An expedition or Dxpedition is an operation carried out by an amateur radio operator or a group of them from an “exotic” or “weird” place, radially speaking due to their remoteness, their complicated or restricted access, or simply because they do not exist or are very few resident radio amateurs who practice DX.
But what is the grace of transmitting from these places you would think because we could spend our lives without them and nothing happens.
What happens is that there are programs leading to the obtaining of diplomas such as the IOTA program (Islands on the Air) or the DXCC (Dx Century Club), the first one divides radio amateurs in Chaser or island hunters and in Activators or expeditionaries ( who perform the operations) if you wish to pursue and get these Awards (Diplomas) you will love knowing that a group of operators will put on the air a very elusive island that is just the one you need. In order to regulate the IOTA diploma program, a significant number of islands or groups of islands have been identified and numbered under the same name, for example: –
SA 018 Call area CE7 LOS LAGOS REGION SOUTH group (= Acui, Alao, Apiao, Caguache, Cailin, Caucahue, Chaulinec, Chaullin, Chauques Isls [namely Anihue, Aulin, Buta Chauques, Cheniao, Mechuque, Tac, Taucolon], Chelin, Chiloe, Coldita, Colocia, Deserters Isls [namely Ahullini, Chuit, Chulin,
Imerquina, Nayahue, Talcan], Dona Sebastiana, Guafo, Guapi Quilan Isls, Guar, Laitec, Lemuy, Liliguapi, Linacre, Linguar, Lin Lin, Lipipe, Llancahue, Llingua, Maillen, Meulin, Pelada, Puluqui, Quehui, Quenac, Quenu, Queullin, Quinchao, Redonda, San Pedro, Tabon, Teuquelin, Tranqui
More information on its website:
https://www.iota-world.org/es/
The DXCC program, which is a registered trademark of the American Radio Relay League, is also a program of permanent diplomas that offers diplomas in different categories according to the number of entities contacted and confirmed, modes and types of operation (mobile and QRP, CW. , SSB, Etc.) The DXCC program maintains an official list of entities that may or may not be a country because for geo-graphical or political reasons some places count as a country, the case of Hawaii that despite being United States count as a different entity or the Chilean Antarctic or Easter Island that despite being Chilean territory count as different entities.
To qualify for some of the Awards (Diplomas of the DXCC program you must prove that you have contacted the entities indicated by physical QSL cards to check a Card Checker (radio amateur volunteers who check that everything is in order or electronically through the Logbook of the World (loTW)
Information about the DXCC program here:
http://www.arrl.org/dxcc
Logbook of the World here:
https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/default
How a Dxpedition works:
The group of operators or operator will try to spend as much time as possible on the air and will transmit in all bands and so that their respective licenses, the regulations of the country and the technical aspects allow them. Its objective is to contact as many stations and entities as possible and will be available to all radio amateurs in the world who wish to contact them.
And how do you participate?
Well the main thing is to have patience, to STUDY and LISTEN A LOT before you start talking silly. Inquire on the expedition’s website about the bands and modes in which they will be active, and the dates between which the operation will take place. Help yourself with the reports of the Cluster to see if there are stations in your country that are making contacts, study the propagation reports for the date, listen carefully, normally the operators work in SPLIT when they have many stations calling them (they listen on one frequency and they transmit on another) do not do the crazy calling where there is no one to listen to them, have patience wait for your chance as the more powerful stations leave because they already “worked” the Dxpetition, when your possibilities increase. Many times the operators also divide and call with some requirement: for example Stations with Number 2 in the call, or callsigns, ending in M, or only South America stations, etc.
