DX INTRODUCTION STEVE's HOMEPAGE duluth minnesota

DXING

QSL's

? 1997

SJM

DXING OVERVIEW
By Steve Mahlberg KA0OJS/WDX0SJM

DXING

On this website I am attempting to present an introduction to thehobby of long distance radio reception or DXing.
Click on this link to answer the question,
WHAT IS DXING
Below is a brief overview of various aspects of the hobby with links to pages that are more specific to each aspect.

DXING
EMAIL
AM
FM
TV
SWL
HAM
QSLs
INFO
? 1997
? 1999
SJM
updated

Now I've been "DXing" or listening to long distance stations for around thirty years now. The following will be an overview of this hobby.Various modes of propogation, which I am not fluently educated about, affect the different frequency ranges in different ways. AM propogation for long distance reception occurs at night.
There are many websites with more indepth looks at propagation, whys and hows.

FM propogation is different. The link wil send you to the WTFDA site. One of the top notch FM/TV/AM DX sites around.
NOte, for FM DXing, a higher layer in the ionosphere the "E" layer or lowest layer, the troposphere (see below) can affect the FM band. ESKIP occurs when the E region is ionized, often times associated with thunderstorms in ones area. Skip distances can range a couple of thousand miles!
Listen to some FM DX here.
SUNRISE/SUNSET SKIP Is an interesting atmospherical phenomenon that allows the listener to hear rare DX you may not normally hear during local sunrise or sunset times.
srs/sss is most interesting between August and March focussing on October thru February.
I, personally can't explain the causes and effects in technical terms, but there are websites and DXers who could better fill that aspect if you're interested in learnig more as to how and why it happens.
AURORAL prpogation can also change radio conditions drastically!

TROPOS, or extended ground wave bending occurs usually during a temperature inversion. Signals do not fade as much with this mode of propogation, and signals usually entend less than 1000 miles away.

TV is affected by these same modes of propogation.
SW propogation occurs in the higher ionosphere, the "F" layer. This results in longer distance station reception being possible. This is the most reliable source of overseas "DXing".
PIRATE radio listening is quite entertaining. Picture what you would broadcast over your local stations if you could? That's part of pirate radio. Also the freedom of speach and free radio are often reasons for these "pirate" stations. Pirate refers to an unlicensed broadcast station (in part) Learn more
by checking out the FRN Free Radio Network homepage.

QSLing or obtaining verification by letter from a station you've heard can be fun and sometimes challenging.
Read my qsling tips to improve your chances of receiving a verification for your DX catch
See some of my cool QSLs and bumper stickers!
Obtaining a verification CAN be as easy as sending a report
with sufficient return postage. But read my guidelines to improve your odds.

HAM RADIO can be fun too.
I have had a novice class license for years, though I was rarely active on the ham bands.

I will cover these subjects a little more indepth as time goes on.

TV DX example! (Image is borrowed)

One of my rarest DX catches!

visitors since April 20, 1999