Španielsky rádioamatér EA2AA entered the history of operation through Qatar OSCAR 100 (QO-100). According to a QO-100 DX Club notice dated October 6, 2026, Jose Maria Gomez-Salazar, EA2AA, was the first operator to submit a log containing 175 rôznych platných DXCC entít. Tým splnil podmienku na najvyššiu úroveň ocenenia QO-100 DX Club Award – Platinum.
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What is the QO-100 DX Club
QO-100 DX Club vznikol z iniciatívy CT1EAT s technickým prispením CT7AOV. Its goal is to support informed and responsible DX operation via the narrowband transponder of the QO-100 satellite. The club allows radio amateurs to voluntarily submit their logs and based on them creates rankings of DXCC, locators, number of connections and other indicators. It also uses the Club Log interface to check logs. Club membership is free.
What is particularly interesting for radio amateurs is that the ranking is not based solely on estimates or reported results. The number of recognized DXCC is derived from the records in the submitted logs and from the list of valid entities used by the club. The QO-100 DX Club Award has four levels: 50 DXCC Bronze, 100 Silver, 150 Gold, and 175 Platinum. The award is intended for two-way connections via QO-100 regardless of the mode used.
175 DXCC and competition at the top of the rankings
The current DXCC ranking, updated on October 7, 2026, contains 176 valid DXCC entities. EA2AA is at the top with 175 entities, which is 84% of the total number. Following him are LY1RX, M0HOJ, DL5GAC, G4GIR, and DD1US, all with 174 DXCC. Therefore, the absolute maximum limit is now very close, and crucial will be further activations of the previously missing countries.
There is a significant representation of stations from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. OM3WAN ranks 8th with 173 DXCC, OM0MS is in 29th place with 170 DXCC, and OK1PHU occupies 35th place with 169 DXCC. The ranking also shows other active operators from the region, including OM0AAO, OK2AF, and other OM and OK stations in lower positions.
Technical significance of QO-100 for DX operation
QO-100 has a specific feature for DX experimenters: the satellite creates a stable communication path and allows for bidirectional connections over long distances without relying on traditional ionospheric propagation. This is why it has become an interesting space for SSB, CW, and other narrowband digital experiments. The QO-100 DX Club simultaneously emphasizes the need to respect the valid band plan and operating rules of the transponder.
For a radio amateur, however, a high number of DXCC does not simply mean a sum of calls in the log. With QO-100, the ability to capture rare and time-limited activations, work correctly with the frequency in the transponder, and track the DX calendar is important. Club rankings and information about planned expeditions create a practical tool for long-term progress tracking.
Video about QO-100 operation
The technical background of satellite operation is also presented in Achim Vollhardt's DH2VA presentation on AMSAT-DL activities on Es’hail-2/QO-100. The video was created at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in 2019 and provides insight into the development and operation of amateur radio equipment related to QO-100.
What will happen next?
EA2AA, by achieving 175 DXCC, has reached the threshold for the highest level of recognition in the QO-100 DX Club and is also the first to submit a log with such a number of recognized entities. Since the database currently contains 176 valid DXCC, there is only one entity left to be added to the ranking to achieve the complete total. For operators like OM3WAN, OM0MS, and OK1PHU, the battle remains open not only for ranking but also for further DXCC boundaries.