Spokane DX Association

MEL MING N7GCO

Joe has supplied photos of some of his recent awards. If you have a new award, and want to display a photo of it, send it to Webmaster Steve as a jpeg.

This award is for working ARRL’s WAS on three modes, phone, CW, and digital; all confirmations are just by LOTW (Logbook of the World). RULES LINK

This award was available for operation in 2014 during the ARRL Centennial. You had to work the special W1AW/ stations in all 50 states and when they were on! Joe’s certificate shows seven additional territories and DC that he worked. If you worked all 50 states during the Centennial time period, but have not applied for your award, here are the details at this W1AW/ WAS LINK.

This award was for making a certain number of points working ARRL officials and volunteers in 2014 during the same Centennial. For example, various points were given for working a ARRL Life Member, a Section Manager, or at the top of the points pyramid, Kay N3KN the ARRL President. There were four levels of awards and Joe got the Top Award Level. More information at this LINK.

This award is for the yearly ARRL DX contests in which there are three separate contests, depending on mode. Joe’s win was for Phone (SSB) and he got First Place in our EWA Section for Single Op, High Power. Here is a link to the rules for these contests: ARRL DX CONTEST LINK

Remember that big year-long event last year where you got points for working ARRL officials and volunteers? Small points for Life Members; big points for working Kay the President. LOTW only.
Here is my Centennial Points Challenge Award for getting into the TOP LEVEL. Now I know other SDXA members got more points than I did so let’s hear from them for their achievements.
There was also a special W1AW portable stations WAS award, but that was not on my list to do.
Here is a link to the information on the awards – ARRL AWARDS LINK

As promised, Jay and I put 18 counties on the air May 2 while operating mobile from his pickup. We made a total of 455 Qs over the 16 hours (15 hours of operating). While we listened for SDXA folks, the only one we heard was Gary K7GS, who found us five times in ID Lewis, ID Owyhee, ID Washington, OR Malheur, and OR Baker. Only two operators were able to find us nine or more times – one in WV and the other in TX. Probably nine times was too high a bar. The jam is still safely stored in my basement. Perhaps it can be used as an incentive again in the Salmon Run in September.

Pictures and more details can be found at this 7QP TRIP LINK

Randy, K7TQ

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Here is a link to the complete story by Randy: K7TQ IDAHO QSO LINK

MISSPELLING HER NAME AS MERY BETH
(RATHER THAN MARY BETH) TOOK 16 WEEKS TO CORRECT


Mary Beth is our SDXA Treasurer and cookie/coffee specialist.

Since Mark has DXCC on 6 other bands including 6 and 2 meters, we are awaiting to see either the certificate or the plaque with all the endorsements for this! Congratulations to Mark of Rathdrum.

To receive this award, you must work and confirm every ARRL recognized entity (mostly populated countries) in the World, all 340 of them. It’s not a weekend task, but takes many years as many of the rare entities are not populated by any hams (or people) so one must wait for a DXpedition, a group of hams, to go to that entity and operate from it, a very expensive proposition. For instance, Gary’s final (340th) contact was with a French DXpedition to Tromelin Island (FT4TA). Before that, the last DXpedition to that island was in the year 2000. Congratulations to Gary!

The 2015 SDXA-version started on January 1, 2015 and ends on October 31, 2015. Here is a link to the form you need to fill out and send to SDXA Secretary Jay WA0WWW by the 14th of November, 2015:

FORM LINK. Its a .XLS spreadsheet.

And now, the latest from Jay WA0WWW on the rules. This document is a pdf. Also included are the past local winners:

RULES LINK

Some of the food

DXer of the year: Randy W7TJ

President’s Award: Jay WA0WWW (on left side)

2013-2014 PNW CHALLENGE CUP

– SDXA member high score: George W6AEA 9,575,802 points

– 100% participation in all 10 contests: George W6AEA & Jay WA0WWW (Jay has been in all 10 contests for the last six years; total = 60!)

SDXA MARATHEON
– Unlimited Class – Working: Chris WX7B – 229 entities
– Unlimited Class – Non-working: Gary AD7XG – 158 entities
– Formula Class – Working: Jay WA0WWW – 91 entities

– winner of SDXA plaque for: Single Operator in the Eastern Washington ARRL EWA Section running Low Power and in the Mixed Mode (2 or more of the transmitting modes used of three possible – CW, SSB, and Digital)

Lamar Ray WA7LT – this is his first time winning this plaque and we are pleased that the 2014 winner is a founding member of this Association!

Their new spotting site includes great filtering and even VOACAP predictions. There is a 8 page tutorial available from the selections at the top of their home page. Here is the DX SUMMIT LINK.

PRESIDENT – CHRIS PRITCHARD WX7B

VICE-PRESIDENT – GARY BYTNAR AD7XG

SECRETARY – JAY HOLCOMB WA0WWW

TREASURER – MARYBETH SNYDER – AE7GT

She was recently notified by the ARRL that she also was awarded her first DXCC for mixed and phone- a DXCC right after a WAS!