1-1.            WHY DX

The usual answers are “Why not?”  “DX IS”  “Because it is there!” But it really depends on whom you ask about this age-old question. When some ancient human first threw a stone, chances are that within minutes a rival tried to throw it further, and so it has been ever since. Run faster, lift more, fly higher, communicate further, climb the highest mountain as a song once chanted.

For Driver DXers, it’s power and a burning desire to be at the top of the DX chain thus satisfying their aggressive nature. To this DXer, life is a contest and the DXCC honor roll is one of the ultimate achievements. There is an element of the hunter in the driver DXer, the quarry, the chase, the final contact - all enter into the equation. They bully their way through the pileup with power and ruthless pursuit. Drivers abhor the net users, as they are not playing the game properly, shooting fish in a barrel.

For the Analytic DXer, it's an organized scientific approach, plotting propagation charts, analyzing the MUF and various globe paths. This DXer uses Excel and antenna modeling with exotic formulas to calculate totals, times, take-off angles, beam headings, MUF etc., delighting in adding another checkmark. Usually geography experts, they know every spit and cay around the globe. This DXer can tell you when Armenia will be on the air, what band, and the predicted signal strength. The analytic DXer tends to be the first one to find DX and work them.

The Amiable DXer joins every DX club and association in sight, loves to tell DX stories and be “one of the crowd”. When not chasing a new one, this DXer loves to ragchew with the DX stations. Tends to be polite in a pileup, but not too polite! Very patient type, will call for hours and finally work them.

The Expressive DXer loves power through people, rises to club president, knows many rare DX operators on a personal basis, and has regular schedules with noted DXers overseas. Shares many characteristics of the Driver.

But there is a little of these personalities in all DXers, the hunt, hurling our signal around the world to exotic places, the knowledge of propagation and MUF, geography, checking them off, telling DX stories, being admired by our peers, being recognized by noted DXers. Besides the rational reasons for DXing, underneath there is a mystique, an enigma about it all.

The great Hugh Cassidy , WA6AUD  expressed it this way:

8 Pages in Chapter 1.