02/10/2016
No contest season is complete without the running of our annual ARRL
International DX Contest[1]. The CW event is February 20-21; the phone event is
2 weeks later on the weekend of March 5-6.
Whether you're new to DXing, new to HF, or even new to CW, this contest offers
an easy way for you to join in and have a lot of fun! The contest exchange is
short and simple, and many participants here and abroad will patiently help you
work your way toward success - whether your goal is DXCC, working "a new one,"
or just getting accustomed to the rhythm of CW contesting.
While the HF bands have been challenging during this period of declining
sunspot activity, many dedicated DXers and DXpedition groups have activated
some rare DXCC entities. On his website, Bill, NG3K, keeps up to date with DX
operations scheduled to operate during the ARRL International DX[2] weekends as
well as during other operating events[3]. Check the page regularly for any
updates.)
There have been some bright spots in this HF contest season. If you're
unfamiliar with HF propagation, this event is an excellent opportunity to
experience how bands open or close, the changes in MUF, the movement of the
grayline (the Sun's illumination boundary as it moves around the Earth), and
other exciting forms of HF band conditions.
Whether you are a newcomer or a contest veteran, this contest is not all about
high power or large antennas. The ARRL DX offers several participation
categories ranging from QRP (5 W or less), Low Power (150 W or less) and, of
course, High Power (up to maximum legal limit). A respectable score is possible
even with simple wire antennas or verticals.
The bullet points:
o The CW contest begins at 0000 UTC on Saturday, February 20 (the evening
of Friday, February 19, in US time zones) and continues through 2359 UTC on
Sunday, February 21, 2016.
o Participants may make contacts on the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
o Stations in the US and Canada work only DX stations (Alaska and Hawaii
are considered DX for this contest), while DX stations work only the US and
Canada.
o US and Canadian stations send a signal report and their state or
province; DX stations send a signal report and their power output.
Complete rules and forms[4] are on the ARRL website. E-mail[5] Cabrillo format
logs; mail paper logs to ARRL DX CW Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
Logs must be received or postmarked no later than 2359 UTC on Tuesday, March
22, 2016.
[1] http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx
[2] http://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxc2016.html
[3] http://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html
[4] http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx
[5] mailto:DXCW@arrl.org
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