or numbers to use. If you belong to a
DX group, you would probably use that call sign. If not, some suggestions we received
were the last three or four numbers of your zip code or your birth month and day. Cathi
got her numbers by using someone elses numbers until someone answered her with what
they heard (331) instead of what she said (351). Second you need to find a frequency
that DX is rolling on. We worked the entire cycle on SSB. Mostly USB. However, there
is DX rolling on AM as well. The first week of March, 2001,and several times since,
our club talked to London and France out of our mobiles on 26.875 AM. The
international call frequency is 27.555 USB. By call frequency it means just that. Call
there, make contact (or not) and move or QSY
to another frequency for your QSO. At
the bottom of this page are files for you to listen to of the international call
frequency so you can get an idea of how it's done. You don't have to make contact on
the call frequency and sometimes it is almost impossible given the amount of QRM
/QRN.
You can follow someone else when they say they are QSY to another frequency. Once
there, wait to see if they are trying to contact a certain division or operator. Be
courteous. If it seems they are not making contact, then call for them. If the channel
is fairly clear and conditions are favorable, you will likely make contact.
If you plan to QSL with your contact, you will need to keep a log of your QSO's. Most
QSL cards, for DX purposes, have a log on the back with the information your contact may
need for personal use or a contest. Note the date, time, frequency and mode. There is also a
location on the card for recording your contact's signal strength and audio. Make sure you
understand who is to mail first. This will have to be a mutual agreement. Don't be
discouraged if the other operator does not want to QSL. Some of them are "super class"
operators and have been DXing for years and have already confirmed your division.
It can get quite expensive. We shipped off over 350 envelopes and packages during
1992 so we are also only interested in QSLing with unconfirmed divisions. We had dozens
of packages returned undeliverable, so make sure you get the coordinates correct, including
CHARLIE PAPA. We also sent and never received from dozens of operators. You have to
be able to overlook these things.