Chasing DX and Awards

Jim Reisert AD1C

Types of awards

• Worldwide (DXCC, IOTA)• Regional (USA-CA, RDA)• Band-specific (VUCC, 160

meters)• Closed-ended (WAZ, WAS)• Open-ended (WPX)• Cumulative (DXCC Challenge)

How many awards is this QSL good for?

Answer: at least 8!

Many contests are award-based

• ARRL DX -> DXCC, WAS• ARRL SS -> WAS• CQ WW -> WAZ• CQ WPX -> WPX• ARRL/CQ VHF -> VUCC• ARRL/CQ 160M -> DXCC, WAS• State QSO Parties -> USA-CA

Contests give you best bang for the buck

• Qualify for an award in a weekend!

– 100 “Entities” (CQ WW or ARRL DX)– 50 States (ARRL SS)– 40 CQ Zones (CQ WW)– 100 VUCC grids (ARRL/CQ VHF)– 500 Counties (MARAC/US Counties)

Contests can make it easier to work that rare place!

• Contest DXpeditions• Rare station may be on for full

contest period, begging for QSOs near the end

• Everyone is spread out all over the bands, instead of on the same packet spot

• State QSO parties – lots of counties!

You don’t need a big station

100W, G5RV, AV-640 vertical• DXCC: 253 mixed, >100 40-10M• WAZ: 40 zones, >30 on 10-30M• WAS on CW, SSB, RTTY, 20M• WPX: 1061 mixed, 661 SSB, 713 CW• IOTA: 421 mixed• USA-CA: 3037 mixed• VUCC: 308 grids on 6 meters

But we’re at the bottom of the cycle!

• Look through old QSL cards• Mail QSLs for new award

counters• Fill in holes on low bands or VHF• Try a new band or mode

How to improve your award chasing

• Computer logging and record-keeping• DX Cluster• Read the DX Bulletins• Get on in the little contests, even if

just for a couple of hours• Use LoTW or eQSL• Listen, listen, listen