CQ DX FIELD AWARD
CQ Amateur Radio magazine has introduced a new operating award, the "CQ DX Field Award," (I have to commend them on their choice of name!) recognising achievements in contacting at least 50 of the world's 324 10x20-degree "grid fields" (well known to VHF DXers as the Maidenhead grid locator system). The press release says that “this is the first of three new programmes to be announced by CQ over the next three months with the goal of revitalising ham radio's core activity of DXing, or contacting stations in faraway places”. CQ DX Awards Manager Billy Williams, N4UF, has calculated that there are 177 fields with which the active ham stands a pretty good chance of making a contact, noting that many fields are in Antarctica, the Arctic or wholly within oceans. Endorsements will be issued for each additional 50 fields up to 150, then in increments of 25 fields to a final level of all 324 fields. Contacts made on or after 1 January 1980 (the year in which the grid system was adopted for amateur radio use) will count toward the new award. Complete details and rules were due to be published in the April 2005 issue of CQ magazine and posted on the magazine's website. I can help with copies if you don’t have access to these sources.