The Question of DX Rarity

摘要

Ask any DXer which entities are rare and the answer would probably be, "If I haven't worked it, and it hasn't been on for a long time, it's rare." That might be a simplistic answer, but there's a certain amount of truth to that statement. Such subjective answers are common, and what is rare for one ham may not be for another. However, such an answer doesn't entirely address the question of rarity. What makes an entity rare and why is it rare? There must be a more systematic way to delineate and define the concept of DX rarity. There are at least three sources we can use to do this. We can tap the memories of old-time DXers who have been on the air for decades; we can pore through available DX columns, articles, and books; and we can search the internet for DX memoirs and collections of antique QSL cards. All three methods would help us to establish and delineate which entities are really rare, and point to the reasons why.