Originally published: 2003
Reformatted: 2012-08-04
Notice: © 2002 to 2012, Chris R. Burger. This document may be reproduced as required for personal use, and may be freely referenced from other Web sites. However, publication elsewhere, in full or in part, requires express prior written permission from the compiler.
These notes were originally published with the list of South African stations extracted from the list described above. During 2012, a single integrated South African DXCC annual list extract and a South African DXCC Honour Roll extract were published. Because these lists do not have room for comments, and because some of the comments provide useful context, the comments have been extracted into this separate file.
This year, the 25 MHz band was also included in the totals, leaving only 10 MHz excluded. The next list will also include this last band. Once 10 MHz is included, CW skills will suddenly become a useful addition to one's bag of tricks!
The table shows the world leaders, and all southern African stations on the list. The scores include current countries only (no deleted countries). The entry level is 1000 band-countries, and 1064 stations are listed, up from 824 last year. The closing date for the Yearbook list was 2002-09-30.
On the international front, the standings have been substantially rearranged since last year. Although W4DR retains the top spot, both K5UR and W1NG are new to the top 3. Locally, many of the operators have moved their totals upwards, but the world-wide rankings have slipped substantially.
Rank Callsign Score ==== ======== ===== 1 W4DR 2753 Bob Eshleman 2 K5UR 2723 Rick Roderick 3 W1NG 2721 Ken Bolin 117 ZS6EZ 2071 Chris R. Burger 446 ZS6IR 1401 Uli von Aswegen 742 ZS4TX 1155 Bernie van der Walt 743 ZS6WB 1155 Hal Lund 754 Z22JE 1145 Dudley Kaye-Eddie 843 ZS6KR 1093 Hans Kappetijn
This list was manually extracted from The 2002 DXCC Yearbook. The extract lists world leaders and every ZS station on each of the DXCC lists. Members who submitted cards between 2001-10-01 and 2002-09-30 are shown, as are all Honour Roll members (those needing less than 10 current countries). Honour Roll members are indicated by a "*" behind the call sign. South Africans who did not submit during this year, and who are not Honor Roll members, are not shown. Records for these stations can be seen in the previous years' listings, or in the South African DXCC Gallery.
Stations holding 5 Band DXCC are not listed annually in the Yearbook; this list of ZS stations was compiled from previous announcements in QST and direct correspondence with the individuals concerned and with the ARRL. Stations are listed in chronological order, i.e. ZS5LB was the first ZS, and ZS6IR the most recent. Over 4000 5BDXCC certificates have been issued. 5BDXCC is a very worth-while project. Single- operator stations have worked 5BDXCC in a single contest weekend, but from South Africa it is definitely not a trivial undertaking!
The listed scores include credit granted for countries that have subsequently been deleted.
The number of countries for this list is 334. Ducie Island VP6 was added on 2002-10-02, the day after submissions for this Yearbook closed. The two VP6DI operations have provided all the serious DXers with a crack at this new country, so next year's Yearbook is likely to show some upward movement.
This year sees the departure of an institution from the South African list. Van van der Watt ZS6LW has now dropped off the Honour Roll, because he now needs more than 9 countries. Van was the first South African to work all countries. He occupied the top spot on the Honour Roll throughout the Eighties, and it was not until 2002 that another South African followed him into this spot. Van lost some interest in HF operating during the last years of his life, and the addition of new countries eventually caused him to slip off the Honour Roll several years after his death. Van's all-time total of 370 on Mixed and 369 on Phone was recently surpassed by ZS6YQ, but Van's total will remain out of reach of all but the greyest of old timers. His callsign will grace the DXCC Gallery list for some years to come.
Submissions were substantially down from South Africa this year. Several Honour Roll members did not submit cards, but stayed on the list because of their Honour Roll status. This time, no single band showed more than two participants from South Africa. Again, this decrease is a surprise, given that cards can now be checked locally. Perhaps the improved exchange rate will help to revive submissions in 2003. It is known that several DXers held back their submissions until October to be able to submit their VP6DI cards, so perhaps there is hope.
Perhaps the introduction of electronic QSLing and on-line DXCC submissions in the next year or two will provide the needed impulse to increase South African participation.
All the single-band awards have now been introduced, although the 10 MHz awards are not yet listed in this Yearbook. The 144 MHz award remains the only existing one not yet claimed by a South African.
The lists have been manually extracted from almost 30 pages of fine print in the Yearbook. Although everything was double-checked, it is not inconceivable that something could have been overlooked or incorrectly re-typed. If you notice errors or omissions, please let me know so that I can fix them.
The closing date for DXCC submissions, as in every year, is on 30 September. Applications should be air mailed several weeks in advance to ensure that they get there before the closing date. Perhaps it's time to get in touch with Tjerk [email link originally provided]!
Thanks Bushy Roode ZS6YQ for help with extracting the information from the Yearbook!
Back to the 2002 annual list.