What use is an F-call?

A little while ago I made a commitment to myself to achieve the DXCC. Since then I've received a few questions asking what it's all about. It's an award for the DX Century Club, or said in another way, it's a recognition of making long distance contact with one hundred countries.

This achievement award has a long history. The DXCC was first awarded in 1937. Before then, in 1932 discussions started on how to determine what constitutes a country. For example, are Tasmania and Australia separate or together, what about Scotland and England, or Alaska and the United States. Suffice to say that a definition was arrived at after much discussion and you can read up on it on the ARRL web-site.

In case you're wondering, things change all the time. In 1935 Tasmania and Australia were separate because of geographical division, Scotland and England are two countries and Alaska and the USA are separate also because of geographical division. Most of that is the same today, except that Tasmania is no longer on its own. Countries come and go, Czechoslovakia , Dutch New Ginea and Sumatra have all been deleted over the years, South Sudan with a Z8 prefix is new as of July 14, 2011.

As I started looking into this further, it transpires that there are many versions of the DXCC, specific bands, modes and combinations of both. 2012 represents the Diamond Anniversary of the DXCC and there is a special award for that as well.

I've found that there is a QRP or low power version of the DXCC which fits in nicely with my Foundation License and my own views on the level of power needed to get the job done. So, QRP Portable DXCC is what I'm shooting for. Now all I need is some spare time to actually turn my radio on.

I still need to learn more about the QSL process, set-up a logging system, get a plan together for finding the best way to get contacts in different areas, learn more about propagation, learn CW and make sure that my home life doesn't suffer while I'm doing this.

As I said the first time around, I don't know if I am going to take a month, a year or a decade to do this, but it's a really nice way for me to focus my attention on a particular aim and has the added benefit of making me an active operator, which ultimately is what this is all about, actually turning on the radio and using it.

How have you gone about developing your skills and motivating yourself?

I'm Onno VK6FLAB