DXing with DXLabv16 2023-01

Better DXing Through Software
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DXing

The art and scienceof making two-way contacts

with distant amateur radio stations
using phone, CW, or digital modes

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DXLab: Better DXing Through Software
1. Automates QSL wrangling and award submissions to liberate
more time for DXing
2. Makes time spent DXing more productive by helping you Find the DX you need Work the DX you need3

DXLab: Better DXing Through Software
1. Automates QSL wrangling and award submissions to liberate
more time for DXing
2. Makes time spent DXing more productive by helping you Find the DX you need Work the DX you need4Wrangling Electronic and Hardcopy QSLs
• Submit QSOs to LotW & eQSL, and download QSLs
• Request hardcopy QSLs by sending outgoing QSL cards
 Find QSL routes
 Track responses• Update DXing objectives as QSLs are received• Submit QSLs for Award Credit

5Electronic QSL Automation• eQSL.cc
 Database of known Authenticity Guaranteed (AG) participants Optional automatic upload as QSOs are logged One-click download of new confirmations and award progress update• LotW Database of known participants with date of last submission
 Optional automatic upload as QSOs are logged One-click download of new confirmations and award progress update Show QSOs that should be confirmed via LoTW, but aren’t

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Identifying Missing LoTW QSLs
• DXLab’s LoTW database contains all stations known toparticipate in LoTW, and the date at which each last submitted
QSOs to LoTW

• You can identify all unconfirmed QSOs with stations known toparticipate in LoTW that have submitted QSOs to LoTW after
the QSO date contact your QSO partner
 Ask them to submit your QSO, or correct the mismatch and resubmit

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Hardcopy QSL Automation
You can• Generate QSL cards or Labels requesting confirmations needed
for DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS, WAZ, and WPX• Locate QSL routes from more than 80 web-accessible sources• Generate address labels or print envelopes• Use full-page printers and individual label printers
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DXing Objectives Drive Automation
You can specify the bands and modes you are pursuing for each of

DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS, WAZ, and WPX

9QSL Card Printing

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QSL Card Printing

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QSL Label Printing

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Hardcopy QSL Automation
You can• Generate QSL cards or Labels requesting confirmations needed
for DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS, WAZ, and WPX• Locate QSL routes from more than 80 web-accessible sources• Generate address labels or print envelopes• Use full-page printers and individual label printers• Keep track of requested QSLs not yet received

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QSL Route Discovery

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Hardcopy QSL Automation
You can• Generate QSL cards or Labels requesting confirmations needed
for DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS, WAZ, and WPX• Locate QSL routes from more than 80 web-accessible sources• Generate address labels or print envelopes• Use full-page printers and individual label printers• Keep track of requested QSLs not yet received

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Hardcopy QSL Automation
You can• Generate QSL cards or Labels requesting confirmations needed
for DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS, WAZ, and WPX• Locate QSL routes from more than 80 web-accessible sources• Generate address labels or print envelopes• Use full-page printers and individual label printers• Keep track of requested QSLs not yet received

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QSLs Requested But Not Received

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DXLab: Better DXing Through Software
1. Automates QSL wrangling and award submissions to liberate
more time for DXing
2. Makes time spent DXing more productive by helping you Find the DX you need Work the DX you need18

Award Submission Automation
You can• Generate Award Progress Reports• Identify confirmed QSOs for which award credit would advance
progress towards your DXing objectives, and generate therequired submission files (DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS,
WAZ, WPX)• Update confirmed QSOs to reflect award credit granted (DXCC,
IOTA)
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Award Progress Reports• DXCC & Challenge• CQ DX• CQ DX Marathon• CQ Field• Gridsquares• IOTA• TOPLIST• VUCC• Worked All Continents• Worked All CQ Zones• Worked All Europe• Worked All ITU Zones• Worked All Prefixes• Worked All US States

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Worked All Belgian Provinces
Worked All British Areas
Worked All Canadian Provinces
Worked All French Departments
Worked All DARC DOKs
Worked All Holyland Areas
Worked All Hungarian Counties
Worked All Italian Provinces
Worked All Japanese Cities
Worked All Japanese Guns
Worked All Japanese Prefectures
Worked All Korean Districts
Worked All Russian Oblasts
Worked All Russian Districts
Worked All Summits on the Air (SOTA)
Worked All Swiss Cantons
Worked All US Counties
Worked All US Gridsquares (FFMA)
Worked All User-defined Counters

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DXCC Progress Report

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Award Submission Automation
You can• Generate Award Progress Reports• Identify confirmed QSOs for which award credit would advance
progress towards your DXing objectives, and generate therequired submission files (DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS,
WAZ, WPX)• Update confirmed QSOs to reflect award credit granted (DXCC,
IOTA)
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Generated DXCC Record Sheet

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Award Submission Automation
You can• Generate Award Progress Reports• Identify confirmed QSOs for which award credit would advance
progress towards your DXing objectives, and generate therequired submission files (DXCC, IOTA, Marathon, VUCC, WAS,
WAZ, WPX)• Update confirmed QSOs to reflect award credit granted (DXCC,
IOTA)
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DXLab: Better DXing Through Software
1. Automates QSL wrangling and award submissions to liberate
more time for DXing
2. Makes time spent DXing more productive by helping you Find the DX you need Work the DX you need25

DXing With DXLab• Introduction to the DXLab Suite Drivers
 Architecture Multiple Views of Active DX• Finding the DX You Need

• Working the DX You Need26

DXing With DXLab• Introduction to the DXLab Suite Drivers
 Architecture Multiple Views of Active DX• Finding the DX You Need

• Working the DX You Need27

Drivers
1. User-driven iterative development
 Online group with 4700+ participants Defect repairs get highest priority; goal is < 24 hours
 Public enhancement lists
 Frequent releases (several per month)

2. Powerful and Easy to Use Primarily for DXers
 Secondarily for casual operators

3. Runs on Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11
 and Mac in a virtual machine and Linux in a virtual machine
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DXing With DXLab• Introduction to the DXLab Suite Drivers
 Architecture Multiple Views of Active DX• Finding the DX You Need

• Working the DX You Need29

the DXLab Suite

Eight free applications that run individuallybutwhen run simultaneously sense each other’s presence
andinteroperate automatically30

the DXLab Suite
3.792

CW, RTTY, PSK

Transceiver Control

Location Control

Logging

DX Spots

PropagationQSL Routes

31the DXLab Suite
3.792

CW, RTTY, PSK

WinWarbler
Transceiver Control

Location Control

Commander

DXView

Logging

DX Spots

DXKeeperSpotCollector

PropagationQSL Routes

PropView

Pathfinder

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the DXLab Suite
3.792

CW, RTTY, PSK

WinWarbler
Transceiver Control

Location Control

Commander

DXView

Logging

DX Spots

DXKeeperSpotCollector

PropagationQSL Routes

PropView

Pathfinder• Modular• Loosely-coupled33

the DXLab Ecosystem
3.792

MMTTY

CW, RTTY, PSK

WinWarbler

2Tone

SatPC32

Transceiver Control

Location Control

DX AtlasS. A. T.

Commander

DXView

Google Earth

Logging

DX Spot Analytics

LogPublisher

VOACAPDXKeeperSpotCollector

PropagationQSL Routes

PropView

Pathfinder

SpotSpyCW Skimmer

CWGet

FLDigi

JT-Alert
MultiPSK

MixW

MMSSTV

MultiPSK

Gritty

MRP40

Sim_PSK

WSJT-XN1MM+MMVARI

Win4*Suite
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A Suite of DXing Applications

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Single Point of Control: DXLab Launcher

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Installation
UpgradeStartupShutdown

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DXing With DXLab• Introduction to the DXLab Suite Architecture Drivers Multiple Views of Active DX• Finding the DX You Need

• Working the DX You Need37

Active DX Database
ReverseBeaconNetwork

TelnetClusters

DX
SummitWSJT-X

Call

Freq

QSX

P5DX

14.00514.007 CW

0117Z

EU AF SA NA-E NA-M NA-W
0341Z AS
Y
Y

21.085 RTTY

0245Z

0356Z

KP1RY 21.080

Mode

First

Last

Y

Y

Y

Y

OC
Y

Y

Active DX Database38

Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Active DX Database

What DX stations are QRV ?

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Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

Which DX stations can I likely copy ?

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Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

Active DX Database

IOTA needs
Leaderboard needs
Marathon needs

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

What QSOs and QSLs are “Needed” forthe awards I’m pursuing on the bands andmodes I’ve specified ?

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Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

Active DX Database

IOTA needs
Leaderboard needs
Marathon needs

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AG
Database

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

What DX stations QSLvia LotW and eQSL ?

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Tabular View of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AG
Database

TabularLeaderboard needs
View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

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Tabular View of Active DX
Selected Bands and Modes

Font color indicates “needed” DX stations
Background color indicates LotW and eQSL participation
44Band Filter

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Mode Filter

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Tabular View of Active DX
Propagation ForecastingOn 80m through 10m, PropView’s VOACAP engine computes• Short path SNR and probability• Long path SNR and probability
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Tabular View of Active DX
Needed DX on Selected Bands and Modes

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Tabular View of Active DX
Needed DX on Selected Bands and Modes spotted from NA-E

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Tabular View of Active DX
Needed DX on Selected Bands & Modes with SP Prob > 50%

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Tabular View of Active DX
Entries for K1JT modes show last SNR, max SNR, min SNR

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Tabular View of Active DX
in a web browser from anywhere52

Tabular View of Active DX
in a web browser from anywhere53

Audio and Email Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AG
Database

Audio/Email

Leaderboard needs
View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

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Audio and Email Views of Active DX
Creation of a new Active DX Database Entry for a needed DX
station can trigger
 an audio announcement (callsign, “counter”, band, mode) an outgoing email message (which can initiate a text message)

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World Map View of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

Leaderboard needs

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AG
Database

World Map

View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

56World Map View of Active DX“Active DX on Selected Bands”

57World Map View of Active DX
Controlling the Map View

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World Map View of Active DX
Controlling the Map View

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World Map View of Active DX“160m”

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World Map View of Active DX
ScanDX

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World Map View of Active DX
ScanDX

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World Map View of Active DX“6m” on DX Atlas

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World Map View of Active DX“6m” on Google Earth64

World Map View of Active DX“12m” on Google Earth65

Bandspread View of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
Database

Leaderboard needs
View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs

eQSL AG
Database

WAZ needs

Bandspread

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Bandspread View of Active DX

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Spectrum-Waterfall View of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AG
Database

Leaderboard needs
View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

Spectrum68Spectrum-Waterfall View of Active DX
Flex Signature Radios

69Spectrum-Waterfall View of Active DX
Icom 705, 7300, 7610, 7850, 7851, 9700

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Spectrum-Waterfall View of Active DX
Elecraft K4

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Spectrum-Waterfall View of Active DX
Interoperation with N2IC’s Waterfall Bandmap• Supports most SDRs
• RF or IF input

72Propagation View of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AG
Database

Leaderboard needs
View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

Propagation73

Propagation View of Active DX

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WSJT-X View of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AG
Database

Leaderboard needs
View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

WSJT-X75

WSJT-X View of Active DX
Log Database76

Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

Leaderboard needs

LotW
Database

View
Generator

Audio/EmailWorld Map

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs

eQSL AG
Database

TabularMarathon needs

WAZ needs

Bandspread

Spectrum

Propagation

WSJT-X

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DXing With DXLab• Introduction to the DXLab Suite Architecture Development Drivers
 Multiple Views of Active DX• Finding the DX You Need

• Working the DX You Need78

Finding and Working Needed DX
My DXing Objectives: DXCC, VUCC, WAS, WAZ

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Finding and Working Needed DX
I’m also pursuing all DXCC Entities in FT880

Finding and Working Needed DX
What is QRV that I Need?

Interesting Targets
• 3W
• 5W
• 9M8
• 9N
• BA
• EP2LMA• KH3O• VP8-H
• VR
• XV
• YB
• ZC4

Almost All FT8 !

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Finding and Working Needed DX
What is QRV in other than FT8 that I Need?

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Stations on 160m and 80m
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EZ1WS not valid for DXCC
VK1000AF is in SSB, and is only needed for WAZ
The rest were spotted after my 1030Z sunrise

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Finding and Working Needed DX
What is QRV that I Need?

Interesting Targets
• 3W
• 5W
• 9M8
• 9N
• BA
• EP2LMA• KH3O• VP8-H
• VR
• XV
• YB
• ZC4

Almost All FT8 !

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Award Tracking for ZC4GR on 15m FT884

DXCC Award Tracking for ZC4GR

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ZC4GR on FT8 Looks Challenging

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ZC4GR on FT8 Looks Challenging
Check for Recent Activity

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Working ZC4GR on FT8Band vs. Time-of-Day Analysis of Recent Activity
When QRV?
• 15m: 11Z to 18Z• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 15Z to 20Z• 40m: 16Z to 21Z

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Working ZC4GR on FT8•••

No “Fox/Hound” frequencies
Spotted from NA-E on 4/23 and 4/30
Copied on 4/23

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20m ZC4GR Spots on 4/23 @ 1229Z••QRV from 1229Z to 2136Z
WSJT-X copied from 1730Z to 2129Z

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20m ZC4GR Spots on 4/30 @ 2027Z

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Propagation Conditions

Solar Flux Index

Geogmagnetic A Index

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Check for Gray-Line Enhancement

None!
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20m Propagation Forecast to ZC4Solar Flux Index = 75, DX running 100 watts

17m, 20m, 30m, and 40m look feasible
94Check “Actual” Propagation
NCDXF 4X6TU Beacon is ~230 miles from ZC495

Check “Actual” Propagation
Who Near Me has been Spotting Stations Near ZC4?

Define a “near ZC4” filter to show stations• In ZC4, 5B4, TA, OD, 4X, SU• spotted by stations less than 500 miles from my QTH

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Propagation from “Near Me” to “Near ZC4”
Stations in ZC4, 5B4, TA, OD, 4X, SU
spotted by stations within 500 miles of my QTH

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Propagation from “Near Me” to “Near ZC4”

Propagation Openings?
• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 20Z to 21Z• 40m: 20Z to 23Z98

Compare Actual & Forecast Propagation

Solar Flux Index = 80, DX running 100 watts

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ZC4GR: The Plan
1. Monitor the 20m FT8 sub-band from 12Z to 23Z, especiallywhen the Solar Flux Index is 75 or above
when the NCDXF 4X Beacon can be copied
When QRV?
• 15m: 11Z to 18Z• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 15Z to 20Z• 40m: 16Z to 21Z

Propagation Openings?
• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 20Z to 21Z• 40m: 20Z to 23Z

2. Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source
3. Rapidly QSY if ZC4GR is spotted on another bandEnable audio announcements
Exploit Frequency-dependent Amplifier and Tuner settings
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ZC4GR: The Plan
1. Monitor the 20m FT8 sub-band from 12Z to 23Z, especiallywhen the Solar Flux Index is 75 or above
when the NCDXF 4X Beacon can be copied
When QRV?
• 15m: 11Z to 18Z• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 15Z to 20Z• 40m: 16Z to 21Z

Propagation Openings?
• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 20Z to 21Z• 40m: 20Z to 23Z

2. Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source
3. Rapidly QSY if ZC4GR is spotted on another bandEnable audio announcements
Exploit Frequency-dependent Amplifier and Tuner settings
101Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database

EU

DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

Leaderboard needs

LotW
Database

View
Generator

Audio/EmailWorld Map

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs

eQSL AG
Database

TabularMarathon needs

WAZ needs

Bandspread

Spectrum

Propagation

WSJT-X102

ZC4GR: The Plan
1. Monitor the 20m FT8 sub-band from 12Z to 23Z, especiallywhen the Solar Flux Index is 75 or above
when the NCDXF 4X Beacon can be copied
When QRV?
• 15m: 11Z to 18Z• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 15Z to 20Z• 40m: 16Z to 21Z

Propagation Openings?
• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 20Z to 21Z• 40m: 20Z to 23Z

2. Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source
3. Rapidly QSY if ZC4GR is spotted on another bandEnable audio announcements
Exploit Frequency-dependent Amplifier and Tuner settings103

Rapidly Setup Amplifier After QSY

104

ZC4GR: The Plan
1. Monitor the 20m FT8 sub-band from 12Z to 23Z
When QRV?
• 15m: 11Z to 18Z• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 15Z to 20Z• 40m: 16Z to 21Z

Propagation Openings?
• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 20Z to 21Z• 40m: 20Z to 23Z

2. Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source

3. Rapidly QSY if ZC4GR is spotted on another bandEnable audio announcements
Exploit Frequency-dependent Amplifier and Tuner settings

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ZC4GR: Success!
20m FT8 @20:12Z

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ZC4GR: Success!

107

ZC4GR: Success!

Propagation Openings?
• 20m: 12Z to 23Z• 30m: 20Z to 21Z• 40m: 20Z to 23Z

108

ZC4GR: Success!

109Working ZC4GR in CW, RTTY, or SSB
1. “Blueprint” the band with local spots
2. If ZC4GR is spotted, double-click to QSY and set split
3. Use dual receivers and a panadaptor to rapidly locate ZC4GR’slistening frequency

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Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database

EU

DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

Leaderboard needs

Local Spot
LotW
Database

View
Generator

Audio/EmailWorld Map

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs

eQSL AG
Database

TabularMarathon needs

WAZ needs

Bandspread

Spectrum

Propagation

WSJT-X

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Blueprinting the Band
“Locally Spot” Every Station You Identify

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Working ZC4GR in CW, RTTY, or SSB
1. “Blueprint” the band with local spots
2. If ZC4GR is spotted, double-click to QSY and set split
3. Use dual receivers and a panadaptor to rapidly locate ZC4GR’slistening frequency

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Working ZC4GR in CW, RTTY, or SSB
1. “Blueprint” the band with local spots
2. If ZC4GR is spotted, double-click to QSY and set split
3. Use dual receivers and a panadaptor to rapidly locate ZC4GR’slistening frequency

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Commander: Multiple Radio Support

Select one of four primary radios• By button click• Automatically as a function of frequency

115

Commander: Multiple Radio Support

The Secondary radio can• Follow the active primary radio Main or Sub VFO• Lead the active primary radio116Commander: Multiple Radio Support

The Secondary radio can• Follow the active primary radio• Lead the active primary radio117

DXing With DXLab• Introduction to the DXLab Suite Architecture Development Drivers
 Multiple Views of Active DX• Finding the DX You Need

• Working the DX You Need118

DXLab Documentation• Reference documentation
 HTML: Online and local
 PDF: Online
 Updated with each version• Task-oriented documentation
 Step-by-step instructions for common actions
 HTML: Online

119www.dxlabsuite.com

120www.dxlabsuite.com

FREE !
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Better DXing Through Software

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DXing with DXLab

Better DXing Through Software123