon-brando-fo5gj-tropical-south-pacific?srsltid=AfmBOop-SjYxYwMEvIhtp7VhxvI_Gzo0YQdI6M7d-JnJC4ZfMgShBZC3New World of Amateur Radio Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJDz2UlcY58Psychology of a QRMer - Page 13https://www.swodxa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Issue4_03012018A.pdfDX Cop - Page 11https://www.swodxa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Issue5_050118.pdfSouthwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #HamradioResources mentioned include:Links to all books and articles on web pageKB6NU Blog https://www.kb6nu.com/KE9D blog https://ke9v.net/Study Guides https://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/One-Day Class https://www.kb6nu.com/teaching-a-one-day-tech-class/Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #HamradioResources mentioned include:Weekly RTTY Test Details https://radiosport.world/wrt.htmlBouvet & Peter I DXPedition Bouvet: https://3y0k.com/ Peter I: https://3y0l.com/Deep Space Exploration Society https://dses.science/Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #HamradioK1ZN has many accomplishments, knows a lot about all aspects of DXing and is an experienced IOTA chaser. He will share all of that with us as well as some discussion about his book on DXing.Resources mentioned include:SouthEastern DX Association https://www.sedxc.org/sedxc/ IOTA https://www.iota-world.org/ Nifty E-Z Guide to Adventures in DXing http://www.niftyaccessories.com/index.php DX Summit Website http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/ Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

Hello and welcome to episode 63 of The DX Mentor –A Discussion with ARRL CEO NA2AA, David Minster. Thank you for joining us. I’m Bill, AJ8B.If this is the first time you are joining us, Welcome! We have a back catalog of over 60 episodes covering many aspects of DX in both podcast and YouTube format. Please check us out. If you like what you find, please subscribe, like, and share the episode. For any comments, input, or information, just drop me a line at thedxmentor@gmail.com.Another way to keep in touch and to see what we are up to is via the DX Mentor Facebook page. I will be posting about upcoming podcasts as well as other DX events so please follow us. I am very excited about today’s episode. You may wonder what a discussion with the ARRL CEO has to do with an episode of The DX Mentor? I think there are several things that link us together.First, the DXCC program IS an ARRL program. You can’t separate the two. DXPeditions exist because they have the funding, the need,and the acceptance by the DXCC Desk to be “legal’ and will count towards DXCC programs rewards and acknowledgement.Secondly, there is no other organization that works to protect the spectrum like the ARRL does. There have been countless attempts to procure parts of our spectrum that have been defeated due to the actions of the ARRL. The current work to remove restrictions for homeowners another example of the ARRL at work.Finally, David is a DXer and a contester! He works the DX and is the DX. He is also a CW fanatic. So, he is a fit for this podcast.Even with some of the negative press surrounding the ARRL, I felt it was time to have the DX-Minded CEO of the ARRL on the DX Mentor. When I suggested the idea, much to my surprise, he responded almost instantly.So, in addition to learning about David and his ham radio journey, we will discuss a variety of issues facing the ARRL.

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #HamradioOur guests today are Max, ON5UR, Ron PA3EWP, and Joe, W8GEX. All three are experienced, passionate DXers and the conversation should be lively and informative. The best description of the upcoming DXPedition comes from Bernie, W3UR. He wrote “The DX-Adventure team is embarking on a DXpedition to the Andaman Islands (AS-001) as VU4AX from March 10th to March 20th, 2025. The team, consisting of 12 experienced operators, will be active around  the clock on multiple bands from 10m to 160m, including WARC + 60m, using CW, SSB, and DIGI modes. They will operate six stations, transporting 1,150kg of meticulously prepared equipment to ensure the best possible experience. The DXpedition aims to provide a rare opportunity for QSOs, especially for USA operators, as VU4 ranks #28 for the USA and #53 worldwide. The team is supported by three experienced Pilot Stations: W2IRT Peter, E21EIC Champ, and ON9CFG Bjorn. They will closely monitor propagation conditions to maximize the chances of contacts with stations across the United States. Updates and contact details for the Pilot Stations can be found on the DX-Adventure website - https://www.dx-adventure.com  The DX-Adventure team looks forward to making a QSO with you from VU4 South Andaman.  Resources mentioned include:DX Adventures https://www.dx-adventure.com/en/home-eng/Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/