DX Stories by Paul M. Dunphy, VE1DX

DX Indicators

by Hugh Cassidy, WA6AUD

Originally published in the WCDXB, 5 October 1976

Last week there were some days when the bands were hardly alive and it was raining to boot. The QRPers were around, keeping dry and solving the problems of the world. "Look at it this way", one of the QRPers said. "You are always hearing about these leading economic indicators. How about the leading DX indicators?" This got everyone's attention and the QRPer said modestly, "it is evident to me that those in the know can recognize things much earlier than others might. Like the leading DX indicators. Such as: 'When ten is in, eighty is out.' 'When Red Eyed Louie catches more Africans, East Africans that is, than Asians, the equatorial path is thriving.' 'When Europe is generally open to the West Coast all night long, it is the vital sign that the Cycle is up for us.' 'When fifteen is consistent with more long haul DX than twenty, the good days of the new Cycle are with us.' All this is elementary to the analytical DXer."

There was a period of silence after this dissertation and finally one of the dry QRPers asked the inevitable: "But when? When will we know for sure?" The QRPer shrugged. "One must give full consideration to the overall factors and the interplay of the various forces. But if you are in the know, you will recognize it."

And that was it. For there are great signs in the sky of the coming of Cycle 21 and those in the know will recognize the Great Day. Others will have to turn on their rigs!

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