Sometimes, without warning, problematic situations arise on DXpedition adventures that can threaten to torpedo an activity and with it the hopes and dreams of the whole DXpedition team; situations where team mates look accusingly at each other for answers or apologies or explanations before considering the consequences of revenge driven murder. Here, eyes fill with horror, faces fill with dread, arms reach for the heavens in helplessness and swear words flow like RF from a poorly grounded feedline!

Yes, in spite of even the most meticulous planning and preparation, sometimes things go wrong. Occasionally, theses are the result of human error (and let’s face it, we’ve all made mistakes) while on other occasions they are caused by accidents or factors outside of our control.

Whether it’s something lost or left behind, something broken, cracked or shattered during harsh WX, or even something stolen during transit, radio communications is the sort of hobby in which one small thing left out of the equation can translate to one GIGANTIC disaster.

Essentially, most DXpeditions at one time or another face a moment of uncertainty when the activity suddenly comes to the crossroads of survival where any wrong turn could mean death (metaphorically speaking). And while these issues are inevitable too, it’s the DXpedition team’s ability to deal with these problems that can very well determine the success of the venture or whether or not it actually gets on the air. Furthermore, it will also determine whether or not money and time is wasted!

One of the best traits a DXpeditioner can have, therefore, is ‘resourcefulness’. This refers to the quality of being able to cope with a difficult situation, as well as the ability to deal resourcefully with unusual problems. History has proven that resourcefulness, as well as cleverness, ingeniousness, ingenuity and inventiveness, go hand in hand with successful dx adventure. This power of creative imagination and ability to dip into one’s intellectual armoury to find an answer, after all, can unravel even the most sinister of problems and bring optimism to a seemingly hopeless situation.

Clearly then, if you aren’t prepared or equipped to think outside of the square to extinguish problems that can and WILL arise on your dx adventures then your efforts are destined for catastrophic failure...if not on your next journey than certainly in the future.

“What are some things that can go wrong on a DXpedition?” you might ask. “How can we avoid them?” Well the quick answer to that question is “how long is a piece of string?”

One humorous incident that sticks in my mind is one where a ham DXpedition team arrived on a small island in the Pacific on a specially chartered yacht, only to discover upon landing that no one had brought fuel for the generator.

Apparently, one of the team members was supposed to collect a large number of pre-ordered jerry cans from the mariner on the mainland prior to departure but got his wires crossed and didn’t grab them.

Upon arriving at the jetty late to meet his DXpedition partners, he interpreted the sight of a large number of jerry cans filled with water being loaded onto the boat as a signal that one of the other team members had saved him the trouble and collected the fuel order for him. Then when quizzed by another one of his team mates before departure he foolishly answered that the he had seen the fuel being loaded onto the boat with his very own eyes.

Imagine their horror when upon anchoring at their IOTA destination that they had no fuel to run the generator and therefore to power the transceivers, the portable fridge and the lights!!!!!!

How did the ham team overcome this challenge? Resourcefulness, that’s how. Straight away, VHF radio contact was made with another marine vessel and arrangements were made to drop the team off enough fuel to supply their needs.

In the meantime, fuel was siphoned from the yachts tanks and actually powered the generator and other appliances long enough for fresh supplies to arrive a couple of days later and for a large number of contacts to have made the log.

With images of some of the colourful exchanges which were sure to have followed this side-splitting episode still fresh in your mind, the purpose of this forum topic then is to share some of the tales you have heard about ‘resourcefulness’ saving the day on DXpedition adventures. Perhaps it is your very own creative imagination which prevented disaster or made life for you and your dx buddies all the more easier?!?!?!

Please comment!