ARRL DXCC REMOTE RULES REVISION REQUEST
Date: January 28, 2010
To: ARRL DX Advisory Committee
From: Eric (“Rick”) Hilding, K6VVA * The Locust
Currently, the ARRL DXCC rules require that the control operator be located in the same DXCC entity as a remote station for accreditation purposes. There are several important reasons why this particular rule should be promptly revised, and why this will benefit all participants in the DXCC Awards program as well as all DX Competition Contesters.
A “PERFECT STORM” IS HEADING TO THE ARRL DXCC AWARDS PROGRAM
The ARRL DX CONTEST, CQ WW DX CONTEST, CQ WPX CONTEST, CQ WW 160 METER CONTEST rules allow remote control operations across DXCC entity boundaries for QSO, Multiplier and Total Point scoring purposes. As remote station building escalates (to include DXCC entity “crossover” projects), unless the ARRL DXCC Award program rules are promptly modified, there will start to be a number of disgruntled DX’er/Contester operators who thought they worked a “new one” during a contest, only to find their contest QSL cards rejected for DXCC accreditation because the stations were actually “crossover” DXCC entity remote controlled stations. This will not be a good situation for the ARRL DXCC Awards Program, the DX’er or Contester communities at large. Fortunately, the impending storm can be avoided now.
IT’S TIME TO FINALLY BURY THE DEAD HORSE OF REMOTE CONTROVERSY
There has been much controversy regarding remote stations and operator locations. For the purposes of the DXCC Awards Program and contest scoring, the already established precedent is that contacts are confirmed between stations and not the operators involved.
Example #1: If a guest operator at W1AW worked the BS7H DX-Pedition with W6RGG as the operator sitting on a rock, DXCC credit would be attributable based upon a two-way QSO between W1AW (not the guest operator) and BS7H as a station, not W6RGG as the operator.
Example #2: If 4L5A works K6AW as the control operator of Multi-Multi contest station HC8N during a DX Contest, the DXCC credit for 4L5A would similarly be attributable to HC8N the station and not K6AW the operator.
Therefore, it really makes no difference where the operator is located, whether this physically be in front of the station radio, sitting on a bathroom commode down the hall using a long mike or key paddle cable, across a neighboring DXCC entity border or half-way around the Globe using wireless or Internet control technology. In the final analysis it really doesn’t matter. DXCC accreditation is between two stations, and not the individual operators on either end of the QSO.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO REVISING THE DXCC AWARDS REMOTE RULES
Sadly, the number of aged DX’ers, DX-Peditioners, Contesters and Contest-Peditioners QSY’ing to SK (Silent Key) status will continue to geometrically increase as we move forward in years. Since there are not enough new young DX’ers and Contesters to replace the population going SK, revising the DXCC remote rules now will help insure that those remaining have the greatest number of DX stations to chase, and DX Contest QSOs and Multipliers to work.
It is doubtful, of course, that any one person or group would be interested in establishing a satellite remote controlled station run via solar panels and a wind turbine on Bouvet Island or some of the other ultra remote locations, so there will still be ample opportunities for those still to go-play-DX-in-person to many entities before DX-Peditioners grow too old to travel in person.
For the Contest-Peditioners who make annual trips to various Caribbean DX locations to hand out thousands of contest QSO’s and Multipliers, once travel becomes impossible due to health reasons, they will still be able to participate in the Contests via remote control of their stations or partnership arrangements with the DX entity station owners and QSOs count for DXCC credit.
To be sure, there are some latency delay factors involved with most remote station operations, but new technologies like “Remote Rig” interface units with built-in efficient, high-quality A/D audio conversion and internal non-third party remote audio handling are revolutionizing remote station operations.
In the final analysis,even with some delays involved this is significantly better than NOT having remote stations on the bands to work at all as source of DX "new ones" to help many fledgling DXers or aging DXers still possibly achieve #1 Honor Roll Status before going SK.
In the Ham Spirit of “International Goodwill & Friendship”, I see new partnerships developing between U.S.A., European and other International DX’ers/Contesters to improve the stations (and the signals) of existing small DX stations in some of the various entities around the Globe. In such cases, both DX Chasers and Contesters will benefit. Other possibilities also abound.
In the final analysis,even with some delays involved this is significantly better than NOT having remote stations on the bands to work at all as source of DX "new ones" to help many fledgling DXers or aging DXers still possibly achieve #1 Honor Roll Status before going SK.
In the Ham Spirit of “International Goodwill & Friendship”, I see new partnerships developing between U.S.A., European and other International DX’ers/Contesters to improve the stations (and the signals) of existing small DX stations in some of the various entities around the Globe. In such cases, both DX Chasers and Contesters will benefit. Other possibilities also abound.
Consider this scenario. The USFWS doesn’t really want hams treading on the sacred grounds of many Wildlife Habitats. Fine. Negotiate an agreement for a one-time trip to establish some small unmanned remote solar/wind/battery powered stations (similar to NCCC DX BEACON station program setups but with two-way capabilities), to include some basic weather monitoring equipment and a webcam or two for the USFWS to be able to remotely acquire WX info and monitor wildlife activity on the Islands. It is doubtful any DX’er would really care where the control operator is when he or she works a coveted “new one” (or new band entity during a DX contest). The time has come to think OUTSIDE the current DXCC Rules box.
If I set up a small remote station using a Kenwood TS-480HX connected to an all band vertical mounted on top of the extremely tall Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, but as the control operator I’m sitting at home in South Silicon Valley, California, as long as I have a valid license from the P5 authorities, will tens of thousands of CW operators around the World really care as long as DXCC credit is given for a valid two-way CW QSO with P5 ? Remember, contacts are between “stations”. And yes, I have actually proposed such an arrangement to D.P.R.K. officials.
THE BRAVE NEW WORLD OF REMOTE CONTROLLED DX ENTITY STATIONS
As the sunspot cycle begins to ramp up and we see the return of 15m , 12m and 10m to a point where one can “work the world” with 100 watts and a vertical again, the adventurous and pioneering spirit within Ham Radio can blossom through establishment of new low power, solar/battery/wind remote stations being set up around the Globe. There will be more DX on the bands for everyone to work, and more Contest QSOs and Multipliers for everyone that can also count for DXCC purposes. What a perfect “Win-Win” situation.
All that is needed now is a revision to the DXCC rules for remote station operations, to provide for the remote control operator to be located anywhere on the planet he or she chooses. Yes, the Brave New World of remote station operations is now here, and we all need to embrace this exciting development within the DX and Contesting spheres of our hobby.
Accordingly, I respectfully request a prompt modification of the DXCC Awards Rules which will foster the advancement of DX pursuit opportunities for all, and eliminate the impending problems of accreditation rejection of QSL confirmations for contacts made during major DX Contests with crossover DX entity remote controlled stations.
Thank you for your prompt action to this request.
Tnx very much & 73…
Eric (“Rick”) Hilding, K6VVA * The Locust
ARRL Member, DX’er, Contester, Contest-Peditioner, Remote Station Operator
Distribution:
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ADDED NOTE:
If you agree with the proposal, please let the above ARRL DX Advisory Members Know – TNX !!!
