ARRL DX CW
A quick guide for operators — what to expect, what to say, and how it's scored.
This guide is a draft and hasn't been checked yet. Contest rules change from year to year — the sponsor's official rules are the final word.
What it is
The world works the US and Canada: for 48 hours, DX stations everywhere look for North American contacts, and we look for them.
The exchange
We send RST and our province: "5NN BC". DX stations send RST and their power, e.g. "5NN 100" or "5NN KW".
A typical contact
Scoring
As a Canadian station we work only DX — stations outside the US and Canada. Every contact is worth 3 points. Multipliers are DXCC countries, counted once per band.
Bands
160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m.
Tips for first-timers
Only call stations outside the US and Canada; the log shows them as DX. Europe is strongest on 20 and 15 m in our morning; Asia and Oceania in our afternoon and evening.
Official rules
The club in this contest
Last updated 2026-10-29 by draft (Claude).