Category: Club news

Second DX Ladder Competition Added

~ Jim, WY4O ~ Leave a comment

Beginning April 1, 2023 the DDXG group has added a second DX ladder competition. Why a new ladder? The original ladder, which has been a competition enjoyed by DDXG members for many years, is a cumulative collection of band-countries recorded for a member since the member joined DDXG and began participating in the competition. Several of our members include DXCC Challenge and Honor Roll recipients. And we even have an ARRL DXCC DeSoto Cup recipient. Members who have made hundreds or even thousands of band-country contacts will likely not have a chance to place in the current DDXG ladder competition. While newer hams, or those recently elevating their license privileges or becoming active in the hobby again, may make lots of new band-country contacts – particularly during this new solar activity cycle.

Our new DDXG Super Ladder, will reset all member band-country totals each calendar year. So regardless of the history of activity, each member starts with a clean slate. And if the activity in our first month is any indication, every one will have fun chasing DX for credit in these two DX ladder competitions. Check the current month’s standings as of our latest club meeting by clicking on the “DX Ladder” link at the top of this page. Good luck and Good DX to all!

2023 Installation of Officers

~ Jim, WY4O ~ Leave a comment
L-R: Tom, N3GTG, President; Sheila, K4WNW, Vice-President; Jim, WY4O, Secretary; and, Lauren, WD4FMG, Treasurer

During the January meeting our long time club president, Sheila, K4WNW, handed the gavel to our new president, Tom, N3GTG. The club is incredibly grateful to Sheila for serving as our president for many years. And she remains active as our vice-president. Jim and Lauren continue in their roles as secretary and treasurer respectively. Here’s to a great 2023 for the club. How’s DX? It’s great! Consider joining DDXG! Visitors and new members are always welcome!

DDXG Ladder Champ

~ Jim, WY4O ~ Leave a comment

Our friendly club competition, the DX Ladder, allows club members to compete for the most new band-countries in a calendar year. For example, work a new country on three bands for three band-country credit in the ladder. Work an existing country on a new band, score a new band country.

Tom N3GTG, Lauren WD4FMG, and Sheila K4WNW

Our 2022 DX Ladder champ is Lauren, WD4FMG. Lauren logged an amazing 724 new band-countries. And she earned her DXCC on 10, 12, 17, and 30 meters in the process. DXCC, short for DX Century Club, is amateur radio’s premier award for confirming 100 countries. That’s quite a year Lauren! Congratulations!

Ladder chair, Tom, and club president, Sheila, presented the 2022 DDXG Ladder award plaque to Lauren at the club’s January meeting. And members are already off to chasing new band-countries for the 2023 calendar year. Interested in chasing DX?… why not join our club!

3Y0J – Bouvet Island DXpedition

~ Jim, WY4O ~ Leave a comment

This is the biggie! Bouvet Island is known as “the most remote uninhabited place on earth.” And as far as DX is concerned, this is the Clublog #2 most wanted entity.

The 3Y0J team is days away from arrival and commencement of operations. The best place to follow their progress and gain information on the operation is the 3Y0J facebook page. And you can visit the 3Y0J website at https://3y0j.no.

DDXG is proud to be a supporting club sponsor of the 3Y0J DXpedition.

DDXG Holiday Social

~ Jim, WY4O

Our DDXG tradition is to skip our regular December meeting and instead celebrate the holidays with a social event. And we LOVE Vinny’s Grill on Lauderdale (owned by our own Giacomo, KK4FTC, and his lovely wife Victoria). Everyone enjoyed the food and the fellowship. Of course we missed those who could not join us.

All of us at DDXG wish all of you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year! Hope to see you at our January meeting on Saturday, January 25th. And if you are not yet a member why not start of the new year by joining us. New and prospective members are always welcome.

VP8/VP8DXU

~ Jim, WY4O

Perseverance DX Group is organizing a team of experienced DXpedition operators to activate the South Orkney Islands (IOTA AN-008) from approximately Feb. 21, 2020 through March 5, 2020. South Orkney Island is currently #16 most wanted on Clublog. More information is available on the group’s website. The Dominion DX Group is a proud club sponsor of the South Orkney DXpedition.

Frostfest 2018

~ Jim, WY4O

DDXG will once again be at Frostfest on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Richmond Raceway Complex. Frostfest is the mid-Atlantic’s largest winter hamfest. Our location has changed just a bit this year – we are now in the rear of the hall just to the left of the prize drum. Hours are from 8:30AM to 3:30PM. As in years past all of the flea market tables for Frostfest have been sold out. You are guaranteed to find a huge variety of great ham radio stuff to start or add to your shack.

DDXG will again provide the test bench so if you find a great rig or simply need to make sure something that has caught your eye powers up you can bring it by the DDXG tables. The team will help you test out basic power and transmit functionality. We have a 12 volt power supply, a dummy load, and SWR/power meter available.

Frostfest will also host a number of commercial vendors including Elecraft, Ham World, Quicksilver, Signman and more. Plus meetings (including the ARRL Virginia State convention), forums, and VE testing will all take place.

Be sure to stop by the DDXG booth and learn about our club. Members are available to share our excitement about DX, answer questions, and make you aware of upcoming DXpeditions! Ask us about joining DDXG to learn about or share your passion for DX!

Frostfest 2016

~ w4bno

DDXG Logo

Come join us at Frostfest this Saturday, February 6, 2016.  We will be located at the same spot as last year – at the end of the middle row across from the announcer’s stand and prize drum.  The building layout is available here.

DDXG will also be providing the Frostfest test bench.  We will have a 12 volt power supply, volt meter, dummy load, and SWR/power meter available.  You can perform a quick check to see if the equipment powers up and puts out RF.

Please stop by and say hello.  We’ll have information available if you’re interested in joining the club or attending one of our meetings.  We’re also proud to have one of our members, W4DR, hosting a forum session at noon titled “66 Years of DX Adventures“.  The complete list of forums is here.

See you at the show!