
The DX Mentor
The DX Mentor podcast is directed towards any amateur radio operator (Ham) or Short Wave Listener (SWL) who has an interest in listening to or communicating with stations that are not in your country, or DX.
Latest episodes

May 9, 2024 • 1h 11min
Episode 39 - DX Year in Review
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 #Hamradio
In this episode of The DX Mentor, our #DX gurus, will discuss:
The 2023 DX Year in Review document that was published by W3UR and W1JR. This is an excellent source of reference material and has been around for quite some time.
I hope you enjoy this discussion of how the material is collected, edited, and then made available to hams.
Resources mentioned include:
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
DX Code of Conduct : https://www.dx-code.com/
Daily DX https://www.dailydx.com/
K8CX Ham Gallery : http://hamgallery.com/W1JR/
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/

Apr 17, 2024 • 38min
Episode 36 - FT4GL - Glorioso Island
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 #Hamradio
We are pleased to announce to the international community, with the agreement of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, an upcoming amateur radio activity will take place from May 24 to June 19, 2024 on the island of Grande Glorieuse – callsign FT4GL.
This operation, planned for more than a year with a lot of effort, has finally been rewarded. It will be atypical and difficult because the Glorieuses are ranked 7th in the DXCC Most Wanted List, and the amateur radio traffic will be carried out exclusively by a single radio amateur, Marek FH4VVK in parallel with his professional duties.
David, F8CRS, one of the support team, is our guest. The following are the questions and topics we will discuss:
Intros
How did you get in to Ham Radio?
How did you get interested in DX?
How did you decide to BE the exotic DX?
What other trips have you been on?
Tell us about Marek, FH4VVK
How Glorioso Chosen?
Describe the overall DXpedition (operators, days, equipment)
What are your expectations? (What criteria will you use to consider this a success?)
How can folks provide financial support?
FT4GL QRZ Page https://www.qrz.com/db/FT4GL
FT4GL Blog https://ft4gl.blogspot.com/
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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/

Apr 9, 2024 • 1h 35min
Episode 31 - Lakshadweep & Andaman Islands
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 #Hamradio
In this episode of The DX Mentor, our #DX gurus, will discuss:
VU2VKU, Krish, (aka W4VKU) and his DXpedition to Lakshadweep and to Andamann. The questions that were discussed and answered were:
How did you get into Ham Radio?
Why start chasing DX?
Why decide to BE the DX?
What other DXPeditions have you been on?
Specifically, lets talk about VU7A - Lakshadweep
Located in the Arabian Sea off of the West coast of India
Just above the equator - HOT Approximately 12/4 to 12/15.
Lets talk about VU4N - Andaman Island
Located in the Bay of Bengal on the East coast of India, closer to Thailand than to India
Approximately 12/16 to 12/26
Resources mentioned include:
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
DX Code of Conduct : https://www.dx-code.com/
Daily 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/

Apr 1, 2024 • 30min
Episode 35 - Activation a new DXCC Entity
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 #Hamradio
Here are the topics for this episode:
I will introduce each member and ask you to describe your DX and Ham experience;
Describe Freedonia: Freedonia is located on the Ionian Sea, a peninsula off the coast of Albania. This will be the first activity there since 1933.
The DXPedition will be led by W8GEX - Joe. Other team members will include K8DV – Dave, AD8FD – Brian, and K4YJ - Dwight. Billy, AA8KY, will be the pilot station.
The IARU has agreed to allow the same call sign to be used for this inaugural DXPedition, GR0UCH/0.
W8GEX : How did you find out about Freedonia and the new entity?
K8DV - what was the process like to get it recognized?
W8CAA - this sounds expensive since it is last minute, how are you funding this?
K4YJ - You will have 160M responsibility and SSB chores. How do you expect this to go? Not exactly the best time for low band propagation
K8DV - Are you ready for the CW chores? I assume there will be massive pileups
AB8FD - Brian - You are the digital guy. what will you be using and how swamped do you expect to be?
W8GEX How will you split time between 60M and the other bands?
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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/

Mar 21, 2024 • 46min
Episode 32 - DXpedition to T32VU
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 #Hamradio
We DF4GV, DL4SVA, DK2AMM, DJ7TO, DL1KWK and DL2AWG want to go Kiritimati OC 024 13th until 27th March 2024
We will be running 3 Stations 24 hours per day.
Our main modes will be CW and SSB and RTTY and perhaps FT8
We will be QRV from 160 until 6 meters. No 60m !
Members of our team participated (amongst others) to the following past DXpeditions: 3D2AW, 3D2EU, S7GWG, 4S7RTG, 5B/DJ7TO, 5R8MM, 5R8WG, 5WØGW, 5WØM, 8Q7IO, 9H3O, 9N7AN, A35WG, C21EU, H44WG, HU1DL, J48IO, J48M, J79WG, KH8/DL2AWG, MD/DL4SVA, P29RO, S79GG, TX7EU, T2C, T3ØD, T31EU, V6EU, V73D, VP6EU, XRØYD, XX9D, YJØAWG, ZBØ/DJ7TO, ZK1AWG, ZK3N, ZL/DJ7TO, ZM4T.
Guests:
DL2AWG Guenter : https://www.qrz.com/db/DL2AWG
DF4GV Elmar : https://www.qrz.com/db/DF4GV
Resources mentioned include:
DX Code of Conduct : https://www.dx-code.com/
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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/

Mar 11, 2024 • 1h 8min
Episode 30 - Operating 6 Meters
In this episode of The DX Mentor, our #DX gurus, will discuss:
Why 6 M is appealing
Why 6m is different from other bands
How to get started
Antenna options
6 M techniques
What kind of DX chasing can I expect?
Is 6m DXCC possible?
Is 6m WAZ possible?
What about WAS?
What about grid chasing
Are there calling frequencies?
Do most countries allow 6 M?
Resources mentioned include:
KJ9I - Dave
ON4KST Chat Pages - http://www.on4kst.com/chat/start.php
Region 2 Chat - http://www.on4kst.info/chat/login.php?band=7
EME Page - http://www.on4kst.info/chat/login.php?band=5
MoonSked Software by GM4JJJ - http://www.gm4jjj.co.uk/MoonSked/moonsked.htm
6 Meter Band plan - https://www.arrl.org/band-plan
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610
IC-705 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-705
IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300
IC-50A https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/ID-50A
IC-52A https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/ID-52A
IC-7100https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7100USA
IC-5100A https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/ID-5100A

Feb 25, 2024 • 1h
Episode 29 - DXpedition to Robinson Crusoe Island
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 #Hamradio
In this episode of The DX Mentor, our #DX gurus, will discuss CE0Z, JUAN FERNANDEZ. A team with Nick, XQ1KZ, Pablo, CE1KV, Willy, XQ3SA, Willy, XQ3SK, Mike, AB5EB, Ez, HI3R, Otis, NP4G, Mike, AD5A, Zoli, HA1AG, Trey, N5KO, and Marco, CE1EW (Team Leader) will be operating as CB0ZA during February 10-23, 2024.
Plans are to be QRV from the Juan Fernandez National Park CA-0022 from 160 to 2 meter using CW, SSB, digi and EME (6 and 2
meter). QSL via HA1AG. http://cb0za.com/:
Resources mentioned include:
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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/

Feb 11, 2024 • 1h 4min
Episode 27 - H40WA DXpedition to Temotu Province
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 #Hamradio
In this episode of The DX Mentor, our #DX gurus, will discuss: the upcoming H40WA DXpedition as well as the Intrepid DX Group. The DXpedition will go from Feb 22nd to March 6th.
Resources mentioned include:
Temotu DXPEdition https://intrepid-dx.com/temotu2023/
Intrepid DX Group https://intrepid-dx.com/
Intrepid DX Group Dream Rig https://intrepid-dx.com/2023/09/27/announcing-our-4th-annual-youth-dream-rig-essay-contest/
Intrepid DX Group Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064781196182
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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/

Jan 28, 2024 • 1h 25min
Episode 26 - All About CWOPs
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 #Hamradio
In this episode of The DX Mentor, our #DX gurus, will discuss the CWOPSOrganization. The CWOPs organization consists of many facets including promoting CW, the CW Academy, contests, awards for being on the air and even scholarships. When I joined in 2016, I was member #1567. They now have over 4000 members, so they are doing something right!
Resources mentioned include:
CWOPS Website https://cwops.org/
CW Academy
https://cwops.org/cw-academy/cw-academy-options/
CWOPS Ambassadors https://cwops.org/contact-us/ambassadors/
CWTs
https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/
CW Open Contest https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/cw-open/
CWOPs Scholarship Fund
https://cwops.org/cwops-scholarship-fund/
CWOPs Newsletter https://cwops.org/newsletters/
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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/l

Jan 18, 2024 • 46min
The DX Mentor - Episode 28 - CQ Marathon Challenge
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 #Hamradio
The purpose of this special episode is to hear from Mark, WC3W, the CQ Marathon program administrator. Mark will recap 2023 and discuss a new program called the CQ Marathon Challenge.
In this episode, we reference the following:
DX Marathon website www.dxmarathon.com
Marks email address wc3w@dxmarathon.com
Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org
Daily 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/