ARRL ANNOUNCES NEW DXCC AWARDS

 

As it looks forward to the new millennium, the ARRL DXCC program has added a

few new twists of its own, with something for the seasoned DXer as well as

the DX neophyte. Inaugurated at the start of the new year were The DXCC

Challenge, the DeSoto Cup, the 20-Meter Single-Band DXCC Award, and the DXCC

2000 Millennium Award. Here's a rundown.

 

The DXCC Challenge is open only to holders of 5-Band DXCC. Individual

standings in the DXCC Challenge are based on accumulated contact credits

made on all eligible bands within the DXCC program using only current DXCC

entities. This includes credits already received by DXCC for contacts with

current DXCC List entities made after November 15, 1945.

 

Challenge standings will be updated each year. The deadline to submit is

September 30, 2000. Standings will be reported as numbers. Plaques are

available for those who accumulate 1500 DXCC Challenge credits. Endorsement

bars are available in increments of 500. This year, eligible bands are 160,

80, 40, 20, 10, and 6 meters. The band list will be increased each year

until all bands (except 30 meters) are included.

 

Starting this year, the DeSoto Cup will be awarded to the DXer who is at the

top of the DXCC Challenge list on September 30 of each year. The cup is

named for Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, who wrote the 1935 QST article that

inspired the original DXCC program. A DXer may only be awarded one cup.

 

The 20-Meter Single-Band DXCC Award is the first of several new single-band

awards to be phased in over the next year or so. Contacts with current DXCC

entities are eligible for credit, beginning with any QSOs made on or after

November 15, 1945, on any mode. DXCC reports returned after August 1, 1999,

show 20-meter contact credits. Those with a 5-Band DXCC issued before April

1, 1992, may submit up to 100 current 20-meter cards with no per-card

charges applied.

 

Here's a DXCC award for everyone. To qualify, work 100 or more current DXCC

entities during the calendar year (UTC), any combination of bands or modes

is allowed. Here's the best part: You don't have to submit any QSL cards!

Applicants must certify to the authenticity of log extracts submitted,

however. The DXCC 2000 Millennium Award period began 0000 UTC on January 1,

2000, and continues through 2359 UTC on December 31, 2000.

 

The DXCC 2000 Millennium Award is separate and apart from the traditional

DXCC awards program. Qualifying for this award does not give credit for

traditional DXCC awards, but DXCC rules still apply. The DXCC 2000

Millennium Award certificate is available to ARRL members and nonmembers.

 

Official application forms may be downloaded at

http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc. Forms also are available for an SASE (or an

SASE plus one IRC for hams outside the US). Send requests to DXCC 2000

Millennium Application, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.

 

Completed applications must be received at ARRL HQ within one year of the

close of the DXCC 2000 Millennium Award period. Applications should be

accompanied by $10 (US funds) to cover the costs of printing, postage, and

handling.

 

For additional information on these new programs, see "New DXCC Awards for

the New Millennium" in December 1999 QST, page 47, or visit

http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/00rules.html.

 

If you have questions about any of these new awards, contact DXCC Manager

Bill Moore, NC1L, bmoore@arrl.org.

 

PHOTO: DXCC Millennium Award certificate

 

The new DXCC Millennium Award certificate.