More DXpedition Funding and Club Log

by Wayne Mills, N7NG

This past week saw lively discussions involving Club Log and DXpedition Funding. Following a discussion at Visalia a month ago, Don Greenbaum, N1DG, DXpeditioner and Treasurer of the Northern California DX Foundation brought the discussion to Dayton this past weekend. The NCDXF is expected to make at least the essence of Don’s presentation available on the Foundation website in the coming days.

The funding issues revolve around QSLing practices and the ever greater need to funds. Several large expeditions are in the works, and DXers and DXpeditioners alike will need to decide whether the demand for these rare spots meets their criteria. Rumor has it that one major DXpedition has already been cancelled because of insufficient funding. Perhaps this is exactly what must happen in order to bring some degree of reality to DXpeditioning.

At the same time, there are still discussions surrounding the Club Log concept. Michael Wells, G7VJR, the author of Club Log weighed in during the week suggesting that he had some ideas concerning how Club Log might in some way mitigate the admittedly aggressive operation that seems to be associated with DXers repeatedly filling band and mode slots.

It occurs to me that so far, only one side of the equation has been addressed by Club. That is, only the needs and wants of DXers are being addressed by Club Log. Club Log by its nature could work on both sides of the pileup. By sorting out QSO data and delivering an ongoing evaluation of the DXpedition results, DXpeditioners could be guided toward their goals. Experienced DXpeditioners have done this in the past, but such evaluation is much more time- consuming when done manually. In many cases it isn’t done at all.

How would this be done? Suppose that a DXpedition were to precede its effort by stating its goals: For a very rare entity, the goals might be to maximize QSOs with different stations – unique callsign. If the destination was less rare, the group might prefer to maximize the number of bands- and modes contacted. For smaller efforts to even less rare locations, the goal might be to maximize contacts on Topband, etc. Club Log could calculate the results as a function of their stated goals in order to assist the DXpeditioners in achieving their objectives.

DXpedition operators always have the power to guide DXers. For example, if an expedition of limited size were to favor maximizing uniques, it would adjust its band and mode selection accordingly. While maximizing uniques, band-slots wouldn’t be as numerous. Of course this isn’t easy, and to a large extent it is a matter of experience. Club Log could assist the DXpedition operators by keeping them informed of how their strategy is succeeding.

While under some conditions Club Log might be seen as adding to poor behavior on the bands, it could also add an element of order. Club Log is here to stay, and DXers are generally enthusiastic about it. Club Log could be an even greater asset were it to assist in optimizing the strategy on the DXpedition side of the equation.

The hint for the week is to think about the ways in which Club Log could actually help DXpedition operators to improve their operating strategy. Let me know what you come up with at n7ng@arrl.net

(c) 2012, Wayne Mills, N7NG