The 2006 DX Challenge

We challenge you to hear 50+ countries on the shortwave broadcast bands!

We also challenge you to hear provinces, states and countries on Mediumwave!

The DX Challenge calls to listeners again this year to hear as many countries on the SW bands as possible--as well as the challenge to hear as many provinces, states and countries as possible in the world of mediumwave listening! Here are the rules for the SW DX Challenge and the MW DX Challenge.

When:

0000 UTC November 1 to 2400 UTC November 30, 2006

Where:

Anywhere on the Planet Earth

Frequency Range:

• 2000 to 30000 kHz (Shortwave Contest)
• 525 to 1710 kHz (Mediumwave Contest)

Eligibility:

The DX Challenge is open to any shortwave and/or mediumwave listener. Any radio capable of receiving AM or SSB signals between 0 and 30 MHz is acceptable. Please ensure that a clearly legible return name and address are included with all submissions. Submitted logs and results become the property of the ODXA, so please use copies of your original logs for submission.

THE CONTESTS

Shortwave DX Challenge

Your goal is to hear shortwave broadcasts from as many countries as possible during the time of the contest. Countries are defined in the NASWA Country List, available from the ODXA Mail Order. The NASWA Country List is different from (and much shorter than) the list of countries defined by the DXCC ham lists. All loggings will be checked for correctness and validity.

Station Eligibility:

Shortwave Broadcast Stations may be submitted as entries if three conditions are met:

1. They broadcast regularly. They must be operated by public, private, governmental or military agencies and are intended for public reception. Stations broadcasting numbered codes are NOT acceptable. Time Signal stations (such as WWV) are acceptable.
2. They are NOT intended for amateur radio or utility purposes. Examples of this are weather broadcasts, aircraft/ship broadcasts, and CW/RTTY broadcasts.
3. The logging for each station must be at least 5 minutes in length, with a definitive ID in your report (ID, IS, Particular Program). If you log different relays of a particular broadcast during the same transmission, each relay must be listened to for a different 5-minute time frame (no relays at the same time).

Country Eligibility:

The criteria for counting a broadcast as being from a particular country are:

1. The country listed is the country from where the transmission originates. This means that CRI broadcasting from their relay in Sackville counts as Canada, not China. You may use the same station for multiple countries as long as each broadcast is relayed from a different country.
2. The country is contained in the NASWA Country List.

PLEASE NOTE:

Although reference materials such as Listening In, World Radio-TV Handbook and Passport to World Band Radio are of great assistance in logging countries, they may not be used for "definitive IDs" for broadcasting stations and countries. Please be careful to obtain some kind of ID from the broadcast, whether it be a standard identification, a program known to originate from the station, mention of that country's towns and cities in the newscast in a particular language, Interval Signal, frequencies mentioned, etc. Mention this in your program details.

Log Format:

Logs should contain the following information in the order specified below:

1. Date (UTC)
2. Time (UTC)
3. Frequency
4. Country
5. Station
6. Relay (yes/no)
7. Some Program Details (ID, program content, etc.)
8. Reception Quality (either use excellent, good, fair, poor OR use SINPO rating).

Prizes:

The person who scores the most number of countries will be given a beautiful plaque commemorating his/her winning the 2006 SW DX Challenge. All entrants will receive an attractive certificate containing their name and score in the 2006 SW DX Challenge.

Mediumwave DX Challenge

Your goal is to hear as many mediumwave stations from as many provinces, territories, states and countries as possible. Check for DX Tests, check for openings on graveyard channels, listen under other stations--catch everything you can!

Station Eligibility:

Broadcast Stations may be submitted as entries if they are one of the following types:

1. A mediumwave broadcast station operating between 525 and 1710 kHz.
2. A TIS (Traveller's Information Station) operating between 525 and 1710 kHz.
3. A maximum of 10 stations may be logged from each province or state.
4. At least 5 minutes of broadcast time must be heard for a definitive logging, including proof of an ID, jingle, news report, advertisement or particular program.

Country Eligibility:

The criteria for counting a broadcast as being from a particular country are the same as for the SW DX Challenge.

Scoring for the MW DX Challenge:

First:

One point given for each mediumwave station logged, however all stations logged on a graveyard channel count as two points. The graveyard channels are 1230, 1240, 1340, 1400, 1450 and 1490 kHz.

Second:

Multiplier points calculated as follows:

• Each province/territory logged = 1 point
• Each state logged (D.C. may count as a separate state) = 1 point
• Each country logged (not counting USA/Canada) = 3 points (Alaska and Hawaii count as countries, not states).

This makes a maximum of 62 points from provinces/territories and states (Hearing all 62 is downright difficult if not impossible--remember that foreign countries count as 3 points!).

Final Score: Multiply: (Stations Heard) X (Total Multiplier Points)

Log Format:

Logs should contain the following information in the order specified below:

1. Date (UTC)
2. Time (UTC)
3. Frequency
4. Province/Territory/State/Country
5. Station/Call Letters
6. Some program details (Station jingle or ID, program content, etc.)
7. Reception quality (either use excellent, good, fair, poor).

Prizes:

The person who scores the most number of points will be given a beautiful plaque commemorating his/her winning the 2006 MW DX Challenge. All entrants will receive an attractive certificate containing their name and score in the 2006 MW DX Challenge.

You may send Handwritten (legibly printed) or Typewritten/Computer Logs if mailing. If e-mailing, please use Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or some other Text File. Please do not use a database or spreadsheet.

Logs should be postmarked or mailed by December 31. Send all SW entries to Mark Coady at 1038 Ward Street, Bridgenorth, ON K0L 1H0, or via . Send all MW entries to Niel Wolfish at 112-2177 Avenue Road, Toronto, ON M5M 4B7, or . Please mark DX Challenge on the envelope or subject header. The editors will send them to Joe Robinson after checking them and utilizing them in their respective columns.

Results

Please send in your logs, even if you've only heard 25 or 50 or 75 countries. Send in your MW logs even if you've only scored 30 or 40 points! If it's your personal best, we would be happy and proud to print your score! You may enter one or both contests... you choose your arena(s) of listening! As well, please send your loggings to Mark Coady and Niel Wolfish for inclusion in their respective columns. The results of the 2006 DX Challenge contests will be included in an early 2007 edition of Listening In, as well as on our ODXA website. If you have any questions concerning either contest, please e-mail them to . Good luck, and good listening!