The amateur radio calendar at the beginning of spring traditionally belongs to one of the most popular competitions in the world - ARRL International DX contest. While February is dedicated to telegraphy (CW), the first weekend of March belongs to lovers of spoken word and SSB mode.
The aim of the competition is not only to test the technical capabilities of stations and operator skills but also to expand knowledge about signal propagation on HF bands.
In the article, you will read
📅 Date and time of the event
The SSB (Phone) competition will take place:
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Date: March 7 - 8, 2026
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Time: From Saturday 00:00 UTC to Sunday 23:59 UTC
🎯 Goal and connection rules
The logic of the competition is based on communication between stations in the USA/Canada and the rest of the world:
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DX stations (including Slovakia and the Czech Republic): They make contacts exclusively with stations from the USA (48 contiguous states) and Canada (provinces).
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W/VE stations: They establish connections with DX stations as much as possible DXCC entities.
Competition bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
🎙️ Contest code (Exchange)
To make the connection valid, it is necessary to exchange the following information:
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W/VE stations: Report (RS) + state or province abbreviation (e.g. 59 NY).
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DX stations (me): Report (RS) + numeric value of transmission power (e.g. 59 100 or 59 1K).
🏆 Scoring and awards
Points are awarded for each completed connection, with multipliers for DX stations being individual US states and Canadian provinces on each band separately.
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Certificates: Available for download in electronic form for winners of categories in each DXCC entity.
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Plaques: Awarded to overall winners and division winners (if a sponsor exists).
📝 Submitting logs
Don't miss the deadline! You have only 7 days from the end of the contest.
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Preferred format: Elektronický log typu Cabrillo.
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Method of submission: Through the web application at contest-log-submission.arrl.org.
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Papierové logy: Can be sent by mail to the ARRL address in Connecticut (recommended registered mail with tracking number).
Tip: If you are not using contest software, you can convert your log to Cabrillo format using the online tool at www.b4h.net/cabforms/.
🏢 Club competition
ARRL DX contest je súčasťou desiatich pretekov započítavaných do Affiliated Club Competition. Ak ste členom klubu pridruženého k ARRL/RAC, nezabudnite uviesť názov svojho klubu v hlavičke logu, aby ste prispeli k celkovému výsledku vášho tímu.
Good luck, good propagation conditions, and as many 'W' and 'VE' stations in the log!