The biggest telegraph holiday of the year - CQ World Wide DX CW Contest - once again attracts the attention of radio amateurs worldwide. Each year, a large number of expeditions from exotic destinations, top operators, and small single expeditions participate in this prestigious competition. Many of them prepare special activities just at the end of November to maximize their potential during the 48-hour contest and at the same time allow DX hunters to acquire new zones, countries, and locators. In the following overview, we present a look at the most interesting and most desired stations that should appear during this year's CW round of CQWW.
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Africa and Indian Ocean - traditionally strong representation
V oblasti Indického oceánu budeme môcť počuť viacero atraktívnych volacích značiek. 3B8M z Maurícia will deploy the M/2 configuration again. The team led by G0CKV will be supplemented by operators KX7M, EY8MM, E70A, YT7KM, and JH4RHF, so we can expect high activity on all bands. On the nearby island of Rodrigues, 3B9KW, tentokrát v kategórii SOAB HP, kde bude pracovať M0CFW.
Z Tuniska dorazila čerstvá správa o aktivite 3V8LL, which will focus mainly on 160 meters and will operate more in an S&P style. A new expedition will also join the competition a little further to the east 3W9A z Vietnamu, ktorú pripravuje KU1CW.
Silnú CW prevádzku možno očakávať aj z Kaukazu a okolia. 4L9M z Gruzínska will compete in the SOSB 20 m category. On the other hand, two stations are immediately reported from Uganda – 5X1XA (SOSB 15 m, G3XAQ) a 5X7W (SOAB QRP, SM0HPL), obe aktívne aj mimo contestu v novembri a decembri.
Z ďalších afrických destinácií sa oplatí spomenúť D4P z Kapverd, kde bude HA5PP opäť súťažiť v kategórii SOAB, ale aj TY5FR z Beninuwhich DL1BUG confirms operation on 80-10 m with 100 W. Traditionally, stations from the Indian Ocean will also be very popular – for example S79/OK6RA zo Seychel v kategórii SOSB 10 m.
Caribbean - paradise of contesters
The Caribbean area is a hotspot for contest expeditions every year, and this year will be no different. Among the loudest will be again 8P5A z Barbadosu, kde W2SC tradične pracuje v kategórii SOAB HP. Ďalšou čerstvou expedíciou je 8R1/AG6UT z Guyany, ktorú pripravuje DJ9RR.
Very strong operation can be expected from Trinidad and Tobago (9Z4BM), as well as from the Bahamas – C6AQQ od ND3F bude pracovať z ostrova New Providence so zameraním aj na digitálne módy.
A large group of teams is also preparing on the islands east of Panama. For example HP3/OK2WX, ktorý bude súťažiť single-op, alebo HQ9X from Honduras, this time in the M/2 configuration under the leadership of N1UR and K1XM.
Traditionally very active islands in the Caribbean are also preparing interesting activities. J38W z Grenady prinesie špičkovú SOAB HP prevádzku, PJ4A a PJ4K z Bonaire nasadia skúsené multi-op tímy, PJ7UK bude operovať z ostrova Sint Maarten a PJ5C pokryje St. Eustatius s prevádzkou od 160 po 10 m.
K vysoko žiadaným DX určite budú patriť aj VP2MMA a VP2MAA from Montserrat, while the first of them will work in the M/S category. We will be able to hear the team in Bermuda VP9I, zatiaľ čo ZF1A a ZF5T zabezpečia špičkovú contestovú aktivitu z Kajmanských ostrovov.
Pacific and Oceania - DX hunters beware!
V Pacifiku chystá veľkolepú účasť multi-multi tím KH6J z Havaja, which will bring a whole constellation of well-known operators such as KH7U, NH7T or N6TJ. It will sound even more exotic T88AR z Palau, ktorý bude QRO aktívny na 160–6 metroch.
Nové správy potvrdzujú, že v súťaži sa objavia aj VK1A a VK6T from Australia, with VK1A deploying a team M/S configuration. From Norfolk Island will sign up VK9DX, tradičná pravidelná expedícia v CW contestoch. Veľmi žiadaný bude aj ZL7IO z Chathamských ostrovov.
Europe - surprises and strong teams
Although Europe is well represented in CQWW, some activities are worth mentioning. Freshly announced multi-single team will come from Bosnia and Herzegovina E7DX, ktorý zastreší Bavarian Contest Club. Zaujímavé budú aj výpravy na ostrovy Aland – OH0Z (SOAB HP) a nový OH0X (SOSB 15 m).
Z Korziky sa do CQWW zapojí veľký tím TK0C v multi-multi kategórii. Zo Sardínie sa chystá novinka IP0A, which will compete in the 40 meters with high performance.
Z Luxemburska bude počuteľný LX7I, one of the most famous European single-ops with the 2BSIQ method.
North and South America
Zo severu sa objaví VE2IM from Canada in the SOAB HP category led by VE3DZ. Although exotic prefixes do not traditionally appear from the USA, a number of domestic superstations will form the pillar of the competition.
Juhoamerické stanice doplnia napríklad CW5W z Uruguaja, PZ5DX zo Surinamu (SOAB LP) či CE0Y from Easter Island, where a larger group of operators with activity outside the contest is planned.
Conclusion
This year's CQ World Wide DX CW Contest will bring a rich spectrum of attractive stations from all continents. Many of them will start broadcasting several days before the contest, so DX hunters will have the opportunity to 'preview' the conditions and fine-tune their antennas. Whether you belong to serious competitors, zone collectors, or just occasional listeners, this year promises an exceptionally diverse and interesting operation.