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What is an accepted range for a DX contact?

Apr 17th 2014, 17:46

WN6WJN

Joined: Nov 3rd 2010, 13:51
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Hello,

I would like to ask a question about DXing.

What is the accepted, by convention or agreement, range to have a contact described as a long distance contact?

Would 2 stations 100 miles apart qualify as a DX contact?

Would 1000 miles qualify?

How about 10 miles apart, would that qualify as a DX contact?

Thanks for any information, I'm writing a term paper about HAM radio.

73

Wassim
WN6WJN
Apr 17th 2014, 18:16

W1VT

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0

http://www.arrl.org/distance-records
As you can see, when you get to the higher amateur bands, even 100 miles is enough to set records.

Zack Lau W1VT
ARRL Senior Lab Engineer
Apr 17th 2014, 21:53

aa6e

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
For the HF bands (below 30 MHz), usually called "short wave", we have long-distance propagation thanks to bouncing signals off the ionosphere. On these frequencies, the usual idea of "DX" is contacting someone in another country. So US-Canada is "DX" by this measure, even if the distance can be very short. And Maine to California would not be DX.

ARRL has the concept of a "DXCC entity" and people try to contact as many of them as possible. They are generally countries, but some non-countries, like Alaska and Hawaii, are considered separate entities. Check out http://www.arrl.org/country-lists-prefixes.

73 Martin AA6E
Jan 3rd 2015, 17:59

WA6MHZ

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
I am only 30 miles from MEXICO, but working a station there counts as a new COUNTRY!

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