"DX" means distant stations — in practice, other countries. Chasing it is the oldest game in amateur radio.
Finding DX
- DX clusters and apps show live spots of who is workable right now.
- Reverse Beacon Network and PSK Reporter show where your own signal is being heard.
- DXpeditions put operators on rare entities for a week or two; these are announced months ahead.
Working a pileup
- Listen until you know the station's rhythm and whether they are working split.
- If split, find where they are actually listening — the pileup is not it.
- Send your call sign only, once, at the end of a completed contact.
- Do not call over the DX station. It slows everyone down, including you.
Confirmations
Awards need confirmed contacts:
- Logbook of the World (LoTW) — ARRL's cryptographically signed system; the standard, and free.
- eQSL and QRZ logbook — easier, accepted for fewer awards.
- Paper QSL cards — still traded directly, via bureaus, or through a QSL manager.
The classic awards
- Worked All States (WAS) — all 50 states.
- DXCC — 100 or more "entities"; the flagship award, with endorsements by band and mode.
- Worked All Continents, VUCC (VHF grids), WAZ (CQ zones).
- Parks on the Air / Summits on the Air activator and chaser awards.