DXing with DXLabv17 2024-02

Better DXing Through Software
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DXingThe 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

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

• Working the DX You Need5

Drivers
1. User-driven iterative development
 Online group with 5900+ 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 machine6the DXLab Suite

Eight free applications that run individuallybutwhen run simultaneously sense each other’s presence
andinteroperate automatically7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-coupled8

the DXLab Ecosystem
3.792

MMTTY

CW, RTTY, PSK

WinWarbler

2Tone

SatPC32

Transceiver Control

Location Control

DX AtlasS. A. T.

Commander

DXView

Google EarthLogging

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
9A Suite of DXing Applications

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Single Point of Control: DXLab Launcher••••

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 Need12

Active DX Database
ReverseBeacon
Network

TelnetClusters

DXSummit

WSJT-X

CallFreq

QSX

P5DX

14.00514.007 CW

0117Z

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

21.085 RTTY

0245Z

0356Z

KP1RY 21.080

ModeFirst

Last

Y

Y

Y

YOCY

Y

Active DX Database
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Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Active DX Database

What DX stations are QRV ?

14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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Specifying DXing Objectives
You can specify the bands and modes you are pursuing for each of

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

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Multiple Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

Active DX Database

IOTA needsLeaderboard 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

On 80m through 10m, PropView computes Short Path & Long Path SNR and probability
Font color indicates “needed” DX stations
Background color indicates LotW and eQSL participation
This view is filtered by Band, Mode, and Origin
20Band Filter

21Mode & Origin Filters

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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 & Modes with SP Prob > 50%<NEEDFILTER> and <BANDFILTER> and <MODEFILTER> and <ORIGINFILTER> and (SPProb>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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Audio and Email Views of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseeQSL AGDatabase

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 AGDatabase

World Map

View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

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

29World Map View of Active DX“160m”

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Bandspread View of Active DX
DX Spot Sources

Log Database
DXCC needs

IOTA needs

Active DX Database

Propagation
Prediction(VOACAP)

LotW
DatabaseLeaderboard needs
View
Generator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs

eQSL AG
Database

WAZ needs

Bandspread31

Bandspread View of Active DX32

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

Spectrum33

Spectrum-Waterfall View of Active DX
Icom 705, 7300, 7610, 7850, 7851, 9700; Elecraft K434

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

Propagation

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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
ViewGenerator

Marathon needs

VUCC needs

LoggedQSOs

WAS needs
WPX needs
WAZ needs

WSJT-X37

WSJT-X View of Active DX
Log Database38

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 Need40

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

Interesting Targets
• 3W
• 5W
• 9M8
• 9N
• BA
• EP2LMA• 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?

•Stations on 160m and 80m


EZ1WS not valid for DXCC
VK1000AF is in SSB, and is only needed for WAZ
The rest were spotted after my 1030Z sunrise42

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

Interesting Targets
• 3W
• 5W
• 9M8
• 9N
• BA
• EP2LMA• VP8-H
• VR
• XV
• YB
• ZC4Almost All FT8 !

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Award Tracking for ZC4GR on 15m FT844

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: 43 Entries from April 16 through May 847

Working ZC4GR on FT8
Propagation View: Band 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
SpotCollector collects “WWV spots” and maintains a 31-day history of SFI, A, and K

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 feasible54

Check “Actual” Propagation55

Check “Actual” Propagation
NCDXF 4X6TU Beacon is ~230 miles from ZC456

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 01Z59

Compare Forecast & Actual Propagation

Solar Flux Index = 80, DX running 100 watts

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ZC4GR: The Plan
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 01Z

Monitor the 20m FT8 sub-band from 19Z through 23Z, especially

when the Solar Flux Index is 75 or above
when the NCDXF 4X Beacon can be copied

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

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ZC4GR: Success!

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ZC4GR: Success!

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

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ZC4GR: Success!

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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 Need66

www.dxlabsuite.com

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www.dxlabsuite.com

FREE !
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Better DXing Through Software

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DXing with DXLabBetter DXing Through Software
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