The CW weekend of the ARRL International DX Contest is February 15-16 (UTC). One of the premier events on the contest calendar, this event aims to encourage participants to expand their knowledge of DX propagation on the HF and MF bands, and to improve operating skills and station capability by creating a competition in which DX stations may only contact stations in the US and Canada.

W/VE amateurs work as many DX stations in as many DXCC entities as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters DX stations work as many US and Canadian stations in as many of the 48 contiguous US states and Canadian provinces as possible.

US and Canadian stations send a signal report and their state or province abbreviation. DX stations send a signal report and output power. There are entry categories for individual operators and multioperator teams as well as a choice of power levels in each category.

Even contest newcomers and low-power or QRP operators will find a niche in the ARRL International DX Contest. It’s a terrific opportunity to boost DXCC totals too. The ARRL International DX Contest phone weekend will take place March 1-2, 2014.