OH! Forgot to mention the exchange is a sig rpt and your state. The DX station will respond with a sig rpt and their pwr level. The DX station may use what is known as “cut numbers” in their report for pwr level so you may hear things like:

1K for 1,000 watts

4TT for 400 watts

ATT for 100 watts

N for 9 watts (yea there will most likely be one Caribbean stn sending that)

And you may hear “ENN” for “599”.

Good CW practice!!!

73 Joel W5ZN

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 7:14 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ADXA] ARRL International DX Contest - CW

This weekend, actually starting tonight at 6:00 PM local time, is the second most popular CW DX contest in the world. The ARRL International DX Contest – CW fires off at 0000z Saturday, February 15. You’ve already seen a post that ZF5T will be blowing and going at the fingers of K5GO, KM5G, and W5SJ (and maybe N5DX?). All HF bands EXCLUDING 30, 17, and 12 meters will be active so don’t operate the contest on those three bands! Also, the objective is DX to DX QSO’s, don’t call a station in the USA. It won’t count for any points and it will irritate the other operator to waste time coming back to you and sending you a report.

I had hoped to be in full bore this weekend but I have IARU administrative responsibilities I must attend to and won’t be able to participate, but I will try to take a break and get on and work the ZF guys and maybe a couple of others.

So, GET IN THERE and pick up a new one, or tweak up your CW skills.

73 Joel W5ZN