Sandy Island...well guess who's responsible for undiscovering it?

[ki4itv]

This was an unexpected surprise...

Ham Radio Enthusiasts Ask, "Where Is It?"

Actually, someone did. In 2000, a bunch of ham radio enthusiasts were looking for the most remote place possible to transmit a radio message. This is something ham radio folks do. They compete to send signals from faraway places. A group in Australia found a bunch of reefs, rocks and islets called the Chesterfield Islands in the Coral Sea, and thought they might go there to compete. But a few maps included a much bigger 24-square-mile mass (that would be Sandy Island) very close by.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/20...attan-vanishes

It was all about the DX.

[WX7P]

This is why I think some DXpeditions are silly.

If no one lives on some rock in the Pacific (or Atlantic) who cares?

This kind of crap is just a way for the QRO types to show how big they are, or the losers that THINK they're hot shit to show off.

Complete FAIL.

[ki4itv]

Well, there goes that thread.
Let the ham niche bashing begin!

[W3WN]

This is why I think some DXpeditions are silly.

If no one lives on some rock in the Pacific (or Atlantic) who cares?

This kind of crap is just a way for the QRO types to show how big they are, or the losers that THINK they're hot shit to show off.

Complete FAIL.

Then, don't work them. Problem solved.

And for my next trick... World Peace...

[W3WN]

This was an unexpected surprise...

Ham Radio Enthusiasts Ask, "Where Is It?"

Actually, someone did. In 2000, a bunch of ham radio enthusiasts were looking for the most remote place possible to transmit a radio message. This is something ham radio folks do. They compete to send signals from faraway places. A group in Australia found a bunch of reefs, rocks and islets called the Chesterfield Islands in the Coral Sea, and thought they might go there to compete. But a few maps included a much bigger 24-square-mile mass (that would be Sandy Island) very close by.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/20...attan-vanishes

It was all about the DX.

So what took NPR so long? This isn't news. It was news back in November.

Couple of hundred links. Just Google (or if you prefer, Chandler, er, Bing) "Sandy Island Disappears"

And, take note of this: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/12/ne...earing-island/

[NQ6U]

Lighten up a bit, Janet. You're beginning to sound a lot like Burt.

Yeah, I agree that there's a certain amount of "look how cool I am!" involved in DXpeditions and I find the multiple pages in QST given over to people who don't write particularly well about them tedious in the extreme but there's room for all kinds of pursuits in ham radio. Just because one of those pursuits happens to be something you're not interested in doesn't mean it's silly for someone else to do it. Plus, you never know when your opinion might change. As an example, for the life of me I could never figure why anyone would want to participate in the ARRL's frequency measuring challenge. Now I'm thinking about gearing up to give it a try next year.

[N2NH]

Yah, I used to thinking walking was silly too. Not anymore.

[KK4AMI]

This is why I think some DXpeditions are silly.

If no one lives on some rock in the Pacific (or Atlantic) who cares?

This kind of crap is just a way for the QRO types to show how big they are, or the losers that THINK they're hot shit to show off.

Complete FAIL.

I think its just a case of an age old male tradition. Whether it be a HF radio, fishing pole, firearm or camera, it's usually just an excuse to get away somewhere with a cooler of beer and without the spouse!

[ki4itv]

So what took NPR so long? This isn't news. It was news back in November.

Couple of hundred links. Just Google (or if you prefer, Chandler, er, Bing) "Sandy Island Disappears"

And, take note of this: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/12/ne...earing-island/

I knew about Sandy island not existing as the story broke, but this is the first article I've noticed that mentioned the ham radio DX'er connection.
Late to the party I guess.
I'll be lurking...maybe.

[ki4itv]

I think its just a case of an age old male tradition. Whether it be a HF radio, fishing pole, firearm or camera, it's usually just an excuse to get away somewhere with a cooler of beer and without the spouse!

Sounds like a total win to me.