CQ World Wide DX contest 2025 CW

The biggest radio amateur DX contest of the year is coming — CQ The 2025 World Wide DX Contest in CW mode will take place on 29-30 November according to official rules. The contest lasts 48 hours (from 00:00 UTC Saturday to 23:59 UTC Sunday) and is open to amateurs worldwide to make as many connections as possible in as many countries as possible (DXCC entity) and CQ zones.

The rules define the permitted bands: 1.8 MHz, 3.5 MHz, 7 MHz, 14 MHz, 21 MHz and 28 MHz, while it is recommended to follow the established IARU band plan.

When exchanging in CW mode, a report is sent RST + CQ zone number (eg "599 05"). Scoring is then based on the sum QSO points and multipliers (zones + countries).

In addition, according to the news for 2025, important changes are introduced — for example, audio recordings will be required for top stations, as well as a request for a description of the station layout, including antennas, power and switches.

Particularly interesting are the announced DX stations that are planning to participate in this contest. Among them are less common entities that will attract DX hunters:

• EK8A (Armenia, CQ zone 21) – operation from OK1DTP under the mark EK/OK1DTP
• P44W (Aruba, Zone 09) – a new DX entity that could bring high interest among contest operators
• CR2M (Azores, zone 14) – M/2 station that often attracts distant connections from the islands.
• TY5FR (Benin, zone 35) - DL1BUG operation
• PJ4A (Bonaire, zone 09) – multi-operator under the KU8E team
• TK0C (Corsica, zone 14) – multi-multi station with team including S55OO
• TI5/VA3RA (Costa Rica, zone 07) - offers CW operation, reported by VE3IKV

Pre rádioamatérov to znamená nielen možnosť zaznamenať exotické stanice, ale aj skvelú príležitosť otestovať antény, stratégiu prevádzky a svoju výkonnosť v CW. Ak sa chystáš na CQ WW DX contest 2025 – priprav sa, naber silu, pripoj antény a pohodlne sa usaď. Tento víkend bude naozaj veľký.

CW: 29th-30th November

Start: Saturday 00:00:00 UTC End: Sunday 23:59:59 UTC

I. OBJECTIVE:

The aim is for radio amateurs from around the world to make connections with as many other radio amateurs in as many CQ zones and countries as possible.

II. BAND:

Only six bands: 1.8; 3.5; 7; 14; 21 and 28 MHz.
It is strongly recommended to adhere to the established band plans.

III. COMPETITIVE OPERATION:

SSB: English
CW: English

IV. SCORING:

A. Result:

English
Example: English English English

B. Points for QSO:

English

• English English English English.
• English English English English.
• Exception: English English English English.
• English English English English English English.

C. Multipliers:

There are two types of multipliers:

• Zone: English
  English English.
• Country: English
  English English,English English EnglishEnglish English.
  English English English

V. COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

A. Categories of individuals (Single Operator):

English
English
English English.

1. Single Operator: English English English High Power (all bands or one band): English English.
   English Low Power (all bands or one band): English English.
   English English (all bands or one band): English English.
2. English: English High Power Assisted (all bands or single band): max. 1500 W.
   English Low Power Assisted (all bands or single band): max. 100 W.
   English QRP Assisted (all bands or single band): max. 5 W.

Additional categories for individuals (Single Operator Overlay Categories):

Each participant in the individual category who meets the conditions may at the same time enter one of the following categories by adding the appropriate line CATEGORY-OVERLAY to the header Cabrillo log.
These results will be evaluated separately,as all-band and divided according to High Power and Low Power (including QRP).

1. Classic Operator (CLASSIC): Participant uses Only one radio,Without assistance in finding QSO, and can be in operation Up to 24 out of 48 hours.
   Breaks must be at least 60 minutes, during which no QSO is recorded.
   If the log contains more than 24 hours of activity, only the first 24 hours will be counted for scoring.
   Reception during transmission is prohibited.
   Category English cannot participate as Classic.
2. Rookie (ROOKIE): operator obtained their first amateur radio license less than three (3) years before the contest date.
   The date of license issuance must be provided in the field SOAPBOX.
   Previous winners of the Rookie category are not entitled to a plaque.
3. Youth (YOUTH): operator was at the beginning of the contest 25 years or younger.
   Year of birth must be provided in the field SOAPBOX.

C. Multi-Operator Categories (Multi-Operator) - only all-band operation:

Allowed is any number of operators.
Assistance in finding QSO is allowed.
On each band at any one time is allowed only one transmitted signal.

1. Multi-Single: during any 10-minute period is allowed only one transmitted signal on one band (so-called 'run' station/signal).
   Exception: one - and only one - additional transmitted signal (so-called 'multiplier' station/signal) may be used during 10 minutes, if - and only if - it is on a different band than the main transmitter and the station with which the QSO is made represents new multiplier.
   'Run' and 'multiplier' transmitters are governed by independent 10-minute rules.
   10-minute periods start with the first QSO on the band.
   The log must specify which station/signal (run or multiplier) made each QSO.
   The multiplier station must not call CQ.
   Details are provided in the section Multi-Single FAQna .a.High Power: maximum power 1500 W on any band.
   English Low Power: maximum power 100 W on any band.
2. Multi-Two: maximum two transmitted signals can be used simultaneously and must be on two different bands.
   The log must specify which station/signal made each QSO.
   QSOs are used to count band changes.
   Each station/signal can make maximum of 8 band changes in one hour (00-59 min).
   Maximum power is 1500 W on any band.
3. Multi-Multi: all six contest bands can be activated simultaneously.
   Only one signal is allowed on each band at a time. Maximum power:
   Maximum power: 1500 W on each band.
4. Multi-Distributed: maximum six transmitted signals, one on each band, from stations in different locations.
   All equipment (transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, antennas, etc.) must be located in the same DXCC entity and CQ zone,, including remotely controlled devices.
   All six bands can be activated simultaneously.
   The maximum power of each transmitted signal is 1500 W.
   The Cabrillo log header must contain these lines:
   CATEGORY-OPERATOR: MULTI-OP
CATEGORY-STATION: DISTRIBUTED
   Rules IX.5aIX.6 do not apply to this category D. Checklog:.

D. Checklog:

Submitted log only for log checking assistance.
Such log will not be scored,will not have final scoreawill not be published.

VI. AWARDS

Log with contacts on only one band is eligible only for single-band award.
Log containing contacts on multiple bands will be evaluated as all-band, unless specified in advance that it is a single band.

A. Certificates:

Electronic certificates will be available for download to each participant, who submits their log within the specified deadline.

B. Plaques:

Plaques are awarded for best performances in various categories.
Current list of plaques and their sponsors can be found at: https://CQww.com/plaques.htm.
Only one plaque will be awarded for each log only one plaque.
A station that receives a plaque will not be considered for a partial territorial award; it will be awarded to the participant at second place in the given territory.

VII. CLUB COMPETITION

Club score is sum of all individual scores from logs submitted by club members.
There are two separate categories of club competition:

A. Clubs from USA:

Participation is limited to club members residing within a radius of 250 miles (≈ 400 km) from the center of the club area.

B. DX Clubs:

Participation is limited to club members residing either

• in a DXCC country, where the club is located, or
• within a radius of 400 km from the center of the club area.

C. General rules for clubs:

• National organizations (e.g. JARL, REF, DARC)are not eligible to participate in club competition.
• Single operator stations can contribute to only one club.
• Multi-operator stations can split their score among multiple clubs, in proportion to the number of members of each club who participated in the operation.
• The log must contain the full name of the club (and the score distribution, if it involves multiple clubs).
• For a club to be listed in the results, at least four logs from its members must be received.
  (Checklog logs are not included in the score total do not count.)
• The term "reside" means: means: permanently or continuously reside, or have a place that the person considers their permanent and main residence for legal purposes.

VIII. DEFINITIONS

Station location:
Area where all transmitters, receivers, and antennas are located.
All transmitters, receivers, and amplifiers must be located within a circle with a diameter of 500 meters.
Antennas must be physically connected by coaxial or other RF transmission lines with transmitters and receivers.

Assistance in finding connections (QSO finding assistance):
Use of any technology or other source that provides the operator identification of the call sign or multiplier based on the received signal.
This includes (but is not limited to):
- use of a CW decoder,
- DX cluster,
- DX spotting websites (e.g. DX Summit),
- local or remote technology for decoding call signs and frequencies (e.g. CW skimmer or Reverse Beacon Network),
- and also any form of collaboration or exchange of information with other individuals during the competition.

IX. GENERAL RULES FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

1. Participants must act during the competition within the limitations of their chosen category, even in any activity that may affect their final score.
2. Each log must be submitted with a different call sign.
   Only participant's call sign It can be used to improve its performance.
3. The allowed power must not be exceeded. selected category on any band.
   The total output power on any band at any time is measured. at the output of the active amplifier(s).
4. Self-spotting or requesting spotting (request for someone else to spot your station) is not allowed.
5. Remote operation is allowed, if all transmitters, receivers, and antennas are physically located at one station.
   A remotely controlled station must comply with all licensing conditions for the given station and operator, as well as the limitations of the category.
   The call sign used in the contest must be issued or authorized by the regulatory authority of the country in which the station is located.
6. The use of remote receivers outside the station is not allowed.
7. Only one signal is allowed on any band at any time.
   If there are multiple transmitters on the same band, the hardware blocking mechanism, which will prevent simultaneous transmission of multiple signals.
   Alternating transmission (so-called 'dual CQ') on two or more frequencies in the same band is not allowed.
8. All connection requests, call responses, as well as receiving call signs and exchanges in the contest must be performed during the contest duration, and that on allowed frequencies and in the contest operating mode.
9. Corrections of call signs or exchanges after the end of the contest, using databases, audio recordings, e-mails or other methods, are not allowed.
10. For stations in ITU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, Middle East):
    • During the SSB contest transmitting on the 40m band above 7200 kHz is not allowed.
    • During the contest transmitting below 1810 kHz is not allowed.

X. INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOGS

1. The electronic log must be submitted in Cabrillo format.
   Full information on the Cabrillo format and a sample file for CQ WW are available at:
   👉 https://CQww.com/logs.htm
2. Each connection (QSO) must contain this data:
   • date,
   • time (in UTC),
   • band,
   • operating mode,
   • call sign of the other station
   • Transmitted report (RST or RS) and zone,
   • Received report and zone.
3. Logs for all bands (All Band) must contain all contacts made during the contest, including those that were not scored (e.g. duplicate contacts).
4. Duplicate connections (DUPES)should not be removed - will not be penalized.
5. Logs must contain exact time details; a difference greater than 5 minutes between two logs may cause loss of points for the specific contact.
6. Logs for the Multi-Op category must clearly indicate which transmitter or signal (RUN or MULT) made each contact.
7. If more than one operator is used at the station, all must be listed in the log header (Cabrillo header) in the field OPERATORS:
8. All logs must be uploaded through the website:
   👉 https://CQww.com/logcheck/After uploading the log, the participant will receive a confirmation of receipt.
9. The deadline for submitting logs is within 5 days after the end of the contest:
   • SSB: by October 31, 2025, 23:59:59 UTC
   • CW: by December 5, 2025, 23:59:59 UTC
10. Participants who do not submit their log on time may only be included as a Checklog.
11. If a participant needs to correct or supplement the log after submission, they can use the form at the same link (https://CQww.com/logcheck/) - clearly marked as corrected log.
12. If a participant submits more than one log for the same call sign and category, the last log received will be considered valid.
13. Participants who do not use the Cabrillo formatmay be excluded from official evaluation or included only as a Checklog.

XI. LOG CHECKING

1. All logs are subject to automatic checking.
   For this purpose, computer algorithms are used to compare contacts received between participants and verify the correctness of call signs, zones, and time details.
2. Contacts that are not confirmed in the opposite station's log are considered invalid (NIL - Not In Log)azero points are not awarded for them.
   Such a connection can also lead to penalty in the total score.
3. Incorrectly received call signs (so-called bust calls) or incorrect zones will also be penalized -
   usually by losing points for the given QSO and another point penalty equal to the number of points.
4. Duplicate connections (DUPES) will not be penalized, but do not add any points or multipliers.
5. Out of band connections (Out of band, Out of time) or apparently invalid data may be excluded from the score without penalty.
6. Difference in connection time between two logs greater than 5 minutes is considered an error and the given QSO is not counted.
7. Final decision on the validity of the log and the result is accepted Výbor CQ WW DX contestu (CQ WW contest Committee).
   Committee decisions are final and binding.
8. Participants who violate the rules may be:
   • disqualified (DQ) - their score will not be counted and they will not be listed in the results, or
   • included only as Checklog without official evaluation.
9. Disqualified participants will not be eligible to receive any certificates, plaques, or other awards,
   atheir logs may be published on the competition website with the corresponding reason for disqualification.

XII. DECLARATION

By submitting the log, the participant agrees to the following declaration:

"I confirm that I have complied with all the rules of the CQ World-Wide DX Contest, the rules of my license, and all applicable regulations of the country from which I operated.
I am aware that disqualification may be imposed in case of any rule violation or unfair behavior.
I agree that decisions of the CQ WW Contest Committee are final.
I agree to the publication of my log as part of the competition control and evaluation process."

This declaration is automatically considered signed by anyone who submits their log electronically.

XIII. RESULTS AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

1. Preliminary results (Raw Scores) will be published on the website
   👉 https://CQww.com
   approximately within 90 days after the contest.
2. Official results (after completing the log checking) will be published on the same website.
   The results will also include a list of all accepted logs and detailed analysis.
3. Výbor CQ WW DX contest reserves the right:
   • change the participant's category if the log does not comply with the rules of the specified category:
   • publish corrected or supplemented results if errors are found after publication:
   • and in case of suspicion of a serious violation of the rules request additional evidence (e.g. audio recordings, operator logs, technical station data, etc.).
4. Any violation of the spirit of the competitionincluding unsportsmanlike behavior,
   deliberate deception, use of unauthorized technologies, data manipulation, or disrupting other participants,
   may result in the disqualification of the participant according to the decision of the committee.
5. CQ WW Contest Committee may issue additional explanations, methodological instructions, or technical clarifications that are equivalent to official rules and binding for all participants.
   These additional information will be published on the official website:
   👉 https://CQww.com/rules_faq.htm