CW, DXing, and contesting come together and go global February 21-22 for the 2015 ARRL International DX CW contest. This HF contest season has seen incredible high-band conditions and record entry numbers, and as it draws to a close, this is a terrific opportunity to get on the air and get in on the fun. It’s the US and Canada working the world in this event.

If you have never operated in a CW contest, the event’s short and simple exchange combined with abundant stations on the air makes it an ideal opportunity to try something new. Participating in the ARRL DX CW is a fantastic way to hone your CW operating skills and expand your knowledge of HF propagation. DX stations around the world will be looking to work US and Canadian stations, so don’t miss this chance to put a “new one” in your log.

Think your station is too small to operate in one of the largest contests of the year? Think again. There are Low Power and QRP categories to choose from, and, if the improved solar conditions we saw at the end of 2014 continue, there will be plenty of stations for “Little Pistols” to work. Keep an eye on 10 meters, which can be a great place to find a quiet slice of spectrum to run on low power.

Stations in the US and Canada work only DX stations (Alaska and Hawaii are considered DX for this contest), while DX stations work only the US and Canada. The contest exchange is simple: US and Canadian stations send a signal report and their state or province, while DX stations send a signal report and their power output.

The contest gets under way at 0000 UTC on Saturday, February 21 (the evening of Friday, February 20, in US time zones) and continues through 2359 UTC on Sunday, February 22, 2015.

Complete rules and forms are on the ARRL website. E-mail electronic logs (Cabrillo format). Mail paper logs to ARRL DX CW Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Logs must be received or postmarked no later than 2359 UTC on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.