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[IRCA] The UltraOkie Composite Log
- Subject: [IRCA] The UltraOkie Composite Log
- From: "John H. Bryant" <bjohnorcas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:14:46 -0600
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Since I returned to Oklahoma from Washington state at Thanksgiving,
I've been enjoying domestic MWDX for the first time since 1959-60,
via Ultralighting, Unlimited Class. I had competed in the Ultralight
Spring Sprint (80 stations) in February of 2008, but this late Fall
was my first real exploration of the domestic scene in 50
years. I've found that it is not nearly as bad as I feared.... yes,
there is IBOC and yes, there is so much syndication that you turn
blue in the face, but still, hearing Fergus Falls, MN or Winslow, AZ
from northern Oklahoma is a pure DX kick and catching "WBZ, the NE's
Most Listened-to Station" is positively orgasmic. I've been having
real FUN, a lot of real fun doing Ultralight domestically!
That fun has been multiplied and my climb up the station count ladder
has been accelerated by having two fellow-Okie DX buddies within 40
miles: Richard Allen, 30 miles to my NW and Kirk Allen (no relation)
40 miles to my due North. As they have each mentioned here, we share
DX loggings almost every day and a lot of my catches have been the
direct result of walking in their footsteps. Happily, the reverse
has been true, as well. As of last week, Richard stood at about 525
stations logged, mostly (or maybe totally) Barefoot; Kirk stood at
about 425 stations, Unlimited Class and I stood at about 325
stations, Unlimited Class. Our varying station counts fairly
accurately reflect when we each started all of this insanity.
Since sharing loggings among such close DX neighbors has been so
useful for us, we decided to create an UltraOkie Composite Log,
thinking that we might each be able to develop superb hit lists from
the result; we were right. We also thought that we might learn a few
things that might be of use to others; we think that we were right, there, too.
So, with the Allens standing about 525 and 425 stations and me at
325, that is 1275 station loggings amongst us three. It turns out
that there were 672 unique stations logged by at least one of the
three of us.... and an average of two of our three DXers hearing each station.
Since we really weren't concerned about who heard which station
first, the most expeditious way to create the UltraOkie Log was to
start with Richard's 525 stations and add in the other stations
logged by me and Kirk, but not logged by the others. That is what I
did, using MS Access database software. Happily, Richard's log was in
Excell and mine in Access, so combining the two of them wasn't too
difficult. Kirk's log is in straight text, so I added it last. I was
pleased to learn that, even at my paltry 325 stations, I had heard 60
or so stations that Richard had not heard; Kirk had heard an
additional 70-some stations that neither Richard nor I had heard,
thus making up that total of 672 unique stations.
Here is the breakdown of what we've heard from our post halfway
between Oklahoma City and Wichita:
Total Stations: 672
Total Continents: 4 (NAm, SAm, Asia, EU)
Total Countries: 8 (USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Aruba, Japan, Spain, Croatia)
USA: 36 states (missing Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon in the West, some
mid-Atl and NE states)
97 stations in Texas (!)
Mexico: 15 states, 77 stations
Canada : 5 Provinces, 23 stations (All provinces Ontario and west)
Cuba: 17 stations
One of the things that impresses me is that we are nearing 100
Latins. As far as South America, the picture is grim, though: it may
speak to our location and all-land route, maybe, but out of those 100
latins, we have not heard a single station on Mainland South America,
while having heard three in Japan and two in Europe.
The happiest news for ourselves and possibly the rest of the
Ultralight community are the levels of our individual Hit Lists. For
instance, Richard was sitting at 525 stations when we did the
composite log... with 672 unique stations in the Log, there are still
over 150 stations that either Kirk or I have heard (or both) but that
Richard has not!!! And he knows that each of those stations got
within about 25 miles of him, at least once. That is pretty
encouraging for someone with 525 already under his belt. Kirk has
around 250 on his hit list and I've almost 350. VERY NICE!!!
What may be even more encouraging is that the three of us, DXing at
less than half speed this past week, have still added nine totally
new stations to the overall composite log... and that nine consisted
of one new Canadian, one Cuban,1610 Anguilla for a new country and 6
US stations. Even better for those of you with high station counts,
Richard (nearing 550 now) added four of the nine (and added five new
ones to his hit list, too) So, there is hope out there in radio land,
even for those of us hanging around the fateful 600 station
"barrier." There are clearly more stations out there, even in one season!
Well, we hope that this little litany has been of interest..... when
you think of the UltraOkie DXer, picture a bow-legged, stooped older
guy with a battered straw cowboy hat, long-john uppers, buttoned
incorrectly, dirty gym sneakers and jeans with a half-zipped fly....
that is on a good DX morning. Yes, the hat fits nicely over the
headphones, too.
John B.
Stillwater, OK, USA
Rcvrs: Hotrodded NRD-535, Slider e100's
Antennas: Wellbrook Phased Array
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