Amateur Radio Stack Exchange
Amateur Radio Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [dx]

Long distance radio communications, propagated through the ionosphere or troposphere

What is DX on the various amateur radio bands? Since propagation varies with the frequency, DX distance on VHF and above is generally much shorter than DX on MF or HF.

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What is the definition of DX?

I always believed that DX meant out of one’s own country, and in the continental US that can be pretty far. However, tooling around on the bands I’ll often hear people calling DX inside the US receive responses from others also inside the US.…
Adam Davis
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Why do some DX listen on a different frequency than they transmit on?

I've heard some DX indicate "CQ up 5" for instance, indicating that they are listening on a different frequency than they are transmitting on. What are the reasons one might want to do that?
Adam Davis
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Is calling the Palmer Station (Antarctica) via IRLP without prior arrangements acceptable practice?

Until I can get an HF rig, I've been using my HT through a local repeater IRLP node. I've successfully made a few contacts doing that, but I recently noticed that Palmer Station in Antartica has an IRLP Node (#8838) listed. I tried making a contact,…
penguin359
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What is propagation like when there are no sunspots?

Am considering getting my license again after raising kids, and wondering if there is any point in HF operation besides local chats — that is, what is propagation like when there are no sunspots?
nzc
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How to apply for the ARRL WAC award?

I've managed (thank you FT8!) to have LOTW-confirmed contacts with the 6 applicable continents. However, on reading the ARRL page for the WAC award it says that you have to apply on paper and that LOTW contacts do not count but contacts in your DXCC…
QuantumMechanic
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What is proper procedure for asking for "distant" contacts on 2m FM on simplex?

As a new ham, just for fun, I'm planning to hike up to the local high point (which while not high in an absolute sense does have a commanding view of the surroundings) with my 5 watt FT-4XR and a slim jim antenna for 2m and see what kind of distance…
QuantumMechanic
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2 m meteor scatter FM voice freq?

What frequency should I use to try and make meteor scatter contacts on 2m FM tonight, with a nice meteor storm coming?
PearsonArtPhoto
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MW AM reception improvements?

Most AM receivers use Envelope detection. Historically this was simple. PLL-based systems are slightly better at low carrier-to-noise levels. Would there be any SNR advantage if each sideband was detected separately? Would the correlation of the…
Autistic
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What are the column headings for eg RSGB live dx cluster?

The Web page for RSGB dx cluster doesn't have column headings. May be dumb question but what are they?
quanglewangle
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HF vertical 1/4w antenna on a tin roof?

I would like to build a 1/4 ~ vertical antenna on my tin roof for a ground plane. Does the angle of the roof matter? Should the antenna be vertical, or perpendicular to the roof? Would it be better if the roof were pointed east /west /north…
marc
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communicating with France from Oregon

Newbie ham here. My stepdaughter in France is interested in off-grid communication with us in Oregon, and so I am looking into what that would take. If I knew what frequency bands would be best I would erect an antenna cut specifically for them and…
niels nielsen
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How Does the Performance of an Inverted V Dipole Compare to a Linear Dipole?

The NEC4.2 comparison in the answer below shows one example, for a practical set of installation conditions.
Richard Fry
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Mobile Phone offline maindenhead or mgrs web app

I read an article in a magazine or online about a (.gov, I think) site which showed two, four to six character sequences in a mobile phone browser window. The letters from left to right indicated lower to higher precision positioning. As precision…
user38537
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