Stan, SQ8X's positive attitude reflects an ability to bring together like minded team members. A successful team, in most cases, will mirror the attitude of its leadership.
Leadership is exemplified by one's ability to connect with zeitgeist or the spirit of the times. SQ8X demonstrates essential qualities like empathy in addition to persevering against adversity. Perseverance is a quality of leadership that I admire. Life is not always a silver spoon and how one deals with adversity is a good measure of character.
RadioSport Russia | Yuri Gagarin International DX. Building a successful franchise is a patient endeavor and RadioSport Russia is on the way toward that goal. There is an interesting twist to this event -- satellite contacts are permissible. Additionally, there are few locations on the globe actually launching space vehicles and one can log the following...
RT3F -- Cosmonaut Training Center.
RS3A -- Laboratory of Space Engineering.
R3K -- Russian Space Flight Control Center.
UP7Z -- Expedition of Kazakhstan amateur radio operators to Soyuz 17 landing site.
RadioSport Asia | Japan International DX. Fun for the west coast of the United States and an opportunity to pass out needed -Qs to those supporting our RadioSport results.
RadioSport USA | Georgia QSO Party. Splitting an event into two time periods is an excellent idea and the Georgia QSO Party provides such an opportunity. One can relax in the shack and have time enough for family through the weekend.
Imagine first. Create vision. Develop plan. Build team. Delegate objectives. Lead with positive attitude. Fulfill dream. Repeat process.
Departure day arrives and one observes Stan's anticipation after months of planning, sleepless nights, and countless hours of coordination. His reaction to this moment is priceless.
Rising Cost. What is the future of DXpeditions given the rising cost of logistics? Is air transportation of equipment sustainable and, or, even economical? I imagine lightweight, flexible expeditions may incur a cost that is par with or exceeds that of the airline ticket, when including premium baggage pricing.
I'm wondering if shipping through Federal Express would actually reduce logistically cost? I have homework given high frequency airwave conditions. The ionosphere is blown out at the moment.
The cost of reaching remote, rarified locations will as ham radio moves toward 2020, require sharing cost from printing analog QSL cards too sponsoring a day worth of meals. Or, team leaders may consider, looking at the menus of alpine expeditions and how they prepare meals at high altitude.
Non-Profits. The cost of DXpeditions, at least from perspective, continues arcing sharply upwards and one might begin thinking about supporting non-profit organizations like the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) whose mission is, "[A]ssist worthwhile amateur radio and scientific projects with funding and equipment."
Frankly, the days of privately funding an expedition to rarified locales, is probably peaking.
Conclusion. Will siege like DXpeditions survive? Will operators around the world need to work a little more on skill and improve antenna systems a little more because big gun DXpedition signals will just cost too much?
Unlike explorers of yesterday, Stan, SQ8X fully comprehends today's paradigm. He has circumnavigated legacy media channels instead he delivers his narrative to a wide audience beyond that of ham radio. Fundamentally, he is shaping a future for those considering DXpeditions because SQ8X talks about his connecting experience with the local culture in addition to searching out its mysteries.
The Making Of Remarkable. Ham radio is a subset of his personal experience, and, in broader terms, Stan creates a robust storyline that demonstrates in visual terms, the team connecting with the world using airwaves.
Stan mentioned an important piece in his previous video and it is why SQ8X stands out from the noise.
What Makes Extraordinary. I paraphrase although I hope the point is understood when Stan mentioned in the previous video, "I did not tune into the station when listening with my Safari II receiver. I was interested instead in the odd tones, strange noises, and irregularities off of the zero beat frequency."
Additionally, has one taken note of Stan rotating those things that are rotatable, in turn, mimicking the tuning knob of one's radio? I was thoroughly impressed that SQ8X's editing team created parallels between nature and technology. It is attention to creative detail mixed with imagination that makes Stan, SQ8X and his cinematographers, a cut above.
Conclusion. I'm convinced that ham radio has received a gift in the person who is Stan, SQ8X. The kind of gift that only arrives once in a generation.
Unfolding Of An Odyssey? A journey is an explanation of one's imagination, perhaps Stan, SQ8X has embarked on something extraordinary that is more than a journey? His DXpedition to Rapa Nui with another planned in the distant future to a distant land is moreso reminiscent of an odyssey that is a long, eventful wandering.
Perhaps, it is not unlike Homer's Illiad, a timeless mythological story where spirit and character is tested again, again?
Rapa Nui evoked powerful images from our distant past as well Jan Mayen a volcanic island located 950km west of Norway in the cold Atlantic tantalizes the adventuresome spirit that speaks too many of us.
His Odyssey Begins. Take a moment, while reading the sub-titles, and imagine adventurers past and future who dared the odds. Stan's story is compelling like many DXpeditions who risk much in the face of danger.
It is why, given SQ8X's youth, that something extraordinary is underway, one that I believe, is an odyssey for ham radio.
Mobile device disruption of current social and/or business models is a brave new future, perhaps, ultimately displacing one's desktop computer. Frankly, in comparison, my Droid can accomplish most tasks albeit with a much smaller screen and miniaturized QWERTY keyboard.
I'm impressed with my Droid thus far and can't help drawing parallels between it and Issac Asimov's iRobot in addition to Star Trek communicators.
The last thing needed in my life is a device that drains scarce time from the mortal hourglass. I want my Droid to accomplish the following tasks --
Synchronize email.
Content production.
Integration with recreational activities specifically ham radio and surfing.
Social network integration when mobile.
Decision data such as product and/or service(s) review.
I'm observing a mobile device viewing trend using Google analytics. I recommend thinking about one's blog layout through the lens of Droid-like devices. Likewise, the presentation of one's introduction, body, and conclusion as viewed on these screens.
Additionally, when producing video for YouTube, compare it against a desktop monitor and a mobile device screen.
Overall, with 24-hours of experience, I'm pleased with Droid's near intuitive Google operating system, connectivity to the Internet, its baseline package of applications, and industrial design.
