Spokane DX Association

Bob N7AU in the CQ 160 contest 2023 contest scored:
1st in Washington and
2nd in the 7th call area.

Congratulations to Bob!

Here is a group of SDXA members at the KARS Tailgate Party

SDXA Incentives

1. 10 JA Districts Incentive Award

Work all 10 JA Districts in any combination of contests or modes from the list below.

If you are a Million Point Club member, you must make all 10 JA Districts in a single contest.

2. 5 by 6 Incentive Award

Work 5 DXCC entities in each of the 6 continents of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania in any combination of contests or modes from the list below.

The List of Contests that can be used for the SDXA Incentives

The eligible contests include the ten Pacific NW Trophy contests plus two Digi* (FT8) contests.

1. CQ WW DX RTTY, September 23 and 24, 2023, UTC
2. CQ WW DX SSB, October 28 and 29, 2023, UTC
3. CQ WW DX CW, November 25 and 26, 2023, UTC
4. ARRL RTTY Roundup, January 6 and 7, 2024, UTC
5. CQ WPX RTTY, February 10 and 11, 2024, UTC
6. ARRL DX CW, February 17 and 18, 2024, UTC
7. ARRL DX SSB, March 2 and 3, 2024, UTC
8. CQ WPX SSB, March 30 and 31, 2024, UTC
9. CQ WPX CW, May 25 and 26, 2024, UTC
10. ARRL International Digi*, June 1 and 2, 2024, UTC
11. IARU, July 13 and 14, 2024, UTC
12. WorldWide Digi* DX Contest, August 24 and 25, 2024

The participating clubs in the PNW Challenge are ORCA DXCC Club, Western Washington DX Club, Willamette Valley DX Club, and Spokane DX Association.

Other Contests SDXA encourages members to participate in

Salmon Run                           September 16-17, 2023

Idaho QSO Party                    March 9-10, 2024

7^th Area QSO Party                 May 4-5, 2024

ARRL Field Day                      June 22-29, 2024

Mike K7STO worked all 13 colonies and the two bonus stations (WM3PEN in Philadelphia and GB13COL in Durham, England) for a clean sweep.

It was great to have 40 people attend the SDXA Summer Picnic at Del (WA7AQH) & Diane Morissettes home in Nine Mile Falls, WA.

Everyone had a great time and the BBQ Ribs & Brisket were excellent. This year we had a “show and tell” on mobile and portable systems.

Here are a few photos from the event.

Michael AG7IG has earned two DXCC (Mixed and Digital)

Helping Michael achieve were Jeff NV2S who helped put up Michael’s antennas and John K7KB who has mentored Michael on logging software and WSJT-X.

The Spokane DEX Association held their 2023 ARRL Field Day in Hayden Lake, ID. There were 20 people who participated.

Friday afternoon was tower, antennas and station setup.

First up was the tower. The tower had a Cuscraft A3s and a 40/80 meter inverted V antenna.

Then the 4-band vertical with tape measure radials from Miker K7STO

Then the radios and computers:

Lastly the meal together=

We had nine people help with the Friday setup.

Saturday after a great breakfast by Jim N7ESU, everyone got ready for the contest.

19 people participated on Saturday. There were several demonstrations during the day: Satellite and mobile tower, plus lots of visiting.

Then a great time around the firepit for smores

Sunday was take down time. Nine people helped on the take down

Field Day leaders:

• Idaho Renegades: Jim N7ESU, Pat N7UVH and Bob K7TM
• Tower and antennas: Gary AD7XG and Mike K7STO
• Radios and computers: Jay WA0WWW
• Food and Meals: Pat N7UVH

A great time was had by all. Everyone is looking forward to next year’s field day.

Great showing by the SDXA in the 7^th QP contest

Gary K7GS – 1^st place Spokane County, WA
Gary AD7XG – 1^st place Lincoln County, WA
Jay AC7DC – 1st place Whitman County, WA
Jim N7ESU – 1^st place Kootenai County, ID
Art K6XT (K7OX) – 1st place Idaho County, ID
Randy K7TQ & Jay WA0WWW won 6 Awards:

• 1^st place Park County, MT
• 1^st place Deer Lodge County, MT
• 1^st place Meagher County, MT
• 1^st place Gallatin County, MT
• 1^st place Powell County, MT
• 2^nd place Low Power CW Mobile multi-single

Congratulations to all of you!

Mike K7STO made a new controller for Chuck’s crank-up tower. It is beautiful workmanship.
Today Mike drove over to Okanagan and met Joe KF7PBM and they installed it.
Here are a couple of photos:

SDXA has Awards that are for accomplishments over several months.  We also have Incentives that are focused on single contests or events.  The second SDXA Incentive is:

Work World Radiosport Team Championship Stations

In 2023 the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) will be during the IARU contest, July 8 and 9.  There will be over 40 two-person teams plus a referee for each team.  These teams are among the best HF operators in the world and should have little trouble working our SDXA stations no matter what antenna or power level you have.

Each WRTC station will have a unique Italian call sign making them easily identifiable.  They will operate both CW and SSB so regardless of your preferred mode you have a great chance to work them.

The incentive is to work the WRTC stations during the IARU contest.  Your antenna will determine how many WRTC stations you have to work to qualify for the commemorative coffee cup.

The antenna categories are:

• End fed wires – any end fed wire or other less than 0 dB antenna.
• Verticals – any single vertical or other 0 dB antenna.
• Gain antennas – any form of beam, phased vertical array, or quad antenna that produces greater than 0 dB.
• Run whatever power level you want. There is no distinction for power level.

The number of QSOs with the WRTC stations required for each antenna category:

• End fed wires need to make 5 band/mode contacts.
• Verticals need to make 8 band/mode contacts.
• Gain antennas need to make 12 band/mode contacts.

Bonus

• Geoff Howard, W0CG/PJ2DX, will be a referee for one of the WRTC competitors. Which one will not be known until just before the WRTC begins.
• If you work that station and make the necessary number of QSOs, your commemorative coffee cup will have a special acknowledgment.

The May 2023 SDXA meeting was the first attempt at a hybrid meeting.
Brandon W7BKS  did a great job of putting it all together and pulling it off.

The in-person crowd

Mike K7STO sharing hints for better operating

Randy K7TQ SDXA President leading the meeting. Some of the online participants can be seen on the edge of the screen.

The next hybrid meeting is scheduled for November

On April 27th we had a great work crew go over to Chuck’s KI7DG in Okanagan to work on his tower and antennas.

From left to right: Chuck KI7DG, Mel N7GCO, Joe KF7PBM, Mike K7STO, Bob N7AU, Scott N7SJM, Woody N7HCJ, Gary AD7XG, Diane KB7JPZ and Carol (Chuck’s XYL).

They were able to repair Chuck’s 160-meter inverted V, replace a VHF/UHF antenna, repair a multiband vertical, remove an unwanted mast, fix or replace some guy lines, and begin replacing the motor in his crank-up tower. The tower motor needed the switching system replaced and Mike K7STO and Woody N7HCJ took it home to build a new switch.

A huge thank you to all who gave the day to help get Chuck back on the air.

Here are the three amigos (Bob N7AU, Mike K7STO and Woody N7HCJ) with John Mertel at his SteppIR booth.

Also at the 2023 convention from the SDXA are Rob N7QT, Robbin WA7CPA, and Art K6XT.
I heard Rob’s “DXing with FT8” presentation was fantastic! He also did a presentation on “T88WA DXpedition To Palau”

We had a wonderful connection dinner at the Longhorn BBQ on April 6, 2023. There were 35 in attendance. Here are some photos from the evening.

Enjoying the meal.

Jeff & Peter showing their Power Boxes

PJ2T reports from Jay AC7DC & Gary AD7XG

Juaquetta Holcomb showing wool spinning

Diane Morissette sharing about Master Gardener & Garden Coaching

Also had interviews with David N7LL & Bob K7TM

Henry W7HTA just received his WAS for digital and mixed. Congratulations Henry.