Contesting for Dxing Don Butler, N5LZ

DX Contests provide excellent opportunities to work DX 3

Short Exchange and an Endless Number of DX Stations 4

During Major DX Contests Bands Are Loaded With DX 5

Pileups less intense during contests 6

Contesting Overview 1. Multipliers 2. QSOs and QSO points 3. No Duplicate Contacts 4. Scoring 5. Race Against the Clock 6. Contest Rules

Working “New Ones” Entities = Multipliers 8

Major DX Contests CQ Worldwide DX ARRL International DX CQ WPX

DXer Enters Contest to: Work New Entities Work New Band Entities Have Fun

Contests Generate Increased Activity Some DX stations get on the air for Contests only 11

Contest DXpeditions 1. Activate normally inactive entities 2 Contest DXpeditions 1. Activate normally inactive entities 2. Planned and Announced months in advance 12

QSL Rate is High with Contest QSOs 1. LOTW 2 QSL Rate is High with Contest QSOs 1. LOTW 2. QSO Info Readily Available 13

DXCC is Attainable in A Single Weekend 14

Contest Operating Practices Know the Rules Know the Exchange Keep Exchange Short No Extra Information

Contest Operating Practices 5. No Unnecessary Repeats 6. Use standard Phonetics 7. Don’t Send DX’s Callsign 8. Send Exchange in Proper Sequence

Multiple Bands Rules Allow Working the Same Station on Multiple Bands Great for Pursuing DXCC Challenge 17

Log Accurately! Callsign Exchange Date and Time 18

Assisted Category 1. Use of Spotting Networks 2 Assisted Category 1. Use of Spotting Networks 2. Spotting Activity Heavy 3. Find More DX 19

Grabbing Spots 20

Running versus Search & Pounce 21

Why CQ (Run) 1. Higher QSO Rate – More QSOs 2 Why CQ (Run) 1. Higher QSO Rate – More QSOs 2. Multipliers Come to You 3. Log Stations who will not CQ 22

Running Stations Worked: DH3RD, F4EQH, IZ2LSC, ON4CIS, IZ5EBL, I4DVT

Why S & P 1. When unable to generate run 2. Propagation 3 Why S & P 1. When unable to generate run 2. Propagation 3. Log Stations who CQ only 24

Searching & Pouncing Stations Worked: OL9Z, OK7K, IV3DSH, OL5T, and Z35X

Rare DX Stations attract huge pileups early in the contest But are often begging for contacts during the final hours 26

Since Many DX Stations Operate the Contests Part-time only It pays to get on the air both days of a contest 27

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